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.