The new season starts with a bit of a rant.

Sadly because of the weather, the first two qualifying competitions were changed to friendly Stablefords as we had a hole closed on both days, plus a few temporary greens. Also to suffer was the opening mixed which had to be rearranged due to the course being closed. Hopefully the weather will improve after Easter and we can finally get going.

I did manage one competition, a Lady Golfer/Galvin Green day at Mere and although I started well with a birdie on the par 4 fifth, out first hole, as it was a shotgun start, I found I couldn't hit my irons with any consistency and so struggled to post a good score despite hitting my drives and woods well.
A shame as the first prize was a week on Madeira and congratulations to the lucky lady that won it. I did have the consolation of hitting the longest drive though to win some Galvin Green goodies.

Now for the rant!

Recently it was announced that Sky Sports have won the right to broadcast The Open live from next year, meaning that only highlights will be available on the BBC. Sky already have rights to the Ryder Cup and the BBC will no longer be able to broadcast the last rounds of The Master live either/
I believe that the R&A will only receive £3million more from Sky than they would from the BBC offer and I feel that this is unbelievably shortsighted for relatively little monetary return.

 Live men's  golf on UK TV will now only be available to Sky Sports subscribers and this at a time when England golf are trying to encourage more people to play the game and to join clubs. What better way to develop an interest in a sport than to watch some great players on TV. This will now be denied to the majority of the public. The ladies British Open will be shown by the BBC up to next year but sadly its the men's game that is more likely to attract viewers from the non golfing fraternity.

I strongly believe that the game at a grass roots level will suffer because these decisions, golf should be more accessible but being unable to see it on terrestrial TV to my mind just reinforces a lot of people's belief that golf is an elitist sport.

I really didn't think that people thought like that anymore, but having read comments about golf on a totally unrelated discussion on Facebook, I was surprised to read comments like "its a game for the rich" or "its only posh people that play golf"

Somehow word needs to get out there that you can play at a local municipal course for as little as £10, maybe less, clubs can be hired too, while you decided if you need to buy your own, so anyone can have a game for less than the cost of going to watch your local football club. Dress codes have been relaxed at a lot of clubs, so jeans and trainers are allowed in clubhouses, and even a pair of slacks and a polo shirt are owned by most people.

Catch up time

The last entry in this blog was after Lady Captain's Day last year but with the new season rapidly approaching I thought it time that I made another entry.

Despite the qualifying season finishing at the end of August, I managed to keep play competitive golf right into November thanks to playing in many opens. I have continued lessons through the winter and have still managed to play 3 or 4 times a week as long as the course was open.

The highlight of the winter though was my recent trip to Portugal, the first time I have played outside the UK. I went to play in the rather grandly titled Portuguese International Senior Ladies Golf competition although the least said about my performance the better. I did however enjoy the trip very much and the courses I played were fantastic, particularly The Old Course at Vilamoura, which is probably the best non links course I have played so far.

The course is set amongst pines and cork oaks and from the first hole the course is a great challenge with some fantastic holes with well maintained fast greens.

The first appears to be a short one on the card but although it is also downhill it is full of trouble, trees line both sides and also dot the fairway and 2 accurate shots are need to safely reach the green.

The 2nd and 3rd are both uphill before the 4th which is the first of the par 3s, played over water to a raised green, with the added obstacle of a tree between the pond and the green.

 

The 5th is long slight dogleg and returns towards the clubhouse with this green also guarded by a tree, whose branches overhang the approach to the green.

 

The 6th is a long downhill par 3, before the 7th where you drive downhill before the holes doglegs to the left with an uphill approach, well placed bunkers are waiting for drives that are too far right as well as ones where you try to cut off the corner of the dogleg.

 

On the 8th you drive from an elevated tee before climbing to the green. The front nine ends with a shortish hole but again a tricky one, with a bunker down the right and trees protruding into the fairway down the left.

 

 

The back nine begins with a par 3 over a valley, a steep bank in front of the green catches the short tee shot and leaves a tricky chip from the bottom of the valley and with not much room behind, an accurate tee shot is needed.

 

The 11th is another dogleg to the left with an uphill approach before the 12th a long dog leg right, the ladies tee is close to the angle of  the dogleg although the men's tee is around 140 yards further back.

The 13th is a shortish downhill par 4 but again a well positioned tree in close to the green means you need an accurate tee shot to avoid having to go over the tree with your second.

 

 

 



After the par 5 14th, you reach the final par 3, probably the easiest of the 4 but with a bank and bunkers to the front and a steep bank behind an accurate tee shot is again needed.

The 16th is a long downhill dogleg right before the 17th where you drive up hill to a fairway narrowed by a well place bunker before dropping down to a slightly raised green.

The closing hole, in my opinion is the weakest hole on the course from the ladies tee, just a flat straight par 4 with a couple of bunkers by the green, however it is a different proposition from the white tee which is set 120 yards back and in the trees.

I also played the Pinhal course which is set around a housing development, you have to cross a lot of roads as the course threads it way between the houses. It is not as memorable as the Old Course but the greens are probably trickier.

Is it that simple?

Caldy Golf club from Thurstaston Common.

Before I type anything about myself I thought I would share a few thoughts. A thread ran on a popular Golf forum questioning the point of blogs. The popular consensus among those that don't do blogs, is yes it s mostly a narcissistic exercise on behalf of the blogger and is probably read by hardly anyone. That said I do enjoy doing this so I will continue and those that think it can just ignore my ramblings.

After a couple of indifferent weeks where my handicap rose a few points, I have, at least for the time being, suddenly found some form. last weekend we had out Presidents prize to the ladies competition and in fairness I didn't stat very well. I just wasn't hitting the ball with any consistency, and then half way round something seemed to click and I hit my best drive of the day, seemingly effortlessly.
I tried to think what I had just done that I hadn't been doing and it seemed that I just taken a full easy swing  without trying to force anything. I managed to continue swinging this way for the rest of the round and though I didn't score too well, I was at least steady.

I had a long on the following week so  only played twice, both in competitions, but I set off just hoping to continue swinging through the ball without worrying about anything else and in the Thursday competition, despite a couple of back to back 7s, one on a par 3! I finished up 4 below CSS and had a nice cut of 1.1 to take me to a new low handicap of 12,1 and Category 2.

Saturday was the pinnacle of the season, Lady Captain's Day, and again I started with the same thought. I couldn't believe the way I started, after 8 holes I was just 2 over par, after having hit 7 of the 8 greens in regulation, on the only one I missed, the ball ran across the green and off the back. The only downside was that although I had a few good birdie chances, I didn't hole any. I continued playing well and on the 12th and 14th, both par 3s, my tee shot was only 4 feet from the hole, sadly I missed both birdie putts. I did go off a little over the last 4 holes but still finished with a gross 83 and 2 under CSS for another cut, this time of 0.4 to drop me to 11.7. I also finished 2nd in the competition beaten on a card play off.

I don't seem to have really done much different, just maybe been more relaxed in my swing but it seems to have made a big improvement in my game, I just hope I can keep this up and it becomes second nature.

The last round in detail

Hole 1
A 5 wood hit the green, but I left the first putt way short and took 2 more for a bogey 4.
Hole 2
A good drive and a 4 wood to the middle of the green, 2 putts for a par 4
Hole 3
A good drive but I laid up a bit short, I found the green with my 5 wood and 2 putted for a par 5.
Hole 4
A 7 iron found the fringe of the green and my first putt hit the pin but stayed out and I tapped in for a par 3.
Hole 5
Another good drive was followed by  3 wood which pitched short but ran through the green, I chipped on and 2 putts gave me a bogey 5
Hole 6
A good drive and a decent 3 wood left a 50 yard pitch, I hit it to about 15 feet but missed the birdie so a par 5.
Hole 7
A nce drive but a little short left a 5 wood to the green, I hit it to 10 feet but again missed the birdie, so a par 4.
Hole 8
Another good drive then a 3 wood to about 50 yards, I chipped on and 2 putted for a par 5.
Hole 9.
I played safe and hit my tee shot to the left of the green chipped on a bit short then 2 putts for a bogey 4.

39 shots for the first nine, which equalled my best.
Being Lady Captains day there was a tent by the 10th tee where Pimms and cake were on offer, so  hoped the break would my affect my game.

Hole 10
I thinned my drive (the Pimms effect?) and was fortunate to clear the ditch 50 yards from the tee, I then hit a 6 iron form rough and left 140 yards to the green. I hit a lovely 5 wood, which finished about 15 feet from the hole my par putt just missed so a bogey 5.
Hole 11
A decent drive then an iron to just over 100 yds from the green, I found the edge of the green with my 3rd but left my uphill putt 10 feet short and missed the next so a bogey 6.
Hole 12
I hit a lovely drive which finished just 4 feet from the hole but the birdie putt just slipped past, so a par 3.
Hole 13
I hit a nice drive but it bounced to the right and finished in a fairway bunker, I got it out OK and then found the green with a 7 iron, 2 putts gave me a bogey 5.
Hole 14
A 5 wood finished 4 feet from the hole but like the 12th the putt just slipped past, so a par 3.
Hole 15
After a good drive, I  hit a 3 wood a bit thin , but still only had a 7 iron to the green, sadly I hit the ground before the ball and put it in a bunker in front of the green. I got it out to the fringe of the green and putted to 2 feet but missed the putt so my first double bogey a 7.
Hole 16
Another good drive  but I missed the green to the left with my approach, my chip was a little long and my par putt missed so a bogey 5.
Hole 17.
 hit my drive way to the left nearly onto the adjacent fairway, I found a gap though trees and then hit a 3wood to 60 yards short of the green, I had to keep my chip low to miss overhanging branches but I hit it too high and was still short of the green, I chipped down and 2 more shots gave me another double bogey 7.
Hole 18,
My tee shot was long and left, but I chipped to 4 feet and hole the putt for a par 3.

I couldn't maintain the good play of the first 9 and finished with 44 and a total of 83 of which 37 were putts!

Challenge final

Today I played in the final of the challenge, our club's knockout competition. I was playing against Joanne, who plays off 10 handicap and so I was getting 3 shots.

Here is how it went.

 Hole 1
I hit my teeshot a bit flat but it reached the fringe of the green, Joanne found the front of the green, I putted and left myself a 10 foot putt, Joanne hit hers to 3 feet and we both holed for par 3s so a half to start with.
Hole 2
I hit my drive a long way right, Joanne found the fairway,  hit a decent second which left a pitch to the green, Joanne was also short and we both found the green with our 3rd shots, I had a putt of around 25 feet and I rolled it straight in for a par 4, Joanne just missed and I was 1up.
Hole 3
The first hole, where I got a shot, we were both short of the ditch in 2, I didn't hit a great 3rd shot but it did clear the ditch, Joanne left hers short of the green, I chipped to about 20 feet and Joanne also found the green, I then holed my putt for a par 5, which took me to 2 up.
Hole 4
We were both short of the green with our tee shots, Joanne chipped to about 4 feet but mine only just found the green leaving me a putt of around 25 feet and it just lipped out, Joanne holed for her par to bring me back to 1up.
Hole 5
We both hit reasonable drives but then I found the ditch with a poor 2nd, Joanne hit hers to about 20 yards short of the green, I took a penalty drop and found the green with my next, Joanne chipped on and we both had 2 putts, so Joanne won the hole and we were back to all square.
Hole 6
Joanne hit a decent drive but  hit mine sharp left and into the trees so I had to play 3 off the tee, then made a mess of my 4th shot and I was 6 on the green, Joanne was on the green in 3 and holed a nice putt for a birdie  4 to go 1up.
Hole 7
We both hit decent drives although I was a long way right. My second caught overhanging branches and rebound onto a bridge right against a little wall and all I could do was putt it off and then messed up my 4th  Joanne missed the green with her 2nd but chipped on and 2 putts gave her the hole and a 2 hole lead.
Hole 8
I finally hit a good drive and we were both safely over the ditch in 2, Joanne put her 3rd shot on the fringe and although I had a much shorter shot I could only put mine near hers. She chipped to 6 feet and I elected to putt and left it 3 feet short. Joanne missed her par putt but I couldn't hole mine so the hole was halved.
Hole 9
Joanne was left of the green and I was just short, I putted about 5 feet short and Joanne chipped to 4 feet, we both holed for pars and another half.

So at the turn Joanne was 2 up.

Hole 10

Joanne hit a nice drive and mine was decent but n the rough, I hit an iron to about 80 yds from the green, Joanne was a bit left but 20 yds short,  then fluffed my pitch and Joanne found the green, I did just reach the green with my 4th but missed my putt and Joanne 2 putted to win the hole and go 3 up.
Hole 11
We both hit nice drives and then laid up, Joanne was a bit too far right though and failed to clear a bunker with her 3rd, my 3rd shot finished on the front fringe. I putted up a bit short and Joanne came out of the bunker a bit strong and finished on the far fringe, she putted to about 6 feet but neither o us holed our next so won the hole with a bogey 6 to get back to 2 down.
Hole 12
I hit my tee shot to the right but the Joanne hit hers further right an into the rough, she could only hack it out and I found the green with my 2nd, Joanne chipped on and then after  I putted up to the hole and tapped in for a 4 she missed from about 8 feet and I was back to just 1 down.
Hole 13
My second shot hole, We both hit decent drives and were just short of the green in 2, Joanne chip on about 20 feet away and I chipped to about 10 feet, we both missed our pars and so a bogey with my shot gave me the hole and we were back to all square.
Hole 14,
We both hit nice tee shots, mine to the fringe and Joanne's to the bank at the back of the green, I misread the line finished 5 feet away, Joanne chipped to about 4 feet, I holed mine but Joanne missed so  I won to go 1up
Hole 15
We both played well and were on the green in 3 shots each, Joanne then holed a putt of around 15 feet for a birdie 4 and my 10 foot putt just missed so we were back to all square.
Hole 16
Joanne hit a reasonable drive, but then hit an awful one short, left and in the rough, we couldn't find it so again I played 3 off the tee and hit a nice drive this time, Joanne was just short in 2 and I found the green with my next, Joanne chipped on an after I missed my bogey putt, Joanne holed hers for a par 4  and she was back to 1 up.
Hole 17
My final shot hole, two decent drives and then we were both short of the ditch in 2,  hit my 3rd to 40 yards short of the green but Joanne , from a rough lie, could only top hers, she then hit her 4th to just short of the green, I chipped on to the back of the green and Joanne could only find the front. I hit a nicely paced putt to a few inches away and the bogey 6, with my shot, was enough to win my the hole and bring us back to all square with just one hole left.
Hole 18.
I hit a nice 7 iron which found the green and Joanne followed to the fringe, she elected to but but left it 10 feet short, I then judged my pace well again to give me a tap in par and when Joanne missed, I won the hole and the match.

We both didn't play our best, although Joanne did play very well on the front nine, and fortunately   I started hitting the ball better just in time.
Surprisingly I probably won the match with my putting, as I certainly putted better than normal, whereas Joanne wasn't as good on the greens as she usually is.

Time for a think about my game.

Over the last week or so I have played in a few opens as well as two competitions at Ellesmere. I feel I have been hitting the ball well but there is always something that lets my down ,so  thought I would go through the various aspects n the hope that seeing it down in black and white helps.

So first of all driving, after the lesson a couple of weeks ago, this has got back to being a lot more consistent again and over recent games. I would say that maybe 80% of my drives are good, sadly, however I still do have a tendency to hit the occasional slice and pull one left now and again, Overall I am  pretty happy with how it is going and would give my driving 8/10

Woods off the fairway, when I hit these correctly there general go pretty straight and a decent distance, however  far too often I still look for the ball, which results it a topped or scuffed shot. I know its a basic fundamental to not look up until you have finished your follow through but even though I tell it to myself before the shot, I still do it far too often. So my rating for my woods are 6/10

Long irons, I generally hit them pretty well but I do often pull them to the left, this means I will often aim to the right of the target, which is fine unless I then hit them straight. I am really not too sure why I am doing this, maybe I have sometimes have too round a swing, I will still give them a 6/10 rating.

Short irons, mostly I hit these well and am pretty good with my distances. another 8/10

Chipping, this is an area where my inconsistency shows, if I have a little grass under the ball I will normally hit them pretty well, however I occasionally look for these shot too which means I will scuff or thin them, I also do this a lot more off bare lies, I will score myself 5/10 as  I am never totally confident when playing these shots.

Bunkers, since I had a lesson earlier this year, I do feel far more confident in sand than I used to, I don't always get out first time but I always expect too and more often than not I do. I am not great at judging the distance from sand but I am mostly happy just to get out first time so I think 6/10 again.

Putting, again this is something that I have improved although I am still not completely happy, I generally putt better at Ellesmere where I am used to the speed of the greens as well as the slopes, but get me on a strange course, especially with slower greens and I do tend to leave longer putts way too short then I try to compensate which means I them start hitting them far too hard. I also have a lot more confidence when stood over short putts and although I still do not hole them all, at least I expect to rather than in the past where I expected to miss them. I would rate myself 7/10 at home but only 4 away so overall I will say another 6.

Altogether then 45/70, which is around 6½/10, I would be nice if  could this perceived average up to 7½ or even 8.

There have been some good examples of this inconsistency recently. Today we had a Stableford competition and I plated well over the first 7 holes wth 4 pars and 3 bogey for 16 points but after a bad 8th and then a couple of poor putts, I started to try and chase things and ended up scoring only 10 points over the remaining 11 holes.
I did judge my putt well today for the most part, particularly pleasing where 3 long putts which all ended up within 12 inches from the hole, contrast that with Monday when  played in an open at Hesketh and one each of the first 4 holes I had long putts and left them all over 10 feet away from the hole.

One sad fact of this recent inconsistency is that  have had 2 0.1 handicap increases and with time running out before then end of the season  would really like to reverse this.

Tomorrow is one competition where I will not be worrying about the effect on my handicap as I will be playing in the final of our knockout competition. I am playing a girl off 10 and on paper it should be a good match. I just hope I can raise my game for it.

Anyway, after all the circumspection, a few photos from the last week or so.

 Manchester GC

 

 

A very windy Hesketh

 

 

 

Hesketh, approach to 15th green

 

Funny old game.

Its been a strange week, following my lesson, played in a medal at Ellesmere, after a couple of dubious drives, I started hitting the ball a lot better and t seemed like the lesson was paying off. The round started well with my holing a nice putt for a birdie on the first hole, Then came the dubious drives but I did get bogeys on 2 and 3 but 3 putts meant a double bogey on the 4^th. I was a little unfortunate on the 5^th when my 2^nd shot found a greenside bunker and finished up against a pile of sand and I failed to get out first time. I then parred three of the next four holes to finish the front nice in 42.

I didn't start the back nine too well with a double bogey on 10, but pars on 11 and 12 brought things back until a double on 13 set me back again. I then finished par, bogey, par, bogey, par to finished with another 42 and a total of 84. This gave me a net 71 and with standard scratch being set at 72, I got a little 0.3 cut to get me to my lowest ever handicap of 12.9.

On Friday I was playing in a Lancs senior ladies competition at Ashton and Lea, a course I had not played before. Unfortunately my driving slipped back to how it had been earlier and I really struggled in fact I started to develop a slice, something I have only occasionally been plagued with for the last 18 months,. My game generally was poor and a big disappointment.

Sunday, and I had another competition, this time the Centenary mixed trophy at Ellesmere. Sadly, I continued as I had played at Ashton and Lea and it was no surprise that my partner and I scored poorly.

Monday was a ladies open at Worsley, the course I had gone round in 79 shots just three weeks ago. Once again I couldn't string two good shots together, I did have the occasional decent drive, but when did I seemed to hit a poor second. It wasn't all doom and gloom though as I did improve towards the end of the round and I played the last 3 holes quite steadily, which at least gives me hope that there is a small improvement on the way.

All in all it has been a strange few days, a handicap cut, followed by 3 poor rounds, with only a few weeks to the end of the season I really hope I can get my game back together and finish the season strongly.

Here is the good part of the week.

Hole 1
A nice tee shot to 20 feet and I holed the putt for a birdie 3

Hole 2

My tee shot was right then I hit a3 wood to short of the green, I chipped to 10 feet and my par putt lipped out so a bogey 5.

Hole 3

A reasonable drive and then a lay up short of the ditch, I hit an 8 iron a little shotof the green, chipped on and 2 putts gave me a bogey 6

Hole 4

I pushed my tee shot left then chipped on, I over hit the first putt then missed the return so a double bogey 5

Hole 5

I hit a good tee shot, and then a nice 3 wood which unfortunately found a bunker up and the ball was right up against a pile of sand, I couldn't get it out first time but then got it out to 6 feet, but sadly my putt lipped out so another double bogey this time a 6.

Hole 6

I hit a nice drive, and then a 3 wood to just short of the green, I chipped on and 2 putts gave me a par 5.

Hole 7

A decent drive here but a little shorter than usual, I hit a  nice 6 iron pin high on the fringe and 2 putts gave me a par 4.

Hole 8

Another decent drive but a bit short again, I hit 3 wood to 50 yds, but left my chip short, I putted from off the green and left it short, 2 more putts gave me a bogey 6.

Hole 9

hit my tee shot left if the green then chipped  to 2 feet and holed the putt for a par 3.

The birdie start and the 3 pars at the end of the nine holes gave me a steady 42, which s right on my handicap.

Hole 10,

I hit a good drive but a poor 3 wood left me a wedge to the green, I hit it a bit right and missed the green, I chipped on and 2 putts gave me a bogey 6.

Hole 11

A reasonable drive was followed by a lay up, then I hit a nice 9 iron that came back on landing but 2 putts gave me a par 5.

Hole 12

MY drive was way right and in the rough, I managed to get it onto the front of green, and holed a 40 foot putt for a par 3.

Hole 13

My tee shot was high and left and finished in trees, I chipped onto next fairway, but failed to reach green with my 3rd, I had a nice chip to 20 feet, and my putt horseshoed out so a double bogey 6.

Hole 14

I hit my tee shot to front of green and 2 putts gave me a par 3.

Hole 15

I had a nice drive then hit a 3 wood to 80 yards, I hit a good wedge, which unfortunately landed  at the top of slope and came back down to the lower lever of the green, I left my first putt 4 feet short and missed my second so a bogey 6.

Hole 16

I hit a lovely drive and then found the green with a 9 iron, two putts gave me a par 4.

Hole 17

After a good drive, I laid up a little short and my 3 wood was short of slope down to the green, I chipped and 2 putted for a bogey 6.

Hole 18

A nice 7 iron found  the green and 2 putts gave me a par 3.

A second 42 and a total of 84, net 71 gave me a moral boosting 0.3 cut, to more than make up for the two increased I had at the last weekend.

Club championship and then it all fell apart.

Saturday was the day of the Club Championship, 36 holes played on the same day, after a week of lovely weather the forecast for Saturday was very wet with possible thunderstorms, not the best weather for golf.

Sadly the forecast seemed to be being fulfilled when I arrived at the club and it was pouring down. I was playing with Sarah, who plays off 5 handicap, and who has won the Championship for the last few years.

We set off n the pouring rain and both started badly, I topped my tee shot on the first and finished with a 5, Sarah but her tee shot into a big bush and had to play 3 off the tee, We both struggled throughout the round although I did birdie the 14^th and in fact played the last 5 holes in level par. I finished the first round n 88 shots, which was 2 less than Sarah, who had a disastrous 90.

After a break for lunch, we were back out and the weather had improved a little. I parred the first and Sarah had a lovely birdie, such a contrast from the start of the morning round. I had a great chance to par the 2^nd too but after finding the green in two, I misread the break of my putt and 3 putted, I didnt help my cause on the 3^rd either when I had a double bogey, however things started to change and I parred the next 6 holes to end the first nine with 39 shots, Sarah also improved immensely and a second birdie and also an eagle meant she had played the first nine in level par score of 36.

The second nine of the afternoon, unfortunately proved to be my downfall, I double bogeyed 3 of the first 4 holes and although a couple of pars steadied things a fourth double at the last hole, where I hit a tree and ended up in the stream meant I had taken 47 shots for the back nine, very disappointing as a half decent back nine would have given me a handicap cut. Sarah in contrast continued her good form from the first nine holes and took 38 shots for an excellent round total of 74 just 2 over par. Which was good enough to for her to become club champion again. For me my afternoon round meant that I had won the Trophy for the best nett score.

I had been a little unhappy with my pitching and so I decided to go and have a practice round and try and work out why my pitches were all gong way to the right. I did appear to have solved the problem, however I developed a far worse one, suddenly I couldn't hit my drives consistently. My driving is normally the strongest part of my game and to have it disintegrate was very worrying.

I could not do much about it as the tuesday was the day of the regional final of the LGU Coronation Foursomes at Crewe Golf Club and although we started well with 2 pars, my driving let us down badly and we scored very badly for the rest of the round.

Thursday saw me give out weekly competition a miss as I was playing in an open at Hillside Golf Club, one of the best courses have played, I hoped I could recover my driving consistency but sadly despite the great course I was as erratic as ever.

 

Hillside photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday was the Centenary Trophy at Ellesmere and my poor form continued and I took 97 shots for my first handicap increase since getting down to 13.

Monday was a rare ladies singles open, this time at Mere Golf Club, a course I had played in the dim and distant past and was looking forward to playing it again. Needless to say on a course where straight hitting is a must my driving was no better and a gross 98 meant the 2nd handicap increase in 2 days.

Today had a lesson at Chorlton and James the coach I go to saw several faults that had crept into my swing and showed me how to correct them. Hopefully I will see improvements in this weeks competition.