stickputter
stickputterBROWSE REGISTRIES

Member Since:
   June 2010


On the Course
Monday June 28, 2010 6:51am

     Played a round at Apple Valley yesterday Sunday the 27th, and shot 101, my index is 20.5 which is a 23 handicap so ended with a net 78 = +7. Trying to put each round in perpesctive and looking to improve. I played in the afternoon and the temp was 98 degrees. I lived in Needles for 12 years so I've played in temps that were in the 120's before but with each passing year I'm noticing the heat and it is starting to wear me down. I made 1 green in regulation and hit 7 fairways off the tee. My distance wasn't very good, I'm not a long ball hitter to begin with but the balls yesterday just weren't going that far. In the last 5 rounds that I've posted I've had 1 eagle, no birdies, 12 pars, 31 boggies, 22 doubles and 6 others. My rounds have been 95, 89, 91, 105 and 101. Not very consistent, and I'm looking forward to playing more often if life doesn't get in the way. There are 4 public courses relatively close by where I live all within 25 miles, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Ashwood and Greentree, with a couple of private courses I can play in the Hi-Desert Golf events which include Silver Lakes and Spring Valley Lake. As some of my scores have shown I have game, but it's not always there when I want it.

     There was a question posted about identifing sandbaggars, and sometimes when I play in a tournament with such a high handicap and shoot a good round, I think people think I'm a sanbaggar, but I just never know what game I bring to course. Sometimes when you play your mind is not there 100% of the time, and so your game is off. When one bad shot turns to two and three you want to quit and give up. When the wheels come off, we high handicappers just look that much worse. Embarrassed and feeling like no one else has experianced this humliation, and knowing that at one time or another everyone has, still doesn't make things feel any better.

     I just need to practice, practice, and practice. The more you play the better you know your clubs, and what they can do when their in your hands.  Knowing the distance you hit each club and not letting it bother you when you hit a 5 iron and the rest of the group are hitting 8 and 9 irons. If I can put the ball on the green, what difference does it make which club I hit? So much of this game can be macho if you let it. I play with my son and a neighbor who are both in their 30's and they swing so hard and get so disscussted when the ball goes in all different directions. I try to tell them to slow down and I get yeh, yeh, yeh, but swoosh goes their next swing.