Joey's Golf Bag

I practiced and played nine at the North Texas Golf Center today. The wind was howling from the west or north, anywhere from 1-3 clubs; otherwise, the weather was very nice and sunny.

Since it has been about 2 weeks since I was last able to practice, due to overseas travel and poor weather, I expected to have a pretty mediocre practice, and it was, for the most part. I spent most of practice trying to get the swing path on the proper inside to square path, and having little success at it. I finally got it working a little near the end of practice, but in general, was not a good practice day. I was hitting with the wind behind me, which greatly increased distances, hitting 9-irons as long as I usually hit 6-irons.

The wind was really howling at the end of full swing practice, and especially when I tried to hit short wedge shots. Basically, it was impossible to hit high wedge shots, as the wind took them and sent them sailing. I spent that practice time hitting long chips, a skill that I’ve allowed to lapse, as I prefer to come in high and soft. That type of shot was a complete impossibility today. I also spent a considerable amount of time practicing short chips as well (really my only successful practice today).

I spent a few minutes before hitting the course to practice putting, which I thought went well, except my long distance putting distances were all short. That trend would continue on the course.

My score:

* Hit green in regulation.

Themes:

• Tee shots. Despite my poor practice today, I hit the ball very well off the tee. My main difficulty was doping the wind, which I consistently under-compenstated for all day. On almost every hole, into the wind, I under-clubbed, and with the wind, over-clubbed. Also, when hitting against a side to side wind, I also under-estimated the effect of the wind. Thus, I was short into the wind, long with the wind, and left or right more than expected with a side wind. I hit only two greens in regulation, but never was more than 8 ft from the green on any hole.
• Chipping. Despite a very good practice, my chipping was pretty poor all day, mostly chipping short. I got up-and-down on only two holes today.
• Wedge shots. Other than off the tee, didn’t hit a wedge shot all day, since I was close to the green on every one I missed.
• Putting. In short, I sucked today. Three putted twice (four times if you count putting from the fringe). My distance control from 20 ft and in was very good, but beyond 20 ft, distance control was very poor, which led to the three putts. My score would have been much better if I had putted like I usually do.

Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want, so I’ll be a lot smarter about reading the wind after today.