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.