Gof in General
Saturday October 16, 2010 7:47am
I play it because I enjoy it, I have fun and some frustration. When you know you can do better, but don’t – it becomes a thorn in your side. All golfers can relate, but sometimes we forget when others are having more difficulties than we are. Learning to work at getting better and not letting the frustration build up is what it’s all about.
I played in a tournament at State Line Primm in Nevada and played both the Desert and Lakes courses. They were beautiful and you couldn’t find anything to complain about as far as the maintance was concerned. The way I played left a lot to be desired, especially my putting. I gave myself a number of birdie opportunities and could not make the putt for birdie or par. I have switched putters 4 times now and still haven’t found the one that feels right or that I feel comfortable hitting. It’s kind of like the other clubs in the bag, when you hit the ball on the sweet spot (the feeling) travels up your arms and over your whole body, and you know that you made a wonderful shot. The same goes with the putter – you know when your making a good stroke and the contact with the ball sends the ball rolling into the cup.
This sport is like the other sports, practice is practice, but when you’re playing in a game you have to rely on the skill that the practice should produce. You can’t address the ball and be thinking about what you need to do next. If you let the practice mumbo jumbo into your head then you’re beat before you start. Seperation is what must be learned and adheard to. It all seems so simple but you never do what you write or think about. You just start trying to figure out what went wrong or why this is happening and so you step up to the ball with a clouded mind instead of a clear one!
Golf is fun and I enjoy the game!
Shannon Hills Golf Club
Saturday July 10, 2010 2:16pm
I played a round at Shannon hills yesterday 7/9/10. I played with 3 guys who were high school teachers in the LA area. They played from the blue tees and I joined them. It's been several months since I played off the blue tees but I figured what the heck. Over the years I've learned not to try and compete with the young guys who hit the ball so far. I just played my game and shot a 96 with a 23 handi cap gave me a 73 for 1 over. I missed 3 birdie attemps but had 5 pars. My game continues to improve, or maybe I should say I take one step forward and two back, but I can see what areas I need more practice. I'm goning to play in the Hi-Desert Golf game on Monday at Spring Valley Lake. It will be my first time on that course and I'm looking forward to it.
I must say that I think youth is wasted on the young, watching these young kids knock the ball a mile but going everywhere. I couldn't keep count of the number of times they hollered 4 when an errant shot made its way towards other golfers. Been there done that and I'm glad I've learned how to keep the ball in play, not always in the fairway but not so far right or left that I'm playing explorer golf.
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.
Golf %^#$@
Monday June 21, 2010 1:51pm
What is it about this game that is so preplexing, confusing, and just downright bad? I played one round in the high 80's, two rounds in the 90's at Apple Valley, then I went and played a round at Green Tree Golf Course with my son on Fathers day and shot a 105. Nothing felt right, my set up at address, my putts, and though we weren't, I felt rushed. We played the round in less than 3 hours and by the time we were through I thought "damm what happened?" I guess I need to go back to the drawing board and start over, learn to take my time and not let anyone (including myself) hurry me along. I need to stop, look and listen (maybe pray) then take the shot. I want to play in tournaments but at this rate I don't want to embarass myself. I certainly understand that we all have good days and bad and some rounds are better than others, but when the wheels come off you had better just hang on and pray that you can find them again.
Life is good and so is GOLF, especially if I take what happens with a grain of salt. (makes it taste better and go down easier)
It's just GOLF, learn to live with it.! 
