Joey's Golf Bag

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.