So, apologies for the long post.
I think being held accountable is big. So if anyone else wants to join this thread, by all means, we have jackets.
Here’s where I am, trying to keep this short: always loved golf—covered it, written about it, studied it—but I couldn’t play a whole lot until this summer. Couldn’t love the game more, now that I can get out.
I broke 89 a month ago—had never broken 100 before. I’m hitting a good 40 yards father on everything, somehow. Mostly scoring in the low 90s. But I’m wildly inconsistent/inaccurate and have seen all of this improvement entirely through “feel,” no instruction or anything like that. After years of playing about once a year, I’ve just adjusted based on how I feel on each swing.
I’m thrilled with the distance—average drive of about 260-265, long of 320, hitting irons much, much farther—and if I can bring it more toward the center, I might be able score low (I’m aware, though, how much harder each step of improvement is). I’m currently building a handicap through USGA and need another round. It should be in the low 20s.
I really, really want this. And I really want to get my handicap down below 18 this year (everyone on this site knows the significance of that number). I’m not going to go into it now, but the chance to participate in something like that? I truly, genuinely can’t begin to describe what something like that would mean. I never thought something like that would be possible again. It’s a dream.
Now, if that never happens, it would be somewhat of a shame (to me), but in the end, not the end of the world. The true value of this place isn’t that event, it’s the crazy positivity and support from its members. That was evident in about four seconds after signing up. And if not, well in the meantime I played a lot of golf and had some good times with good people. Win-win.
So here’s the pledge, so to speak.
I’m going to get lessons from a local pro, who I’ve checked up on (he’s also been helping my father, actually—he’s 69 and you wouldn’t believe the progress he’s made).
1. I’m going to spend at least two hours a week at the range/putting green, fine-tuning my game.
2. I’m going to play at least 18 holes a week (this is due to work—my hope is 27-36, but I’m a realist).
3. And I’m going to search, study and apply at least one lesson/insight from a website or magazine, whether it’s mental or mechanical, a week. I’ll work with a trainer but I’m a writer, and what we do well is study and research.
Maybe this is a little ridiculous (Sorry!). But I want this down on paper and not where I’m the only one who knows about it. If people want to add their own stuff, the more the merrier.
Cheers.
I think being held accountable is big. So if anyone else wants to join this thread, by all means, we have jackets.
Here’s where I am, trying to keep this short: always loved golf—covered it, written about it, studied it—but I couldn’t play a whole lot until this summer. Couldn’t love the game more, now that I can get out.
I broke 89 a month ago—had never broken 100 before. I’m hitting a good 40 yards father on everything, somehow. Mostly scoring in the low 90s. But I’m wildly inconsistent/inaccurate and have seen all of this improvement entirely through “feel,” no instruction or anything like that. After years of playing about once a year, I’ve just adjusted based on how I feel on each swing.
I’m thrilled with the distance—average drive of about 260-265, long of 320, hitting irons much, much farther—and if I can bring it more toward the center, I might be able score low (I’m aware, though, how much harder each step of improvement is). I’m currently building a handicap through USGA and need another round. It should be in the low 20s.
I really, really want this. And I really want to get my handicap down below 18 this year (everyone on this site knows the significance of that number). I’m not going to go into it now, but the chance to participate in something like that? I truly, genuinely can’t begin to describe what something like that would mean. I never thought something like that would be possible again. It’s a dream.
Now, if that never happens, it would be somewhat of a shame (to me), but in the end, not the end of the world. The true value of this place isn’t that event, it’s the crazy positivity and support from its members. That was evident in about four seconds after signing up. And if not, well in the meantime I played a lot of golf and had some good times with good people. Win-win.
So here’s the pledge, so to speak.
I’m going to get lessons from a local pro, who I’ve checked up on (he’s also been helping my father, actually—he’s 69 and you wouldn’t believe the progress he’s made).
1. I’m going to spend at least two hours a week at the range/putting green, fine-tuning my game.
2. I’m going to play at least 18 holes a week (this is due to work—my hope is 27-36, but I’m a realist).
3. And I’m going to search, study and apply at least one lesson/insight from a website or magazine, whether it’s mental or mechanical, a week. I’ll work with a trainer but I’m a writer, and what we do well is study and research.
Maybe this is a little ridiculous (Sorry!). But I want this down on paper and not where I’m the only one who knows about it. If people want to add their own stuff, the more the merrier.
Cheers.
