Could the Search Be Over?

Haven't posted in a few weeks due to the horrible downturn in my golf game. It's been probably one of the most frustrating times for me. I hit a wall a few weeks ago and instead of seeing improvements and a drop in my handicapp, i've gone backwards. But I think I may have found the missing piece this past weekend.

I was set all week to take the weekend off to clear my head of negative thoughts, but couldn't resist. So instead of taking it off, I played 3 times. Friday I called up Ryan to get a lesson after work. I had the lesson and then went out for 18 with Ryan, Mike, and Rick (all staff at the club). What i quickly worked on with Ryan was some easy fixes. First off I was swinging with a "reverse C" in my swing. Pretty much dipping my right shoulder on the follow through which was leaving my club open and making it nearly impossible to get the club head back around properly. So now I'm concentrating on pushing my shoulder through quicker and up. Also, on my follow through I was coming to the top of my swing and arching hard back, shooting my chest up to the sky. This was putting a massive strain on my lower back, I've been having som serious trouble with my lower back for awhile. Last week was probably the worst. I was instructed by the doc to take a full week off of everything to let it heal slightly. No squash, baseball, or golf. So anyways, Ryan saw this and now has my finishing standing more upright. This did wonders for my back. 3 days of golf and I can already feel the difference in my back. Still a little sore, but no were near as bad as it's been for the last 2 years or so. Hopefully with the strain gone I will start feeling better. So these 2 little changes have brought some great things to my swing. I'm hitting much more consistent with irons and rescues. Better accuracy, length, and my confidence is coming back.

Quick recap of weekend of golf.

Friday was pretty good. Played better. Shot 81 with a bogey on 17 and 18.

Saturday I thought I was going to play better, bu didn't. Challenged Matt and Bernie to matches on the first hole. Was down 4 to matt on the 10th, so I pressed, and lost both. Pressed Bernie on the 13th hole, and lost that one too. Played awful. shot 87. Bad thoughts got back in my head. Came out saturday night with my buddy preston and cousin Jamie for another 9 holes. Probably wasn't a good idea to play another 9. My back was in severe pain and I had developed a blister on the inside of my palm in the webbing of the thumb. Skin off, bad scene. Couldn't swing the club at all. Between the pain in my back and the harrendous pain in my hand, it was a complete waste of time. I had a Langley match to play sunday morning and the condition of my hand really worried me. When I got home it was throbbing. It actually swelled up on the blister and I had to ice it all night. I was shocked in the morning when I took my first couple of swings and couldn't even feel it. Not sure how it happened, but it healed enough over night.

Sunday was my first Langly match against Rick B, guy I've known for a few years, he was playing at a 7, i'm a 6 so i gave him one on the 8th hole. Side note, it's a joke that he gets a shot on this par 5. It's probably the easiest hole on the course. Started off well. Went Par, Par on the first 2 match even. I drained a ridiculous birdie putt on 3 from about 25 feet to go up 1. Gave it back on the 4th. Halfed the 5th. I took the 6th, but again gave it back on the 7th par 3. Rick made a great chip on 8th to get within a foot for par net birdie. I just missed my 8 footer for birdie, he's 1 up. 9th hole I bomb one down the left side and leave myself 145 yards to the pin. Rick blast one way left to the 10th tee. But I brain farted and duffed my second, third, and 4th shots, and 2 putted for 6. Rick made a 5 and a lost the hole. down 2 making the turn. shot 40 on the front with a double on the 9th. My swing was so good, i was playing really well, but so was Rick.

10th hole, I was just in front of the green in 2. Rick got caught behind some trees and conceded the hole before we even putted. 1 down. 11 I was just beside the green in 2, rick had a 7 footer for birdie. I duffed my chip just barely on the green, but made a great putt from 15 feet for par, rick missed the birde, still 1 down. I chunked my tee shot on the par 3 12th in the junk, made a 5, lost the hole. Bombed a drive up the left hand side on 13, hit a beautiful 9 iron to the back pin about 5 feet (lipped out the putt for birde) but one the hole, back to 1 down. Made a nice up and down on 14 to keep it at 1. 15 I knew I needed a birdie to win the hole. Had a chip from about 25 feet, rolled it over the edge. we both had 5 foot par putts, I made mine first, but he followed up with his. Going into 16 1 down. Both to the bottom of the hill in 2. I was trying to be aggresive to the back pin and went just over the green (very hard chip, green sloped hard back to front). Rick put a sweet shot to about 6 feet for birdie, but breaks right to left. I made a great chip to a foot, unfortunatly, rick made a great putt. Down 2, 2 holes to play. 17th is 230 yards down wind. Rick has to hit driver, but babies it and smashes it into the trees just of the tee and left. Gets stuck in there, and is on the green in 3 with a 25 footer for bogey. I was 5 iron to the front left of the green, made a nice chip to about 4 feet, he conceded. 1 down going into 18. I absolutly bomb a drive up and over the trees on the left (first time in bounds on this hole in weeks) just short of the road. Rick chunks his second from the middle of the fairway left and about 30 yards short. Do I have a chance? I hit a poor 52 degree wedge just infront of the green. Rick is on in 3 with a 15 footer for par. I lipped out my chip for birdie and leave about a foot for par. Rick missed his par putt, all I have to do is tap in to extend the match. Wasn't nervous, no trouble with the putt, very slight break left to right, just going to firm it right through the break and go onto the next hole. Unfortunatly, I firmed it right through the break and pulled it slightly rolling it just over the edge. Couldn't believe it. So i lost 1 down. Positive was I shot a 79 and didn't beat myself, got beat by someone playing just aswell as me, he also shot 79. So basically I lost it on that bullshit stroke hole, well actually thats lying to myself. I lost it on my blowing a 1 foot putt on the 18th green. I guess it's on to next year.

Regardless, the game might be taking a turn for the better. My have finally found a fix for the swing. Squash is finally done for the summer, so I'll get out and practice and see if I can't start getting back on track to be a 2. Don't laugh Matt and Cal.