Is it that simple?

Caldy Golf club from Thurstaston Common.

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

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

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

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

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

The last round in detail

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

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

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

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

Challenge final

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

Here is how it went.

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

So at the turn Joanne was 2 up.

Hole 10

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

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

Time for a think about my game.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Manchester GC

 

 

A very windy Hesketh

 

 

 

Hesketh, approach to 15th green

 

Funny old game.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here is the good part of the week.

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

Hole 2

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

Hole 3

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

Hole 4

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

Hole 5

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

Hole 6

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

Hole 7

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

Hole 8

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

Hole 9

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

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

Hole 10,

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

Hole 11

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

Hole 12

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

Hole 13

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

Hole 14

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

Hole 15

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

Hole 16

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

Hole 17

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

Hole 18

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

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

Club championship and then it all fell apart.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Hillside photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

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

Mixed bag.

On Monday I went to played in a Lancashire ladies senior team open at Worsley, was playing with 3 ladies I didn't know, but had been asked to play with through a mutual friend. Its a great thing about the seniors, I only joined this season but I have already been asked to play in 4 opens.

I Started with four of bogeys, I then parred 4 of the next 5 holes to finish with 41 for the first nine holes. I holed a good putt for a birdie on the 10^th, had another birdie on the 14^th and 2 more pars and finished the 2^nd nine in 38 for a round total of 79, my lowest round so far in any type of competition.

I also didn't score worse than a bogey on any hole, which was my target for this season, I just now need to repeat this in a qualifying competition.

As for the team competition, we gelled very well and finished with a total of 83 points, which was good enough to finish n 3^rd place.

Tuesday saw me playing in a 4 BBB, with Tracy from Manchester GC at Uttoxeter, which proved to be a bit of a quirky course. It is situated above Uttoxeter Racecourse, and there is hardly a flat hole on the course and although short it is rather tricky.

I didn't play well at all on the front nine, although Tracy fortunately played very well, I dont think my score went on the card until the 8^th or 9^th hole. One of the problems I had were the greens, I just could not putt on them. I did contribute more on the back nine and hit some good shots but overall I was disappointed with how I played, I did enjoy the course though and thanks to Tracy we managed to finish 5^th.

Thursday's competition back at Ellesmere was a medal, and having parring the first, a double and then a triple bogey on the next two holes set me back , a few bogeys followed before I finished the first nine with 3 pars which steadied my round. Sadly 2 double bogeys early in the back nine set me back again, but I finished well with pars on the last 4 holes

So this weeks medal round.

Hole 1
I hit a lovely tee shot to 20 feet, my birdie putt was just left of the hole so a par 3 to start.

Hole 2

A very high short drive finished in the rough, I hit a decent 3 wood to about 60 yards, I hit a good chip but it bounced badly and missed the green I chipped on and 2 putted for a double bogey 6

Hole 3

A very good straight drive left me just over 200 yds from the green, so I decided to go for it rather than lay up as usual, sadly I pushed the 3 wood right but was lucky to have a decent lie in trees. I tred to hit it low to keep under the branches but it was too low and caught the top of the bank, I didn't hit a great chip and the followed it up with another poor chip, finally I found the green and 2 putted for a very poor triple bogey 8

Hole 4

My tee shot was to the left of the green, and my chip ran of the right side, chip back on hit the flag and a short putt gave me a bogey 4.

Hole 5

A nice drive and a decent second which finished a little short of the green, chipped to 10 feet but the putt just slid past so a bogey 5.

Hole 6

Another good drive but hit my 3nd to the left of the green, a poor chip finished short and then a chip on and 2 putts gave me a bogey 6.

Hole 7

A nice drive and then a 8 iron which just ran off the side of the green, I putted it to a few inches and holed for a par 4.

Hole 8

A decent drive and then a slightly thinned 3 wood, which finished about 40 yards short of the green, I chipped on and again just missed my putt so a par 5.

Hole 9

A lovely tee shot to about 8 feet above the hole, a tricky downhill putt that I barely touched, it caught the side of the hole and rolled 6 feet past, but I holed the return for a par 3.

So despite the triple bogey, the 3 pars on the last 3 holes gave me a front nine of 44.

Hole 10
Another nice drive but I mishit my 3 wood, I had a 100 yd pitch that finished pin high but 20 feet left, again the putt just slide by so a tap in for a bogey 5.

Hole 11

A good drive then I laid up, hit a nice 3^rd which sadly was a little of line and caught the back of a bunker, I got it out but misjudged the putt and left it 6 feet short and missed the 2^nd so a disappointing double bogey 7

Hole 12

I took a 3 wood of the tee and hit it ok but it finished short of the green, I chipped on 2 putted for a bogey 4.

Hole 13

My drive was straight but a little too high, then I hit my 3 wood to the right and finished under low low hanging branches then my low chip just failed to clear a bunker, I got out and 2 putted for a double bogey 6.

Hole 14

A decent tee shot found the left hand side of the green and left a long downhill putt, I judged the line pretty well but just missed the hole and it ran down the hill 10 feet past and I missed the return so a bogey 4.

Hole 15

A decent drive but a bit to the right and then a nice 3 wood also down the right left about 7o yards, a nice wedge found the green and again my putt just missed so a par 5

Hole 16

A lovely long straight drive left a wedge to the green again just missed my birdie so a tap n for a par 4

Hole 17

Not the best drive and t finished n the left hand rough but I hit a nice 5 iron to the uusal place I lay up and then hit a nce 3 wood a little left which finished on a bank by the green, I chipped to about 15 feet and finally a putt dropped to give me a par 5

Hole 18

I hit a nice tee shot finished pin high but 20 feet right of the hole,.a good putt left a tap n for a par 3.

A bit of trouble wth bunkers and a couple 3 putts were offset by parring the last 4 holes to give give 43 on the back nine, giving a total of 87 for a nett 74 and safely in my buffer.

A mostly poor week.

Monday was the last game in ths season's handicap shield matches and we were home to Whitefield, I was first out after my handicap cut of the week before and I was happy to finish on a winning note coming through a close match by 3&2. The team signed off well with all our players winning for a 7-0 victory, which left our record at won 2, tied one, lost 3. disappointing after winning our league last year, but enjoyable non the less.

It was my first year organising the Ellesmere team and it was certainly challenging and I have learnt that not everyone is as eager as me to play in these matches. It was a struggle sometimes getting 7 players and often I was on the phone the day before desperately trying to get someone to make up the 7 players required. I will have to be better organised next year.

On Tuesday I played in the captain's charity event at the club, in a team very generously entered by the husband of one of the girls I played with. We started very well and had 42 points after the first nine but faded badly on the back nine only scoring 27 points. Personally I played very well but my short putting was abysmal missing 7 times from inside 4 feet, despite this I still scored 87 gross. After the round I hit the practice green and messed about with putting style making a change than seemed to be a lot better, of course time will tell if I putt better on the course.

Thursday's competition was a medal and I couldn't have started better, holing a nice putt for a birdie. Alas, things could only get worse after that and indeed they did. 2 double bogeys followed and then after a par, I went double, triple, quad ruple, before settling back down, although after a decent back 9 I finished with another double. My score of 93 gross, 80 nett was very disappointing but fortunately the competition ended up as being reductions only and so I didn't get a handicap increase.

On to Friday and I played at Northenden, a course I hadn't played before, in the second round of the HowdidIDo knockout. I played against a lovely chap, 78 years old and recovering from a stroke he had had earlier in the year. I didn't start too well and lost the first 2 holes, but after halving the 3^rd with a par, I had a nice run and 3 more pars saw me 2 up after 7.

I hit a great tee shot on the 8^th to around 10 feet and he found the back of the green, but then holed a monster putt for a birdie 2 and I  missed my mine. This started him on a great run that saw  hm play 9 holes in just one over gross. I couldn't live with that and he closed out the match on the 16^th. I hadn't played badly, I was one under my handicap after the 16 holes, however he was 4 under his and deserved the victory.

I have to say I really enjoyed our match and found the members at Northenden to be very friendly, the course was very nice, but to be honest it was a little too flat for my liking.

So this weeks medal round.

Hole 1
I hit a lovely tee shot to 15 feet holed the putt for a birdie 2.

Hole 2

A good drive sadly took a bad bounce and finished in a bunker, I got it out but then left a wedge short of the green, I chipped on and 2 putted for a double bogey 6

Hole 3

Another decent drive and I laid up in front of the ditch but in the rough, I hit a reasonable third but it was too far right,I chipped over the bunker and putted to less than 2 feet but missed the putt, so a double bogey 7

Hole 4

My tee shot was to the right of the green, I chipped to 3 feet and holed the putt for a par 3.

Hole 5

A nice drive but then I pulled my second and it caught he bunker short of the green, I got out and then chipped on, 2 putts gave me a double bogey 6

Hole 6

I hit my drive which felt strange and neither I nor my partner saw the ball, so I had to take 3 off the tee, I this ok and my next finished 50 yards shot of the green, my chip only reached the front of the green and I left my first putt short, then missed with my second so a triple bogey 8.

Hole 7

I hit my drive too far right and tried to just miss the trees with my second but didn't hit the ball well and it finished under a the tree, I knocked it out but then fluffed the next into long rough and never found the ball, so I had to play another, this time I chipped on and took 2 putts for a quad bogey 8

Hole 8

My drive was a little short and in the rough, I cleared the ditch but then missed the green with my 3^rd, so chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 6

Hole 9

I hit my tee shot left, but chipped to 3 feet and holed for a par 3

So after a great start, 5 poor holes in the next 6 meant 49 for the first nine holes

Hole 10
Again my drive was high and short, a good 2^nd was short of the green, I chipped on and 2 putts gave me a bogey 5.

Hole 11

A good drive then I laid up, my 3^rd found the front of the green but my first putt was short and I missed the next so a bogey 6.

Hole 12

I hit my tee shot shot right of the green, and my chip was thinned to the back of the green, I then chipped to a foot and holed for a bogey 4

Hole 13

Another short drive and then I hit my second to the right of the green behind trees, I tried to chip passed the trees but hit a branch, I then chipped to about 15 feet and holed for a bogey 5

Hole 14

I found a bunker in front of the green, got it out but only to the bank of the bunker, I then chipped to 2 feet and holed the putt for a bogey 4

Hole 16

Yet another high short drive, then hit my 2^nd a bit thin and left a 6 iron to the green, I pulled it a bit left but chipped to 8 feet and holed the putt for a par 5

Hole 16

Finally a nice drive and then I found the green with a wedge, then 2 putts gave me a par 4

Hole 17

I hit a good drive then laid up a little short, I hit 3rd way right and my 4^th only reached the top of the slope down to the green, I chipped to 5 feet and holed the putt for a bogey 6

Hole 18

I hit a nice tee shot but it was to the right and found a bunker, I got out but over the green, so chipped on and 2 putted for a double bogey 5.

44 shots was better than the 49, but still too many for my new handicap, The one bright spot was my putting, despite 3 putting twice, I did have 8 single putts. I just need to putt like that when I am hitting the ball well.

Very hectic week

The last week has been mostly matchplay, it is a format that I really enjoy and it seems to suit my erratic style of play.
The first match was on Monday at Whitefield Golf Club, playing for our handicap shield team. I do like Whitefield, its not the longest course and has several sort par 4s which if I am hitting the ball well, really suits me as I can usually reach holes under 300 yds with a drive and a wedge or 9 iron, which tend to be my strengths.

I played well and my driving was mostly straight and after trading the first few holes I hit a purple patch parring 6 holes on the trot which took me from all square to 5 up and I eventually finished up winning the match by 5&3. The overall score for the team match was a tie with 3 wins each and on match finishing all square.

Tuesday I was playing at Ellesmere in the first round of the HowdidIdo Moroccan matchplay, I was playing a chap who had to give me 4 shots. I started very well and won the first 5 holes and was 6 up after the first 9 holes. He came back at me winning 3 holes on the run to half my lead but I held out and won the match by 4&3.

Wednesday and the first round of another National knockout competition, this time the Nike, in r which I reach my area final last year. We were playing at Heaton Park, a good municipal course in Manchester. We both played pretty well and the match was very close. I missed the chance to go 1 up on the 16^th, when my opponent scrambled a half with a very good recovery for the trees behind the green and then on the 17^th, my steady driving deserted my and I hit my drive into the long stuff and wasted the shot I was receiving and so I went to the 18^th one down. I hit another wayward drive but managed to find the green with my second, my opponent had trouble in a bunker and I won the hole to take us to the 19^th. Sadly I hit a very wayward drive which finished in the trees and I had to take a penalty drop and failed to reach the green with my 3^rd. My opponent found the green with his 2^nd shot and that was it, he parred the hole to win the match.

A break from matchplay on thursday saw me back at Ellesmere for a Stableford competition, I started with a bogey but then failed to score on the 2^nd despite being within 50 yds of the green 2. After 2 bogeys I only had 5 points after 4 holes but after another bogey on the 5^th, I found some good form and went par, par, birdie, par to finish the first 9 on 19 points. I had a rare par on the 10^th, then after 3 bogeys holed a long putt for a birdie on the 15^th and after bogeys on 16 and 17 I hit the 18^th green off the tee and holed another long putt for a birdie 2 on the last. I scored 22 points on the back 9 to finish with  a round total of 41. This was 5 shots under my handicap and after threatening for the last few weeks I finally had a nice handicap cut to drop my handicap to a new low of 13.0. It was also a record low gross score for me of 82.

I didn't hang around as I had agreed, at short notice, to play in a team open at Manchester and had to rush straight off after handing in my card. I didn't play too badly at Manchester although the day did take its toll towards the end of the round. I did contribute on several holes although on one hole I had a 12 foot putt for an eagle and ended up 3 putting. Our team finished with 79 points just one point off 3^rd place.

Friday and another matchplay, this time in the semi final of club knockout, and after yesterdays cut I was giving my opponent, Sue, 10 shots. We set off in rain with would continue all the round.

I won the first with a par, but lost the second where we both had bogey 5s but Sue had a shot. I was giving a shot on the 3^rd as well and after finding a bunker off the tee I tried to clear the ditch with my third and only found the rough after missing the green with my 4^th, Sue holed a long putt to win the hole easily and go 1 up.

I found the green with my tee shot on the 4^th and made a par to win the hole and get back to all square.

I won the fifth with a bogey despite giving a shot when Sue found the ditch with her 2^nd shot, we we halved the 6^th when we both had bogeys and then on the 7^th, I topped a iron to bougble bogey the hole and lose it when Sue also double bogey and bring us back to all square. A par gave me a half on the 8^th to Sue's bogey, nett par and then she hit her tee shot on the 9^th to 6 feet and despite a par form me she holed the birdie putt to go one up at the turn.

I found the green in two at the tricky 10^th and 2 putts gave me a par, but again it was only a half as Sue had a bogey with a shot. A bogey at the 11^th was enough for me to win the hole after sue laid up and then found the bunker.

I missed a good chance on the 12^th when I missed a par putt from 2 feet and the we halved 13 and 14. I made a bit of a mess of the 15^th so Sue was back to 1 up and the non the 16^th after Sue had driven into the trees and had to play out sideways, I found the greenside bunker when trying to play safe and took 2 to get out of the sodden sand before missing a 4 foot putt to win the hole.

Onto the 17^th and still one down, I hit a good drive, while Sue was close to the trees, she hit t out well and then we both played down short of the ditch, the ground waa very wet now and I hit a poor 3^rd which caught trees but fortunately finished on the edge of the fairway, Sue then did similar but found a fairway bunker. I found the grene wth my 4^th but all Sue could do was to just get out of the bunker before finding the green in 6, vI putted close for a bogey 6 and Sue could hole her 20 foot putt so I won the hole and we went to the last all square.

I hit a nice teeshot which was right on the flag but finished well behind the hole, Sue also hit the green but bounced onto the fringe, she putted up dead for a par 3, I followed suit and we were of to the first extra hole.

I had the tee and with a slightly fortuitous bounce I finished 5 feet from the hole, Sue missed the green but chipped on and then shaved the hole with her par putt. That left me 2 putts for the match and although I didn't hole the birdie putt I tapped in for a par to win the match.

Despite the rain we had a great match, never more than one hole in it and it really could have gone either way. I was delighted to have reached the final where instead of giving shots I will be receiving 2 or 3.

Finally to finish, the round that took me to 13.

Hole 1
My tee shot was a little short of the green but a chip and 2 putts gave me a bogey 4

Hole 2

My drive was short and left but a nice 3 wood left me about 50 yds form the hole, sadly I hit the ball off the toe of the club and it went 45 degrees and nearly went in a bunker. I had a poor stance and could only knock the ball across the green, I hit an average chip but missed the putt so a 7 and no points.

Hole 3

A good drive and I tried to carry the ditch but pushed it into trees, fortunately the ball dropped safely and I hit a nice wedge but it ran through the green, a chip on and 2 putts for a bogey 6 and 2 points,

Hole 4.

I found the bunker off the tee, got t out but failed to reach the green, I chipped on and holed a 20 foot putt for a bogey, no shot here so just 1 point.

Hole 5.

Another good drive but failed to get on the green with my 2^nd, chipped on and 2 putts for a bogey 5 and 2 points.

Hole 6.

I hit a good drive but not the best 2^nd shot I found the green with a chip and 2 putts gave me a par 5 and 3 points.

Hole 7

A decent drive then my 2^nd finished on the fringe of the green, I chipped to a couple of feet and holed the putt for a par 4 and another 3 points.

Hole 8

A good drive and a nice 2^nd left a short chip which I got close and holed the putt for a birdie 4 and 4 points.

Hole 9

My tee shot was a little too left but another good chip left a short putt for a par 3 but no shots so 2 points.

So a good finished meant I ended up with 19 points on the front nine.

Hole 10
A nice drive down the left and a lovely 3 wood which finished just short of the green, I chipped to 4 feet and hole the putt for a par 4 and 3 points

Hole 11

A decent drive then I hit my 2^nd a little left, but a good 3^rd found the fringe of the green, I ht a poor first putt and then missed my with my second, so a bogey 6 and 2 points.

Hole 12

My tee shot was left of the green and a chip and 2 putts gave me a bogey 4 and 2 points.

Hole 13.

A lovely straight tee shot and then a good 2^nd which finished on the fringe, I hit my putt far too left and missed the par putt so a bogey 5 and 2 points.

Hole 14

A nice drive finished just off the back of the green, I putted from the fringe again but again took 3 putts, so a bogey 4 and no shot so just 1 point.

Hole 15

A good drive and a reasonable 2^nd left a 50 yds pitch which finished 20 feet away from the flag and I holed the putt for a birdie 4 and 4 points.

Hole 16

A decent drive that took a poor bounce into the trees. I chipped out and then found the green with my 3^rd, 2 putts gave me a bogey 5 and 2 points.

Hole 17

A good drive and could have tried to clear the ditch, but decided to play safe and chip down, sadly I ended on a downslope and didn't hit a great 3^rd, I found the green with my 4^th and 2 putted for a bogey 6 and 2 more points.

Hole 18.

I hit a nice tee shot to 25 feet short of the flag and holed the putt for the third birdie of the round and another 4 points.

So 22 points on the back nine for a total of 41.

A catch up

 

 

 

 

Since my last entry I have played an awful lot of golf and never seemed to have the time to update the blog, so its time for a catch-up.

As regular readers will know,  play a lot of matchplay for the club and have had a very good record, n fact I had gone about 20 matches singles matches n team competitions with no defeats and just one half. This good record has now come to and end and in fact I have played 3 times recently and lost them all. firstly in the Bell Cup at Leigh, where I got beat quite badly and the team also lost 4-3 to exit the competition. I have to say that I felt really bad about letting the team down. A few days later we had our return match against Ashton in the Handicap Shield and I was playing the same girl I had beaten 5&3 at their place. the tables were well and truly turned and I lost the match 5&4!

The 3rd defeat was last week in another shield match at Manchester Golf Club. I love Manchester, its a cracking course and I hit the ball pretty well, but I was completely out putted, especially over the last 3 holes, where, after I got back from 4 down to only one down, my opponent holed singled putts on each green, where I missed from 4 feet on the 16th and then 3 feet on the last to lose the match by one hole.

We have also played another round in the Archie Preston mixed knockout and although my partner and I won our match, mostly due to my partner's chipping, the team lost and so we are out of that competition too.

Earlier in the season I had qualified, with my partner for the Area final of the Scott Leggatt, a Lancashire Ladies foursomes competition. We played this at Walmersley, a lovely little course on the hills above Bury, sadly we didn't do too well and failed to progess, I have to admit that one reason for this, was my short game over the early holes, where I messed up from good positions.

So far this entry has been a tale of failures and here is another but this tme down to stupidity not poor golf. As a fan of Blackpool FC I play every year in a BFC supporters golf day at Garstang golf course. This year I played pretty well and in fact I finished just one point behind the winner. The competition is a Stableford and on one one hole, I didn't think I received a shot and so picked up my ball when I missed a putt for a bogey, however I had misread the card and did in fact get a shot on that hole. So gave away the point which would have meant I won the competition.

 

I have also played in a Lancashire Seniors team competition at Formby Ladies

, and invitations at Davyhulme and Hesketh, All very enjoyable but without any success. Do enjoy invitations and am grateful to have already been invited to play n two, with another to come later in the season. It is just a shame that I can only invite one of the ladies back to Ellesmere to play in ours.

 

 

 

So its time something a bit more upbeat. In the competitions at Ellesmere over the last few weeks I have played very steadily making the buffer or better n every competition, and I did get my lowest score to date n the captain's prize last weekend when I had a gross 85 although a double bogey on the last did take a little gloss of the round and I finished one shot behind the leader. My score was enough to get me a small handicap cut of 0.6, which now makes my handicap 14.5, my lowest so far, my playing handicap is unchanged at 15.

So finally I am nearly up to date, just last week's medal competition to report. I had been feeling good and was hitting the ball well. I started well and after my first ever eagle on the 8^th hole, I was only 2 over par and a bogey on the 9^th meant, my lowest ever front nine score in a competition of 39. I just missed for a par on the 10^th and then things started to go wrong, after 3 putting from the frnge on the 11^th, I 3 putted the 12^th and 13^th as well, After pars ant 14 and 15 I then took 4 shots from just short of the 16^th and 17^th before a par on the last gave me a score of 47 on the back 9. A total of 86 gross, nett 71 was under the SSS of 72, but there were a lot of good scores and so the CSS was set at 71, so I missed out on the 0.3 reduction which would have reduced my handicap to 14 for the first time.

It seems that a regular theme running through my blog is my poor short game, playing well but then messing up around the green. I really should not be taking more than 3 shots when close to the green, but I seem to do it far too often. I did go to the Manchester Putting lab at Manchester Golf Club yesterday, in an attempt to improve my putting, I had a good session there and it will interesting to see if the changes suggested show an improvement over the next few weeks.

So to round this entry of here is a blow by low account of Thursday's round.

Hole 1

My tee shot came up short of the green, a reasonable chip and 2 putts gave my a bogey 4.

Hole 2

A Good drive was followed by a poor 2^nd but a good pitch and a 3 foot putt gave me a par 4.

Hole 3

Another good drive and a lay up before the ditch was followed by a pulled 6 iron to the left of the green, left a tricky chip over a bunker, I decided to be sensible and just made sure I got the ball on the green, 2 putts then gave me a bogey 6.

Hole 4

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

Hole 5

A good drive but another pulled 2^nd left me amongst some trees, I managed to find the green and 2 putted for a bogey 5.

Hole 6

A good drive but a poor second left me around 100 yards from the green, I hit a good wedge and 2 putted for a par 5.

Hole 7

My drive was a bit high but straight and then hit a decent long iron that unfortunately found a green side bunker. I got out and 2 putted for a bogey 5

Hole 8

I hit another good straight drive and then slightly topped a 3 wood, fortunately I hit it straight and it ran onto the green to leave a 10 foot putt for an eagle and I holed the putt for my first ever eagle.

Hole 9

I played safe and went for the left of green, I hit it a little too left but chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 4.

39 shots for the first nine with an eagle, 3 pars and no double bogies was my best start to a round.

Hole 10

Another rather high drive was followed by a 3 wood which was too far right and left a chip from the rough below the green . Although I did thin it the ball somehow finished about 6 feet from the hole, I couldn't make the most of tit though and missed the par putt, so a bogey 5.

Hole 11

A reasonable drive and then I laid up in front of the ditch, I hit a 9 iron pn high but to the left hand fringe and I hit a poor first putt and missed my 10 foot putt for a par so a bogey 6.

Hole 12

My 3 wood came up a little short and a hit a poor chip to leave a long par putt, I ht the ground before the ball and the putt barely went half way, 2 more putts meant my first double bogey of the round, a 5.

Hole 13

A good drive and then my second shot unluckily caught a bunker at front of the green, I got it out but only to the bank of the bunker, then hit the ground when making my chip so only just found the green, I then hit a poor first putt and missed the 2^nd so finished with a triple bogey 7.

Hole 14

My tee shot found the green and 2 putts gave me a par 3

Hole 15

A lovely long drive and a decent 3 wood left a pitch to the green, a found the green and although my first putt was rather long I holed the return for a par 5.

Hole 16

I hit a good drive which took a wicked kick on landing and bounced to the right and into the trees

I knocked it out ok but then underhit a pitch and then thinned another and the ball ran off the back of the green, 2 putts from there for a double bogey 6.

Hole 17

I hit a lovely drive and I was very tempted to try and clear the ditch with my second, however I was tying to play sensibly and so went to lay up with a wedge, sadly it bounced more than I expected and left me with a downhill lie, so instead of taking a wood for my 3^rd shot hit an iron and the ball just failed to reach the top of the slope which would had let the ball run down the steep bank to be close to the green. Tried to hit a lob wedge n an attempt to get the ball close to the hole but I thinned it and the ball ran through the back of the green, I chipped a bit short and then took 2 putts for another double bogey, this time a 7

Hole 18

I hit a decent tee shot, which ran up to about 6 feet from the hole but I missed the birdie putt so finished with a par 3.

So 47 shots on the back nine for a total of 86, Quite pleasing but I threw away at least 4 shots on the back nine due to my poor short game.

One final comment for this blog, earlier n the season my partner and I won our club's qualifier for the Coronation foursomes and we found out this week that our score was good enough to qualify us for the regional final to be played next month.

 

Mostly Matchplay

Sunday was the next round of our fourball knockout, My partner and I were playing the two girls who had beaten us in the final last year.

 After halving the first with pars, I holed a nice putt for a net birdie to win the 2nd. We halved the 3rd and 4th with net pars before losing the 5 th to a net birdie. we halved the 6th with gross birdies after another nice putt from me, but lost the 5th even though we both had shots, my 2nd finding a bunker and escape running through the green into a hazard, and my partner messing up a chip.
My partner won the 8th wth a net birdie, but we losat he 9th when one of our opponents hold a long birdie putt.
A net birdie for me won the 10th, but we lost the 1tth to a par after I found trees off the tee. We were all square again after a net par from my partner on the 12th and halved the 13th when I holed for a net par.
We lost the 14th to a par after my putt lipped out, but a net birdie from me won the 15th. They went back ahead on the 16th with a par when my 2nd found a bunker then another putt lipped out and my partner fluffed a chip.
The 17th was halved in net pars and then on the 18th they both found the green and I was through the back, I failed to get down in 2 and that was the match lost 2 down.
My partner off 24 played well and I had some very good holes but in the end we were both too erratic.

It was a great match though.

Monday and 16 of the Ellesmere girls went to play at Skipton in their open. The course is set above the town with nice views all around. The course itself undulates with several plateau greens and has several interesting holes particularly on the back nine A small river runs though the course and provides a natural water hazard on several holes on the back nine. On the 14^th and 15^th in particular the river runs right in front of the greens. The 14^th is only 270 yards long from the red tees but is stroke index 2, mainly due to the river which means a very accurate approach is needed to the green and the 15^th is a down hill par 3 with the river running along left hand side and in front of the green. The 17^th is a very short par 3 but its up a steep holl to a very small green, and the 18^th is uphill all the way to the green by the club house.

It was certainly an interesting course to play and my game was as up and down as the course. I did have several good holes but my round was most notable for the stupid mistakes made that had nothing to do with the way I was playing. Firstly following a poor chp that failed to reach the green, I marked my ball on the fringe for the 2^nd time in two weeks and then a few holes later after playing a lovely second shot to just short of a green, I failed to check the ball I was playing was mine and only discovered it wasn't when I went to mark it after a really nice chip, so instead of a short putt for a par I had a 2 shot penalty and then had to play my own ball and of course didint ht half as good a chip!

Our team finished with 78 points nowhere near good enough to get in the prizes but we had the consolation of having the best score of the Ellesmere teams.,

Tuesday saw me back at Ellesmere for another matchplay game, this time in the singles Challenge knockout. I was playng Doreen who beat me in the competition last year and in fact went on to win the competition.

Doreen hit a lovely tee shot on the first and won the hole with a par to my bogey, although I won the 2^nd when I holed a nice put for my par after being through the green with my 2^nd.

Doreen had a shot on the 3^rd and I drove into a bunker and having got out tried to clear the ditch with my 3^rd as Doreen was nicely down near the ditch in 2 but although I hit it well t caught trees and I finished up with a 7 against Doreen's par 5.

We halved the 4^th in bogey 4s, I hit the green with my tee shot but had the full length of the green to putt up and took 3.

I hit 2 nice shots to be just short of the green in 2 and Doreen found a bunker with her 3^rd, chipped on and 2 putts gave me a bogey 5, which was enough to win the hole and get back to all square.

On the 6^th I hit a good drive followed by a lovely 3 wood that landed short but ran up onto the green, Doreen just missed her par and I two putted for a birdie 4 to go 1up.

I hit a decent drive on the 7^th although it went quite a long way right and after Doreen had hit a weak second I hit my 2^nd to the fringe of the green and after Doreen could only put her ball the the ditch from a bad lie, I two putted for a par to win the hole.

Another decent drive on the 8^th meant I could ht my 2^nd over the ditch to about 50 yds short of the green, Doreen, who had laid up in 2 the scuffed her 3^rd into the ditch. Doreen hit a nice 5^th after takjing a penalty but I chipped safely onto the green and 2 putted for a par 5 to go 3 up.

A lovely tee shot from Doreen found the green on the 9th and after I failed to get up and down from just off the green she won the hole with a par to pull a hole back.

We both hit poor drives on the 10^th and both failed to find the green in 3 I chipped a little long and then Doreen thinned her chip but had a nice putt and was in for 6, I over bran my putt by a couple of feet but holed for a 6 too and a half.

We were both short of ther ditch in 2 on the 11^th, Doreen hit a lovely pitch to about 8 feet and my pitch was pin high bit 20 feet away, I missed my birdie putt and Dorrens just missed too so we halved the hole with pars.

I hit a lovely drive on the 12^th which finished about 15 feet from the hole, Doreen was short but chipped on but failed to hole her putt for a par, so 2 putts gave my a par and the hole to go back to 3 up.

I was giving a shot on the 13^th but hit a lovely straight drive, Doreen also hit a nice drive but was short in 2, while I hit a nice 5 wood which found the green, Doreen's chip only found a bunker and although she got out I hit my birdie putt right up to the hole side for a tap in par and Doreen missed her putt so I won the hole to go 4 up.

I overshot the green on the 14^th and Doreen found a bunker, I hit a poor chip that ran right though the green then fluff another chip, whereas Doreen came out of the bunker and holed a nice putt for a par to get me back to 3 up.

I hit another lovely long straight drive on the 15^th, Doreen hit a nice drive and a reasonable 2^nd but I ht a nice 3 wood that pitch short right of the green and bounced down and ran onto the green, a first for me as I have never been on this green n 2 shots before. Doreen's 3^rd found a bunker again and she putt her 4^th on the green, but I putted up for a tap in birdie whch won the hole and the match by 4&3.

I really played well with 6 pars and 2 birdies although I still had 3 doubles, Doreen herself had 5 pars but sadly for her she was rather inconsistent. So I was very pleased to win what I expected to be a very tough match.

Thursday was the open at Ellesmere, despite the weather forecast we were lucky with the weather and all players more or less avoided the rain. I played steadily including birdieing the par 15^th for third time in a row. We finished with a decent 84 points but were beaten by 2 87s and an 88. The winners were visitors which was good as out open doesn't get as many entrants from other courses as we would like.

Friday was our first away match in this year's shield and we were playing at Ashton under Lyne. It had been a struggle getting a full team with people dropping out, but fortunately I did have 7 players after lots of phone calling. I was giving just one shot to the lady I was playing against and I lost the first hole, before halving the next 3. I parred the 5^th to get back to all square, but lost the 6^th which was the hole I gave the shot on. I went 2 down after the 7^th where I hit a very long drive but then made a mess of the pitch to the green.

Things started to turn on the 8^th where my opponent hit a wild drive that went way out of bounds and I won the hole with a double bogey, taking 3 putts on a very tricky green. I then got back to all square again after a bogey on the 9^th. A lovely chip after being short of the 10^th off the tee gave me a par and I went 1 up and bogeys on the next 3 holes saw me go to 3 up. I hit the green with my tee shot on the 14^th and opponent, who had hit her tee shot short, put her 2^nd in a bunker right under the lip and more or less unplayable. A good putt from me saw the hole conceded and I was 4 up with 4 to play. Neither of us played the 15^th very well, but she fluffed a chip from the back of the green and a double bogey was enough for me to win the hole and the match by 5&3.

The team match was very close and we were sitting 3-3 with the last pair out playing the last hole. Unfortunately their player won the hole and so we lost the match 4-3. Despite losing the match we did put up a very good showing, Ashton has some tricky par 3s and also some of the greens have lots of little breaks that you just don't see.

I will be back at Ashton in June as we have drawn them in the next round of the Archie Preston Mixed knockout, a repeat of last years quarter final that Ellesmere managed to win.

A pretty good week

This last week has been a very busy one, with two competitions at Ellesmere plus 3 opens.

Sunday was the Bell Trophy at Ellesmere, it is one of our board competitions, the afternoon was windy with a little rain around. I got off to a steady, if unspectacular start with 6 bogeys and one double over the first 7 holes before pars at the 8^th and 9^th saw me finish the first nine in 44 shots, right on my handicap.

I double bogied the 10^th followed by another 4 bogies. On the par 5 fifteenth I was on the green in three but left my first put 3 feet short and missed so that was another bogey, On both the 16^th and 17^th I again missed from about 3 feet again for two double bogies before hitting the 18^th with my tee shot before leaving my first putt short and for the 4^th hole on the trot missing from around 3 feet.

So I finished with a disappointing 46 on the back nine for a total of 92, which less my handicap of 16 gave me a net 76. It seemed that everyone else struggled and I ended up with the winning score, so have a trophy to pick up at Lady Captain's day when the presentation of the major competitions is done.

I had been really looking forward to Monday as I was playing in the open at Pleasington one of my favourite courses in the area. I really like it although it is a long challenging course. I have played there a couple of times in the past but never the full 18, as the course is split by a railway line and the 6 holes on the far side were not played when I have been there before.

I played with Hannah and another lady from Davyhulme, and we were greeted with a hailstorm when we arrived but the weather clear up before we teed off and it was a lovely afternoon. We started quite steadily until we crossed the railway, the 5^th hole has a very sloping green and although I was only 20 feet from the hole I managed to 4 putt including missing a 6 inch putt that ran away from the hole when I went to tap it in.

Despite struggling on several holes it did not diminish my love of the course and I will be looking forward to my next visit.

We finished with a mere 61 points and I was surprised to see that it was the 2^nd best score in, however the ones out before us had had the worst of the weather, so I expected a lot of scores in the afternoon to be better than ours, Amazingly apart from one score of 75, most of the scores were low and we finished up in 4^th place and in the prizes, a pleasant surprise.

Tuesday I was playing with Hannah again at the Davyhulme open, my 2^nd visit there in 5 days, we played with 2 girls from Ellesmere and like Friday we started off the round in the rain. It rained steadily for the first 5 holes and after we had putted through water on the 5^th green, the klaxon went off and the round was suspended. The rain soon stopped and after a delay of a hour we went back onto the course.
We didn't play too badly, however I felt I let the team down on the par 3s were I only scored on 1 hole. We ended up coming 4^th but out of the prizes this time.

Thursday was a medal round at Ellesmere and I thought the conditions ere near perfect form golf. I had a very up and down round but after 15 holes I was playing below my handicap, I had parred 5 holes and birdied the 15^th but I had also had a couple of doubles and a treble bogey. Sadly I double bogied both 16 and 18 to finish with 89 shots less 16 for a nett score of 73.

When the scores were being checked I was informed that I had failed to sign my card and this meant I was disqualified. It was a silly mistake on my part, I needed to put my clubs in the car after the round and I had popped my card in my pocket while I did this, I then remembered it and put it into the box without checking it.

It turned out that I would have finished 2^nd, scoring wasn't as good as   thought it would be and CSS had go up to 74, so happily despite being disqualified I had a small handicap cut and am now back down to 15.

The final round of the week was at Warrington, another really nice course, with great views both over to Manchester and also the Welsh hills and in the far distance, Snowdonia. I played with Hannah and another 2 ladies from Davyhulme. We started really well, had 2 pars and a birdie on the first 4 holes and Hannah had a par and a birdie so we had a great score going. Sadly we couldn't sustain this good scoring but we still played pretty well and finished up with a decent score of 78 points. Scoring was pretty good all round though with 86 points winning but we were only 3 behind the 2^nd place score.

Overall I had a very enjoyable week and played pretty well too, I am still lacking that last little bit of consistency though, especially when faced with 3-4 feet putts, I miss far more than I hole, in fact at one point at Davyhulme on Tuesday I had putts from that distance on five successive holes and I missed the first 4 before finally holing the 5^th.

Thursday's round

Hole 1

My tee shot just ran off the back of the green, chipped to about 10 feet and hole for a par 3

Hole 2

I hit a nice straight drive but then hit down on the ball with my 3 wood and it only went about 60 yds, I hit a nice 9 iron which agan just ran of the green but I chipped to a couple of feet and holed for a bogey 5.

Hole 3

My drive was left and I hit a 6 iron short of the ditch, another 6 iron was pulled left and I had a pitch over a bunker to the hole, I played safe and went for the middle of the green but again overhit the ball, I chipped on and 2 putted for a double bogey 7.

Hole 4

Again I hit my tee shot through the green, I chipped a bit long and 2 putted for a bogey 4.

Hole 5

After a good drive again hit down on the ball with my 3 wood and the ball didn't go very far, I then pulled my 3^rd into a bunker shot of the green I managed to find the green and then hit a long putt to a foot and holed for a double bogey 6.

Hole 6

I hot a good drive and then finally a nice 3 wood to about 50 yds short of the green, my pitch was a little short and left a long birdie putt, I got it close and holed for a par 5.

Hole 7

A decent drive but to the left hand rough, I hit the second to the fringe of the green but did not hit my chip close enough and I had 2 putts for a bogey 5.

Hole 8

A good drive and a nice 3 wood left me a chip to the green but I hit it a bit long and it ran over the bank at the back, I chipped on and 2 putts gave me a bogey 6.

Hole 9

I found the green with a 9 iron and although I left my birdie putt 3 feet short I holed for a par 3.

So 44 shots on the front nine, which was right on my handicap.

Hole 10

I hit my drive a long way to the right but a good 3 wood left my a 30 yard pitch to the green, I over hit it a little and then it a poor chip back, I t hit a poor putt and then missed from 3 feet, so a very poor triple bogey 7.

Hole 11

A decent drive, then an 8 iron which left my a longer shot to the green than would have liked but hit another 8 iron and found the front of the green, a good first putt and a tap n for a par 5.

Hole 12

I hit a nice straight drive that unfortunately ran right through the green to the bank at the back, I chipped on and holed a nice 10 foot putt for a par 3.

Hole 13

A decent drive left a 5 wood to the green, which sadly clipped the top of a bank and finished finished quite a bit short of the green. I chipped on and 2 putts gave my a bogey 5.

Hole 14

I hit a nice teeshot but it was sadly way right of the green behind a bush, I went to hit a low chip in hope of getting close to the green but fortunately I got a nice bounce off a bank and found the green, 2 putts gave me a bogey 4.

Hole 15

I hit a nice drive and then slightly thinned a 3 wood which left a wedge to the green, I hit a nice shot to about 15 feet and hole the putt for a birdie 4.

Hole 16

I hit my drive way right over trees towards the 3^rd fairway I saw some men playing the 3^rd and was worried when on played their shot from close to where I though my ball was, when I got there was pointed to a ball on the fairway but when I check it was not mine, I was right to be worried they guy had played my ball, so I had to wait while he went to retrieve my ball and replace it from where he had hit it. I then tried to hit hit to the right of the green to leave me a reasonable chip but I only found a tree and it bounced back onto the 3^rd fairway, My 3^rd went through the green and I chipped on and 2 putts gave me a double bogey 6.

Hole 17

I hit a lovely drive and then laid up in front of the ditch from where I hit a 3 wood that was straight at the green. As there s a steep bank leading down to the 17^th green I was unsure where I had finished and sadly found that it had gone through the green but fortunately it had finished just short of the stream at the back n longish rough, I chipped to about 10 feet but missed the par putt so a bogey 6.

Hole 18

I thinned my tee shot which hit the bank in front of the green and bounced back down into the stream, I took a penalty drop and then hit a good pitch which finished up just off the back of the green, I chipped to 10 feet and holed the putt for a double bogey 5.

So the poor finish meant 45 shots for the back nine and a total of 89 for the round