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I still don't consider myself a good golfer, but I do consider myself a knowledgeable golfer. I worked in the industry for about 10 years. I worked in all facets, with aspirations to become a pro, studying under one of the best pros in my state, and later as an Assistant Superintendent, before I left to pursue a career in my actual field of study. Leaving the industry has left me with some nostalgia, but I'm more in love with the game now than ever. Now, when I walk onto a golf course, there's no stress other than those created by the game itself.
Through my years in golf, I golfed infrequently enough that I often struggled with consistency. And now, with a family and career, my opportunities to spend 4-5 hours at an actual course are severely limited. What I've learned recently is that my ego may be standing in the way of playing better golf. At my best, I was around a 12 handicap, and now I'm an 18. Using the stats from my scoring app, I make an average of 33% pars, and 30% bogies. That leaves a horrible mixture of some other scorecard killers, and the occasional birdie.
I'm 30 now, and play with golfers that are of similar skill, though most are older. My dad and I have a great rivalry. He is a consistent 18 handicap, while I'm a wild 18. I feel like I've been playing some very good golf (for me) as of late. My Skytrak simulator has helped me to get some extra swings in between rounds. I am (slightly) more confident, though the practice sessions leading up to a round I often find myself searching for yardage, rather than honing my consistency.
Why? It's rare I'm not the longest hitter in my group, and a 240 yard drive on most courses (and the tees) we play is sufficient to get me within scoring range. Well, maybe it's because I can't remember the last time I've driven a green, or even made a par 5 in two well struck shots. The game I used to play isn't much available to me anymore. I'm fatter now, about 230 lbs to my 200 lbs 10 years ago. I've lost flexibility - my lifestyle 10 years ago included drinking beer and sparring in martial arts classes, and sometimes combining the two! Now, I sit, and work, and go home, and sit, and play with my daughter. At 30, I feel I should be near the peak of my ability, but I struggle to admit that I no longer have the time to dedicate to the game. One plan is to hit the gym! Well, not the gym, but at least start exercising more regularly, and spending some time stretching. More realistically, I think I need to reel it in a little bit, as far as my swing goes.
Even as I type the above, I'm wondering why I can't just accept that irons are meant to score, not to hit for distance? I know that I need to limit my backswing and focus more on plane and contact than I do power and distance. In reality, neither power nor distance are going to help me improve my score by more than a couple of strokes. What will help me is keeping my ball in play, and keeping a cool head.
My simulator has helped me with that... to a degree. I've been working on my distances. Not the distances I think I should be able to hit my clubs, but the distance I actually hit each club. It's humbling at times. I'm accustomed to reaching into my bag and pulling out my 8-iron from 145-150. On a good shot with my full (probably too full) swing, I can easily hit those ranges. The problem is, there are often times where my swing doesn't get back on plane, and will cause a mishit, leaving me 15 yards short, or well off target. With a limited opportunity to practice my short game, getting up and down from a missed shot leaves me with a bogey+ opportunity. By taking a critical look at my scorecard, these things happen more often than not, considering my bogey+ scores make up 65% of my scores(!)!!(!)!)!!!!
It's embarrassing. My years in the industry, the instruction I've been lucky enough to receive - I should be a much better player. I say it often, "golf is important". I feel strongly that much of the game is acknowledging your weaknesses - be they mental or physical, and working to overcome them. I'll be working on dialing in some consistent ball strikes with a more reserved swing over the winter. I'll take the yardages as they come... though even as I'm writing that, I'm still making amendments in my mind ("as long as they're respectable distances..").
Through my years in golf, I golfed infrequently enough that I often struggled with consistency. And now, with a family and career, my opportunities to spend 4-5 hours at an actual course are severely limited. What I've learned recently is that my ego may be standing in the way of playing better golf. At my best, I was around a 12 handicap, and now I'm an 18. Using the stats from my scoring app, I make an average of 33% pars, and 30% bogies. That leaves a horrible mixture of some other scorecard killers, and the occasional birdie.
I'm 30 now, and play with golfers that are of similar skill, though most are older. My dad and I have a great rivalry. He is a consistent 18 handicap, while I'm a wild 18. I feel like I've been playing some very good golf (for me) as of late. My Skytrak simulator has helped me to get some extra swings in between rounds. I am (slightly) more confident, though the practice sessions leading up to a round I often find myself searching for yardage, rather than honing my consistency.
Why? It's rare I'm not the longest hitter in my group, and a 240 yard drive on most courses (and the tees) we play is sufficient to get me within scoring range. Well, maybe it's because I can't remember the last time I've driven a green, or even made a par 5 in two well struck shots. The game I used to play isn't much available to me anymore. I'm fatter now, about 230 lbs to my 200 lbs 10 years ago. I've lost flexibility - my lifestyle 10 years ago included drinking beer and sparring in martial arts classes, and sometimes combining the two! Now, I sit, and work, and go home, and sit, and play with my daughter. At 30, I feel I should be near the peak of my ability, but I struggle to admit that I no longer have the time to dedicate to the game. One plan is to hit the gym! Well, not the gym, but at least start exercising more regularly, and spending some time stretching. More realistically, I think I need to reel it in a little bit, as far as my swing goes.
Even as I type the above, I'm wondering why I can't just accept that irons are meant to score, not to hit for distance? I know that I need to limit my backswing and focus more on plane and contact than I do power and distance. In reality, neither power nor distance are going to help me improve my score by more than a couple of strokes. What will help me is keeping my ball in play, and keeping a cool head.
My simulator has helped me with that... to a degree. I've been working on my distances. Not the distances I think I should be able to hit my clubs, but the distance I actually hit each club. It's humbling at times. I'm accustomed to reaching into my bag and pulling out my 8-iron from 145-150. On a good shot with my full (probably too full) swing, I can easily hit those ranges. The problem is, there are often times where my swing doesn't get back on plane, and will cause a mishit, leaving me 15 yards short, or well off target. With a limited opportunity to practice my short game, getting up and down from a missed shot leaves me with a bogey+ opportunity. By taking a critical look at my scorecard, these things happen more often than not, considering my bogey+ scores make up 65% of my scores(!)!!(!)!)!!!!
It's embarrassing. My years in the industry, the instruction I've been lucky enough to receive - I should be a much better player. I say it often, "golf is important". I feel strongly that much of the game is acknowledging your weaknesses - be they mental or physical, and working to overcome them. I'll be working on dialing in some consistent ball strikes with a more reserved swing over the winter. I'll take the yardages as they come... though even as I'm writing that, I'm still making amendments in my mind ("as long as they're respectable distances..").
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