Darn Work

This past weekend was maybe one of the best weather wise so far this year. However, it didn't turn out to be the best golfing one.

Saturday was gorgeous outside, except for a super hard wind on the course. I got out early with Matt, Cal, and Andy and it turned out to be a decent day. Under extremely difficult conditions I was able to slash around the course fairly well. That was until I got to the last 3 holes of the day. I blew it on 16 hitting my layup shot somewhere in the woods and made a bogey after a string of pars, and then on 18 I blasted 2 balls over the highway and took a double bogey X. Didn't even play the hole. Somehow I shot an 82, I think. Not bad, think Matt was in the 90's and Cal was 82, so can't complain to much.

Sunday wasn't a very good day. I was actually playing well for the front 9. However on about the 6th hole I got an email on my blackberry and unfortunately had to quit after 9 to tend to some work stuff. Double the 9th hole to shot 40 and left for the office.

Monday was the better ball tourny that Matt and i have played in the last few years. We have been some what close to making the cut each year, but this year we were determined to make it. I must say we both played extremely well. That is for 16 holes. We played 17 and 18 in some of the strongest winds I've ever played in and it just totally through us off. We were even going into 17. Both of us hit monster drives down the centre. With the wind howling I hit a gap wedge from 132 yards but chunked it into the water about 40 yards in front of me. Matt hit a decent approach to about 20 feet and proceded to 3 putt. 18 was a 176 yard par 3. Into the fierce wind, I was hitting 4 iron hybrid. I blasted mine way past to an impossible place. Matt also hit an awful loosey shot and was unable to make an up and down for par. So we shot 2 over. We deserved better. I personally missed 3 easy birdy putts on the front nine and matt maybe missed 2, but also made ou only birdie on a tough par 3. If it wasn't for my double double finish I would have shot a 76 and I think Matt was 74 or something close to that. Oh well. The course was great and the weather was even better. Hopefully I played well enough to earn another chance with Matt next year.

This weekend is the Niagara Mens Tour qualifier. So got to be on my game sunday. I think there is roughly 14 spots available and looks to be a good field this year. I'll just do my best and hopefully make it. AS long as work doesn't get in the way again.

Awesome new blog

My sister started a new blog (her second attempt) and hit the nail on the head with this one.

Its called Menu Maniac - http://menumaniac.blogspot.com/

She writes about all the great food she cooks and cool restaurants she visits around Ontario, mostly Windsor.

If you need a quick idea for a meal or just looking for some great food reviews check it out. It's worth it. She makes cooking great food very easy.

http://menumaniac.blogspot.com/
http://menumaniac.blogspot.com/

Familiar places

I've been playing squash now for roughly 2 years. I'd say I've made some good progress over that time to improve my game and work towards playing at a higher level. Yet I find myself at the same place every tournament. As you may know I was playing in the club championships last week. Things went the same as always. I lost my first match, so I move to the consolation round. No big deal, playing level B so not upset. Then I lose again, and I'm back in to the stupid losers of the losers bracket. And of course I lose that match and I find myself up against my buddy Tim playing for the losers of the losers of the losers. Thats right, I was slated to play for the title of being the second worst player in the division. The very first tournament that I played in lat year I came second in the division, D division. Since then I've moved up and can't win a freaking game. To be honest, over the course of I think 4 tournaments, I haven't won a game. This isn't like golf, it's not nerves. This past tournament I don't even think I was over matched or played poorly. I just don't seem to win tournament matches. I'm going to get much better at squash. I've got one more league season before the summer. Everyone stops playing in the summer. I plan on working on my game this summer during the week. I wan't to finish the league strong this spring, and come back next year and dominate. I'll get in much better shape, and work on my game. It's a slow process I'm willing to wait for. Must get better at squash.

I missed out on some great golf this weeend. Saturday was a fantastic day here in the area. was 20 degrees at one point, sun was shinning, great day. Unfortunatly saturday wasn't the best day for me personally. I showed up late for golf due to some outside issues, and attemted to play. However my cell phone and issues wouldn't let it be, so I ended up sorting of playing 9 holes. Was on my phone for atleast 1.5 hours of the 2 hours. So walked off after 9. Found out the next day was playing with a board member of the club. It's against the rules to have your shirt untucked and to be on a cell phone at all. Really put on a show for that guy.

Sunday was better. The weather wasn't nearly as good, but still better then what we've dealt with all year. I struggled.....hard. I'm having some serious difficulties off the tee so far this year. Mostly with my driver. Just can't get a good swing down. So i sprayed the ball all over the front 9. Shot 43 on the front with 1 birdie and 1 par.

The back wasn't much better. Birdie on the 10th, bogey on the 11th. Hit a beautiful 4 iron in to the wind on the tough par 3 12th to about 15 feet, but just missed the putt (still a good par). Blasted a drive dead into the woods on 13 and made double bogey. Made a decent par on 14. 15 I drive the ball way right and short. The frustration really starts to kick in and i toss my club a good 20 yards. Get to my ball, behind a tree and i get it up the hole but behind another tree. Punch out down the fairway to about 80 yards. Then i finally hit a good shot to about 8 feet, and made the putt, ugly par. 16 I hit a great tee shot, rescue club driver still sucks, and another rescue from 250 that goes ust through the green. Would duff the chip and miss the birdie putt for a par. Can't remember the last time I hit to prefect shots in a row on that hole and I waste it with a par. 17 I hit way left behind some trees but had a line to the hole. Made a good chip and long 15 footer for par. 18 i actually hit my first good drive. Hit a 9 iron from 150 just short of the green. Chip was decent to about 4 feet. Got an extra $2 on the line with this putt. Matt makes some jerk comment about not missing, and I miss. Oh well, the round was shit anyways. I ended up shooting 82. Apparently that wasn't so bad. Matt was something like 89 and Cal (Cal's the one whos gooooood now) was 82 as well.

Better get the game in better shape this weekend. Got the mens better ball tourny with matt on monday. we will see.

Update time

Been a little behind with my posts after coming strong out of the gates. Don't worry, I plan on getting back on track right now.

This past weekend I had big plans to play 3 rounds of golf and watch 4 rounds of the Masters. Not going to give a big review of the Masters, you can go all over the place to see that, but I will say it was a freakin awesome tourny. Would have loved to see Phil or Tiger come back for the win, but I like Angel and was happy to see him win. Also decided with Matt that we will start a tradition of playing anywhere Angel wins. Already did Oakmont, my turn to get us on Augusta. Little stumped on how I'm going to pull that off.

Anyways, back to what you come here for. Played golf this weekend, but not enough. Weather was sunny but freezing cold. On friday Cal and I got off early enough and managed to get in 18. Didn't play very well. I struggled with my driver all day pretty much changing my swing every time i teed it up. Going to have to stop doing that soon so I don't blow every round. Need to get to a range. My iron play was much better and I feel as though my short game is in a good place. Putting is difficult on the shaggy greens right now, but still decent enough. If i can get my driver back, even if it's back to the consistent fade, I think i can start playing better again.

Saturday we tried to get out again. We made it 3 holes and I declared it to cold to continue and we played back to club house 16, 17, 18. The sun was out again, but the wind was brutal and just not worth it. I was thinking more about how cold I was and how miserable it was making me rather then actually trying to hit good shots. Waste of time, so we left.

No golf on sunday due to everyone celebrating some holiday. Even my Jewish brother Cal was doing it, so no golf.

This week is the squash club championships. I'm proud to say that I have moved from playing in the D division just last year to the B division. Big step up in a short period of time. Had my first match last night. I've had a rough couple of weeks at work and have really cut down my squash time. Most of the time I was either to tired or just not in the right frame of mind to play. Was a big mistake to let up on my game the last 2 weeks. Was playing poorly in the league play, even monday where i dominated all season, and even played a few other matches were I just wasn't myself.

Last night was different. I was in a totally different mindset, actually looking foward to playing and was ready to go. Felt great stepping on the court. I was playing a guy I've never played before but have seen at the club and knew I was in for a tough match. Unfortunatly I wasn't able to really keep up endurance wise and lost the match 3-0. The score didn't really reflect how well I played, but I can't deny I got my ass kicked. If i was in better shape, like i was only 2 weeks ago, I would have put up a much better fight. Not sure I could have won the match, but I should have won 1 or 2 games. Oh well, still goo experience to be playing a this level. I've got a shot at the consolation now, which isn't so bad since it's B division. Next game is wednesday night. I'll be looking forward to it.

This weekend has a chance of being warm and sunny, so hopefully I'll get back on the track and shot some lower scored this weekend.

Our luck ran out

It's saturday morning and I'm working instead of playing golf. After a short run of saturday golf in march, the first saturday in april has brought cold shitty rain and has forced us to take a day off golf. I guess it was a little much to think we may be playing every weekend from here on out.

Last weekends golf didn't go as well as the first round. I found myself to be Matt for the day and blew it big time with a high 80 score while Matt and Call shot somewhere in the mid to low 70's. Whats up with that? Well, so far they are good and I'm not...yet.

Biggest problem so far is my approach shots to the green. I seem to be over clubbing huge. Can't remember exactly but last time I probably hit 5 or 6 shots into the green that soared over, bounced off a cart path, and sent me to the next tee with a "double bogey" otherwise known as an X.

What could be causing this? Does being in better shape make me hit the ball further? I'm using the same clubs I would have used last year. How can I be hitting the ball further then I was mid season last year in the second round of the year? Maybe i'm just flat out over swinging? Not sure what happened, but not a big deal to fix.

The swing in generla feels good for so early in the year. Once the weather gets a little better I'll have to get to the range and work out some kinks.

Lets hope for an improvement in weather for tomorrow. would be nice to play again.