“Golf is a puzzle without an answer. I’ve played the game for 50 years and I still haven’t the slightest idea of how to play.” – Gary Player
May brought the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] anniversary of my first lesson. It certainly has been an up and down year. Improvements and setbacks were the norm.
Last summer the golf here in Myrtle Beach was brutal. Hot, humid and lots of rain. I broke down and bought some DryJoys as I was tired of having my feet soaking wet by the second hole. Played a lot on the local Executive course at 7 AM to try and avoid the heat (it was still 90 when we finished our 9 holes). Evenings we would play twilight golf at a local course that was occasionally like playing in a swamp. I think I went through a gallon of insect repellent. Lots of CPO, not what I wanted in 90+ heat and humidity.
Weekly clinics and lots of range practice saw a gradual improvement to my game. My chipping and pitching have always been my strong suit and continues to be. Our on course clinics had really helped me reading the short game and my bump and run hits are actually ending close to my target.
I’ve replaced every club in my bag and my bag too.
I got fitted for fairway woods, hybrids and irons. Ended up with a really mixed bag of Callaway, TaylorMade, a custom 7 wood from a local golf school and an Odyssey putter. My old box set of clubs went to the local First Tee group. I saw a group of young women on the range the other day and there were my old faithful clubs. I hope they enjoy them as much as I did.
I got a Shot Scope for my birthday in July. What a great gadget! Last year when I was learning it seemed all my irons and woods would go the same distance no matter what club I was using. This year I’m really seeing distance differences between my clubs and the Shot Scope has been helpful in club selection.
Fall brought a hurricane evacuation. We probably could have stayed, but erred on the side of caution. My brother, myself a dog and three cats {who alternated meowing the entire trip). We ended up in Orlando at friends. The drive took a toll on my posterior tibial tendon which has been an issue ever since I broke my ankle years ago.
During the winter months after a round of golf my ankle would swell up and I wouldn’t be able to play without pain for 3 or 4 days. I had to cut back on my golfing and played a lot of Par 3 with a friend who was rehabbing a shoulder injury. The good was that I was able to play without too many after effects. The bad was that the greens were really bad and with all the rain we had in the fall the course was really soggy. My Pilates instructor worked out a daily ankle strengthening program that has helped but in February I bit the bullet and went to a specialist. The doctor was sympathetic (he’s a golfer) but said other than the strengthening exercises there really isn’t much he can do right now. He suggested an ankle brace, ice and rest and gave me some anti inflammation and pain cream. I tried a couple of different braces but found them bulky and they inhibited my ability to complete my turn. I’ve settled on taping my ankle that gives me support and still lets me complete my swing. I’ve been using RockTape since it is waterproof and properly applied will last for 2 to 3 days per taping. I’m going to have really weird tan lines on my ankle this year.
Despite my ankle I braved the winter months for my first real encounter with winter golf. Winter here is mild compared to what some of you guys face but it was still cold and often windy to me. Winter golf required a whole new wardrobe of golf clothes. It took some time to figure out clothes that would keep me warm yet allows me to complete my swing. Layering was the answer. Long sleeve 32 degree shirt under a short sleeve polo under a quarter zip fleece with a windbreaker worked the best for the top. Leggings under long pants (Duluth Trading No-Ga’s, lots of pockets) for the bottom. Tried using winter golf gloves but ended up opting for hand warmers.
A side note on women’s golf clothes. Although golf clothes now take up a quarter of my closet since I’m 5’3” with a Rubenesque figure finding good quality golf clothes that doesn’t cost and arm and a leg is an issue. I wish apparel manufacturers would realize that not all of us are tall with skinny figures. If you know of others facing this dilemma I recommend Duluth Trading Company and Land’s End for bottoms with pockets and SheCaddie and JoFit for tops. Nancy Lopez is pretty good too, but hard to find. Even if I don’t play well I want to look like I can.
An early spring brought a family issue that limited my golf days, but I still managed to get to the range and occasionally the course. It was frustrating not being able to play a lot since I bought a new Epic Flash and my game was rapidly improving. The Epic Flash is a wonderful club for me. My drives are longer and straighter giving me more confidence. My swing is becoming more consistent and even my misses are getting better. I know some of this improvement is a result of some hard work on the range, I have to give the Flash credit too.
The last 2 months have been a golfer’s dream. Mid-70’s, light breeze and sunny. I’ve been able to play at least twice a week, lots of clinics and on course instruction. We didn’t have a lot of rain so there was a lot of rollout and the greens were really fast.
It’s now moving into our usual summer pattern of hot and humid. Switched from playing in the afternoons to early evening. The course we usually play is near the ocean so we get the evening breeze most nights.
For those who like stats, here’s my improvement from Shot Scope
*As my drives have gotten longer I’ve lost a bit of FIR but the desperation is acceptable
** my pitching accuracy has greatly improved this year
I’m very pleased with my progress and hope this 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] year brings even more improvements.
Happy Golfing Everyone
May brought the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] anniversary of my first lesson. It certainly has been an up and down year. Improvements and setbacks were the norm.
Last summer the golf here in Myrtle Beach was brutal. Hot, humid and lots of rain. I broke down and bought some DryJoys as I was tired of having my feet soaking wet by the second hole. Played a lot on the local Executive course at 7 AM to try and avoid the heat (it was still 90 when we finished our 9 holes). Evenings we would play twilight golf at a local course that was occasionally like playing in a swamp. I think I went through a gallon of insect repellent. Lots of CPO, not what I wanted in 90+ heat and humidity.
Weekly clinics and lots of range practice saw a gradual improvement to my game. My chipping and pitching have always been my strong suit and continues to be. Our on course clinics had really helped me reading the short game and my bump and run hits are actually ending close to my target.
I’ve replaced every club in my bag and my bag too.
I got fitted for fairway woods, hybrids and irons. Ended up with a really mixed bag of Callaway, TaylorMade, a custom 7 wood from a local golf school and an Odyssey putter. My old box set of clubs went to the local First Tee group. I saw a group of young women on the range the other day and there were my old faithful clubs. I hope they enjoy them as much as I did.
I got a Shot Scope for my birthday in July. What a great gadget! Last year when I was learning it seemed all my irons and woods would go the same distance no matter what club I was using. This year I’m really seeing distance differences between my clubs and the Shot Scope has been helpful in club selection.
Fall brought a hurricane evacuation. We probably could have stayed, but erred on the side of caution. My brother, myself a dog and three cats {who alternated meowing the entire trip). We ended up in Orlando at friends. The drive took a toll on my posterior tibial tendon which has been an issue ever since I broke my ankle years ago.
During the winter months after a round of golf my ankle would swell up and I wouldn’t be able to play without pain for 3 or 4 days. I had to cut back on my golfing and played a lot of Par 3 with a friend who was rehabbing a shoulder injury. The good was that I was able to play without too many after effects. The bad was that the greens were really bad and with all the rain we had in the fall the course was really soggy. My Pilates instructor worked out a daily ankle strengthening program that has helped but in February I bit the bullet and went to a specialist. The doctor was sympathetic (he’s a golfer) but said other than the strengthening exercises there really isn’t much he can do right now. He suggested an ankle brace, ice and rest and gave me some anti inflammation and pain cream. I tried a couple of different braces but found them bulky and they inhibited my ability to complete my turn. I’ve settled on taping my ankle that gives me support and still lets me complete my swing. I’ve been using RockTape since it is waterproof and properly applied will last for 2 to 3 days per taping. I’m going to have really weird tan lines on my ankle this year.
Despite my ankle I braved the winter months for my first real encounter with winter golf. Winter here is mild compared to what some of you guys face but it was still cold and often windy to me. Winter golf required a whole new wardrobe of golf clothes. It took some time to figure out clothes that would keep me warm yet allows me to complete my swing. Layering was the answer. Long sleeve 32 degree shirt under a short sleeve polo under a quarter zip fleece with a windbreaker worked the best for the top. Leggings under long pants (Duluth Trading No-Ga’s, lots of pockets) for the bottom. Tried using winter golf gloves but ended up opting for hand warmers.
A side note on women’s golf clothes. Although golf clothes now take up a quarter of my closet since I’m 5’3” with a Rubenesque figure finding good quality golf clothes that doesn’t cost and arm and a leg is an issue. I wish apparel manufacturers would realize that not all of us are tall with skinny figures. If you know of others facing this dilemma I recommend Duluth Trading Company and Land’s End for bottoms with pockets and SheCaddie and JoFit for tops. Nancy Lopez is pretty good too, but hard to find. Even if I don’t play well I want to look like I can.
An early spring brought a family issue that limited my golf days, but I still managed to get to the range and occasionally the course. It was frustrating not being able to play a lot since I bought a new Epic Flash and my game was rapidly improving. The Epic Flash is a wonderful club for me. My drives are longer and straighter giving me more confidence. My swing is becoming more consistent and even my misses are getting better. I know some of this improvement is a result of some hard work on the range, I have to give the Flash credit too.
The last 2 months have been a golfer’s dream. Mid-70’s, light breeze and sunny. I’ve been able to play at least twice a week, lots of clinics and on course instruction. We didn’t have a lot of rain so there was a lot of rollout and the greens were really fast.
It’s now moving into our usual summer pattern of hot and humid. Switched from playing in the afternoons to early evening. The course we usually play is near the ocean so we get the evening breeze most nights.
For those who like stats, here’s my improvement from Shot Scope
| 2018 | 2019 | |
| Driver – P-average | 119 yds | 140 yds |
| 5W | 83 yds | 116 yds |
| FIR* | 74% | 71% |
| Putting (2 putts)** | 46% | 48% |
| Putting (1 putts)** | 16% | 32% |
*As my drives have gotten longer I’ve lost a bit of FIR but the desperation is acceptable
** my pitching accuracy has greatly improved this year
I’m very pleased with my progress and hope this 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] year brings even more improvements.
Happy Golfing Everyone
