Bulldog2k's Journal

bulldog2k · #31 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 05:41 AM

Imagine, if you will, the worst punter golf you've ever seen; unco-ordinated, optimistic, talentless.

I wish I hadn't bothered playing yesterday. I was awful. Beyond awful. 52 out, 56 back. 108 is the 2nd worst score I've ever carded, and the worst for 25 cards.

And you know what? I only have myself to blame. The weather was awful, and really didn't help, but time after time, I kept ignoring my own advice and The Plan, and paid for it.

For the record (numbers in brackets are par)

Outward 9:
6 (4) / 3 (3) / 6 (4) / 4 (3) / 5 (4) / 8 (4) / 10 (4) / 6 (4) / 4 (3)

Back 9:
5 (4) / 4 (3) / 6 (4) / 4 (3) / 7 (4) / 6 (4) / 9 (4) / 9 (4) / 6 (3)

There isn't a lot to say about it, really. The first half of both 9's were ok, and the 2nd half were shocking, kick-started by hitting OB on the 6th and taking the 8, and then getting stuck in a bush off the tee on the 7th, and not taking my own advice about taking an unplayable. 4 shots then to get out of the bush.

It got to the stage where I just didn't care, and in truth, I'm as annoyed about that as I am about anything else. I let it get to me and beat me. I stopped going through my pre-shot routine, and careful alignment, etc.

I really wish it had been Stableford so I could have saved at least some of my dignity, but as it was, everything had to be putted out in all its shame

It's hard to find positives in a round of golf so bad and demoralising (and that, like I said, I thoroughly deserved), but here goes...

On the 8th, as things were going so badly, I brought out the big stick. Put it through the tree on the right, but not as bad as it should have been. Took it again off the 10th, and found the fairway. Off the 14th, and slid right, but I've been there (but a lot shorter) with my safe club. And off the 17th - pulled OB, but again, have done that with my safe 3 iron. It gave me the confidence to start using it - not every time, but that was quite useful.

Despite wanting to walk off halfway round, or do something that would get me DQ'd to save the embarassment, I knew the HC-reduced figure probably wouldn't be that bad, and was, in fact, 94, so whilst I did miss my buffer zone, and my HC went up to 27.1, I only missed it by 2 shots.

The weather was appalling, as predicted, and still is today. Nevertheless, I HAVE to get out there again today to remind myself I can still do this. As long as I can..?

Maybe I can't? Maybe I'm just sh1t in competitions. I know, I know, I shouldn't think like that.

I wasn't put in with the Sh1theads

, I was put with a 10 and a 20. The 10 told me not to be too down. He said a lot of it was the weather (I don't think it was, but there it is). He said we've all been there. That was good of him, but my shoulder demon said, "Balls you have. 108? We all have bad rounds, but 108..?"

Only a few days ago, I had that disasterous 99 for HC that depressed me so much. Now I play like this.

Oh well. It's done.

Next week is the Captain's Cup, and the week after I've been asked to play the Club Foursomes event, with a really good player and nice guy (the one I shot the 99 with).

I guess the main thing is, the only thing about looking back that helps is the 'learning from it' process - and I've done plenty of that! I guess everything else should be looking forward.

It really is a game that can bite you in the ass when you least expect it, isn't it?

Scragger63 · #32 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 06:03 AM

Bulldog......

We all have bad days on course, even the Pro's.

I know full well the frustration of a bad shot and the compound effect the resulting "brain fade" can have on a round...

For me, the hard part of golf is (after a really poor shot that leaves you in all sorts of trouble) forgetting "why" the ball is sitting where it is sitting and focus solely on what you need to do next with a clear mind.

That said, you have summed things up so well for yourself, in that you have found the positives the round contained and are now looking forward to your next opportunity to get out and prove to yourself that last round was a "oncer" and a direct result of your not following your own plan.

Mate, what's done is done...

Or something like that...

Cheers

LowPost42 · #33 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 12:01 PM

Sounds like the curse of expectation to me...

slater170 · #34 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 02:21 PM

chin up bulldog

your 1st comp experiences and emotions mirror my own exactly!

i had played well leading up to my 1st comp but like you the weather was less than helpful and i had a completely sh*te round!
2 comps later i had my PB 14 shots less!

a round of golf is a round of golf the only difference between comps and social golf is about 20 yards!

i think its a bit early to state that you are sh*t at competitive golf

lower your expectations mate,relax and enjoy your golf!

bulldog2k · #35 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 04:07 PM

Thanks for support, guys - I'm sure you've all hit the nail on the head. Slats, I know I can't possibly know anything about my ability under pressure at this stage - I was more voicing nagging self-doubt, not least because I'm a bit of a drama queen

Went out today, much better. 95 isn't fabulous, but it's a lot better than 108

Moreover, my fun with the driver continued; I used it on 6 holes and hit 5 fairways (overall stats 7 out of 12 fairways - pretty good for me).

Putting wasn't fabulous; 35 putts but only 20 feet of total sunk putts. Consistent, I guess, but not setting the world on fire.

I still have a problem with the OB on the left from the 6th and 7th tees. I keep finding it time after time. Whilst I guess my natural shot shape has become slightly right to left, I just can feel myself over-doing it. Part of it is turning my wrists over as I swing through (like a 'release' but worse

) and part of it, I suspect is having my weight on my heels and not the balls of my feet. I have to solve this because at the moment the run of holes 6 / 7 / 8 (and as it's a nine hole course, I have to do it twice!) are, at the moment, card wreckers.

Anywhoo... Today was good, and a reminder that, no doubt, days like Sunday will come and go every so often, but the main thing is to keep going.

Cheers for the support guys

Gonna spend a while this evening burying myself into building the club's website. How they've got this far without says a lot about the demographic of the club, but at least the chairman recognises the need! Hmm - a long evening fuelled by cider and wine, with an Internet connection - must stay away from Ebay no matter what

bdbl · #36 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulldog2k

Putting wasn't fabulous; 35 putts but only 20 feet of total sunk putts. Consistent, I guess, but not setting the world on fire.

I enjoy reading your journal Bulldog, and that an interesting pair of stats.

On the face of it 35 ppr sounds fine - and with 18 GIR would make a pretty good round

On the other hand the 20 foot sunk putt figure suggests that you are leaving an awful of putts out there

On good days (like you, the 100+ is still out there on a bad one ) I'm hovering around 90 (on an easyish par 70) with around 32 ppr. On the rare occasions that I'm decently under 90 its not that I play that much better tee to fringe (certainly not 5 out 6 fairways with the driver) but that I chip and putt well (27 or 28 ppr is my lowest).

I know its a cliche but what I've read about the rest of your game I really think investing some time (or money on a lesson) in some chipping and putting practice would have you in the low 90s maybe the 80s in no time.

Good luck anyhow.

bulldog2k · #37 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 08:18 PM

I very much think you're right.

My course has a practise green but to be honest it's not worth the time. It's mown differently, is smaller, and the quality of the grass is not the same.

I think what I need to do is to - on maybe 1 or 2 days a week - totally forget my obsession about playing 18 holes every day, and just go to the course in the evening, walk round the greens, stay out of peoples way, and just spend a couple of hours chipping, pitching and putting.

The legend of the club is the guy that I'm doing the foursomes knockout with, and he regularly goes up early in the morning and walks his dog around the course with a tennis racquet and ball, just working out the lie of the banks and slopes, and on the greens, literally just rolls the tennis ball around and sees what happens to it.

And - you know what?- whilst it wouldn't work for everyone on every course, to me it seems like such a simple and brilliant idea.

So - memo to self - on Wednesday; 9 holes, not 18, but 20 minutes on each green, shared between off-green chips from all round, 30-50 yard pitches from all round, and putts from all round.

Good call, mate - that's really cleared that up in my head!

snowman · #38 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulldog2k

I think what I need to do is to - on maybe 1 or 2 days a week - totally forget my obsession about playing 18 holes every day, and just go to the course in the evening, walk round the greens, stay out of peoples way, and just spend a couple of hours chipping, pitching and putting.

Don't just putt and chip for an hour or two. I usually make a few games to keep the "course pressure" on, otherwise you'll either get bored or not be able to take it to the course.

Game 1: I call it "up and down". I take 5 balls and scatter them on the fringe. now it's your job to try and see how many you can chip on (up) and then one putt (down). At first you may do it once or not at all, but then try and beat your best score. Don't stick to the same part of the fringe, move around and move out to different distances, i.e try a pitch over a bunker, a bump and run, a lob shot or a chip that checks up, but make sure you always try and make the putts after.

Also don't hit too many balls from the same spot, I usually scatter the balls around so every shot is different and then go through my pre-shot routine for each one.

Game 2: This is a real pressure creater. I put 10 balls in a circle around the cup at a distance of about 3-4 feet and say, i'm not leaving until I can make all 10 in a row. You'll start stroking in those first 4 or 5 but then they get harder as the pressure of starting over increases.

I hope this helps. My short game is pretty good but I can always get better, it's my long game that is in the toilet right now.

dunk · #39 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 10:17 AM

I feel your pain, Dog. The worst part is standing there, staring at that bad shot, while your brain replays all the good shots you've hit, and you wonder why you couldn't do it now, in front of people, when it counts.

That'll come, though. I like the idea of practicing the short game, I put a lot of time in on that as well. Tennis balls, eh? Hmmmm...I'm not above stealing a good idea...

now, where am I gonna find a dog?

bulldog2k · #40 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 08:47 PM

Lol, dunk!

Only I could drive 60 miles to give my regular driving lessons (cars, not golf) at a school I always teach at, and then get there to remember it's their half term.

So I head back, and know at least I get to fit in some golf on a day I thought I couldn't

It's gorgeous weather in Bath, and though the course is quite busy, I'm in the mood for some relaxed swing-time.

I realise that my plan of doing nine holes and spending more time around the greens practising isn't going to happen today; I'm not sure why it's so busy - I guess after all the rain, everyone's come out of the woodwork.

I've made a couple of decisions today though. One is to swing slow and easy - to really focus on not hitting on anything. I keep thinking of my dad's swing, so slow I think he's not going to make it all the way through it. That's how I'm going to be today. Slow, easy tempo. Also, I've been enjoying the feeling of - in setting up with the RHD - allowing myself to feels that my right hand is pulling my left hand back on the takeaway to maximise my extension of the left arm.

Finally, I want to use Greg's advice of not beating myself about putting line, but to focus much more on putting speed.

I take the big stick off the 1st tee - you know, this is real progress for me!

It's a big hit, but it's sliding right into the trees, but when I get there, I've got a very do-able forward-ish sideways chip on to the fairway, leaving me 50 to the flag. On to the green, but 3 putt for a 6. Oh well.

2nd tee shot is shanked in to the trees 20 yards right. Here we go. Thin the next shot to the front of the green, chip, 2 putt. 5. Hey that could have been worse.

250 yard par 4. 3 iron off the tee couldn't have been better, the pitch rolls to 8 feet and the birdie putt never looks like missing

Bogey, double bogey, bogey (on my nightmare hole

), bogey on the SI 1! Yeah! Come on!!

A six on the eighth, and a good par on the 9th gives me 43! Awesome! 2 shots below The Plan, and everything feels good. I've come to realise that I don't have to take The Plan absolutely literally. I have enough chances at pars to patch up other stuff.

So - on to the 10th (the 1st, as it were). Big stick again. ****, that's a big hit slicing. FORE RIGHT!!

When I get there, it ain't pretty. Sitting down in heavy rough, and when I set up the impeded stance, I get the familiar feeling of knowing I should call it unplayable, but it's not THAT bad, surely? Luckily, I get it out about 3 metres. I flub the next, leaving me with a do-able shot between 2 trees back on to the fairway. Hit the left tree, and ricochet back but with a clear path in now. Played four, but have to play over the monster bunker that I've never had to get out of. Yet.

I hit the 40 yard pitch more firmly than necessary but at least it's well over, on the green. 2 putts for a 7. Hmm. Not a thing of beauty.

Bogey, bogey, par, bogey. My nightmare tee shot on the 15th (6th) beckons. I concentrate so much on keeping the club face open to avoid my classic draw left OB that I shove it right. It breaks a lot of foliage before richocheting off something and landing in the middle of the narrow fairway 30 yards in front of me. Oh well. It's better than being OB.

I get to the top of the downhill with the 2nd shot and the front of the green with the third. Chip and two putts for a 6, and I'll take that

So it's with a slightly surreal feeling that I step on to the 7th tee for 30, according to The Plan. This is still totally doable. I know that everyone thinks I'm mad for being aware of my score, but I guess it's how I do it. I don't think it would work for everyone and I couldn't swear it works for me, but hey

Using Wireless18, like I said, I have no choice but to know my score

I know this is the tee shot that will make or break this round now. If I let this slide right on to the 17th (8th) fairway, it's a world of trouble. If I try to draw it, there's a lot of OB left, and there isn't much of a gap to aim at between the two. Oh well.

I get caught behind a four ball who make it clear they're not going to let me through. Oh well again. I swallow my annoyance. It's a stupid rule any way.

Swing slow.

Perfect.

Straight, then gently drawing, right down by the drain cover. Honestly, if I'd put it where I wanted it to end up, it couldn't be better. I can't help but smile, waiting for the four ball to get the hell out of the way. The 3 iron is topped to 100 yards, and I take the pitching wedge, knocking it into the casual water from all the weekends rain that lies at the front of the green. Free relief, chip over it, but it rolls furthre than I thought to a nasty bendy 15 footer. I putt that to 3 feet past. Gulp. When I sink that, I punch the air. That feels like a good 6.

Again, I get caught in the tailback on the 17th, and have to wait to tee off. Big stick out, but I really try not to hit it hard, and get it probably 160 yards up the middle of the fairway. That's ok. 3 iron into the front right bunker...

...or is it? When I get there, it's short, leaving me with a nice 30 yard pitch. I don't think, I just do, put it 15 feet past, nasty downhiller back, but it's on the dancefloor. Somehow, I get the bendy downhiller to 1 foot and am delighted to take a 5. You know? This is looking good. I MUST be ahead of The Plan.

Now I look. 84. Gotta take a 5 to break 90. Even if I hit the bunkers at the front, I should be alright, shouldn't I?

*shoulder demon whispers in my ear* shouldn't I?

PW. Right hand pulls it back, try to swing slow and easy.

click

Perfect. There's no doubt that's cleared the bunker, the only question is, is it going to sit down. I look at how high it is. That's going to sit down. I'm even happy to bend down to pick up my tee, before I straighten up to watch it land...

...when it rolls 3 feet. Yeah - that sat down - 12 feet away? Come on, you good for nothing piece of ****. If you can't 2 putt from there, you don't deserve the score anyway.

Gulp...

When I stand over it, it kind of does that Hitchcock Vertigo thing - it zooms out away from me and suddenly looks a lot further away

I hit it, and the speed feels comfortably. And it rolls. And rolls. Stop now. NOW!! 3 feet past.

Yuk. And now my shoulder angel whispers, "Come on. Put this ***** down, and let's go home."

Hit it - and wait. It never looks like missing. RATTLE.

87. 43 out, 44 back. Joint personal best ever, and some really solid (for me) golf. One of those rounds I want to remember

The putting thing was great. 33 total putts, 38 feet of sunk putts. Felt so much happier with it, and totally from just giving myself one thing to concentrate on - putting speed. I didn't ignore the line, of course, but I knew I wasn't going to get it THAT wrong. Great advice, Greg - again!

The takeaway with the right hand, combined with the RHD, felt hugely helpful, and couple with the deliberately easy swing made for some great ball striking.

I hit 3 out of 6 fairways with the driver, but didn't get into any trouble with the other 3! And hit 8 out of 12 fairways altogether.

On the way out, I bumped in to the club captain.

"I shot 87!"
"Great! Well done!"
"Bloody wish I'd done it on Sunday."
"Well, do it on Saturday instead."
"Yeah, I wish."
"You know it's Stableford? Do you know what Stableford is?"
*slightly annoyed* "Err, yeah."
"Last year's was won with 42 points."
*my ears ***** up* "Really? That's what I just scored."
"No - Stableford points."
"Yeah. I just scored 42 Stableford points."
"Really? Well done!"

Don't get me wrong, I don't expect to do it on Sunday. Like Slats said, I need to work on keeping my expectations lower. Even so, it felt kind of nice, in a slightly indescribable way. I guess you probably know what I mean. There's nothing wrong with leaving yourself the dream of "what if..?", is there?

Today was great, laidback, easy, and fun. I can't turn it on and off, and I don't expect I ever will be able to. But while it's 'on', by God, I enjoy it...

slater170 · #41 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 09:05 PM

solid job dog
take the positives from todays round into your next and bin any negatives.
if you can do it once you can do it again!

dunk · #42 (**permalink**) 05-30-2007, 10:08 AM

As we say in my neck o' th' woods, Bulldog...ATTABOY!!!
It's strange, but it seems when one breaks a milestone in this game, it shatters! no just squeaking by, a solid 87! Well done!!
My afternoon Bass will be in your honor, sir! (yep, I can lay my hands on Bass even in the wilds of Kentucky!)

bulldog2k · #43 (**permalink**) 06-01-2007, 08:27 PM

Cheers Dunk!

Ok, had time to blast a quick 18 this morning - The Plan held on both inward and outward 9 - 45 in, 45 out, 9 out of 12 fairways hit (5 out of 6 on holes with the boomstick

), 30 putts (35 feet of sunk putts). Only one GIR! Oops! And two lazy three putts.

I enjoyed it, to tell the truth. It felt pretty consistent for me.

All preparation for tomorrow though; Captain's Day, my second tourney. Hard lessons have been learned from last time, and this time, I'm trying to go out there, swing easy, and enjoy it.

It's Stableford. Do I just mark my opponent's gross score, or am I expected to work out his points per hole as well? (Actually - that goes for me too - do I work out my points or just record my gross in the marker's column?)

Can't wait. Bring it on!

Good luck to all playing over the weekend!

bulldog2k · #44 (**permalink**) 06-02-2007, 07:39 PM

Strange days.

I was a bit peeved this morning - I'd found a really cheap bag on Ebay, and thought - this bag that I've inherited from my folks - it's a bit scabby - would be nice to treat myself - etc. Ran out of time, in the end - couldn't get paypal to play ball and just had to get out of the house to my first lesson.

She phoned in sick when I was half way to Bristol, so when I realised I could bring my other lesson forwards, but still had half an hour to spare, I took my 5 wood and the driver to a local range - the first time I'd been there. Both clubs were pretty successful, actually - I was striking the ball pretty well.

Anywhoo...

I got to the Captain's Day competition frustratingly early, unsure as to whether any of the smaller sidegames would be explained. Nope. Just had to sit around for an hour and half until I teed off. 2nd to last group out. Grr..!

Still, in the meantime, I discovered that when I played the disastrous comp last week, the CSS was actually 64, not 61 as I thought, and therefore my HC didn't go up to 27.1 - it was still 27!

Happy days...

So - I watch my two partners flub their tee shots, and I flub mine too

60 yards, but still on the short stuff. I take a 6, double bogey, but it's Stableford and that works out as a net par = 2 points. Ok by me

Next holes go bogey, par, par, and this is starting to feel a good 'un

A stupid three putt on the 5th gives me a six, but even so it's another 2 points.

The 6th beckons. Man, I hate this tee shot. But it stays in play, tucked up against the drain cover. I toe the shot out right into the woods on the opposite side, and a familiar dejection creeps in. In the woods, I try to punt it on to the fairway, catch a tree and it goes back up the fairway, but still on it. The fourth shot goes to the front of the green, and a chip and a putt is a heavy weather 7. Grr.

7th tee shot - sails beautifully, drawing slightly. Nice. I then play a succession of **** topped shots down the right side of the fairway for a 7. Come on, you piece of ****! Get it together!

The boomstick comes out on the 8th, and I find the middle of the fairway. Not long - they never are - but straight. I'm left with probably 170 yards, and take a gently 5 wood. Hit it beautifully straight - honestly, it feels so good - and I watch it to the front of the green. The chip goes to 4 feet, and I'm left with a nasty putt with a lot of borrow - which rattles in

A great par on the SI 5.

On to the 9th - tee shot so comedy, miles right up the bank - somehow I bring it down on to the green 2 feet away which I sink for par.

One of my playing partners is the size of two normal men, and is the nicest guy ever. He's friendly and supportive, and I must play again with him soon. We have lots of common ground between our games, and are happy to congratulate and commiserate. The third player is a nightmare. Late twenties, and SOOO petulant. Bag throwing, club throwing, club throttling, tantrums. It was like playing with a 5 year old. So ridiculous! When it got as far as him knocking lumps out of the teeing ground, I wondered if I should say something. I probably should have, but didn't. I kind of regret that now. I also got a bit tired of him treading down the grass behind balls in the rough before playing them, and bending branches behind his leg before playing shots, but his score was so bad, it seemed academic. I'd also been warned about his inability to 'add up' correctly - but - you know - I kind of just wanted to concentrate on my game. Now I'm not so sure that was right.

Out in 44, 1 shot under plan, 21 Stableford points. You know what? I have a chance at winning the damned thing!

Back nine: God, it's so hot!! Rush into club house for a drink, then get the boomstick out for the 10th and pile it straight up the middle. The nine iron is hoiked left on to the bank, and I wonder if it'll roll down on to the green but it digs it's heels in and sticks up there. I chip on for a two putt and a bogey 5, but a nett birdie! Bring it on!

Next three holes: Par, par, bogey, and the plan is holding beautifully. Take the boomstick on the 5th and again find the fairway. The 4 iron is topped but straight, and the pitch goes on to the green. My first putt is 5 feet short. When I address the next putt, like an idiot, I touch the ball. I look at it carefully; I'm sure it hasn't moved. I say so. My partner says, "Up to you, mate." I look at it again. I'm sure it hasn't moved. I then hole the five footer for a five.

Walking to the next tee, it runs over in my mind. In the end, I say, "Look, you know what? I want to sleep easy tonight. Put it down as a 6." Both my partners stare at me. "Are you sure?" "Yeah. I'm sure it didn't move but put it down as a 6."

I stand by this. My partner says, "You're going to be gutted if you come one shot behind the leader, aren't you?" Maybe. But still...

6th tee shot find the fairway, but I make heavy weather of it then. My final pitch on to the green doesn't even find it, but is 8 feet away, off the green. Somehow, I hole the putt for a 6. Good stuff.

I stand on the 16th tee for 28. The plan is holding beautifully. I still, though, have some tough shots left.

The 16th tee shot isn't a thing of beauty, but ends up in a great position. Heartened by my play with the 5 wood, I try it again, and top it into the bunker 20 yards ahead of me. Gah! Come on! Hold it together!

I hit a firm PW out of it, but it squirts a long forward and right, just short of the dry water hazard. Good contact with the PW on to the green, but it's long, just behind the green. Two putt from there for a 6 on the SI2. Good result.

The long hit away from me on the 17th beckons. This is one of the few shots left that has the capability to destroy this round. I gulp, before thaking the trusty boomstick again. SMACK!! Straight up the middle. Not long, but they never are. But that's great. 4 iron; slow down. I think of Scrags, not for the first time in this round. Swing easy.

I do, and make great contact, great contact. I watch it sail away, gently drawing, straight into the front left bunker.

Bugger. Come on. Put a lid on it. No heroics. Get it out, 2 putt. We're still ok. But as I walk up to it, I'm thinking, 'Man, I know that's one deep bunker.'

When I get there, again, I'm delighted to see that not only am I three feet short, but that I have a straight chip on to the green -

- which I leave stupidly short, and stupidly three put for a 6. But this is still SI 6, that's still a nett par, and I'm still inside the plan.

18th tee; I've played this shot so many times, both in real life, and in my mind. I take the 9I rather than the PW because it's off the medal tees.

Hit it easy, and breath before I look up. It's hanging up there, gently drawing... Falling... Has it got the legs..? Right between the two front bunkers. Bounce - bounce - roll...

20 feet away, on the dancefloor. COME ON!!!!!

I hit the putt straight, but the three feet of borrow I'd allowed for doesn't happen, and I'm left with a three footer, pin high. Slow.... Swing shoulders, not arms..... RATTLE. I finish on a par.

Back in 43. My joint personal best ever; 87. 42 Stableford points, and I know I'm going to be up there. 32 putts, and 38 feet of sunk putts. 8 out of 12 fairways hit (4 out of 6 with the driver).

Maybe it's easy to say this when I knew I'd played well, but I didn't care. I'd just enjoyed playing well. One of many people I didn't know at the club - remember, I only started playing golf/joined the club 2 months ago) bumped in to me on the way back to club house.

"How'd you do?"
"42."
"Well done! You've won it."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I got 41."

For a moment, I felt terrible. The poor guy had obviously come in ages ago, and was patiently wondering if he'd done enough, calmly asking each group how they'd done, and low and behold, some bastard in the 2nd to last group in beats him by one shot.

But I still don't know - maybe someone in the last group beat me?

We check scores and hand our cards in. I hear someone say, "Who won?" "Ian Garforth - 42." "Who's Ian Garforth?" I meekly put my hand up. "I am."

Everyone is so kind, so full of congratulations. I feel like a celebrity, like in a minute someone's going to pinch me and wake me up. I grab a sandwich and a beer, and sit in shellshock. The fat lady hasn't sung yet.

Luckily, I get a seat on the table of the greenkeeper and the really nice guy I'm playing the foursome with next weekend, and they keep my head straight.

Yeah. I won it. I WON THE DAMNED THING! They call my name out, and I go up to collect the shield, £25, and - would you believe it? (following my failed attempt on Ebay this morning) - a new golf bag.

Photo taken, I still feel mad - people patting me on the back as I walk past. "Well done, mate!" "Good job!"

I still - 2 hours later, wine flowing - feel mad now. This is crazy. What business have I winning tournaments? There were good golfers out there

How the hell did I win?

But I did

My name is on the shield from now on - "2007 - Ian Garforth".

So now is the time for some thank you's that I couldn't do in my short speech.

Thank you to Greg and Brian who cannot possibly imagine the pleasure and happiness their technical expertise and advice has brought me.

To Scrags and Slats for their support and assistance in my mental approach - more than they know

To BDBL, Dunk, Robert O'Keefe, and everyone who's been so supportive on this site. I feel so much part of a community here, and I love that!

So thanks to the institution and community of Golf Tuition Online. Thanks to everyone. For me, as a little ant in the big scheme of things, today was pretty ****ing special, and was a day I'll remember for a long time.

Strange days...

bulldog2k · #45 (**permalink**) 06-02-2007, 07:41 PM

OH - BTW - have to confirm what the CSS was, but I think I'm reduced to 25

That, in some strange way, is something that means more to me than the golf bag...

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