My 2014 Golf Journey - brought to you by braddman19
So, after #THPMC selections were all made, and with the knowledge that wouldn't be able to make it even if selected, my thoughts turned to how I would approach golf this season. If I were to have made it into #THPMC, I would have been upping my practice and play time, re-evaluating my bag setup, trying to get a handle on why I play the way I do (or more-so what I would have to gain by playing differently), and working hard to improve my handicap.
The big question I asked myself was: Why aren't you still planning on doing all of those things?
So, I am going to take the next 8 months (my golf season usually ends the first week of October due to cold and a loss of interest), to address all of those things. I also thought I should keep a record of it so I could reflect back on the improvements I made over the course of that time, and what better way to do so than to start a thread to follow my journey.
So, here we go.
I have been playing more and more over the past 5 years or so... 4 of the previous 5 years I was a member at a local 9 hole course. This resulted in two things: 1) A handicap that is severely home-course biased, 2) and a staggering inability to play consistently away from said course. The handicap I can deal with, as it will adjust itself itself once I start playing other courses again. What I really hope to improve on is my consistency in play.
Attainable goals are what I am shooting for, and I feel that getting them down on paper/on the internet, is a the only way I will keep at it.
In order for me to improve my consistency, I will need to address 5 major issues in my game:
1) Inconsistent short game - from 75 yards and in, I have a 50/50 chance of making par, or posting an 8. This Needs To Change.
2) Putting - I am a reasonably decent putter. I do struggle with distance control however, and this is most evident when playing a variety of courses.
3) 2nd shots from the fairway - long par 4's and par 5's absolutely kill me. A lack of consistent contact with my long irons/hybrids/woods is something that haunts me. I dread long approach shots. The chunked iron from the fairway is my speciality.
4) Course Strategy, and Playing My Game - I get sucked into trying to play the same as those in my group. Going for the green in 2 because the other people are doing it? Sure. Pitching Wedge because others are doing it, when I should be hitting a 8 iron? Sure. I need to play to my strengths, and stop letting pride affect how I play.
5) Distance - I am putting distance as #5, because it is the last thing I should be worrying about. I always want more yards off the tee, and wish I could hit ever club longer than I do.... but realize that if the first 4 issues don't improve, then the 5th is sort of a losing endeavor.
I am still probably at least a month, possibly even 2 or 3 from being on a range, or on a course due to snow/cold.... but I thought it would be good to get a jump start on the season by getting my goals front and center for me.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post (and if you choose to, the following posts over the course of the season).
Cheers everyone,
Brad aka braddman19
So, after #THPMC selections were all made, and with the knowledge that wouldn't be able to make it even if selected, my thoughts turned to how I would approach golf this season. If I were to have made it into #THPMC, I would have been upping my practice and play time, re-evaluating my bag setup, trying to get a handle on why I play the way I do (or more-so what I would have to gain by playing differently), and working hard to improve my handicap.
The big question I asked myself was: Why aren't you still planning on doing all of those things?
So, I am going to take the next 8 months (my golf season usually ends the first week of October due to cold and a loss of interest), to address all of those things. I also thought I should keep a record of it so I could reflect back on the improvements I made over the course of that time, and what better way to do so than to start a thread to follow my journey.
So, here we go.
I have been playing more and more over the past 5 years or so... 4 of the previous 5 years I was a member at a local 9 hole course. This resulted in two things: 1) A handicap that is severely home-course biased, 2) and a staggering inability to play consistently away from said course. The handicap I can deal with, as it will adjust itself itself once I start playing other courses again. What I really hope to improve on is my consistency in play.
Attainable goals are what I am shooting for, and I feel that getting them down on paper/on the internet, is a the only way I will keep at it.
In order for me to improve my consistency, I will need to address 5 major issues in my game:
1) Inconsistent short game - from 75 yards and in, I have a 50/50 chance of making par, or posting an 8. This Needs To Change.
2) Putting - I am a reasonably decent putter. I do struggle with distance control however, and this is most evident when playing a variety of courses.
3) 2nd shots from the fairway - long par 4's and par 5's absolutely kill me. A lack of consistent contact with my long irons/hybrids/woods is something that haunts me. I dread long approach shots. The chunked iron from the fairway is my speciality.
4) Course Strategy, and Playing My Game - I get sucked into trying to play the same as those in my group. Going for the green in 2 because the other people are doing it? Sure. Pitching Wedge because others are doing it, when I should be hitting a 8 iron? Sure. I need to play to my strengths, and stop letting pride affect how I play.
5) Distance - I am putting distance as #5, because it is the last thing I should be worrying about. I always want more yards off the tee, and wish I could hit ever club longer than I do.... but realize that if the first 4 issues don't improve, then the 5th is sort of a losing endeavor.
I am still probably at least a month, possibly even 2 or 3 from being on a range, or on a course due to snow/cold.... but I thought it would be good to get a jump start on the season by getting my goals front and center for me.
Thanks for taking the time to read this post (and if you choose to, the following posts over the course of the season).
Cheers everyone,
Brad aka braddman19