Signs of improvement.

 

9th at Ashton

This week I have been getting sights ofcourses we will be playing this coming weekend in two quarter finals the club has reach.

Firstly, I went to play Ashton-under-Lyne where we will be playing the quarter final of the Archie Preston against Ashton on Saturday. Its a mixed foursomes and the men tee off on the odd holes, so we take the tee shots on the even number holes. The course seems to be very much a what you see is what you get kind of course, with little problems providing you hit the ball straight. The trickiest holes seem to be the par 3s and it was good to be able to practice my tee shots, as most of them need a club more than you think. For these holes alone the visit was worthwhile and I hope that I can take what I learned into the match on Saturday.

18th at Dunham Forest

The second course I played, was Dunham Forest, this is the neutral course for our Bell Cup quarter final against Prestbury, which will be played on Sunday. Dunham in contrast to Ashton needs some thought, quite a few of the holes have blind drives or are doglegs, with some tricky approaches to greens as well, like Ashton, the par 3s need some thought and it was good to get a chance to play them before the match. I hope I can take what I learnt into my match on sunday.

Here's hoping we can get through one if not both quarter finals this weekend.

On Thursday it was back to the weekly Thursday competition at the club, I had seen signs of improvement during the last week and was hoping to keep this going into the medal round we were playing. Early signs were promising and I began with 2 bogeys followed by 2 pars, A good putt gave me a bogey on the 5th despite taking a penalty drop out o a lateral hazard. This was followed by another par at the 6th, sadly all my good scoring was undone on the 7th with a disastrous 9 but I recovered to birdie the 8th and par the 9th. The second nine was more erratic with 4 pars but also 3 double bogeys and another disaster on the 17th.

The round in detail.

Hole 1, Just short of the green with a 6 iron, then a chip and 2 putts for a bogey 4.

Hole 2, Decent drive but a little off line finished on the bank of a bunker, a 7 iron left me 50yd to the green. I pitched to 15 feet and 2 putts gave me a bogey 5.

Hole 3,  A good drive gave me a chance to try and clear the ditch, but a well struck 3 wood was hit to the right and I finished in a little dell, I had a line to the green and found it with a wedge, 2 putts gave me a par 5.

Hole 4, A 7 iron hit the green and 2 putts gave me a par 3.

Hole 5, My drive was a bit right and found a lateral ditch, a penalty drop and then a 3 wood to the right of the green, I hit a chip to 20 feet and holed the putt for a bogey 5.

Hole 6, a good drive and a nice 3 wood left a 30 yard pitch to the green, I found the green but left  it a bit short, but 2 putts gave me a par 5.

Hole 7, I hit a decent drive but it did go to the right meaning a stand of trees between my and the hole, I decided to play for the front of the green to miss the trees but my ball was a little of line and caught the branches at the edge of the trees and the ball bounced back among them. I picked a line through the trees towards the green but sadly my ball caught the last tree, a very thin one too bounced back and landed in the roots of another, I tried to knock it forward but the ball jumped up off the root and hit me, so that was a penalty shot to add, I managed to get it out next shot, then chipped it onto the green and 2 putted to finish with a nine!

Hole 8, I put the 7th behind me and hit a nice long straight drive and then hit a nice 3 wood to within a couple of yards for the green, I chipped to a foot and tapped in for a bogey 4.

Hole 9, A 9 iron found the green and 2 putts gave me a par 3.

So despite the 9, I finished the first 9 in 43 shots, just a shame that the good work of 4 pars and a birdie were undone by just one hole.

Hole 10, I good drive then I hit a 3wood to the left and short of the green, I slightly thinned my wedge and it went over the green, I chipped to 10 feet but missed the putt, so a double bogey 6.

Hole 11, another good drive but had to lay up in font of the ditch with a wedge, then another wedge found the edge of the green, 2 putts gave me a par 5.

Hole 12, My drive was way right into thick rough I got out but it shot over the green into a bunker, I was out first time but just missed a 15 foot putt so a double bogey 5.

Hole 13, Another drive that went right into rough, I knocked it forward then thinned an 8 iron that fortunately ran onto the green and I hole a 20 foot putt for a lucky par 4.

Hole 14, A topped tee shot left me still 70 yds from the green, a good wedge found the fringe o the green and 2 putts gave me a bogey 4.

Hole 15,  Another drive way right, this time into trees, so I had to play 3 off the tee hit the 2nd drive well and a good 3 wood left 50yds to go A nice pitch to 10 feet but missed the putt so a double bogey 7, (a par with the 2nd ball though)

Hole 16, A straight drive, then a 7 iron to the side of the green, I chipped on and holed the putt for a par 4.

Hole 17, A lovely drive meant I could take on the ditch, sadly like the 3rd I hit it well but right and although it cleared the ditch it caught trees and bounced back into it. A penalty drop then an ambitious 7 wood that went right, I had to avoid a tree to reach the green but sadly found the roots and could only knock it sideways, I then played to the green but the ball ran through the back and I had to chip back on and 2 putts gave me a 10!

Hole 18, My tee shot found a greenside bunker, but I got it out to 10 feet and holed the putt to finish with a par 3.

So thanks mainly to the 10, I took 48 shots on the back 9, but again I had 4 pars which is encouraging.

The total for my round was 91 for a net 76 which due to stableford adjustments meant I was at least in my buffer.

I was more than happy with 8 pars and a birdie, but the ruinous 7th and 17th together with losing a ball, meant that my actual  score was disappointing.

I just hope that I can keep the good but lose the bad and play well at the weekend.

Back to where it all started

Brookdale Golf Club

Back in day when I first started playing golf, I played mostly at Marsden Park Golf Course, a newly opened municipal course in Nelson Lancs. A while ago I noticed they were having an individual open there and so entered it, I played in it last Sunday.

I didn't play very well, but I was very impressed with the course which had matured nicely over 40+ years. The course was well maintained, which is very good for a muni, as often they aren't in the best condition. The newly planted trees I remember from the past are now mature trees which create barriers which didn't exist previously, some water has been added if my memory is correct and it really was a pleasure to play the course and I would recommend it to anyone in the area.

View of Pendle Hill from the 16th fairway At Marsden Park.

Monday saw me visit a course I hadn't played before, when I played in the team open at Brookdale near Failsworth to the east of Manchester. I played a little better but too erratically, in fact it wasn't until the 17th that I took less than 5 on a hole. I did par the last two holes though which made me feel a little better. Brookdale is a very nice course set on either side of the valley of the river Medlock and several holes incorporate the river as a natural hazard. It was unfortunate that they did not sell course planners especially as I had forgotten to bring my GPS with me, the course is certainly one that you need to play more than once to feel more confident.

The weekly competition at Ellesmere was a stableford this week and I played with one of the ladies that is a good run of form. Once again my short game let me down especially from bunkers and I visited more than my fair share of them. Needless to say I did not score very well, while my partner won the competition. We were very even from tee to around the green, but where I was taking 3 and 4 more shots  nearly every time, she often chipped close and hole the putt, underlying the importance of a good short game.

I wasn't feeling very confident on Friday, when I had my 3rd round match in the Nike Matchplay, I was playing a guy off 9 and so with the handicap difference plus the difference in SSS I was receiving 8 shots. Fortunately for me, he wasn't at his best and my short game was a lot better than it had been and so I was happy to win the match by 4&3 to reach the final of my group, the winner of that match will go forward into the regional final. The guy was accompanied by his 10 year old son and he asked on out 203 yd 12th if it would be ok for the boy to have a shot, I said sure, and was stunned when he took his dad's driver and hit the green, something me and his dad failed to do.

Sunday was he President prize to the ladies and I was hoping the improvements from Friday would continue. things didn't bode well when after 5 holes I had already dropped 3 shots against my handicap but then things started to improve and although I did 3 putt 4 times and completely messed up one hole I finished with a respectable 34 points which was only one behind the winner, I also parred 7 holes something I had not been doing recently. Which is encouraging for the last few week of the season.

The details of President prize round.

Hole 1, I hit a decent tee shot which took a wicked bounce on landing and found a bunker, I did get out first time but a little too strong and it ran off the green, a chip on and 2 putts for a double bogey 5 for 1 point.

Hole 2, A decent drive into light rough, but an awful 3 wood left to behind a tree, I knocked it back onto the fairway and hit a nice 9 iron that finished 8 feet from the hole, the bogey putt just slipped past so a double bogey 6 and 1 point.

Hole 3, A nice drive then a lay up 140 from the green, I then topped a 5 iron into a hazard, I was able to play the ball and found the green with a wedge,  2putts for a bogey 6 and 2 points.

Hole 4, A 7 iron off the tee finished just off the green I left the putt 6 feet short but holed the 2nd for a par and 2 points (no shot here).

Hole 5, A good drive and a nice 5 wood which rolled across the green and into a bunker, I just got it out but left my putt from the fringe way short and missed with the 2nd so a double bogey 6 for 1 point.

Hole 6, A good drive and a slightly topped 3 wood left me 90 from the green, a wedge found the front of the green and 2 putts gave me a par 5 and 3 points.

Hole 7, A nice drive, then a 7 iron found the fringe of the green, another first putt left way short and again missed the 2nd so a bogey 5 and 2 points.

Hole 8, A drive a little right left a decent lie and a 3 wood left me 70 yds short of the green, I pitched to the front of the green and 2 putts gave me a par and 3 points.

Hole 9, A 9  iron found the fringe of the green and although  I left another putt quite short I did hole the 2nd for a par 3 and 2 points (again no shot).

So 17 points for the first nine, a lots better than what was promised, but with better putting it could have been more.

Hole 10, A nice drive, but then a mishit 3 wood was followed by a poor chip, I found the green with my next and 2 putts gave me a double bogey 6 an 1 point.

Hole 11, A good drive and a decent iron left 120 to the green, I caught the back of a tree and fell short of the green but a chip to a foot gave me a tap in for a par 5 and 3 points.

Hole 12, For the only time in the round I hit a very poor drive which left a pitch over trees and a bunker, unfortunately I found the bunker and failed to get out the first time and finished with a blob no points.

Hole 13, A good drive and a then a lovely 5 wood found the green, 2 putts gave me a good par 4 and 3 points.

Hole 14, A 7 wood found the fringe of the green, but my putt barely got halfway to the hole and I missed the next so a bogey 4 and 1 point, (no shot).

Hole 15, A good drive and a decent 3 wood left a wedge to the green I hit the green but sadly 3 putted again so a bogey 6 and 2 points.

Hole 16, A decent drive which kicked right on landing so I had over hanging branches which stopped me going for the green so I hit a wedge to short of the green, a decent chip and run ran on to 10 feet past the hole and the putt just rimmed the hole so a bogey 5 and 2 points.

Hole 17, A decent drive then a lay up which was a little too far to reach the green in 3, a decent 3 wood left a chip and run down to the green and my par putt just missed so a bogey 6 and 2 points.

Hole 18, A 6 iron found the fringe of the green and a decent putt left a sdhort one for a par 3 and 3 points.

So another 17 points for a total of 34, again a couple of 3 putts where I should have got pars and a mess of the 12 cost me a few extra points but all in all I was close to my handicap which I haven't been since my holiday.

Centenary Week

I have just had a 2 week holiday in Spain and a complete break from golf, I returned in time for Centenary Week at Ellesmere. In my absence there were mixed results for the club teams I play on. The mixed team won our match against Saddleworth 5-2 which puts us in the last 8 of the competition, however sadly the ladies shield team, having qualified for the knockout stage, failed to reach the last 8, losing 5-2 to Rochdale.

Monday evening had me and my partner playing in the final of the clubs Hebblethwaite Cup, the 4BBB knockout, we were playing a girl of 6 and another off 12, so playing off 3/4 handicap was going to be tough. We couldn't have got off to a better start, when I holed a putt from off the green for a birdie 2 on the first for an early lead, I had shots on both 2 and 3 but on both holes after good drives I scuffed fairway woods and we lost both holes to pars. A good putt for a par on the 4th by one of our opponents, put us 2 down, I had a 5 net 4 to half the 5th but we lost the 6th when my par was beaten by a birdie. I 3 putted the 7th after being on for 2 and lost that hole to a par. I took 3 from just short of the 8th green for a bogey and lost the hole to a par which left us 5 down. My partner parred the 9th for a half, then I had a net par on the 10th for another half. Another scuffed fairway wood when in range of the green meant we lost that hole to another par, when my partner missed for a net par laving us 6 down with only 7 holes left. A net par by my partner won the 12th, when our opponents failed to get par or better for the first time. A net par by me on the 13th gave us another half and left us dormie 5 down. I hit the green and holed a 20 foot putt to birdie the 14th but that was matched when one of our partner followed me in from 15 feet to secure a 5&4 win for them.
Although it was disappointing to lose the 6 handicapper played really well and was a gross 1 under par after the 14 holes, the match would have been a lot closer  if I had capitalised on some good driving.

On to Wednesday and the Centenary Am-Am, I was playing with our lady Captain and 2 others and on paper we should have been a good team. Golf however is played on grass not on paper and it would be fair to say that none of us played with any consistency. For myself, I was pleased to hit 5 of the 6 par 3 greens with my tee shots, however, I struggled on most of the other holes. My driving was poor to begin with, and then when I did hit decent drives, my fairway woods were very erratic chipping was poor too. It was a lovely afternoon and it was a shame that the golf did not match the weather.

So Thursday arrived and so did the Ladies Centenary Trophy. I was hoping for more consistency and started well with a bogey on the first followed by a par on the second but sadly it started to go down hill after that, thinned wood into ditch at the 3rd, bad bounces into bunkers at the 4th & 5th. Then my short game fell apart and 3 putt followed 3 putt, I was getting to close to the green ok put poor chips and 3 putts cost me dear, another bad bounce into a bunker, another wood into a ditch. At least  I finished well with a birdie 2 on the last. A gross 94 net 79 meant another 0.1 handicap increase and  now I am at 15.0. Overall my long game was steadier despite the odd hiccup but my short game was really woeful. I did spend a hour on the chipping green after the round and began to get a better feel for chips, I will have to see if I can carry that into my game next week.

This weeks round.

Hole 1, pulled my 5 iron left but a chip on and 2 putts gave my a bogey 4.

Hole 2, A good drive followed by a slighty thinned 3 wood left 50yards to the green, I pitched to 15 feet and holed the putt for a par 4.

Hole 3, A good drive and then a pitch short of the ditch left 150 yds to the green, I mishit a 5 wood and found the ditch, a penalty drop then a wedge to the green 2 putts for a double bogey 7.

Hole 4, pulled 6 iron left and found a bunker, came out a bit thin and over the green, a poor chip then 2 putts for a double bogey 5.

Hole 5, A decent drive then a good 3 wood, which bounced at right angles on landing right into a bunker, out in one but just short of the green, another weak chip then 2 putts for the third double on the run, this time a 6.

Hole 6, A good drive and good 3 wood left 40 yds to the green, under hit my pitch which just found the green but over hit my putt and missed the return, so a bogey 6.

Hole 7, a decent drive then a 5 iron to the fringe of the green, left putt way short and missed the next so a bogey 5.

Hole 8, A good drive and good 3 wood left a 20 yds chip, just failed to reach the green and left my putt 6 ft short ,fortunately holed it for a par 5.

Hole 9, under hit a 9 iron off the tee which finished on the edge  of the ditch, tricky lie but chipped on the green and 2 putts for a bogey 4.

So 46 shots for the first nine, should have been better but 3 putting cost my a couple of shots.

Hole 10, Good drive and good 3 wood left me 10 yds from the green, woeful chip and 3 putts for a double bogey 6.

Hole 11, A reasonable drive and a 9 iron left another 9 iron to the green, sadly it landed on an upslope and stopped dead just short, another poor chip and 2 putts for a bogey 6.

Hole 12, Drive was a little short, but pitched on and 2 putts for a bogey 4.

Hole 13, Decent drive and a good 3 wood which again took a bad bounce and found a bunker, I got out first time but then another poor chip and 3 putts meant a triple bogey 7.

Hole 14, A poor tee shot then chipped on but another 3 putt for a double bogey 5.

Hole 15, A decent drive and nice 3 wood left 70 yds to the green but an under hit wedge meant a long putt, left it 5 feet away and missed so another 3 putt and a bogey 6.

Hole 16, My drive went right and I had overhanging branches in the way, played a reasonable 6 iron that finished 10yds off the green but in a poor lie, I failed to reach the green then chipped on and holed a 10 foot putt for a bogey 5.

Hole 17, A great drive meant I could take on the ditch, but I hit it to the right and found the water, so a penalty drop then a decent 6 iron that just failed to run down the bank onto the green, I hit a nice wedge to 3 feet but missed the putt so a double bogey 7.

Hole 18, A good 6 iron that ran to 8 feet from the pin, I holed the putt for a birdie 2 to finish.

48 shots for the back nine for a total of 94 for the round.

So several poor chips and six 3 putts, left me very frustrated, I just hope the chipping practice after the round will help my in future rounds as I still have a lot of golf to play this month and next.

An up and down week

16th at Hesketh

Sunday was our invitation and I invited a girl from Hesketh, we gelled very well and were delighted to finish 2nd.

 On Tuesday the Ellesmere team play at Wilmslow in the last 16 of the Bell Cup, Wilmslow have a good record in the cup and turned out a team whose highest handicap was 12 so all our team were receiving shots. Nevertheless playing a team of very good players on their own course was a big challenge, which fortunately we were up to, just. We won 4-3 on the last green. For myself I won my match 2up, a very good first nine set me up and I managed to hold on despite a spirited comeback, only winning thanks to a birdie on the par 5 last hole.

On Wednesday saw me on the road again this time to Hesketh, a links course in Southport, were I played in the Invitation, with the girl who played with me at Ellesmere on Sunday. I started really well parring 8 out of the first 10 holes, a dropped of a little in the middle of the 2nd nine but
came back well. We finished 2nd again in the competition and I really enjoyed the day.

After two good away days I was hoping to keep my good form for our weekly medal, but alas it was not to be and I played very poorly finishing with a gross 98, net 83 and a 0.1 increase in handicap, I was starting to think that I just cant play well at home.

With those thoughts in my mind, I wasn't expecting much in the 36 hole Club Championship today, however in the morning I played nicely turning in 42, with 3 pars and 6 bogeys, a thinned pitch cost me a double on the 1oth, but a par at the 11th, got it back, but another thinned pitch at the 12th cost me another double. Three pars at 13, 14 and 15 got me back on track, but a safety chip on the 16th went wrong and taking 2 out of a bunker meant another bogey. I hit 3 good shots to the longest hole on the course, but unfortunately a 3 wood from 170 yards out ran through the green and into the stream at the back and that was another double. Finally on the last I putt my tee shot into a green side bunker and again took 2 to get out, so a 3rd successive double, 48 on the back nine meant a gross 88, net 73, very annoying as the 3 dropped shot on the closing holes cost me a handicap reduction.
 Particularly pleasing was the way I putted on fast greens with awkward positions, not  3 putting once.
Sadly this didn't last into the afternoon and I took 4 putts on the first hole! In fact I didn't start well at hole, a tee shot right behind a tree on the 2nd a a good drive that took a bad bounce on the 5th into a hazard meant I really started badly. I did improve although another 2 out of a bunker and a couple of 3 putts meant a step back for every step forward, but I did play a lot better on the back nine.   only taking 42 which with a front nine of 48 gave me a gross 90, nett 75, happily in my buffer zone.

No shot by shot breakdown this week as  I need to get to bed as  I am up very early to go on holiday for 2 weeks. I am sure I will benefit from a 2 week break with no golf, but its a shame I will miss 2 team knockout matches while I am away. I hope the team do the business in my absence.

Still playing better in matchplay than stroke play

Wilmslow clubhouse and 9th and 18th greens

After 11 competitive rounds in 11 days, I had a break at the weekend so on Monday felt well rested for the semi-final of the Hebblethwaite, our four ball better ball knockout. I had the lowest handicap of the four of us and so had to give shots to the other three.
We won the first with a bogey and then one of our opponents parred the next 3 holes, I parred one of them but was giving a shot, so we lost all three to be 2 down after 4 holes. Fortunately we rallied and won the 5th, then after halving the next 3 my partner parred the 8th with a shot to bring us all back to all square and when she also birdied the 9th we turned one up. We halved the 10th then I birdied the 11th to move 2 ahead, We shared the 12th with pars then I won the 13th with another par despite giving shots to the other three. We lost the 14th to a par but then another par, with a shot, by my partner won the 15th to put us dormie 3up. A bogey 5 for me was enough to win the 16th and the match by 4&2. We are now in the final will play the pair that have won the competition the last 2 years.

On Tuesday I went to Wilmslow to play the course in advance of our Bell Cup last 16 match next week, It was a very hot day and I had to use my umbrella to get some shade. Wilmslow is a very nice course, the main features being that it is quite long and has a lot of fairway bunkers, so thought is needed with a lot of tee shots, There are also a few tricky par 3s, where club selection is very important. Other than that the course looked straight forward with no really tricky greens, a feature that I often find the main problem when playing away courses. We saw the Wilmslow team list while we were there and only one of their team does not have  a single figure handicap, so we will be playing against very good golfers but will all be receiving shots which ought to help and make it a close match.

Thursday's competition was strokeplay, a qualifier for the Bunty Booth, a Manchester and District competition. I started well, parring 2 of the first 4 holes but an awful drive and then finding a ditch cost me a 9 on the 5th hole. I steadied and had 3 pars in the next 7 holes to get back on track but then 3 double bogeys, mostly due to poor putting, over the last 6 holes meant I finished with 92 shots for a net 77. Fortunately due to stable adjustments I still managed to finish in my buffer zone so escaped a 0.1 increase to my handicap. It was a glorious day and some of the scoring reflected than, with 6 players scoring 70 or better, the winner having a 64, the lowest winning score there has been while I have been a member.

Earlier in the year I entered the Nike matchplay competition, a nationwide tournament where the finals are held in Portugal in the new year. The competition starts of as a regional knockout with up to 16 players in each group, with the winner of the group going through to the regional final. My group had 14 players in it and I was fortunate to get a bye in the first round. On Friday I went to play my 2nd round match against a man from Romiley golf club, the competition is open to both men and women.
My opponent plays of 8 and so I received 7 shots for the difference in handicaps plus another 2 as the men's SSS was 2 less than the ladies. My opponent started badly and I won the first 2 holes, but then he got his game together and he won 3 of the next 6 holes to be one up after 8, poor drives from him on 9 and 10, which I birdied, meant I won both holes and when I parred the 11th I was back to 2 up. I received shots on the 12,13 and 14 but he played them well, including his 2nd birdie of the round so after 14 I was only 1up. The 15th is a par 3 and I found the green while he missed it and a par put me back to 2 up, We both parred 16 to leave me dormie two, but he was on the 17th in 2 while I was50 yards short, I was getting my last shot on this hole though and I hit a lovely wedge shot to 4 feet from the hole, he missed a long birdie putt and the match was over , with me winning 3 & 1.
I enjoyed the course very much and played pretty well, being 2 shots under my handicap when the match finished. I am now in the last 4 of my group and will have a home tie in the next round where my opponent will be a guy off either 3 or 8.

As usual details of Thursday's round.

Hole 1, I found the green with a 6 iron of the tee, but left my first putt woefully short, so 3 putted for a bogey 4.

Hole 2, A decent drive and then a lovely 3 wood which found the green, 2 putts gave me a par 4.

Hole 3, A good drive and a lay up short of the ditch, but a topped 8 iron meant I had to pitch on then 2 putt for a bogey 6.

Hole 4, A little fortunate to get a good bounce from my tee shot to find the green and 2 putts for a par 3.

Hole 5, An awful tee shot high and left found the bushes and I had no shot so took a penalty drop, I still didn't have a great lie and couldn't take a proper back swing, nevertheless I got good contact and was unlucky to find the ditch that crosses the fairway, so another penalty drop, I hit a poor 5th shot then managed to find the edge of the green but then 3 putted again for a quintuple bogey 9.

Hole 6, A decent drive and 3 wood left a pitch to the green and 2 putts gave me a par 5.

Hole 7, A reasonable drive, left me a 5 iron to the green but unfortunately my shot ran through the green and over into a hazard, so another penalty drop, but a chip and a putt gave me a bogey 5.

Hole 8, Another reasonable drive, but my 3 wood was a little right and meant I had to try and get the ball under overhanging tree braches and I failed to get it on the green, a chip and 2 putts gave me a bogey 6.

Hole 9, A reasonable tee shot missed the green but a chip and 2 putts for a bogey 4.

So a front 9 of 46, 8 decent holes, let down by the 9 and also 3 putting the first.

Hole 10, A good drive and then a 3 wood just short of the green, my chip on was rather short but 2 putts for a bogey 5.

Hole 11, I hit a nice drive but had to lay up in front of the ditch, A good wedge found the green from 90 yards and 2 putts gave me a par 5.

Hole 12, My drive was just short of the green, I chipped to 10 feet and holed a nice downhill putt for a par 3.

Hole 13, My drive was a little short and right, I hit a decent recovery but then fluffed a pitch, I chipped on and 2 putts for a double bogey 6.

Hole 14, My tee shot found a bunker in front of the green but I got it out and 2 putted for a bogey 4.

Hole 15, My tee shot was a little high and short but a good 3 wood left me a 9 iron to the green, unfortunately I mishit it and then having found the green with my next, 3 putted for a disappointing double bogey 7

Hole 16, A long drive but also a long way right still gave me an 80 yard pitch to the green, I hit it well but it ran off the green, I chipped to 4 feet but missed the putt so a bogey 5.

Hole 17, A reasonable drive and then a 7 iron short of the ditch, I hit a nice 3 wood which found the green but another 3 putts meant a bogey 6.

Hole 18, A topped tee shot, then a short pitch left a chip on and 2 putts for a poor double bogey 5 to finish.

Another 46 for the second nine, where again  I played 8 holes pretty well only to be spoilt by a couple of poor pitches and some more 3 putting. A total of 92 shots which less my 15 handicap gave me a net 77.

Despite the poor score I felt I mainly played well, as usual poor putting cost me, my main problem seems to be being too tentative on long putts, I do need to be more positive. Also the occasional tendency to hit my drive  high and left. I don't know why I am doing it, and I only do it once a round as a rule but it always costs me a lot of shots, a trip to the pro could well be needed to try and cure it.
I also do occasionally mishit my 52 and 56 degree wedges, although I am getting a lot more confident using them.
I have a couple of  competition free days this coming week and I really must spend time practicing my short game before the club championship next weekend.

To the hills... and beyond

Looking down from the 17th tee at Oldham

Sunday was another board comp, I played reasonable but unfortunately  I had three 9s, which is guarenteed to spoil any card. I didn't actually play that badly and 5 pars, but the nines were annoying, especially as they were all on par 5s where  I tend to get most of my pars.

On Monday the shield team headed for Oldham, for the first of two shield matches in 3 days, we were looking for just a half to make sure we won our group. Oldham is an interesting course, set on the side of a hill above the town. It is quite short really and the first 8 holes are very benign and don't prepare you for what is to follow. When you reach the 9th you are faced with a steep uphill hole, you then start traversing the hill, with most of the next 7 holes blind drives, even the par 3s. The greens are also very tricky and often quite small with borrows that you don't see, I managed to three putt 4 or 5 holes on the back nine. You then descend steeply on the 17th before returning to the clubhouse on the fairly flat 18th. Despite the 3 putts, I played very well on the first few holes and managed to keep my lead to win my match 2&1, but sadly we only managed one half in the other 6 matches and so lost by 5½ to 1½..

Wednesday saw me off for a shield match at Saddleworth, this was our final shield match in the group and as Saddleworth were the only club that can beat us in the group, we were keen to get that elusive draw that would be enough. Saddleworth is high in the hills on the edge of the Pennines with what may be the highest tee in England. Despite its height, most holes, like at Oldham traverse the hill. so the only a few holes that really ascend or descend. I started the match really badly and found myself 3 down after only 6 holes, I did fight back but then fell behind again and was dormie 2 down with 2 holes to play. Fortunately I won the last 2 holes to get a half and preserve my unbeaten record in single matches for the club. Sadly, once more, we only had one win and one other half and so lost the match by 5 games to 2. So the result of our group is still in the balance, with Saddleworth needing to win their last 2 matches and win 11 games in the process, a tough ask but not impossible. The sad thing is that if we do end up wining our section, I will miss the quarterfinals due to being away on holiday.

View from Saddleworth

On Thursday, I was on the course early to play in the medal, before heading hot foot down to Chorlton-cum-Hardy to play in the open there in the afternoon. I felt that I played really well in the medal, without getting any breaks I found a lot of bunkers, some of which cost me shots and I finished with a round of 90 for a net score of 75, at least it  was within my buffer zone.

After a quick snack I was off  to Chorlton and a shotgun start , my driving was a little erratic but when I hit a decent drive, I played the holes very well and unlike the morning, when I didn't hole a putt longer than 3 feet, I holed 4 or 5 putts of over 15 feet. The competition was for teams of 3,  with the best 2 scores on each hole to count, the three of us combined very well and we finished with 84 points, wining the competition by  9 points. It was reassuring to know that I didn't struggle to play 36 holes in a day as our 36 hole Championship is coming up in 2 weeks, I fell asleep pretty quickly when I got home though.

My final game of the week, was also in an open at Leigh Golf club, playing with the same 2 girls I played with at Chorlton I really didn't start well for the first several holes and we didn't have a great score on the first 9 holes, where  the best 2 scores counted but on the 2nd nine all 3 counted and we played a lot steadier, we finished with 82 points which was less than the day before but with only one group left to finish we were in first place again. The last group pipped us, but we still finished in a creditable 2nd place.

Thursday's medal round.

Hole 1, I hit a nice 6 iron that finished pin high about 20 feet away from the hole, 2 putts gave me a par 3 to start.

Hole 2, A nice drive and then a well hit 3 wood, which finished pin high but in a green side bunker, I got out in one and 2 putted for a bogey 5.

Hole 3, Another nice drive then I laid up short of the ditch, a 120yard 8 iron, again finished pin high but in a bunker, I came out thinned and had to chip on to the green, then 2 putted for a double bogey 7.

Hole 4, a 6 iron off the tee found the greenside bunker, I failed to get out first time, then 2 putted for a double bogey 5.

Hole 5, A reasonable drive, then a 5 wood a bit wide, I chipped on and 2 putts gave me a bogey 5.

Hole 6, A wayward drive, but a good 3 wood left me about 120 from the green, I pulled my 8 iron left, then failed chip on, on for 4 and 2 putts for a bogey 6.

Hole 7, A decent drive then a 3 wood from 160yds found the front of the green, 2 putts for a par 4.

Hole 8, A good drive and decent 3 wood left an 80yd pitch, I found the green and 2 putts gave me a par 5.

Hole 9, A 9 iron found the back of the green and 2 putts gave me my 3rd par in the row, this time a 3.

So 43 shots for the front 9 bang on handicap, 4 pars but a couple of dropped shots with poor bunker shots and a poor chip, but the par, par, par finished set me up well for the back nine.

Hole 10, A good drive, then a 3 wood to the right of the green, a chip on and 2 putts for a bogey 5.

Hole 11, A reasonable drive, then a 7 iron lay up in front of the ditch got a bad bounce and left me 120yds from the green, but in the rough, I came out thin and missed the green on the right, a chip on and 2 putts for a bogey 6.

Hole 12, A bad drive, way left,  was followed by a duffed chip, I chipped on for 3 and 2 putted for a double bogey 5.

Hole 13, A short  drive then  a decent 3 wood left me a chip over a bunker, I thinned it into the bunker, I got out then 2 putted for a double bogey 6.

Hole 14. I just missed the green with my tee shot but chipped to a foot and holed for a par 3.

Hole 15, A decent drive and 3 wood left a 9 iron to the green, I hit the green but the ball rolled off the back, I chipped on but 2 putted again for a bogey 6.

Hole 16, A great 200 yard plus drive left me 80 yds to the green, I duffed the pitch, then chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 5.

Hole 17, A decent drive into the win, then a 7 iron to lay up, I hit a good 3 wood which just failed to roll down the bank onto the green, I chipped but then hit a poor first putt and missed the 2nd so a double bogey 7.

Hole 18, My tee shot found the fringe of the green, I chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 4.

So a disappointing 47 on the back nine, for a total of 90 which gave me  a net 75, which was at least in my buffer zone. I mostly  hit the ball well from tee to around green, but I didn't get close enough with most of my chips and didn't hole a decent putt all morning, although several just slipped by. I am now confident in getting very close to every green in regulation but I need to hit straighter approaches as I often find myself pin high but off the green and need 3 more shots to get down.

England Golf grand medal final - Northampton County Golf Club.

Well this was supposedly going to be a triumphal blog entry about how I conquer all, however it was not to be.

The day started well as I drove the 15 miles from my hotel in Market Harborough to the course, I had driven down the night before so as to be fresh for the competition. Hotels in Northampton were hard to come by and expensive due to the Grand Prix being help nearby by, a Travelodge in Northampton was charging £190 a room!

The course looked in great condition and so after a bacon barm, some time on the range and putting green I was ready for the off.

I started well with a lovely straight drive and got a bogey 6 on the first where my chip which ran right off the back of the green gave an early indication of how the greens would be playing. A nice par 5 on the second was followed by a bogey 4 on the third where I three putted from the back of the green, I left the first way short, scared with how fast the greens were. sadly this trend continued throughout the round. A bogey 5 on the 4th and I was off to a nice steady start.

We had been held up by the group in front on both the 2nd and 3rd holes, but as we had spent time on the 3rd looking for a ball, we were a little behind when we reached the 5th tee. Here were were met by a marshall who told up we need to speed up to catch, as we were lagging behind. This did not go down well and I put my first drive deep into trees followed by a 2nd which found deep rough. I hit a decent recovery and we set off up the fairway, only to be followed by the marshall, this caused us all to rush our shots and also got me really upset by his actions, the hole ended up a disaster with me taking 13 shots, both my playing partners took double figures on the hole as well.

It took a couple of holes for me to calm down and then I settled into playing decent golf again, although the greens still continued to puzzle me and several times I was on the fringe in regulation only to take 3 putts.

I did manage a couple more pars along the way  but it should have been several more. I did slip up on the 16th were a poorly hit approach found a greenside bunker and I took 3 to get out followed by another 3 putt for a 9,

My final score was 105 for a net scored of 90, and although that looks bad I really didn't play badly at all, apart from the 13 and the 9, I didn't have a score greater than 6 on any other hole, I did however play the par threes poorly. I ended up 40th out of 60, some players didn't have the same problems and the winning score was a net 73 against a SSS of 75, CSS was 76, so I will get a 0.1 increase to my handicap.

All in all, apart from the incident with the marshall, I did have a lovely day, and although I think I will struggle to win the medal at Ellesmere this season I would love another chance to try and qualifiy for this again.

Things are coming together nicely

Sunday saw us playing for the Captain's prize to the ladies, a competition that everyone wants to win, Despite it being a very windy day but  I started off really well and but for 2 missed putts of less than 3 feet I would have started with 4 straight pars, however 2 pars in the first 4 holes wasn't a bad start. A thinned chip went a triple bogey on the 5th, but 2 good blows gave me a chip and a putt for a birdie on the 6th. A bogey followed on the 7th, but then on the 8th my drive caught the trees so I had to lay up before the ditch, I was on the green in 4 but another 3 putt gave me a double bogey 7. I had a bit of luck on the 9th when my very wayward tee shot hit a tree and bounced back on to the fairway, but I failed to take advantage and 3 putted yet again for a second successive triple bogey. Despite the poor putting, I still only took 45 on the front nine. I was on the 10th green in but managed to take 4 putts from only 15 feet for a 3rd successive triple bogey, and another drive into the trees meant I double bogeyed the 11th. I parred the par 3 12th, but then another wayward drive left me with another triple on the 13th, I then went bogey, par, bogey, bogey, then on the last I lost my tee shot and finished with a final triple bogey 6. So the back nine score was 51 for a gross score of 96, net 79.
The wind obviously affect everyone and we were surprised to find that my playing partner had won the competition was a net 77, my 79 was the 2nd best score but  I actually finished 4th due to losing the 2nd and 3rd places on card play offs.

On Tuesday we had our day out and went to Helsby Golf Club, Helsby is a nice course, fairly flat, which was good for the older members and well kept. We split in to teams of 3 for a friendly competition, I was pleased to par 8 of the holes but 3 triple bogeys and a few doubles took the shine of the round, even my driving was wayward, which is a bad sigh,

I decided that I needed to try and sort my iron play out, so I had booked a lesson for Tuesday, James my coach got mw to change my posture and it seemed to have a good affect, I went to the range and hit 50 balls and the results were very encouraging.

Thursday, the start of a spell that's will see me play 10 times in 9 days, was a medal competition and my partner and I went out early to avoid the forecasted rain in the afternoon. the round was very pleasing  and my iron play held up well, my putting was mostly good and I holed a couple of decent putts. I had 6 pars and also just as importantly importantly only had 2 double bogeys.

On Friday I went up to Garstang for a golf day for Blackpool FC supporters, despite the weather it was a good day and although I didn't score well on the first nine, the second was a lot better and I went round in a reasonable 89.

Thursday's round.

Hole 1, A bit of a wayward tee shot, but I chipped on and 2 putts gave me a bogey 4.

Hole 2, A nice straight drive and a good 3 wood to the right of the green, I chipped over a bunker to a couple of feet and holed the putt for a par 4.

Hole 3, My drive was left and caught some trees, but a decent 2nd left me a chance to get close to the green, sadly  I mishit the ball and found the ditch, a penalty drop then a nice 8 iron found the back fringe, 2 putts for a double bogey 7.

Hole 4, A pulled 4 iron left me a chip over a bunker which I thinned across the green, a chip on and 2 putts for a double bogey 5.

Hole 5, A high drive meant I couldn't reach the green, but a decent 3 wood left me a 60yard chip to the green, I chipped on and 2 putts gave me a bogey 5.

Hole 6, Again not the best of drives, but a nice 3 wood left me a pitch to the green and 2 putts gave me a par 5.

Hole 7, a better drive but a little to the right, a 8 iron found the fringe and a chip and a nice putt gave me a par 4.

Hole 8, A good drive into the wind but then a mishit 3 wood found the ditch, after a penalty drop I found the green with a 5 iron and 3 putts gave me a bogey 6.

Hole 9, A 9 iron found the back fringe of the green, a bit of a tentative downhill putt and I missed the 2nd so a bogey 4.

3 pars and 2 double bogeys meant 44 shots for the first 9 which was about on handicap.

Hole 10, A nice drive then a 3 wood to just short of the green, my chip was a little short and 2 putts gave me a bogey 5/

Hole 11, Not a great drive but a decent 2nd left a 6 iron to the green, I found the green but left my first putt short and my 2nd finished right on the edge of the hole so a bogey 6.

Hole 12, My drive finished just off the green, I chipped to a foot and holed the putt for a par 3.

Hole 13, A nice drive and a good 3 wood found the green, 2 putts gave me a par 4.

Hole 14, A poor 5 iron off the tee left me short and wide of the green, mt chip ran to the fringe of the green and 2 putts gave me a bogey 4.

Hole 15, A reasonable drive and 3 wood left me about 30 yds from the green, I thinned a 6 iron which fortunately ran through a bunker, a chip on and 2 putts for a bogey 6.

Hole 16, A decent drive found the fairway but overhanging branches meant I didn't have a clear shot to the green I hit a low punch towards the green then my pitch ran through the back, I chipped to 1 foot and holed for a bogey 5.

Hole 17, A good drive then a 7 iron pay up in front of the ditch, I hit a good 3 wood that held up in the wind just short of the bank leading down to the green, I chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 6.

Hole 18, A lovely 6 iron off the tee found the green and 2 putts gave me a par 3 to finish.

3 pars and nothing worse than a bogey gave me a 2nd nine score of 42 for a gross round of 86 and a net 69. CSS was increased to 73 so I had a handicap cut of 1.2 down to 15.6 and then a further ESR of 1 shot to drop make my new handicap 14.6. A nice consistent round which was very pleasing as was the cut although with my England Golf Grand Medal final on Saturday perhaps not the best timing.

Highs and Lows

On Monday we had the next match for the Shield team, this time home to Whitefield, looking to make it 5 wins out of 6 for the team. I had a lovely game which I managed to win by 5&3, again I played steadily keeping my good run of form going. The team won the match 5-2 and we are very close to winning our group now, although we have two tough away matches left at the moorland courses of Oldham and Saddleworth. However the way the other results have been going in our group, there is a good chance that we could lose them both and still finish top.

On Tuesday three of us went down to play the Portal Premier course in Tarporley ahead of the clubs match there in the Archie Preston, Manchester and district mixed knockout. Portal is a really nice course, it is set on a ridge with great views over the Cheshire plain. The course itself is an undulating course, in great condition, with some very interesting holes, including the long par 3 15th, which is the picture at the top of the blog. We were fortunate with the weather, little wind and lots of sunshine and all in all it was a very enjoyable day.

As I haven't been happy with my longer irons, I decided to give in and buy another wood, so after trying a few out I decided to but a Wilson staff 26 degree fybrid, which I was hoping would give me around 140 yards to negate the need for using my 5 or 6 iron so much. On Thursday I took it onto the course for the first time in the Ping 4 ball better ball qualifier, My partner and I won this qualifier but did not have sufficient points to make the finals as only  the top 132 from all the clubs in the country  actually make the finals, so if we won this year I was hoping for a better score.

I played my best round of the season with 3 birdies and 7 pars and for once I kept it going through out the round. The conditions help and I even hit 2 par 5s in 2 shots, both resulting in birdies and also holed a couple of putts from the fringe. Unlike last week when I played well but struggled to get up and down from close to the green, I chipped a lot better too. The result was that we scored 45 points off 3/4 handicap. The scoring was good all round, and two other pairs also scored 45 points, we actually came second on card playoffs and our scores will go forward to see if we make the finals this year, we certainly have a better chance than last year, so fingers crossed.

Friday saw me playing in the Flixton team open, Flixton is a 9 hole course and is rather flat, also the greens are not in the best condition and are not even paced. I didn't actually play that well, although I did have a nice birdie where I hit my new wood to with 4 feet of the hole. Despite me not playing very well my partners play well and we came 2nd, which was nice.

Saturday took us back to Portal for the Archie Preston match, I played with the same man I had partnered in the previous round. We started well with a par followed by a birdie where I hit a lovely wedge to about 6 feet, but some poor holes around the turn saw us fall to 2 down with 4 holes play. A superb tee shot from my partner on the 15th gave us a conceded birdie and we followed that with a win on the 16th, where I hit a lovely 5 wood to the back fringe of the green, so we were all square with 2 to play. Sadly, despite me holing some nice putts throughout the round, I missed from 18 inches to go one down and a superb chip to 6 inches on the last gave our opponents a win by 1 hole. The team match came right down to the final couple on the last hole and fortunately the Ellesmere pair won to give us the match 4-3 and see us into the last 16.

All in all a bit of a mixed week, where I followed my best round so far, with a couple of indifferent displays.

My round on Thursday.

Hole 1, Hit new wood to front fringe, chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 4.

Hole 2, a decent drive then found the green with my 3 wood, 2 putts for a par 4.

Hole 3, 2 decent shots but mishit a 5 wood , chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 6.

Hole 4, A 6 iron tee shot found the front fringe but I holed a long putt for a birdie 2.

Hole 5, My drive was a little left then a 3 wood left me 40 yards from the green, I chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 5.

Hole 6, A good long drive followed  by nice 3 wood which hit the green, 2 putts gave me a birdie 4.

Hole 7, A drive a little right and then an 8 iron to the fringe, chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 5.

Hole 8, A good long drive and a lovely 3 wood found the green, 2 putts for a birdie 4.

Hole 9, A 9 iron off the tee found the fringe, I chipped a little long but my partner had a 3 so I didn't need to putt, 2 putts would have given me a bogey 4.

So after 3 birdies and a par, and  assuming 2 putts on the 9th I would have had a 2 over 38 on the front nine.

Hole 10, After decent drive although a little short, I hit a 3 wood to just short of the green, chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 5.

Hole 11, I hit a lovely straight drive and decided to take on the ditch in front of the green, I cleared it but was a little left and caught a tree, chipped on from off a bank and 2 putts gave me a par 5.

Hole 12, My tee shot was left and a poor chip only found the fringe but I holed the putt for a par 3.

Hole 13, My drive was left and my 5 wood 2nd missed right and found trees, I tried a low chip but it ran over the green into a bunker. I got out first time and 2 putted for a double bogey 6.

Hole 14. Hit my new wood of the tee and was right of the green, I chipped to 3 feet and holed the putt for a par 3.

Hole 15, My drive was OK and a 3 wood left me an 8 iron to the green, I found the fringe and 2 putted for a par 5.

Hole 16. A lovely straight drive left a 9 iron to the green, I hit the green and my 20 foot birdie putt just rimmed out so a par 4.

Hole 17, Another good long drive, so I didn't need to lay up and cleared the ditch with my 2nd, unfortunately I thinned my 9 iron which shot through the green and down the bank, I chipped back and 2 putts gave me a bogey 6.

Hole 18, My 6 iron ran off the back of the green but I chip to 2 feet and holed for a par 3.

So a good score of 40 shots on the back 9 for a theoretical round of 78 only 6 over par, by far the best I have played and although it doesn't count it just shows me what I am capable of, if I can play like that consistently.

Getting more consistent.

After a golf free weekend, although I did spend Saturday at the club helping out for Presidents Day, Monday saw the next game in the handicap shield league. This time we were playing Oldham at home and it was a match we were keen to win as they, like us, had won 3 out of their 4 previous matches. I was receiving one shot of my opponent and we both played steadily over the first nine holes at which point I was just 1up. Fortunately for me my opponent then went off the boil  a little and I won both 10 and 11 to go 3 up. After sharing the 12th, I received my shot on the 13th which I also won to go  4 up and then a par at the par 3 14th won me the match 5 & 4. The team match was very close and but we won that 4-3 to leave us in a good position with 3 matches left although we still have to go to  Oldham and Saddleworth which are both hilly moorland courses quite unlike Ellesmere.
The particularly pleasing aspect of my match was that I was a lot more consistent than I have been with 5 pars and nothing worse than a bogey over the 14 holes we played.

After a practise round on Tuesday, I decide to go and look at maybe getting a 7 wood, as I had found the one that I had borrowed was a useful club to have. I went down to American Golf and tried a 26 degree hybrid which I found I could hit well. I didn't buy one as there is also a 23 and 29 degree version and I am unsure which will serve me best. I am even considering buying 2 but that would mean would I have to drop an iron from my bag and I have always thought it was a bit of a cop out to used high lofted woods instead of irons. However I am still not too confident with my irons so maybe woods are the way to go.

The weather finally broke for Thursday's competition, a medal, and so we set off in the rain, I was playing with one of our older members, a lady who had been as low as 9 but was now playing off 23. You could tell she had been a lot better than she is now as she played some delightful shots.

I didn't start very well, 3 putting on the 1st green from 4 feet and then double bogeying the 3rd but then I steadied and 3 pars in a row saw me on level 5s after 9 holes and 3 more pars coming home negated the 2 double bogeys and I finished the round bang on handicap with a net 72. This proved to be enough to win the competition in a reduced field as several players were put off by the weather.

Friday saw the Ellesmere team going to Greenmount to play in the next round of the Bell Cup. Like Thursday the weather wasn't great and the match didn't start until 5pm so I was a little worried it might be rather dark towards the end of the rounds.

I found myself having to give 4 shots to my opponent but  pars on the 2nd and 3rd gave me an early lead and although I lost the 4th to a par I was 1up going into the first two holes where I had to give shots.  I managed to half them both to preserve my lead, a par on the 8th then put me 2 up and I won the 9th with a bogey to be 3 up at the turn. We both had pars the 10th then I also parred the 11th to go 4 up.
Up to this point I had barely hit a false shot, but then I hit my tee shot on the 12th off the toe of the club and went out of bounds to lose the  hole. My opponent then won the 13th with a par following my drive being too long and finding deep rough, so I was back to just 2 up.
We both missed the green on the par 3 14th, but my opponent messed up a chip and I won the hole with a bogey and after my opponent found the out of bounds on the 15th I won the match 4&3.
Again I played pretty steadily certainly for the first 11 holes over which I had 5 pars and 6 bogeys.

The match result turned out to depend on the last match out and we had a long wait before the match finished with our girl winning 2&1 to give Ellesmere the match 4-3 and so putting us into the last 16 of the cup, further than we have been before. A match against Blackburn or Wilmslow now awaits.

So overall for the week I played 47 holes of competitive golf which yielded 16 pars and only 6 holes of double bogey or worse, which is certainly the most consistent I have played. If I can improve my up and down rate from close to the green I can see more improvements ahead.

My medal round in detail.

Hole 1, Not the best  tee shot and then my pitch to the green got held up by standing water, I chipped to 4 feet but knocked the putt 3 feet past the hole and missed the return for triple bogey 6.

Hole 2, I hit a good straight drive, but then topped a 3 wood, I hit a good pitch to fringe, chipped  to 3 feet and holed the putt for a bogey 5.

Hole 3, A Wayward drive into trees meant I could only play out sideways back onto fairway, I hit a good 3rd but topped the 4th, I then chipped onto the green and 2 putted for a double bogey 7.

Hole 4, My tee shot went through green, but I chipped  to 3 feet and holed the putt for a par 3.

Hole 5, A lovely drive left me in perfect position and I hit a good 5 wood that just ran off the back of the green. I  chipped to 2 feet holed out for a very pleasing par 4, as it was the first time I had parred the hole in a competition.

Hole 6, Another good drive, then a 3 wood to 10 yds short of the green, I then hit a weak chip but 2 putts gave me a par 5

Hole 7, I hit a good drive followed by an 8 iron to fringe of the green, I chipped to 3 feet, and holed for par 4.

Hole 8, After a good drive, my 2nd was off line and caught the branches of a tree and fell into a hazard, I chipped out then found the green with a pitch from 80 yards, 2 putts gave me a  bogey 6.

Hole 9, I hit my tee shot right but luckily had a reasonable lie, a chip on and 2 putts for a bogey 4.

So despite a poor start I took 45 shots for the first 9.

hole 10, A good long drive, then a 5 wood just right of the green, chipped to 3 feet, but missed the par putt so a bogey 5.

Hole 11, A reasonable drive and a  good 2nd, left 80 yards, my pitch just short of the green, a chip to 4 feet but again missed the par putt so a bogey 6

Hole 12, I hit a wayward drive then under hit the pitch, a poor  chip on  and 2 putts for a double bogey 5.

Hole 13 A good long drive, then an 8 iron to the  fringe, I putted to 2 feet and for par 4.

hole 14, My tee shot ran to the back fringe, I badly overhit the putt and missed the return so a  bogey 4

Hole 15,A  good drive, but thinned the 2nd, a nice 5 wood went through back, but another poor chip and 2 putts for bogey 6.

Hole 16, A lovely long drive left an 80 yard pitch, I found the green and 2 putts gave me a par 4.

Hole 17, I hit a good drive but  thinned my lay up, a poor 3 wood followed then a pitch to fringe, my chip was long so 2 putts for a double bogey 7.

Hole 18, A lovely 6 iron to 8 feet, I missed the birdie putt so a par 3.

3 pars and 2 doubles gave me a 44 for a total of 89, which less my handicap of 17 gave me a level SSS of 72.

Things are looking up

Whitefield Golf Club

This week has been another busy week and I have played 2 new courses, also happily I have managed to get another handicap cut.

Monday saw a handicap shield match away at Whitefield, a course I have not played before, we are doing quite well in our league so we were looking for another win. We found out that Whitefield had just beaten the previously unbeaten Oldham so a win would see us go top of the group. I was giving my opponent a shot and we exchanged holes early on, I got my best game going though and with the help of two birdies managed to win my match by 3&2, the team also won 5-2 so we are now top and we entertain Oldham this coming Monday.

I am also in the team that play in the Bell Cup, a knockout competition and our next match is against Greenmount near Bury, so on Tuesday, myself and another of the girls in the team went over to play the course. To say Greenmount is quirky is an understatement, I have played it in the past but probably about 15 years ago, when it was a nine hole course. Since then they have extended the course but despite adding 2 new holes the course is still really a nine hole course. However 2 of the holes are now played to different greens on each circuit, so that the 2nd is played to one green but the 11th is played to a different one, similarly the 6th/15th have different greens. With changes to the tees on some of the other holes they have tried to make the 2 nines as different as they can. One sad aspect was that the greens were in very poor condition due to the fact that they have had a disease and so there are bare patches on most greens, hopefully there are local rules that allow the ball to be repositioned if the bare patches affect the putt. The course was certainly a challenge and I do think that local knowledge could be important when we play our match there next Friday.

So onto Thursday and our weekly competition, this week a Stableford. I played indifferently over the  first few holes, with a par but also 2 double bogeys, but a run of birdie, par, par, birdie from the 6th gave me a good outward score. I had a triple bogey on the 12th but then parred 14, 15, 16 and 17 so was looking at a very good score until for the 2nd week running I had a triple bogey 6 on the last. I did however still score 41 points, which gave me a handicap cut of 1.2 and earned me an additional exceptional scoring reduction of 0.5, so my handicap is now 16.8. I also came 2nd in the completion, only beaten by a great score of 43.

Friday saw me visit the 2nd new course of the week, when my partner and I went to Crompton and Royton to play in the regional final of the Lancashire Ladies Scott Leggatt foursomes competition, sadly we didn't play our best and our score of 28 points left us well down the field. I was pleased with my driving but my short game wasn't as good as it should be. We found a lot of bunkers and didn't hole a putt longer than 3 feet all day, with several just lipping out.

I have to say that both Whitefield and C&R were a pleasure to play and I look forward to playing both again in the future.

So onto the competition round.

Hole 1,  I pulled my 6 iron left of the tee, but a chip and 2 putts gave me a bogey 4 and 2 points.

Hole 2, I hit a decent drive a little right, then hit a nice 3 wood to front fringe of the green, chipped to about 10 feet but 2 putted for a bogey 5 and 2 points

Hole 3, I good drive, then a 9 iron to short of the ditch, left about 140 to the green, I didn't hit it great so was about 20 yards shot on the green but I chipped to 3 feet and holed the putt for a par 5 and 3 points.

Hole 4, Another tee shot pulled way left onto rough, hacked it out then my 3rd ran over the green, chipped back on and 2 putted for a double bogey 5 and 1 point.

Hole 5, A poor drive short and left, then a decent 3 wood which left about 100yds to the green, mishit my pitch, but then put my next on the green, 2 putts for a double bogey 6 and 1 point.

Hole 6, A reasonable drive but a bit right, then a 3 wood to just short of the green, I chipped to 4 feet and holes the putt for a birdie 4 and 4 points

Hole 7, A decent drive and a 5 wood to the green, 2 putts for a par 4 and 3 points.

Hole 8, A Good drive and a nice 3 wood to just short again, chip was a bit short but 2 putts for a par 5 and 3 points.

Hole 9, For the first time in a few weeks I hit a decent 9 iron which found the green and I holed 20 foot putt for a birdie 2 and 4 points.

So, thanks to a good finish I  only took 40 shots on the front nine for 23 points.

Hole 10, I hit a good drive but then topped a 3 wood, I hit a good 9 iron to the green and 2 putted for a bogey 5 and 2 points.

Hole 11,  A good drive but I had to play a 9 iron short of the ditch in front of the green, I then hit a lovely 2nd 9 iron which just ran off the back, a poor lie on a bank meant  I didn't  get the ball near enough and 2 putted for a bogey 6 and 2 points.

Hole 12, An awful drive way left and onto the fringe of the 11th green, I over hit my chip, then after finding the green with my 3rd managed to 3 putt for a triple bogey 6 and 0 points.

Hole 13, A good drive which didn't get a great bounce and finished up just in front of a bunker, my 5 wood to the green, caught the top of the bank of the bunker and went to the right behind trees, I tried to chip over the trees but failed, on the green in 4 and 2 putts for a double bogey 6 but has this was my 2 shot hole I scored 2 points.

Hole 14, In an attempted to find an alternative to my longer irons I had  borrowed 7 wood and I used this on the tee and found the green, 2 putts gave me a par 3 and 3 points.

Hole 15, A lovely drive and a decent 3 wood left about 70 yards to the green, my pitch finished about 20 feet from the hole and 2 putts gave me a par 5 and 3 points.

Hole 16, I hit my drive right and though some trees into rough, I chipped out onto another fairway about 60 yards from the green and hit a lovely 52 degree wedge over a bunker to 3 feet and holes the putt for a par 4 and 3 points.

Hole 17, I hit my best ever drive on this hole and decided to try and find the fairway over the ditch, that I would normally lay up in front of, I hit it very well and it found the fairway about 60 yards from the green. I chipped on and 2 putted for a par 5 and another 3 points.

Hole 18, I decided to try a 3/4 hit 7 wood and although I hit it ok it caught a tree guarding the green and fell back down the bank into the ditch so took a penalty drop then hit my next over the back of the green, I chipped on and 2 putted for a triple bogey 6 and no points.

So I took 46 shots on the back nine for 18 points, and a grand total of 41 points, my score of 86 was also my best ever round in a competition. Despite the 2 triples on par 3s, I was very happy with my round, especially the 7 pars and 2 birdies, After an indifferent start to the season I am now starting to ply like I know I can and there is plenty of room still for improvement. I do still need to sort out my longer irons as I am still only really comfortable with my woods and wedges, and although getting a 7 wood would help a lot, I think it would be a bit of a cop out, so a visit to the pro for a lesson is in the offing.

Still struggling to see it through.

The week started with a visit to Lymm golf club on Bank Holiday Monday, with some of the Golf Monthly forum. Two of the guys I was playing with were having a grudge match which provided some hilarious moments. As Lymm is one of the courses in our order of merit, I elected to use this round as my card for Lymm.

It wasn't the best of days although the forecasted rain did hold off for the first few holes and I started the round very well, in fact after 13 holes I had scored 33 points off full handicap, helped by an unprecedented 3 birdies, sadly my tendency to fade kicked in and I only managed 7 points over the last 5 holes and needless to say my shank reappeared on the 16th which ended up being the only hole I failed to scored on. 40 points was very pleasing though on a course I had never played before and even off 7/8 handicap I scored 38 points for the OOM.

Tuesday was my first round in the Hebblethwaite Trophy, the club's pairs 4BBB knockout. I didn't play in this last season and I was looking forward to it. My partner played off 26 and our opponents were off 12 and 21. I started steadily and although my partner struggled early on the match was very close with no more than one shot in it all  the way round. Sadly on the back nine I started 3 putting and we found ourselves down with a few holes to go, but fortunately my partner found her game and she won a couple of holes for us to be one up with just 2 holes to play. I was getting a shot on the 17th so was confident but I played it very badly, including the dreadful shank. One of our opponents got a very good par so we were all square playing the last. My tee shot found a bunker and my partner was through the back of  the green with one of our opponents on the fringe. My partner chipped to 3 feet and the girl on the fringe putted about 4 feet short, she missed the putt and my partner held her nerve to hole her putt and give us a hard fought win of 1up.

The Thursday competition this week was a medal, I played very steadily taking 44 for the first nine including a double bogey 5 on the par 3 9th and taking 44 for the 2nd nine including a triple bogey 6 on the par 3 18th. My gross 89 (net70) was good enough to win the competition and also give me a handicap cut of 0.6, although at 18.5 my playing handicap is still 19.

On Friday morning I played the next round in the club's singles knockout, I was playing this year's most successful golfer and was giving her shots on 2 holes. The match didn't start well for me with my opponent holing a 30 foot putt on the first to win the hole and despite me winning the 2nd I played very poorly over the next few holes and found myself 4  down after just 7 holes. One interesting thing did emerge during these early holes though, I hit what I have been calling a shank, however there was still  dew on the ground I could see the path of the clubhead which showed that as opposed to a shank I had in fact hit the ball off the toe of the club, so maybe I can now work out how to stop doing it.

I did rally later on in the round and although I missed a short putt to get a hole back on the 10th I did manage to get 2 holes back as we reached the 16th, where after both of us having problems, I was far nearer the hole and had taken a shot less, but again my opponent holed a long putt to be 2 up with 2 to play and a good bogey on the last to my 3 putt gave her the match 3&1. The result was disappointing but she played very steadily and deserved to win so I have no complaints.

This weeks medal round in detail.

Hole 1, I topped my tee shot, but a good pitch found the green and  2 putts gave me a bogey 4.

Hole 2, I hit a decent drive and a nice 3wood found the fringe of the green, 2 putts gave me a par 4.

Hole  3, A good drive then a  lay up short of the ditch but I  topped the 3rd, my pitch was short but I chipped to 3 feet and holed the putt for a bogey 6.

Hole 4, My tee shot was just short of the green, a chip and 2 putts for a bogey 4.

Hole 5 I hit my drive into ditch so had a penalty drop, a nice 3 wood was just short and a chip and 2 putts gave me a double bogey 6.

Hole 6, My drive was a bit right and I was lucky that the tree I landed next to was staked so I had a free drop, I hit a  good 3 wood and a chip and 2 putts gave me a par 5.

Hole 7, After a good drive I found the green with a 9iron and 2 putted for par 4.

Hole 8, A reasonable drive and a 3 wood, left me a pitch to the green but I was just short, I hit a  poor chip but  2 putts gave me a bogey 6.

Hole 9, I topped a 9 iron into the ditch, so another penalty drop, then a chip and 2 putts for a double bogey 5.

Despite the 9th, 44 shots on the first nine was under my handicap.

Hole 10, My drive went  right but a nice 3 wood was just short of the green and a pitch and 2 putts for a bogey 5.

Hole 11, I hit a good drive and  laid up with 100 yards of the green, I pitched to the  fringe and 2 putted for a par 5.

Hole 12, I hit a poor drive but chipped on and 2 putts gave me a bogey 4.

Hole 13, A decent drive into the right rough followed by 3 wood to 80yds I pitched on and 2 putted for a bogey 5

Hole 14, I hit my tee shot to the right of the green a chip and 2 putts for a bogey 4.

Hole 15, A good drive and a decent 2nd left a pitch which a little fortunately finished  6 inches from the hole, a tap in for a birdie 4.

Hole 16, A good drive but found a  bunker with an 8 iron, my recovery came out too cleanly and shot over the green, a poor chip on and 2 putts gave me a double bogey 6.

Hole 17, Despite a good drive, a poor lay up meant I could not reach the green, I hit a 3 wood short then a chip and 2 putts gave me a bogey 6.

Hole 18, On what was the last full shot of the round, the bad shot finally arrived and I hit the ball way short and right of the green, I managed to get the ball up over the steep bank under the trees but found a bunker and took 2 to get out, 2 putts followed for a triple bogey 6 and an awful way to finish what had been a good round.

I still only took 45 shots on the last 9 to give a total of 89 for the round but it was so disappointing, after having held the round together so well, to drop 2 or even 3 shots on the last hole.
One pleasing fact was that  I didn't 3 putt, but I do need to consistently  get my chips a lot nearer the hole.

England Golf Regional Medal Final, Eaton Golf Club 23rd May 2013

The first tee at Eaton

I qualified for this event by winning the English golf medal at Ellesmere last season, and being in the top 120 qualifiers from the North Region. The top 10 finishers would qualify for the National Grand Medal Final to be played next month.

I had played a practice round a 3 weeks ago on a lovely warm windless day, today was nothing like that. It was very windy and we had rain and hail for the first 10 holes.

I couldn't have started better a good drive and a 3 wood to the green gave me 2 putts for a nice opening par 4.

On the second I hit a decent drive then put a 5 iron into a bunker at the front of the green, I came out too well and had to chip back on from over the green and I holed a 3 foot putt for a bogey 5.

A good drive on the 3rd, but I then hit a 3 wood into rough front and right of the green, my chip ran off the back, I chipped back on and 2 putted for a double bogey 6.

My tee shot to the 4th was short and right, I chipped to 20 feet then holes the putt for a par 3.

A good drive and a nice 3 wood left me a pitch to the 5th green, I missed the green but chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 6.

I found the back of the 6th green with a 3 wood off the tee but left my birdie putt 6 feet short, but I holed that for a par 3.

Not so good a drive on the 7th left me in the left hand rough, with trees blocking out the green, I  knocked it out onto the fairway, but then I hit the ground 6 inches behind the ball to waste a shot, I missed the green with my 4th shot, then chipped on and 2 two putts gave me a triple bogey 7.

A nice drive but a not so good 3 wood left about 150 to the 8th green, and I left my 3rd just short of the green, a chip and 2 putts gave me a bogey 6.

A good drive on the 9th but my 3 wood was too far right, a thinned pitch from the rough over shot the green, I chipped on and  2 putted for a double bogey 6.

So despite early pars, the triple bogey in particular meant, I finished the first 9 on 46, which wa bangf on my handicap.

On the 10th I drove into the right hand rough but hit a nice wood to 40 yds short of the green, a chip on  and 2 putts for a bogey 5.

I hit  a nice 5 wood to the par 3 11th which ran just off the back of the green, I pitched to 10 feet and holed the putt for a par 3.

The 12th has a raised green over a water hazard, I hit a nice drive which left 80 yds to the green, a nice pitch found the green and my 20 foot curling putt brushed the hole and I tapped in for a par 4.

A slightly wayward drive on the 13th found the right hand rough, I knocked it onto the fairway but then overhit my pitch over the green, I pitched back on and 2 putted for a double bogey 6.

A nice drive on the 14th but then I scuffed a  wood, I then hit a nice  3 wood to just short of the green, my chip was a little short of the hole and a knocked the first putt 3 feet past the hole, then missed the return so 3 putts for a double bogey 7.

Another drive that went right on the 15th and I knocked it out of the rough then hit a pitch to 4 feet, sadly missed the par putt so a bogey 5.

I hit the fairway with my drive on 16 and a decent 3 wood left 150 yds to the green, I hit a 5 wood left of the green and chipped on but way short, a poor first putt left another 4 footer, fortunately this one went in for a bogey 6.

Not the best 6 iron from the tee to the par 3 17th but I chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 4.

So onto the 18th, 1 under handicap, I hit my drive to the left to avoid a pond on the right hand side of the fairway and found the rough, I went to just knock the ball down the fairway but hit a shank or whatever it was right across the fairway and into the right hand rough, I knocked that onto to the fairway about 120 yds from the green and then shanked a 7 iron into deep rough, I hacked it out with a wedge and then chipped onto the green, the first putt was poor and I missed with the 2nd for a disastrous 9!

So after holding it together for most of the 2nd nine the disaster on the 18th meant I scored 49 for a gross 95, net 75.

I have to say I was gutted, although I was surprised to see that my score was the best score in so far, I waited around to see what other scores came in and when after about half the scores were in and I was lying in 4th place I decided to leave, After dwelling on the 18th all the way home, I was surprised to find that with another 30 scores in I was still in 4th place. Eventually all the scores came in and I was delighted to find that I finished with the 4th best score although I was in 6th place after card playoffs but it was good enough to see me into the final at the end of June. It also earned me a 0.6 handicap reduction so I am now down to 19.1, my lowest so far.

Despite my pleasure at qualifying for the grand final, I still have to look at the shots my irons cost me, granted I did hit some decent irons but the miss on the 7th and the 2 shanks on the 18th could have proved costlier, a bogey on the last would have seen me with the joint top score! I really think I am going to have to go back to my teaching pro to try and rectify the problem yet again, either that or  I need to buy a 7 wood.

Matchplay weekend

This weekend I have played 2 matchplay games, the first in the club challenge and the second for the Ellesmere team in the Archie Preston, an interclub mixed foursomes knockout run by the Manchester and District Golf Alliance. Due to the fact that there was a 2 day men's board competition on at the weekend, both games were played late in the afternoon.

Firstly on Saturday I played my first match in the club challenge, my opponent plays off 21 so I had to give her one shot. I won the first hole with a bogey but then lost the second to a bogey, a bogey won me the 3rd and a par won me the 4th, My opponent then struggled over the next few holes and I won 4 in a row to reach the 9th hole 6 up. My opponents game started to improve and she won the 9th so I was 5 up at the turn, we halved the next 4, including the hole I was giving a shot on, and I won the 14th to win the match 6&4. My opponent in the next round is the most improved player at the club this season, so I think I will need to be at my best especially as I will be giving her a couple of shots.

So onto Sunday and the Archie Preston against Shaw Hill, we were drawn at home and so had to start each match 1 down. My partner, Colin, had played in the 2 day competition so had already played 18 holes in the morning, he had also had a very good round and had received a 2 shot handicap reduction, we were still however receiving to shots from our opponents Brian and Debby.

We won the first hole with a par, so we immediately got back the one hole start, we halved the 2nd and 3rd holes, I found the green with my tee shot on the par 3 4th and a par put us 1up.
 After halving the 5th and 6th we came to the 7th, we were on the fringe of the green in 3, while our opponents were over the back in a deep hazard about 15 feet below the level of the green, also in 3, it was looking like we were going to go 2 up but then Debby hit a fantastic recovery from the hazard to within 15 feet, and Brian holed the putt for a 5. my chip from the fringe was 6 feet short and Colin missed so instead of 2 up we were back to level.

We received our first shot on the 8th, but unfortunately my drive was  in light rough but too close to a tree to give a full swing, Brian chipped out but I didn't hit a great 3rd and we ended up taking 7 losing the hole to a par 5 to go 1 down. The 9th is a par 3, 170yds from the men's tee and a pretty scary tee shot, however both men hit the green, my 20 foot putt just slipped by on the right, but Debby left her 15 footer short so the hole was halved and we turned 1 down.

My drive on the 10th was a bit short and Colin couldn't reach the green, however Brian hit a great shot to within 20 feet of the pin, my chip wasn't near enough and we lost the hole to a par 4, to go 2 down.

So we arrived at the 11th and Colin's drive looked to be heading into trees, however the shot was right into to the sun so we couldn't see very well, when we got down to look for it, there was a ball in the middle of the fairway, the same type and number as Colin's, however as it wasn't where it had been heading, our opponents asked what distinguishing marks Colin had on his ball and he replied that he had not put any on it. They then said that how could he be sure it was his ball, as his shot was clearing heading for the trees. As a result I was made to walk back to the tee as the ball had to be declared lost, and so I was playing 3 of the tee. Needless to say we lost the hole to go 3 down.

So onto the par 3 12th, 191 yards from the ladies tee, Debbie was short and right and I hit a great drive right at the flag, but it  just ran off the back of the green, Brian  put his shot 15 feet away on the fringe and Colin putted to 18 inches, Debby missed and I had a short put to get a hole back but I missed it!

Colin's drive on the 13th when way left and hit a tree, I couldn't hit up the fairway so tried to hit the ball up the adjacent one but I also hit a tree. Colin hit a decent shot which left me 80 yards over a bunker, I hit out 4th shot to the fringe of the green, with our opponents safely on the green in 3, Debby hit a long downhill putt about 4 feet past and the hole was looking lost, until Colin holed from off the green and Brian missed and we scrambled a half.

On the 14th, Debby's tee shot went right into some young trees, while mine found a bunker in front of the green, Brian's recovery hit a tree and bounce back  into the rough and up against a small bush, Debby's attempt just hit it deeper into the rough and they conceded the hole so we were 2 down.

Two good shots by both teams on the 15th left the men with long shots to the green, Colin found the bank in front of the green but Brian was way to the left on the other side of a lateral hazard and when Debbie address the ball it rolled so that was counted as a shot, Brian found the fringe, then I chipped it close for a conceded par and a win to bring it back to 1 down.

I hit a good long straight drive on the 16th, Debby also found the fairway but was shorter and to the right, Brian was left of the green in a row of trees and Colin safely put our ball on the green about 30 feet from the hole, Debby could only knock the ball out and Brian put it onto the green but it meant we had 2 putts to win the hole. I holed the 30 footer for a birdie and we were back to all square.

Colin's drive on the 17th found trees and all I could do was knock it onto the fairway whereas our opponent's had hit 2 decent shots but were down the right. Colin it a nice 3rd which cleared the ditch and finished up on the edge of a fairway bunker, Brian went for the green but just caught the branches of the tree and fell into the water hazard, Debby took a drop then hit the ball into rough to  left of the green. although I had to stand in the bunker I manage to knock our ball 80 yards onto the green and when our opponents ball couldn't be found, the hole was conceded to see us go 1 up with just the 18th left.

My tee shot on the 18th hit the bank in front of the green and rolled right back down to the bottom while Debby hit a lovely shot which found the front of the green, Colin played a lovely chip which just ran off the fringe, then Brian left his putt 5 feet short of the hole, I didn't hit a great chip from the fringe but Colin holed the 10 foot putt, leaving Debby with a 5 foot to win the hole and halve the match and she duly popped it in. We went to shake hands on a half when we were told we had to go to the first as there had to be a winner in each individual match.

Brian's tee hooked his tee shot into the trees and although Colin didn't hit the best of shots, it was straight and ran to the left of the green. As Brian's ball was lost they had to play 3 off the tee, Debby didn't reach the green and after Brian's chip they had taken 4, I hit my chip to a couple of feet and the match was conceded.

I have to say that it was the most draining round of golf I have had both physically and mentally and I was very pleased that we hung in there and fought back to eventually win, although in fairness our opponents did go off a bit when they appeared to nearly have the match won. It just goes to prove that a match isn't over until its definitely been won.

The win proved to be vital as the final match score was 4-3 to Ellesmere. There was a nice dinner after the match and we now look forward to seeing who our opponents will be in the next round.