Joey's Golf Bag

This morning, I got up bright and early and went to Grapevine Golf Course to join the Grapevine Golf Association. I joined up to play a monthly tournament, the first of which is December 6th.

After I signed up, I went to North Texas Golf to practice my short game and play nine. I had a frustrating practice with the lob wedge, hit a few balls on the range, putted a few on the shaggy, dewy greens, and played. I finally figured out something on the range and now I’m striking the ball solidly, direction is a bit iffy, though.

My score:

* Hit green in regulation.

My round:

• First hole. Hit a slightly fat 8-iron right of the green in the grass bunker. Hit a chip too hard over the green, then hit a stellar chip to 9″ and tapped in for bogey.
• Second hole. Pushed a well-struck 8-iron pin-high but well right onto the 3rd tee. Played a perfect lob wedge to 2 ft and tapped in for par.
• Third hole. Hit a well-struck 9-iron pin-high but left, where it hit one of the railroad ties on the bunker and went dead left. I hit a nice lob wedge over the bunker to 7 ft and nailed the putt for par.
• Fourth hole. Pulled a well-struck 9-iron long and left of the green behind some small trees. Played a poor lob wedge shot to the fringe, chipped very nicely to about 9″ and tapped in for bogey.
• Fifth hole. Hit a fat sand wedge short into the grass bunker in front of the green. Hit a chip well short of the hole and three-putted for double. Yeech! Yeech! Yeech!!!
• Sixth hole. Hit a pitching wedge just short of the green, chipped very nicely to 2 ft and tapped in for par.
• Seventh hole. Hit a nice approach wedge to 11 ft and two-putted for par. The birdie putt didn’t even scare the hole.
• Eighth hole. I was between clubs, so I chose a 9-iron and planned to hit a 3/4 shot. Unfortunately, I pured the shot well over the hole into the hazard, as I didn’t allow for the wind. I took a drop, chipped to 2 ft and tapped in for bogey.
• Ninth hole. Hit a nice 8-iron pin-high left of the flag on the fringe. Hit a pretty good chip that went right over the hole but ran 6 ft by the hole. Missed the putt and tapped in for bogey.

Pretty stinky day off the tee, as I hit only one green in regulation, though two shots were just off the green. I hit a couple of nice chips and a couple of stinky ones, as well as two really nice lob wedges to tap-in distance. Though I had only 13 putts, I didn’t hit any beyond 7 ft.

At least I got my distance back.

Yesterday, I went to a swing clinic at the Golden Bear Golf Center. I’d decided that I had had enough of hitting the ball too high and short. The day was cool and sunny, with a strong wind from the east. I warmed up and my instructor came over and introduced himself. I’d not worked with him before. He had me hit a few balls with the 7-iron. First, he fixed my alignment, which was a little right of my target line. Then, he diagnosed my problem as taking the club back too much to the inside and too flat. That caused the swing to come in too steep and outside, and caused me to scoop at the ball. That made the ball go too high. He had me set my wrist-cock earlier, which had the effect of making the swing more upright, and then he had me try to hit the ball right of the target, to get the feel of the proper inside-to-square impact. It took a lot of swings but I managed to get the hang of it (it’ll take a lot of repetitions to get it ingrained). He then had me hit a few drives, hooked badly at first but managed to get the ball going straight once. He thought my shaft was not stiff enough. Since I was the only student this day, the lesson lasted about 45 minutes, which was really nice for $30.

This morning, I took my new swing to the North Texas Golf Center to hit a few balls, putt and play nine. The day was sunny and cool, with a brisk wind from the southeast. I warmed up by hitting lob wedge pitches, then hitting a few balls on the range. I struck the ball surprisingly well, considering I changed my swing yet again. I putted a few balls (the green was like shag carpet) and then played.

My score:

* Hit green in regulation.

My round:

• First hole. Hit a thin 9-iron right of the green. I hit a stellar lob wedge to 5″ and tapped in for par.
• Second hole. Hit a well struck 7-iron right of the green pin-high. Chipped poorly over the green, chipped poorly again to 18 ft and two-putt for double.
• Third hole. Hit a fat PW short and right, chipped to 7 ft and nailed the putt for par.
• Fourth hole. Hit a fat PW straight at the flag but short of the green. Hit a good chip to 4 ft and nailed the putt for par.
• Fifth hole. Hit an AW long and right. Hit a chip to 9 ft and lipped out the putt. Tapped in for bogey.
• Sixth hole. Hit a PW 18 ft right of the pin and two-putt for par.
• Seventh hole. Hit a 9-iron 24 ft left of the pin. Hit the first putt way too soft, missed the second and tapped in for bogey.
• Eighth hole. Hit a PW 15 ft right over the flag, left the birdie putt 6″ short and tapped in for par.
• Ninth hole. Hit a 9-iron dead shank 30 yards right of the flag. Hit a lob wedge just short of the green, chipped to 5 ft, missed the putt and tapped in for double.

Well, what a round. Got up and down 3 times for par, but chipped poorly after that. Putted pretty well except for the 3-putt on the 7th hole, in spite of the shag carpet greens. I hit only three greens in regulation, but that’s not too bad considering the wind and my swing changes.

Happy 19th Birthday, Michelle! See you on the LPGA Tour next year!

This morning, I played nine at North Texas Golf. The day was warm, sunny and blustery, with a variable wind from the south or southeast. I warmed up by hitting some pitches, short irons and a few putts, though the putting green had been scalped and was pretty much unputtable.

The wind was blowing pretty hard. In fact, on the 7th hole (with the tees well back), while I was preparing to tee off, I looked back to get my club. My push cart was gone! The wind had taken it and blown it nearly into the pond behind the 7th tee. With the brake on. Yes, the wind was a bit blustery today.

My score:

* Hit green in regulation.

My round:

• First hole. Hit a poorly struck 7-iron thin and right of the green. I hit a lob wedge to 18 ft and two-putt for bogey.
• Second hole. Pushed an 8-iron well right of the green, leaving me with a difficult pitch with the ball well below my feet. I hit it thin over the green, chipped to 5 ft, missed the putt and tapped in for double.
• Third hole. The wind was howling into me, so I used an 8-iron from pitching wedge distance and was still a 3 ft short of the green. I left my chip well short and two-putt for bogey.
• Fourth hole. Hit a 9-iron straight at the pin, but 30 ft short and two-putt for par.
• Fifth hole. Hit an AW pin-high but 18 ft right of the pin. Left the birdie putt a foot short and tapped in for par.
• Sixth hole. Hit a 9-iron 21 ft left and short of the hole, hit a good putt but misread it, and tapped in for par.
• Seventh hole. Hit a 9-iron over the green, chipped to 6 ft but missed the putt for par and tapped in for bogey.
• Eighth hole. Hit a PW to 21 ft over the pin, ran the birdie putt 4 ft past the hole and made the uphill breaker for par.
• Ninth hole. Hit an 8-iron into a strong wind pin-high but 33 ft left of the pin. Misread the putt, leaving it 6 ft below the hole. Hit the breaking putt right in the center for par.

I was pleased that I hit five greens, but displeased with my short game, as I didn’t get up and down even a single time. Also, none of my birdie putts even scared the hole. Still, hitting five GIR on a blustery day, where I had to club up or down 2 or 3 clubs, was pretty good.