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!