Week 31

Refreshed and Ready...

Hole 3 Durham City GC

Thank You

Thank you for being patient with me! I've had a lovely break from my social accounts, including writing my weekly updates. My practice and golf have continued, however!

Feels

I feel refreshed and ready for the coming season! My home course has returned to full length, removed preferred lies and is quickening up nicely! My last 3 rounds have been 85, 85, and 88. I feel close to a good performance, it's just around the corner!

Practice

I have continued with the same structure to my practice sessions; 1/3 technical, 1/3 random and 1/3 game based/competitive. This week’s session;

Technical

Lead wrist work plus exaggerations (15 balls)

Random

Random yardages with 3 clubs (12 Balls) e.g.

• 115y with GW, PW, 9i

• 155y with 7i, 6i, 5i

• 180y with 5i, 4i, 3hy

• 70y with SW, GW, PW

Game/Competitive

Decade Combine 90-135y (20 Balls)

Reviewing a couple of videos after the session highlighted a couple of areas to focus on in the coming sessions;

• trail foot banking/knees kissing

• club face in the downswing (a little open - shocker!)

I have missed working with Ryan and the feedback he provides. On reflection, I do feel like I can identify some errors, particularly, my club face and my tendency to open it.

Next step: Another Unlimited Month with Ryan on Skillset.

Play

Clubhouse from the 18th Fairway

SG data from Easter Sunday Stableford

My latest round was super mixed and well below my previous standards in terms of approach play and the short game. As mentioned earlier, the course is back to full length and summer rules. This has had a greater effect on my play than I expected and has highlighted the need for further skill-building from the rough and a variety of lies.

I made 4 major errors, 2 with full iron shots and 2 with short-game, each costing me more than a stroke. After a good drive on 13, I had 160y to the back of the green and took a 6 iron, into a light wind. I pulled my approach around 15 yards onto the train track to the left of the green. Reloading from the same spot, hit the exact same shot! Lots of learning in it for me - partly aiming and partly making small adjustments to prevent the most costly miss.

On the 3rd hole, I had 60y left and a bunker to clear to get somewhere near a back left pin. The lie was bare and on a slight downhill slope. I caught it super thin and cleared the green into the river. After the shot, I reflected on the fact I didn’t have a plan, either for the lie or the shot itself. I treated it like a stock fairway 60y shot. Poor execution and poor planning.

My final costly error came on the 7th hole. Missed the green left and had a pretty straightforward chip. The lie was anything but straightforward. The ball was in a little dip and had a clump of grass behind it. I made minimal adjustments and dunched it around 3 yards, still short of the green. My next chip almost went in, finishing an inch away from the hole for a bogey 4.

Moving forward, it is important that I make time to practice the shots I feel uncomfortable with. Working on a mat is helpful for technical practice but isn’t representative of the shots and skills I need to work on to build confidence on the course.

Reflective Questions

What shots make you uncomfortable on the course?

How often do you practice the shots that make you feel uncomfortable?

How do you ensure your practice is representative of your on-course experience?

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