Snowman's Journal, quest for 80s...

Great session at the range today (fathers day). I find that the quality of the range is really important. There are a few near my house, but they either have no grass tees, terribly maintained grass tees, are badly aligned or use limited distance balls (those play havoc with my swing), or really old balls. I went to my favourite range today. I had a great session there a few weeks ago in the rain. I am terrible at the range normally but this range just seems to help me, it's big, has plenty of distance markers, greens (they are painted bright blue, orange, yellow) great grass tee's, you get a huge basket of mint callaway and topflight balls for 9 bucks, heck you even get a ride in a cart out to your tee if it is far on the periphery of the range.

I had a few objectives from this session.
- Continue to hit the 5w sweetly (and straight with a tiny fade)
- Try out my 3w that I put away in the shed as I couldn't hit it.
- Try and get the 24 degree hybrid figured out (keep pushing it way right).
- Work on consistancy of 6i - PW.
- Try and see of I can hit my 5i-3i.

What I do to try and make the range session like a round is to play imaginary holes in my head. So I say, "okay the fairway is between those markers" and then try and see if I can hit that fairway, depending on how well and how far I strike the tee shot I then go for a green with an appropriate iron or a wood. I decided to replay the last round I shot, in my head. This helps me focus and go through my preshot routine and allows me to try and get some consistancy by hitting different clubs rather than beating away with the same club like I see so many others do (anyone can hit ball after ball until they get it right and then get into a rhythm, doesn't help when you get to the course, you get one shot).

Results:
- Out of all the balls (there must have been over 200 in that big bucket) I only hit about 10 of them unsatisfactoraly.
- My 3w, 5w and 7w were superb, I was hitting it really well, effortless.
- The 3w was just flying, I have never hit a golf ball that far, a couple of times I gasped "WTF" as it sailed off into the distance and up to the 250 yard marker.
- Got the hybrid going, I was trying to hit it like an iron before with terrible results, instead I set it up as I would for my 7w and it gave me a really nice straight ball flight, if I can take that to the course it will really help on those 160-170 par 3s and approach shots. The ball would land so softly, I am excited.
- Short irons were great, bit of a wind going right to left and I was drawing them so I had to adjust quite a bit to hit the targets, but I flubbed very few of them, distance control was good too.
- Can't hit my 3i-5i, which isn't really a problem as the 7w and 4h cover those bases.

All in all a great range session I left feeling elated, I hope I can golf again soon and take that great feeling to the course. I have never ever hit 3w shots like I did today and found myself doing a little fist pump, trying to ingrain that great feeling.

I managed to go through my preshot routine on every ball, got focused and managed to have no mechanical thoughts at all, just "smooth take away......send the ball to my target".

The bad shots that I did make usually came after something affected my concentration, i.e grip didn't feel right, didn't feel centred, club went off line on take away as I hit a lump on the grass. My next task is to be able to "step out of the batters box" and reset when this happens. Joseph Parent calls this "an anyway", you know something is not right but you just go and hit anyway, to be able to recognise the signs and step away and reset will come with time and save me a lot of shots. How many times have you miss-hit a ball and then cursed yourself saying "damn, I knew better, I didn't feel ready, why did I just go ahead and swing..arrrgghhh"?

I will sleep well tonight dreaming of those lovely struck shots, letting them ingrain in my subconscious.

__________________
Personal bests:
18 holes - 92 (+21 02/08/06), 92 (+20 24/06/07)
9 holes - 43 (+7 02/08/06), 41 (+7 24/06/07)
Putts (18) - 30 (04/09/07)
Putts (9) - 12 (02/08/06)
Fairways - 11/14 ((02/08/06, 24/06/07, 01/08/08), 10/13 (09/06/07)
GIR - 5/18 (01/08/08)
Pars in one round - 7 (24/06/07)

Lifetime birdie count - 8 Latest - 03/09/08 - 7th hole Kingsway 318 yard par 4
Lifetime eagle count - 1 Latest - 15/06/08 - 4th hole Canadian G&CC 9 hole 481 yard par 5

I guess noone is reading my journal, oh well, i'll keep going so that I will have something to read through when I finally break 90.

I do.

I know exactly what you mean by "stepping out of the batters box". I played on father's day at Emerald Links which has a 257yd par4. The group ahead of us was on the green and I was waiting on the tee box with 3w in hand and planning on going for the green. My bother-in-law kind of convinced me to hit even though these guys were techinically still "in range". Lost my focus and chunked the ball. Not my bother-in-law's fault, but my fault for giving in and knowing I had given in.

I hate when that happens. It's like when you wait and wait for the green to clear and because the wait was so long you rush your swing or put more pressure on yourself because you held everyone up and then you chunk it 50 yards.

I have stopped listening to advice now, I just politely nod and then go about my business. In the past I have been goaded into hitting a driver when I am more comfortable with the 5w, now I just shrug off the peer pressure and then land my 5w in the fairway past all the driver shots in the rough/trees/water.

You probably work or live near the driving range I went to yesterday. 19th tee on Carling Ave. What a beauty that range is, its definitely worth the extra 15 minutes drive for me to hit good balls of nice level grass tees. The large bucket is the biggest I have seen.

__________________
Personal bests:
18 holes - 92 (+21 02/08/06), 92 (+20 24/06/07)
9 holes - 43 (+7 02/08/06), 41 (+7 24/06/07)
Putts (18) - 30 (04/09/07)
Putts (9) - 12 (02/08/06)
Fairways - 11/14 ((02/08/06, 24/06/07, 01/08/08), 10/13 (09/06/07)
GIR - 5/18 (01/08/08)
Pars in one round - 7 (24/06/07)

Lifetime birdie count - 8 Latest - 03/09/08 - 7th hole Kingsway 318 yard par 4
Lifetime eagle count - 1 Latest - 15/06/08 - 4th hole Canadian G&CC 9 hole 481 yard par 5

The 19th is a nice range, but it is a little weird for me hitting to a bright orange "green". My local range is Karter's Korners - the balls are old but I am mainly looking at the ball flight pattern and not distance.

Yes those "greens" are a bit quirky. Still gotta love those Callaway balls.

I have found a soccer field near my house that is perfect for just going out with the LW, SW, AW and working on flight pattern and accuracy. I pace off distances and then try and score a goal with the ball. Was there this morning, although only for 20 minutes (I had the little one with me so I had to leave when she got bored), anyway, I was hitting my target really well with a really nice draw flight.

I am so excited, I think I am on the verge of some very good ball striking rounds (and with that lower scores), I just need to find the time to get to the course to see how it goes.

__________________
Personal bests:
18 holes - 92 (+21 02/08/06), 92 (+20 24/06/07)
9 holes - 43 (+7 02/08/06), 41 (+7 24/06/07)
Putts (18) - 30 (04/09/07)
Putts (9) - 12 (02/08/06)
Fairways - 11/14 ((02/08/06, 24/06/07, 01/08/08), 10/13 (09/06/07)
GIR - 5/18 (01/08/08)
Pars in one round - 7 (24/06/07)

Lifetime birdie count - 8 Latest - 03/09/08 - 7th hole Kingsway 318 yard par 4
Lifetime eagle count - 1 Latest - 15/06/08 - 4th hole Canadian G&CC 9 hole 481 yard par 5

Just back from my 5th round of the year and while I didn't break 90, I did get really close. Broke a couple of my PBs in the process. I will post a hole by hole breakdown when I get the chance. But for now it was:

Front: 4 7 7 6 5 6 5 5 5 = 51 (+13, net +1)
Back: 6 3 5 7 3 4 3 5 5 = 41 (+7, net -5)

Total = 92 a net -4 (68)

Key
Par
Bogie
Double Bogie
Triple Bogie

nice shootin snowman
the 80's cant be too far away

Cheers. It was putting and a few too many poor iron shots that stopped me breaking 90 today. Still I am very happy with a 92 in very testing conditions (the fairways were very hard and bare and the greens rather fast) and I had 3 visits with the water. I will elaborate in my hole by hole breakdown of the round.

Round 5: Les Vieux Moulins, June 2007.

#1 Par 4, 366 yards:
Slightly miss-hit my drive but it hugs the fairway and bounces on the hard pan (this course never waters their fairways and they become baked and like clay) and enters the semi rough. 4h from 160 lands on front of the green and rolls to the back portion of the green. Birdie putt just misses but the ball rolls on the surprisingly slick green. Knee knocker 5 footer for par....centre cup – PAR

#2 Par 4 331 yards. A much better drive but it takes a sideways bounce into the semi rough. Easy 7i from 135....chunk, okay easy 9i from 110, bounced right in front of the flag stick but rolls all the way to the back of the green (wow these greens are hard and fast). Make a right mess of my long putt (didn't break) and end up 4 putting for a disastrous triple bogie.

That was terrible, missed the bogie putt by under an inch and it just kept running by the hole, missed the comeback putt in the same manner this time lipping out, knocked in the next one. Is this the US open or something?

#3 Par 5 472 yards. Big water hazard about 150 from the tee box so I lay up with an 8 iron. Miss-hit it badly but still in the fairway and not wet so it's fine. Grab the 3w to hit it over the fairway and chunk it straight into the hazard right in front of me. Take a bit of a breather, set up and then hit a beauty right down the middle of the fairway (damn, why didn't I do that the 1st time?). So the greens are playing hard and fast so I take a 9i and try to land short of the pin and run up to it. It lands just where I wanted it but rolls way past the pin and now I have a tough downhill putt. Manage to get it close and stagger away with a double bogie 7. I wince with discomfort as it dawns on me I would have had a GIR if I hadn't have chunked that 5w into the pond.

#4 Par 4 410. Regroup and hit a beautiful fade right down the middle of the fairway and it bounced and rolled up to the 150 yard marker (wow a 260 yard 5w). Try and lay up even shorter this time but hook my 7i towards a water hazard, it just clears it before shooting off into an area with a number of tall trees. Manage to hack a SW out, chip on and then 2 putt for a double bogie that could have been so much better. Oh well, shake it off, lots of holes left.

#5 Par 3 147 yards (uphill). I had been looking forward to this one as it looked like a good hole for my 4h that I have been hitting well lately. Pushed the tee shot and sat level with the pin but in the rough with a bunker in front. Hit a delightful LW that then proceeded to roll right over to the opposite fringe, par putt from the fringe then lipped out and what do you know I miss the comeback putt, disaster, another double bogie.

#6 Par 4 322 yards. Another majestic tee shot, right where I wanted it. Yet again I am looking at a decent chance of a GIR, d'oh 7i into the front bunker, right in the upslope in front of the green. Escape the bunker but leave the ball well short and then 3 putt the green, another double bogie, just not my day today it would seem. Irons and putting practice at the range this week I think.

#7 Par 5 456. Another 5w into the fairway and a good lay up 7w to just in front of a water hazard. PW misses the green, chip on and then 2 putt for a bogie.

#8 Par 4 331 yards. Well I broke the run of double bogies and it seemed to give me a lift. I nailed another 5w down the middle but again I miss with an iron in my hand, good chip though and a solid 2 putt for a second consecutive bogie.

#9 Par 5 461 yards. Feel good factor continues with another great 5w tee shot, that's 6 of 8 fairways found so far. Arrive at my ball to find it in somebody's old divot. Try to hit down on it but it squirts out real low and bounces along the fairway, not pretty, not that far, but could have been worse. Lovely 4h land on the green but rolls to the fringe. Putt from the fringe, 17 feet, tracks tight down my intended line and then just lips out, tap in for a satisfying PAR.

Front 9 total 51 (Par 38)

#10 Par 4 321 yards. Another great 5w drive. All my work at the range is paying off. Try and hit short of the green and roll it on but my 9i shot carried just a little too far and the ball landed on the green and rolled all the way to the back. Pin is front so I have a 40-45 foot putt. Needless to say I make another terrible mess of the putting and 4 putt for a all so familiar double bogie.

That 4 putt had me seething with anger as I had hit 2 lovely shots and the slickness of the greens punished me to the full extent again. I manage to cool off and gather myself, "I am playing well, driving the ball well, I need to calm down and focus on these iron shots and putts" I tell myself.

#11 Par 3 170 yards (down hill). Just miss the green with the 4h. Nice delicate chip and a well read putt for a PAR .

#12 Par 4 346 yards. Another 5w down the centre, push my 4h approach into a safe area. Lovely LW onto the green and just miss the par putt, tap in for a bogie.

#13 Par 4 392. Toughest hole on the whole course. Is a straight drive but then the fairway they curves around at 90 degrees to the hole, in between is a huge water hazard.

What makes this hole tough is:
- It's hard to drive it far enough to get a look at the green.
- If you can't see the green you have a tough choice of a very short lay up straight ahead or a longer one over a portion of the water hazard to a tight fairway.
- If you do hit it far enough to see the green you have either a long carry over the water or a slightly less long carry to the fairway.
- When carrying the water, short left and right and long right are all wet.

I manage to hit my 5w really well and have a really good view of the green. What happened next will haunt me as I sleep tonight (an probably until I break 90, LOL). I can't decide between my 7w and 4h and stupidly I take the 4h and go for it (idiot always take a club more), SPLASH! I take a drop on the fairway near where I crossed the hazard. I take a club extra this time but top it...SPLASH. Hit another 8i and this time made it, and 1 putt for a triple bogie. 7

What a mess, I really should have got their first time with the 7w, instead I end up with a 7 that could have been even worse had I not a) hit the green and b) 1 putted.

#14 Par 3 157 yards.

My frustration still apparent, I make a real mess of the tee shot, but at least it is not wet (shares same hazard as 13). During the walk to my ball I try and gather myself, "keep the focus, good things will happen, so a couple of things haven't gone my way, irons could be better, putting has been a struggle, just trust yourself".

The little pep talk worked as I then proceeded to hit a beautiful LW to 3 feet, tap in PAR.

#15 Par 4 404 yards. Another good 5w shot onto the fairway. A long 180 to go as it is uphill, so I reach for my trusty 5w and hit my best shot of the day, right up and onto the green. Just miss the birdie putt, but steady myself and roll in the par putt. PAR!

#16 Par 3 163 yards (up hill). 7w hit a bit too pure, flies over the flag stick and onto the back fringe. Tough long downhill putt, tap it and it damn near goes in, I read the break really well. Then as you may have already guessed, it keeps on trickling US open style to the bottom of the green. Take a deep breath and roll the 18 foot par putt back up the hill and into the cup for a very satisfying PAR .

That one prompted a roar of delight and a tiger style fist pump.

I walk on air to the 17th tee. I can almost hear the roars of the gallery showing their delight after 3 consecutive pars.

#17 Par 4 322 yards. Another tee shot finds the fairway, that's 11/13 now! 7i hit a little fat to just in front of the green. Nice chip on and then just missed the par putt. 4 pars in a row would have been unheard of for me. Tap in bogie.

#18 Par 5 447 yards (up hill). Tee shot just misses the fairway, but 11/14 equals my best ever. Then I get a little greedy and try for the green in two, doesn't come off and leaves me with a tough wedge shot over a tree. Manage to plop it onto the front of the green and then hit a multi-breaking putt to about 5 feet. Roll in the putt to finish off with a PAR.

That's 7 pars (4 in 5 holes) and a new PB for me (see below). Also broken was best 9 hole total 41, but this still equals a 43 made elsewhere (both +7).

Back 9 total 41 (par 34)

51+41 = 92 gross

net 39 (+1) + net 29 (-5) = net 68 (-4)

Handicap fell from 24 to 23.5!!!

__________________
Personal bests:
18 holes - 92 (+21 02/08/06), 92 (+20 24/06/07)
9 holes - 43 (+7 02/08/06), 41 (+7 24/06/07)
Putts (18) - 30 (04/09/07)
Putts (9) - 12 (02/08/06)
Fairways - 11/14 ((02/08/06, 24/06/07, 01/08/08), 10/13 (09/06/07)
GIR - 5/18 (01/08/08)
Pars in one round - 7 (24/06/07)

Lifetime birdie count - 8 Latest - 03/09/08 - 7th hole Kingsway 318 yard par 4
Lifetime eagle count - 1 Latest - 15/06/08 - 4th hole Canadian G&CC 9 hole 481 yard par 5

Positives and negatives for round 5:

+ves

+ 5w was on fire. Hit 10 fairways out of 13 with it (took an 8i off the tee on the Par 5, 3rd). Was solid off the deck as well on holes #7 and #15.

+ 7 pars for a personal best.

+ 11/14 fairways for a equal personal best

+ +20 for 18 and +7 for 9 both equal my personal best

+ handicap index (RCGA) fell from 24 ro 23.5.

+ putting got better as round went on.

+ stayed calm after a stretch of 5 bad holes to pull it together and almost break 90 for the first time.

+ short game (excl putting) was rather good, some nice LW shots and good chipping.


-ves

- iron shots were poor today. I was happy with 3 out of 12.

- only 4 GIRs after all the decent tee shots. Missed 10 greens inside 150 yards.

- putting was rather poor at the start of the round (#2, #3, #4, #5, #6) and on one of the later holes (#10).

- bad decisions on a few holes cost me dearly (holes #3, #13).

__________________
Personal bests:
18 holes - 92 (+21 02/08/06), 92 (+20 24/06/07)
9 holes - 43 (+7 02/08/06), 41 (+7 24/06/07)
Putts (18) - 30 (04/09/07)
Putts (9) - 12 (02/08/06)
Fairways - 11/14 ((02/08/06, 24/06/07, 01/08/08), 10/13 (09/06/07)
GIR - 5/18 (01/08/08)
Pars in one round - 7 (24/06/07)

Lifetime birdie count - 8 Latest - 03/09/08 - 7th hole Kingsway 318 yard par 4
Lifetime eagle count - 1 Latest - 15/06/08 - 4th hole Canadian G&CC 9 hole 481 yard par 5

[quote=snowman;10540422]Positives and negatives for round 5:
-ves
- iron shots were poor today. I was happy with 3 out of 12.
- only 4 GIRs after all the decent tee shots. Missed 10 greens inside 150 yards.
quote]

Hi Snowman

I speak with all the authority and experience of someone who had his clubs adjusted for the first ever time a month ago following advice via PM from LowPost.

Missing those greens might not be all your fault. I had my lie adjusted almost 2 degrees upright and, subjectively at least, my accuracy has improved.

I'm not sure what the variation off line is per degree out (but others can tell us) and for sure I'm still capable of just carelessy misaligning my shots but I am finding more greens with my "<150 approaches".

Sadly depending on my tee shot that doesn't necessatily equate to GIR and when it does my putting goes awry under the excitement / pressure of a birdie putt but thats a different story.

The point is that missing those greens after a good drive might not be just you it could be your clubs not helping - as a convert to this stuff I'd suggest you get them checked and altered if necessary.

__________________
I firmly believe that we should try to experience all that life affords, except, perhaps, bestiality and of course Morris Dancing.

I usually check my lie angles with some black tape and a rough surface to swing on. Haven't done that in a while so maybe I am due.

My misses were all over the place though, no consistency. I had improved with my irons of late and I think that 2 things affected my iron play yesterday. 1) Playing off very hard dry fairways I caught a number of them slightly fat, causing the club face to bounce into the ball, hence the unpredictable results. I think I should have moved the ball back an inch.
2) the more I missed, the more the anxiety grew. I was guilty of steering or looking up on more than one occasion.

Thanks for the input though. I will definitely check the lie angles and get them adjusted if need be. Otherwise some time at the range to work on my iron play and perhaps I will be playing at a course that actually water and maintain their fairways.

__________________
Personal bests:
18 holes - 92 (+21 02/08/06), 92 (+20 24/06/07)
9 holes - 43 (+7 02/08/06), 41 (+7 24/06/07)
Putts (18) - 30 (04/09/07)
Putts (9) - 12 (02/08/06)
Fairways - 11/14 ((02/08/06, 24/06/07, 01/08/08), 10/13 (09/06/07)
GIR - 5/18 (01/08/08)
Pars in one round - 7 (24/06/07)

Lifetime birdie count - 8 Latest - 03/09/08 - 7th hole Kingsway 318 yard par 4
Lifetime eagle count - 1 Latest - 15/06/08 - 4th hole Canadian G&CC 9 hole 481 yard par 5

Round 6: Pine View

Here goes with the latest installment of my quest for breaking 90 and then consistent scoring in the 80s.

Played a fun afternoon game with my brother and 2 friends at a local course called Pine View. Here's how it went.

Hole #1: Par 5 509 yards.
Nervous start with a drop-kicked tee shot and then a huge slice into tall grass, settled down with a decent approach but then hit my wedge too far, had to chip back on and a one putt meant I escaped with a double bogie 7 .

Hole #2: Par 4 357 yards.
Much better, lovely 5w shot right up the centre of the fairway coming to rst at the 150 marker. Thinned the 7i just a little and it ran out past the flag and onto the fringe, chip and 2 putt for a bogie .

Hole 3: Par 3 140 yards.
Hit what felt like a well struck 8i but lost sight of it at it left the clubhead, get up to the green to find it pin high but in a greenside bunker. Sand looked dry but was wet underneath and I ended up leaving the ball in the bunker, decide to chip it out instead and find the green. First putt just misses the cup but then catches the break and rolls to the front of the green, 2nd putt on line but not hard enough, tap in for a head scratching triple bogie 6 .

Hole #4: Par 4 404.
Another great 5w shot, right down the middle. Have about 190 left so decide to lay up with a smooth 7w, hit it really pure and for a second looked to be heading right for the pin only to hop right upon bouncing and into a greenside bunker. Decide on a chip out of the bunker (as it is probably also really wet underneath). Decided right as the ball pops out and comes to rest 6 ft from hole. Knock in the putt for a great scrambled PAR .

Hole 5: Par 5 464 yards. Tee shot up middle, lost 2nd shot a little right, wedge onto green. Make a mess of the birdie putt and end up with a highly annoying 3 putt bogie .

Hole 6: Par 4 418. Tee shot favouring middle but then drifts a little right. Approach shot with a 4h pushed way right into tall grass. Find ball and decide on an unplayable, drop and then proceed to hit my wedge shot over a bunker, and over the green, chip on and 2 putts for a most dissatisfying triple bogie 7 .

Hole 7: par 3 200 yards. Hit 5w on this long par 3, slice it a little and have another wedge over a bunker, again hit it too long and have to chip back, 1st putt doesn't fall so have to settle with a double bogie 5 .

Hole 8: par 4 389 yards. Great tee shot gives me a big boost. When I get to the ball I get an even bigger boost as I realise that there was a drainage ditch across the fairway and I just missed it. Pure 7w onto green and 2 putts for a nice PAR .

Hole 9: par 4 430 yards. Great tee shot to middle of fairway, sitting about 160 out but uphill, struggle to decide between 4h or 7w. Pick 4h....wrong decision, comes up short and then an all to familiar wedge shot goes too far. Cap it off with an horrific 3 putt. Double bogie 6.

Front 9 total: 50 .
Looks like 89 or better is out of the equation, so decide to just stay focussed on each shot, have fun and see what happens. I figure that I can still help my handicap from here and that is the main thing.

Hole #10: par 4 345 yards.
Great tee shot to start off the back 9. Find myself between clubs and again choose the wrong one, coming up short with my 9i but still finding the green. Lag a nice putt up to the hole and roll in a very pleasing PAR putt .

Hole 11: Par 5 493 yards.
Great tee shot, I am really doing well off the tee these days. Shot 2 was shot of the day and superb 5w off the deck flies even further than my tee shot and I am 30-35 yards from the flag. Wow, never been that close to a Par 5 green in 2. My excitement doesn't last too long as I flub my wedge and it barely gets onto the green . Then I bloody 3 putt for a bogie. Dammit, I managed to cover 460 yards with 2 shots and then take 4 to go the last 35 yards.

Hole #12: Par 3 153 yards. 7i comes up just a little short but a good chip and a well read breaking putt land me a nice PAR

Hole #13: Par 5 516 yards. Dammit, tee shot is a huge slice, but find the ball and have a tough decision on whether to go for it or take my medicine and pitch back into fairway. Choose neither as I notice I could probably hit a decent shot under a tree to a decent spot on the fairway. Comes off well but my 3rd shot was less than well struck and comes up short. No matter could have been much much worse, I am now sitting 3 with a SW in hand.....SHANK....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Luckily the ball is still in play, have another all to familiar half-pitch over a bunker to a tucked pin, hit it too far and just escape the bunker on the other side of the green. Chip on and then my putt lipped out ARRRRRRGGGGGHHH!!! Nasty nasty 8 on a fairly straightforward hole. .

Hole #14: Par 3 181 yards. Another long par 3, miss a little right and guess what? I have a half-pitch over a bunker, hit this one pretty well but it runs to the fringe behind the hole, putt from the fringe and then tap in the bogie putt...phew that could have been a lot worse .

Hole #15 Par 4 419 yards. Great tee shot but find ball in a divot. manage to get a decent shot on the ball but it flies much lower and doesn't make the green. Hmmm half wedge shot eh? Hmmmm all the others have gone past the pin, no bunker in front of me this time, i'll aim a little short and let it release to the hole..........fat chance this lands and sticks like a dart, inevitable 3 putt leaves me shaking my head again double bogie 6 .

Hole #16 Par 3 158 yards. Good contact with the 4h but it flies a little too far, chip on but upon landing on the green the ball hits something and jumps straight up and stops on landing. Throw offending twig off the green and look at a tough breaking downhill putt. With the 3 putt from 15 still fresh in my mind I shake off the negative thoughts and pick a spot to roll it to and it hits it and tracks straight into the cup for PAR.

Hole #17: Par 4 348 yards. Tee shot is not great but in the fairway. Get to the ball to see that I have no clear view of the green to I just lay up to infront. Again, I overhit my wedge, but manage to gather myself and 2 putt for a double bogie 6 .

Hole #18: Par 4 407 yards. 210 yard tee shot leaves me just under 200 to the centre of the green, it is slighly uphill but the pin is at the front so I decide on another 5w and just, just miss rolling it up onto the green. Great chip shot putts me nice and close and I steady myself to roll in PAR number 6 of the round . Great finish, and save for a few bad shots/decisions a great back 9 performance.

Back 9 total: 44

Total for 18: 50+44 = 94

Course handicap for me was 24 so 94-24 = net 70, therefore a net -1.

Handicap dropped from 23.5 to 23

__________________
Personal bests:
18 holes - 92 (+21 02/08/06), 92 (+20 24/06/07)
9 holes - 43 (+7 02/08/06), 41 (+7 24/06/07)
Putts (18) - 30 (04/09/07)
Putts (9) - 12 (02/08/06)
Fairways - 11/14 ((02/08/06, 24/06/07, 01/08/08), 10/13 (09/06/07)
GIR - 5/18 (01/08/08)
Pars in one round - 7 (24/06/07)

Lifetime birdie count - 8 Latest - 03/09/08 - 7th hole Kingsway 318 yard par 4
Lifetime eagle count - 1 Latest - 15/06/08 - 4th hole Canadian G&CC 9 hole 481 yard par 5

Well done, old chap! 44 back esp pleasing - out of interest, what do you mean by 'course handicap'? Something you set yourserlf as a target for that particular course?