Now that the end of the season has arrived, it is a good time to look back on what has been a successful first season.
After a very good start, albeit with a handicap that was probably be a little too high, things quietened down, due to my lack of consistancy within a round. A good first nine was often followed by a poor back nine, for example in one Stableford competition I scored 21 point on the front nine only to score a mere 10 on the back.
Despite that, I won a few competitions early on and also got picked to play for the club, so I had the chance to play a few other local courses. My partner and I won our invitation open, and also with another partner I won our clubs qualifier for the Ping 4BBB, sadly our score was not enough to qualify us for the finals day.
I played in most of our board competitions, quite badly at first, having probalby my worst round of the year in the first one, a gross 119, including a 14 on the par 3 18th, which despite that and also a 10 in another board comp, is probably my favourite hole at the course, but it can be unforgiving.
I did have success in boards comps though, winning the Nett prize in the Club Championship, coming 2nd on Lady Captain's day and also winning the Closing mixed greensomes with my partner.
Towards the end of the season I steadied again, and had another couple of sucesses and small handicap reductions. I finally had another reduction in the end of season review so I will start next season playing off 19 (19.4 exact)
Away from my club, I have played a few nice courses in both open events and ones arranged through the Golf Monthly website, the highlight probaby being Hillside, a wonderful course played on a lovely day ( a rare thing this last summer).
So now its the winter season and we still play 12 hole competitions, and also a winter league, not a great start today losing my first match. I have also started having a few lessons, the benefit is not yet paying off but I am hopeful than when they are finished They will mean an improvement in my game.
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Monday, 1 October 2012
Closing Mixed
Sunday was our closing mixed , a board event for the Wright Musker Salvers. I had arranged to play with Steve, a guy I had played a few holes with one week day a couple of months ago, who plays off 12. The format was Greensome stableford, both players drive and then you select a ball to play and play alternate shots with that ball, our combined handicap was worked out as 16.
I had kept an eye on the weather all morning as the forecast was poor, but it had been fine, however around the time we arrived at the first tee the rain started.
We didnt play great on the first nine, we managed one par but 4 double bogies so only 15 points and the ntrippled the 10th for no points, we were wet and a bit miserable but soldiered on and after 12 holes we had managed 19 points, and then things changed. I holed a long putt for a par on the 12th, Steve hit a tee shot to 5 feet on the 14th and I holed the putt for a birdie, we parred 15 and 16, bogey on 17, then finished with a par on 18. The last 6 holes were played in level par for 17 points to give a total of 36.
There was a dinner and presentation in the evening, where it was announced that we had won by one point.
The round
Hole 1, we both missed the green to the left, Steve chipped onto the green and 2 putts for a bogey and 2 points.
Hole 2 Steve drove into the trees so we played my ball, he left it 50 yds from the green, my pitch was short, he chipped on and 2 putts for a double bogey and 1 point.
Hole 3 We played Steve's drive but I didnt hit a good shot, Steve left me 140 to the green but another poor one left us way short, Steve pitched on and 2 putts gave us a double bogey for 1 point
Hole 4, although a par 3 for us , this is a par par 4 for the men as their tee is a 100 yds behind ours, Steve hit a good drive about 40 yds short of the green, but a good tee shot from me would give us a good chance of a birdie or even an eagle, as we were taking par from the mens tees. I dont know what happened but instead of being on or close to the green as I wqould expect, my tee shot squirted about 30yd off to the right. I played Steve ball and chipped onto the green and 2 putts gave us a par and 2 points (no stroke here) but a bit of a missed opportunity.
Hole 5 We both hit decent drives so Steve played mine as the green was out of reach for me, onfortunately it found one of the greenside bunkers, my escape was to ostrong and over the green, we chipped on and 2 putted for another double and 1 point.
Hole 6 Although a par 5 for us, its a par 4 for the men, we played Steve's drive but I didn't hit it too well, Steves approach just found the green I left my putt a foot short and Steve missed it!! so another double and 1 point.
Hole 7 Two good drives, Steve played mine but again found a greenside bunker, this time my escape was to 3 feet and Steve holed for a much needed par and 3 points.
Hole 8 We played Steve's drive, I left him a chip which was on the edge of the green down in 2 for a bogey and 3 points.
Hole 9 a long par 3 for the men but the shortest for us, Steve's drive was just left of the green and I completely made a mess of my drive, so I chipped his one a little long so 2 putts for a bogey and 2 points.
This gave us a front nine score of 15.
Hole 10. We took Steve's drive but I topped the ball a few yards, Steve didnt reach the green and I left my chip short, Steve chipped on and 2 putts for a triple bogey and no points.
Hole 11 Steve's drive again, I left him short of the ditch and his pitch finished on the edge of a bunker, i chipepd to a foot and he holed for a bogey 5 and 2 points.
Hole 12, both short of the green, Steve chipped mine on 2 putts for a bogey and 2 points.
Hole 13, Played Steve's drive, I left him under 100 yds fom the green, he pitched to 20 feet and I holed the putt for a par and 3 points.
Hole 14, Steve's Tee shot was 5 feet from the hole, I holed the putt for a birdie, no shot but still 3 points.
Hole 15 Finally a great drive from me, Steve left me 80 yds from the green, I pitched to the top tier where the hole was, 2 putts for a par and 3 points.
Hole 16, Another good drive from me, which Steve put on the green, 2 puts and another par and 3 points.
Hole 17 My best drive of the day, gave Steve the chance to clear the ditch 150 yds away, which he did leaving me about 130 to the green, I was just short but a chip on and 2 putts for a bogey and 2 points.
Hole 18, Steve missed the green, but I finally hit a good tee shot on a par 3 nd found the green, 2 putts for a par and 3 points.
21 points for the back nine!
I had kept an eye on the weather all morning as the forecast was poor, but it had been fine, however around the time we arrived at the first tee the rain started.
We didnt play great on the first nine, we managed one par but 4 double bogies so only 15 points and the ntrippled the 10th for no points, we were wet and a bit miserable but soldiered on and after 12 holes we had managed 19 points, and then things changed. I holed a long putt for a par on the 12th, Steve hit a tee shot to 5 feet on the 14th and I holed the putt for a birdie, we parred 15 and 16, bogey on 17, then finished with a par on 18. The last 6 holes were played in level par for 17 points to give a total of 36.
There was a dinner and presentation in the evening, where it was announced that we had won by one point.
The round
Hole 1, we both missed the green to the left, Steve chipped onto the green and 2 putts for a bogey and 2 points.
Hole 2 Steve drove into the trees so we played my ball, he left it 50 yds from the green, my pitch was short, he chipped on and 2 putts for a double bogey and 1 point.
Hole 3 We played Steve's drive but I didnt hit a good shot, Steve left me 140 to the green but another poor one left us way short, Steve pitched on and 2 putts gave us a double bogey for 1 point
Hole 4, although a par 3 for us , this is a par par 4 for the men as their tee is a 100 yds behind ours, Steve hit a good drive about 40 yds short of the green, but a good tee shot from me would give us a good chance of a birdie or even an eagle, as we were taking par from the mens tees. I dont know what happened but instead of being on or close to the green as I wqould expect, my tee shot squirted about 30yd off to the right. I played Steve ball and chipped onto the green and 2 putts gave us a par and 2 points (no stroke here) but a bit of a missed opportunity.
Hole 5 We both hit decent drives so Steve played mine as the green was out of reach for me, onfortunately it found one of the greenside bunkers, my escape was to ostrong and over the green, we chipped on and 2 putted for another double and 1 point.
Hole 6 Although a par 5 for us, its a par 4 for the men, we played Steve's drive but I didn't hit it too well, Steves approach just found the green I left my putt a foot short and Steve missed it!! so another double and 1 point.
Hole 7 Two good drives, Steve played mine but again found a greenside bunker, this time my escape was to 3 feet and Steve holed for a much needed par and 3 points.
Hole 8 We played Steve's drive, I left him a chip which was on the edge of the green down in 2 for a bogey and 3 points.
Hole 9 a long par 3 for the men but the shortest for us, Steve's drive was just left of the green and I completely made a mess of my drive, so I chipped his one a little long so 2 putts for a bogey and 2 points.
This gave us a front nine score of 15.
Hole 10. We took Steve's drive but I topped the ball a few yards, Steve didnt reach the green and I left my chip short, Steve chipped on and 2 putts for a triple bogey and no points.
Hole 11 Steve's drive again, I left him short of the ditch and his pitch finished on the edge of a bunker, i chipepd to a foot and he holed for a bogey 5 and 2 points.
Hole 12, both short of the green, Steve chipped mine on 2 putts for a bogey and 2 points.
Hole 13, Played Steve's drive, I left him under 100 yds fom the green, he pitched to 20 feet and I holed the putt for a par and 3 points.
Hole 14, Steve's Tee shot was 5 feet from the hole, I holed the putt for a birdie, no shot but still 3 points.
Hole 15 Finally a great drive from me, Steve left me 80 yds from the green, I pitched to the top tier where the hole was, 2 putts for a par and 3 points.
Hole 16, Another good drive from me, which Steve put on the green, 2 puts and another par and 3 points.
Hole 17 My best drive of the day, gave Steve the chance to clear the ditch 150 yds away, which he did leaving me about 130 to the green, I was just short but a chip on and 2 putts for a bogey and 2 points.
Hole 18, Steve missed the green, but I finally hit a good tee shot on a par 3 nd found the green, 2 putts for a par and 3 points.
21 points for the back nine!
Delamere Forest Golf Club
Last friday I played Delamere Forest with a few other members of the golf Monthly forum, I have to say its a lovely course. The weather was mostly fine although there were heavy showers, fortunately shoretlived.
I didnt play too well in all fairness, I was stuck between taking on board the changes suggested after my lesson and sticking with my old grip and stance. I struggled with my grip, certainly on my short game where the softer grip seemed to give me less control. Happily the course made the day worth while and I did hit some good shots, notably an 8 iron to 6 feet on our nearest the pin hole.
Here are some photos which I hope show the course off well.
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