3/29/11 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good: When I'm focused, I feel like I finally have a swing I can trust......sorta!

The Bad: I lose focus more than a hyper active toddler!

The Ugly: My score!

The last two times I've gone out I've met, and played with, someone....and their boss. Last Friday it was Jeff and his boss Mike. Today it was Eric and his boss Heidi. I had fun both times, but I learned the same lesson twice which I will address later. I use the term boss lightly, because the employees and bosses did. It's good to know that the professional and personal lines can be blurred for golf.

Mike and Jeff work in Information Systems for Carolina's Medical Center in uptown Charlotte. They were enjoying a day off with a leisurely round of golf. Mike said that he was just Jeff''s boss temporarily but Jeff, however, was still on call because his wife is preggers and apparently due at any moment. I'm surprised he was able to get out for a round of golf! I caught up to them at Sunset Hills, where I wanted to get some practice in on an easier course. The thing about practice is that it's only as good as you make it, and lately, I haven't been making much of it. We all had our issues whether it be off the tee, or on approach shots. Some times both. Jeff and Mike were light hearted fellows just looking to have fun, and once every one became more acquainted, I think we all settled down and hit some good shots. I made par on the eighteenth hole which was a good way to end a less than stellar round

I shot a one-something on an easy course mainly because I kept flubbing wedge and short iron shots, and then four putting. A total lack of concentration. I used to blame my astronomical scores on my driving, but apparently my whole game is suspect. Thanks for letting me play with you guys Mike and Jeff. I hope to see you on the course again soon!

Today, I went to good ole Renaissance Park golf course. People either love the course or hate it. I love to play it, but hate the scores I take. I think I'm traumatized because Renaissance is one of the first course I played. It's a long course and has a lot of trouble. I think I lost a dozen brand new balls in one round there last year. Actually, I don't think....I know. I was hittin 'em good on the range until a piece of divot hit me in the eye. I figured it would rub out but it didn't. I tried to wash it out, but still no luck. So, I just sucked it up and played with blurry vision in one eye. I'm not very good with two good eyes, but oh well. Rich came out and met me for what is becoming our weekly round. He just hates the course and he reiterated that fact on several occasions. I like that he has a passion for playing, and is trying to get better. I can see improvements each round. A lesson would probably be good for him. I'm sure Brad at GolfTec has some good counsel for him. Brad taught me a few basics that have helped me as I've crafted my own swing.

Anyways, Eric was playing by himself, and caught up to us on about the fourth hole. He joined, and then said his boss was going to meet us on the back nine. Eric was pretty long off the tee. He should probably play with my boy Kevin, and they can have pissing contests with their drivers. No, seriously, Eric was a solid player, and he said he tries to play three or four times a week. For playing with one eye, I was making good contact. I think having one eye made me focus on the ball more. Although, it did screw up my depth perception and gave me a headache. Once again though, I was killing myself with wedges and short irons. On holes that I should have been putting for birdie, I was routinely putting for bogey or double because I couldn't hit a sand wedge 50 yards in the right direction. I made par on the eighth and then blew up on the ninth hole, and that's when I really lost what little focus I had.

Eric warned us about his Boss, Heidi. They work at Coyote Joe's in Charlotte. Eric is a bartender and Heidi is the bar manager. I might have to stop by and get a drink or twelve because I've heard that Coyote Joe's is a good time. Back to golf. Eric told us, "She hits it long and straight." He wasn't lying. I think she hit every fairway and I'm pretty sure she out drove me most of the time. She drove one so straight, that she had to move the 150 yard marker to hit her second shot. She said that she grew up playing with her dad. Just like at Sunset Hills, It took a little while for everyone to get comfortable, but after a few holes we were having fun. Or at least they were. I was mad at myself for losing focus again, which only made me play worse. I'm noticing a pattern. Rich actually played better, and even birdied the par 5 fifteenth hole. I was just lost. I could hardly keep up with my score. Or maybe I just didn't want to. Eric and Heidi were cool, and eventually, I remembered what I always remember. I'm not very good, and it's a blessing to be able to play. I do want to get better though.

Which leads me to my self observation. I've gotten better with my irons. I'm more confident in my distances. I can use the hybrid off the tee. My last two round have been lost to focus. The problem is that golf is for obsessively compulsive people who pay absolute attention to details. No offense, but people who have five locks on their door, and lock them in a certain order repeatedly until they feel safe would probably do well at golf. People who count their footsteps, would probably be excellent golfers. The point is, you have to be ridiculously consistent to play golf well, and that hasn't always been my strongest trait. Don't judge me, I'm trying. The desire to organize my golf game is making me more organized in other aspects of my life. My third grade teacher, Mrs. Nelson, always said, "Organization is the key to success!" She was so right. I lose focus because I'm not organized and consistent. The loss of focus makes my already shaky mechanics go tot hell, and then I get frustrated. Such a vicious cycle, but I'm driven, so I'll get better. Time to meditate!

Westport with Rich

Rich and I went out to Westport on Monday. I like taking people to Westport because it always exceeds their expectations. The course is in good condition, and most people like the layout. My only gripe is that the greens are a little slow. I'm still learning about grass types and green speeds, but I know when I have to blast my putts to get a good roll on them. Westport is located in Denver, North Carolina, which from northwest Charlotte is not a bad drive. It's rarely crowded and the twilight rate is $25.

I thought I played well, but I shot a snowman(8 strokes)on the first and last holes and ended up with a 101. That's a combined seven strokes over par on two holes. Even if I would have just bogeyed both holes I would have been in the mid-nineties. Just like all amateurs, I add strokes in the short game. The wedge mishits are killing my game and I don't make enough ten to twelve foot putts to make up for the flubs. My iron play is getting longer and more reliable. I finally understand the coordination of the hips and hands in my swing. I can almost repeat it consistently which allows me to focus on specific aspects of my swing without thinking about the whole process while I'm practicing. When I'm actually playing a (semi)competitive round, I don't want to have to think at all. The less thoughts the better.

My goal is to break ninety (yes 90) in a round in this calendar year even if it's from the ladies tees! I'm only kidding a little bit. I'll need my driver to accomplish my goal, so if you need me, I'll be at the range!

I think I Need a Shrink!

Until recently, I wondered why athletes needed sports psychologists. How could talking about mommy and daddy issues help an athletes performance? Now I understand! Even when things are going as well as possible in my life, it is extremely difficult to block out irrelevant thoughts while I'm standing over a golf ball. I have to constantly talk to myself throughout a round in order to maintain minimal focus. Once I've exorcised the demons in my head the issue becomes getting my body to do what my mind thinks. Assuming what I'm thinking is correct, coordinating the mind and body is still very difficult. Recently, I'm having trouble hitting my wedges during rounds. I hit them fine during practice time, but during a friendly round, I completely mishit the majority of my wedge shots. I understand that it's almost impossible for amateurs to have all aspects of their game working at the same time, but I practice with my wedges more than any other clubs. I consider them the foundation of what little game I have. I figured I could hit a wedge from the tee to the green. Not so much my last three rounds. So, my irons are improving and my wedges are regressing. My driver comes and goes like a teenager without a curfew, so I don't depend on it right now. I know it's all mental but I'm having to resist urges to throw my faithful wedge in to the nearest body of water. I need help for my wedge complex! Even if it means lying on a couch and talking about my childhood for an hour.

Golf in Paradise!

I recently traveled to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands where I was able to play a round of golf at Carambola Golf Club. My hostess Jen has a few friends who work at the club and were gracious enough to help me out with a tee time. I have to say thanks to Carl and Scott for hooking me up! Stephanie and Jen weren't thrilled about waking up at 6:30 am so that I could make my tee time, but they were going to hang out at the beach, which was some consolation. Thanks Ladies!

The weather was perfect. When I arrived at 7:30 am it was 75 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. I paid $35 to rent my clubs, and the pro shop threw in some range balls and tees as well. The clubs were Top-Flite XL 5000's. Not that it mattered to me or my score, but they were a decent set of clubs. I hit them well enough on the range (even the driver) and felt ready to tackle the course. I walked over to what I thought wasthe first tee and smashed a drive about 270 yards right down the middle of the fairway. I ended up making a seven on the hole and then moved on to number 2 which I realized was actually number 11. I was riding around as if I'd never been on a golf course before but, since I made a seven, I decided to find hole number one and start my round over. On my second first hole, I hit my drive a little right and off the fairway. I was about 140 yards from the flag with a tree between me and the green. At first I thought about taking a low lofted club and hitting under the trees. Then I realized a real golfer would go over the trees. So I grabbed my 9 iron and stuck it about 12 feet from the flag. I actually felt like I knew what I was doing. That feeling lasted all of one hole. I two putted for par and moved on to the real number 2. This is whennovices including myself completely forget everything we think we know and start hitting golf shots that look like slap shots in hockey with every club we swing. I did this for the about seven holes. I seriously couldn't get the ball off the ground. I'm an admitted badgolfer, but when I go from hitting a Mickelsonesque shot over trees to impersonating Sidney Crosby with a driver, it's still frustrating.

Finally, I looked around and remembered that I was on a beautiful island surrounded by picturesque mountains, and playing a $35 round of golf on a top notch course. Life is good. Once my perspective changed, I was able to recall the few fundamentals that I practice constantly on the range at home. I choked down on my 7 iron took an abbreviated swing and started making crisp contact. After a while the other clubs felt better in my hands as well, and the round was generally more enjoyable because I remembered that I'm not very good and stayed within my limitations!

The moral of the story is to always enjoy the round of golf you're playing because it is a fun game, and a blessing to have the time and physical ability to play. I also learned that my game travels well. I can shoot a 100+ at any course in the world! Until next time......hit 'em good!