[G]od [O]nly [L]oves [F]ools

I have one of those practice tool 5-iron thingamajigs that one swings in the office. You know the kind I mean; they’re somewhat heavy and force you to grip the club more or less correctly. John Daly wrote in his book Golf My Own Damn Way that they’re the only tool he’d bother with because they help build up muscles you’d use playing golf, and I’m currently reading that book again, so that’s why I’m using it. Anyway, I’ve been swinging it back and forth today, and I’ve just discovered something I could use help on – be it from Boom-Boom or any of the other few people that sometimes come here to read.

When I’m swinging down from the apex of my backwing, I’ve discovered, I’m drawing power from my left arm and pulling the club down and through. But when I’m crossing the lowest point of my swing – where the ball would be, more or less – my right arm is taking over, and that’s where the power is transferring to. This seems wrong to me fundamentally, and I’m wondering if i’m right about that. I recently heard that it ought to feel like my left arm is pulling away from my socket as I swing through the ball – and it certainly isn’t. Instead, I’m transferring that power to my right arm and pushing the ball. A conscious attempt to pull the ball with my left arm acting as the “main engine” seems to make my swing smoother.

This can’t be right, can it? Boomer? Anyone? Bueller…? Bueller…?

Very very very tired of snow,

-BC

Alright, I’m back. Hiatus of two weeks. Good for me actually, the break was nice, and I got in some range time that let me work on a few things. In addition I re-gripped a bunch of clubs with the Golf Pride Multi-Compound grips, logo down. Click on the link and take a look. They come in several colours, pink and green included.

Anyhow, as I was saying, I am back for now. Went to the range last week and got to know my Hogan Apex Plus irons again. Re-gripped them from the 5 down to Wedge, and went to see what I could do. Had some new swing thoughts in my head that I wanted to try out. Got along with them fine as a matter of fact. Alignment was a small issue, but other than that, I was hitting the ball nicely.

However, went to the same range with the BC yesterday, to see if I could duplicate the previous weeks’ success with my Purefit MB1020 irons, and with the exception of a few, hit the ball rather poorly, thank you very much. I could blame the condition of the tee area, but no, this was all me. Ah well, off for a Starbucks.

It was at this esteemed establishment that that purveys beverages of the coffee flavour that my epiphany was had. Or rather, handed to me. I was told, in no uncertain terms ‘what I need’. Those words were repeated several times if you must know until I was told.

Apparantly I needed to get back to the mood and feeling that we had when we went to the Sticks of the Wooden. How we laughed, how we didn’t care.

Yes folks, this little nugget of philisophical wisdom came to me from the BC who uttered those famous words, “What you need…”

So, armed with those insights, I slept poorly, got up early, and made my way up to Parkview, the Upper course, for a 7:03 tee off time. I hit a few chips, did a bunch of stretching to loosen up my achy back, and hit a 3 wood up the middle of number one. Skinked my 7 iron on the second shot, but recovered with a nice bump and run to save bogey.

Shot 39 on the front and 44 on the back. Was trying to hit the ball a little harder on the back so got a little wayward with some shots, but on the whole, hit some nice crisp irons and didn’t get overly irritated with anything.

I have some time this week, so I might take a drive up to Copper Creek, or Silver Lakes to see how I can do on a real course, but then again, I might just take some more time off to do a little reading and a little revamping of my all round outlook to my game. Bought two books today, well, bought a dozen or so books today, but two directly related to golf. The first one, Fearless Golf a tome that is dedicated to the mind game and how fear affects our thought process on the course. It was recommended to me by my future golf teacher who works out of Angus Glen, and the second book, Fit to a Tee, that deals with the physical aspect of your game. Hopefully they both will help.

All in all, I had a great time today. Little things still bug me, but I can honestly say, nothing on the course, and golf related pissed me off at all today. A portent of better things to come I am hoping.

Till we meet again,

Keep it in the short grass,

Boomer

I hit a 99 at Parkview’s Upper Course today. I remain unamused.

I also failed to have a good time playing, which pretty much never happens. I had very high hopes of breaking 90 today, and it didn’t happen, and I allowed that to disturb me [my apologies to Kevin for giving off the "negative energy" - an applicable, correctly-assessed state of mind today]. What happened was that Dennis was there but got sick in the parking lot and left, which meant that Kevin and I were paired with two other gentlemen. Stephen and Morgan were nice, courteous guys who understood golf etiquette, but I never play well when playing with people I don’t know. I’m instantly self-conscious, and the little foibles of the newcomers distract me, like squeaky golf carts and whatnot. It’s not them, it’s me: if Dennis’ pull cart was squeaking, I wouldn’t even notice it… and if I did notice it, I wouldn’t care. I left a lot of shots out there today that I shouldn’t have if I’d just focused.

This round is my 5th of the year as far as the RCGA is concerned, and therefore my handicap can now be confirmed. Here’s the painful breakdown:

RCGA HANDICAP FACTOR CALCULATION

OWW. 24.2, kids. Yeesh. We return tomorro, though, so there’s always hope.
- BC

When you love to golf but live in Canada, the winter is a harsh time of year.

One grows sick of indoor golf domes, and one has little to write about on one’s golf-related blog. But golf has returned, and G.O.L.F. with it, as my foursome prepares once again to wage battles over Cups and Pink Purses.

The 101 I hit at Deer Creek’s South Course last Sunday is generally par for the course [pun intended] for me, but at the same time makes me think that a winter spent practicing at the Markham Golf Dome might have been worthwhile after all. Here’s my rationale: the elements bore down on Kevin and I fairly consistently that morning, and while the wind and rain were distracting enough my hands were also freezing. If I can score a 101 in those conditions, I’m hopeful to be flirting with 90 consistently when the weather is fair. This year’s realistic goal, then, is to start shooting 90 [high 80's, low 90's, anyhow] consistently instead of 100 consistently.

One of the things I’m working on is keeping my lower body quiet during my swing. I’m doing well at this so far from what I can tell about my own swing, and it’s stopped a swaying motion that was throwing me off-balance. Liam’s teacher, Dave, also noted that I was breaking my wrist at the top of my backswing and thus having to come around faster to square the clubface. I’ve managed to stop that, and it’s helping.

 I’ve also started a real set-up routine for the first time that starts with me setting the ball up along a line, stepping back to visualize where I want it to go, lining the club up properly, and stepping the rest of my body in afterwards. I’ve got a little waggle thereafter that I should probably lose, but I’m locking my feet down, tilting slightly, keeping my hands lower [I used to have them too high], and bringing the club back to shake hands with the guy behind me. My shots are more purely struck and are going further. I’ll have to correct distances soon – my clubs are graphite now, and I have to re-adjust – but it’s a small price to pay for an improved stroke.

My 53 on the South Course’s “Sapphire” Course for the front 9 included an unfortunate snowman on 3 that saw me banging it from one bunker to another. I’m alright out of the sand if I remember to follow through and keep my head down, but the Adams Golf SW I’m using is new and untested. I lost a few balls to water and forest that day, but knocked it down to 48 on the back nine’s “Emerald” Course, which is an easier 9 holes [there's less water or trouble]. My drives are blocking right sometimes but aren’t slicing, and the Purefit DCV driver I’ve now got is getting me significantly more yardage. Overall I think I see the improvement over last year already, and while there’s a lot to work on, that’s just part of the game. One final improvement: Boom-Boom and I are writing and signing each other’s scorecards. I’d like to enter tournaments someday, so we may as well get in the habit.

Incidentally, Deer Creek is beautiful, and so is their clubhouse. The breakfast special’s pretty good, too, and so is the coffee.

- BC

Apparently I’ve been loading up on the right side, which has been the cause of me striking the ground before the ball and giving me the idea that my clubs were too long [they're 1 1/2 inches longer than most, as I'm 6'5"]. After some frustrating sessions at the golf dome recently, this bit of information from Boom-Boom has helped me adjust back into striking the ball cleanly, like driving a nail through it’s equator. Thank you, AJ Bonar!

I’m also now standing a little on the insides of my feet [and on the balls of them] instead of shifting to the outsides, which has helped me shift my weight better as I come through. I’m bringing my hands more forward and opening up the club more – I apparently play very closed-faced normally – and I’m getting some really crisp shots now. I’m still blocking a little to the right, and occassionally turning my hands over and sending it left, but overall I’m feeling a lot better. I’ve had to choke down more than I’m used to, but it’s all coming a little more together.

And you should have seen me hit my Nickent 3Dx Ironwood hybrid today, baby. I was smokin’. Kev’s advice is really helpful sometimes.
- BC