Your golf season - Good news/bad news

The golf season is winding down in our area. Even if the weather holds out the daylight hours are minimal.
As I reflect, I'm finding some good things have happened, while some other parts of the game have disappointed.
Good news
This season I have gotten a lot of good things going with my chipping, my slice is all but gone.
Bad news
My putting game, which had been making huge improvements, has seemed to fall off a bit........okay, a lot!
Good news
I had a lot of great opportunities to spend time with friends and family on the course
Bad news
My sisters still don't want to golf with me
Good news
I can actually hit straighter.
Bad news
I've lost distance
Good news
My Swear Jar has increased in volume this year, so I can afford to golf more
Bad news:
My Swear Jar is overflowing because of Golf

Good News: I've hit the ball consistantly well this year with my wedge game being better than it's ever been in my 29 years now of playing this game

Bad News: I missed many of those shortish putts that my great wedge game gave me this year:

Good News: As big and as ugly as it looks/sounds, my Nike Sumo Sasquatch driver had me hitting more fairways than ever this year (9.2 per round average)

Bad News: Two of guys who make up my usual Saturday morning 4-some bought the same driver and are hitting more fairways now too

Good News: Played very well in the half dozen charity scrambles i played in this year

Bad News: There was always atleast 1 group that played 1 shot better in the 6 charity scrambles I played in this year

Good News: After having given up golf for the last decade, my father started playing again in his now retired life giving me the chance to play multiple rounds with him, which is something thats been a blast to do

Bad News: My father keeps threatening to write me out of his will if I laugh at some of his horrendous shots on the golf course: He atleast says that he'll leave my kids in the will though

Good News: I'm off to Florida in a week for 1 last week long golf fest before ski season starts

Bad News: As usually happens I'll probably play my round of the year my last day of that trip making wonder what I could do if I kept playing all winter long:

good: Got back to single digit USGA handicap for first time since my broken arm (skiing) in 2006.
good: chipping has improved

good and bad: Still think golf should be a three hour game most of the time. I seldom go over 3:45 even when the course is full but I need to work on my toleance for others looking for golf balls. I always figure I have more golf balls than I do time so why look more than a minute.

bad: still too dumb to chip enough (too often I try to fly it in like they do on TV, the good shots can be very good but the misses are WAY short or WAY long)
bad: Still can't putt
bad: still throw away 4-6 shots every round
bad: still can't really concentrate for 4 hours unless I'm in an important ($$$) match.

Golf

Irrelevant: Played a lot

Good: Putting better than anytime in my life.

Bad: Raised my handicap by 2 points. Absolutely could NOT eliminate that 1 or 2 BlowUp holes (7 or 8) Actually had a 13 on one hole.

Summary. My golf game needs a vacation - so guess I'll HAVE to Ski.

Good: remembering that there are no pictures on a score card!

Bad:---sort of---sculling that worm burner from 80 yards that stops next to the pin---allowing one to remember the saying above!

Bad News: I hardly played at all this summer. Maybe 4 rounds and another 3-4 times to the range. I remember when that was a bad week for me.

Good News: This is a game, with some serious practice, you can pick back up again at any point in life.

bad news: played only 3 rounds of golf this year

good news: 1 round was at Pebble Beach (shot 100), and I got to see the look on my Dad's face when I picked up cost of the round and the caddy. 2 rounds were at Princeville (shot 98 & 92). Played pretty well all 3 rounds, all things considered, i.e. not playing or practicing much, and really enjoyed myself.

bad news: no new golf equipment this year

good news: spent the $$ on some Gotamas

Bad News Too much shop time, a lot of lessons (good-$$$, bad-time consuming), too little time to play and work on my own game.

Good News (Hard to say in a skiing forum) After 28 years of part and full time teaching skiing, I'm off to Florida next week for a winter of mucho golf and taking the game to a higher level.

Good News I'm ending the season in the Rockies hitting the ball really well. Small changes, big results.

Good NewsBoth the Keystone River course and Sonnenalp (across I-70 from Beaver Creek) we're absolutley spectacular this week with the aspens in full fall glory. Now about the punched and sanded greens...oh well, a necessity this time of year.

Good News I've been taking lessons that have really been effective. My index has dropped every revision except one since early June. My swing is radically different than when I started this journey. I've picked up a good bit of club head speed. My index is under 10 for the first time and feel I have the potential to bring down a lot more.

Good News I feel like I've found a golf instructor who is realy a golfing Jedi master. He has taught me things about what he considers the modern golf swing that are completely contrary to much of what passes as "truisms" about golf swing mechanics. I've had many "what the heck (substitute expletive-deleted here) moments" when he's told me to do certain things. I'll say "everybody knows that's not how it's done." Then he'll drag out videos and picturs of pros and say see how Tiger, Phil, etc., etc., are swinging. That said, I've learned there are two distinct styles of swing mechanics that can work, but they are mechanically very different and tips that work for one are death for the other, and vice versa.

Bad News Completely revamping your swing takes some patience and there are some growing pains.

Good News Finding the process of working on my golf game fun. It's the journey, not the destination. Since I started skiing at an advanced age, that's how I view skiing as well. It's all about the fun journey of improving my sklls and enjoying the sport.

Bad News Still too many blow up holes and bad rounds.

Bad News/Good News Rounds in the low 80s are starting to feel very mediocre. I'm starting to have to give strokes to guys I've never had to before. I'm getting a bit of "sandbagging" grief from guys for doing as well as I have in the late season competitions. Somewhat sad to see golf season winding down, but BRING ON SKI SEASON!

GOOD NEWS- Stopped playing.
BAD NEWS- Wasted 150.00 for a six pack of lessons i purchased to hone my skills. Wasted most of my summer "driving range 3 time a week and golf atleast twice a week".
GOOD NEWS-If i play again i really will just be there for the beer.
BAD NEWS-If i play again i will really just be there for the beer.

Good News: I started the season fit and ready to go thanks to all the skiing and yoga I did all winter.

Bad News: My conditioning went to he!! in a hand basket. My knee got really sore, then I got Plantar Fasciitis again. Instead of letting it heal, I kept playing and rode carts the last half of the summer.

Good News: This was my best scoring summer ever. I broke 70 for the first time and I got my index down to a .6 at the lowest.

Bad News: I really didn't do any better playing tournament golf this season than last. I had higher expectations and didn't produce.

Good News: I pulled off a shocking upset in the club championship taking out the last years club champion.

Bad News: I lost in the semis.

Good News: This was the best season ever. Next year I turn 55, which allows me to enter the OGA and USGA Sr. Amateur tournaments. If possible, I plan to beef up my tournament schedule next year and see if I can raise my game another notch. Who knows, maybe next year I can get to a + handicap. My body is a wreck from all the golf, but I have all winter to get back in shape by skiing.

Got a round of golf in with my youngest son today. He's home from College for a Funeral. We had a nice day.

Got my handicap down to a 7 which is good for only playing a few rounds all last year.

Lars, hows the cuss jar?

Don't have a cuss jar TC. I don't let bad shots get to me anymore.

I'm leaving for Florida next Wednesday for 5 days with 7 other guys on a golf outing. I'm looking forward to getting away from work for a while.

36 holes a day, skin game and apre golf entertainment:

Good: knee didn't hurt when I played.

Bad: only played a few times due to other injuries (cricket and groin strains, arrgghh) so my handicap is now 13.5 - ie, 14. Have to start again next summer.

Good News: I was in the mood to go either hit a bucket or play this week.

Bad News: My clubs were buried in my garage, behind everything that is being moved.

Good News: My Clubs have been in the attic for two years now

Good News: I've been fishing instead.

Good news: Played in shorts in Cleveland area yesterday and Sunday. Finally played consistently the last two months, as in regularly, not on the course, shot wise!!! Only played about 4-6 times all summer before Sept 1, about 10 times since then. Fall has been spectacular here. Did shoot 36 on one nine holes on tough course, with two birdies. Of course other 9 was dam 46!!

Saw 125 ish golfer hit perfect fade/slice shot into island green on par 3. Pin was right behind raised bunker, couldn't see result. Get up there, as bill murray says, "its' in the hole!!!" for an ace. Look on face of hacker, priceless!!

Bad news: The occasional dreaded shank on short chips. Got to get that permanently removed from bad shot library I possess.

Well, my golf game just got better. I'm off in the morning to Florida for five days of golf and relaxation.

If there is any bad news here it's that the flight leaves Buffalo at 6:15 in the morning, which means I have to get up at threeAM.

Lars have a great trip!
Keep your head down!

I may have played my last round on Sunday in 70 degrees and a stiff wind. I had a great year, by my reckoning, in all aspects of my game, including score. I am very proud of 1) changing my full swing, 2) learning how to chip (I only had the pitching stroke coming in to this year), and most of all, 3) learning how to putt properly so a 3-putt is almost a thing of the past.

I am looking forward to enjoying another great ski season now!

Sounds like a great season!!!

I played today on the newly renovated Dye Course at the PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, FL. A balmy 75 degrees with consistent 20-25 mph winds and frequent gusts near 40 mph (the effect of TS Noel and an approaching "cold" front creating very high winds here in southeastern Florida) plus intermittent waves of rain. Why was I out there-why not-I'm here to improve the game!

A week ago I went through the Taylor Made Motion Analysis System with the Head Instructor at the PGA Learning Center to set a base line for the improvement program-what an incredible piece of technology. Someday someone will find a way to use similar technology with skiers (it had at least 8 cameras reading the various sensors I was wearing to create an "avitar" of my swing; so I can't see how it can be done outside on a hill)

Mike,

I went through a 3D swing analysis session at ClubGolf (our local golf fitness place that was the forerunner of the Titleist center in San Diego). The guys there explained that the gurus are working on radio enabled sensors. Once they go wireless, we're not far from being able to use this for skiing. Use on indoor carpet decks will be easy.

Sweet-it a fantastic system.

M

Bad News : I still havent found my driver swing. Its there one day, its gone the next.
Good News : I can finally hit my 3-4-5 irons with a decent bit of consistency.

Bad News : Left shoulder feels funny during the swing
Good News: shortened Iron swing, much better consistency.

Bad News : Still take a lot of shots without thinking about it and without looking at where I shouldnt be. For eg playing to a safer part of the green rather than losing a ball off the mount on the right, into the brush.
Good News: Broke 90 and scored an 83.

Bad News : chipping a bit off at times.
Good News : Made a decent amount lag putts

Good news: I got a new set of Max Fli Irons
Bad news: My handicap is still low 20's

Good news: got onto the company golf/drinking league again
Bad news: went from 2nd last year to mid pack

Good news: found a good set of hybrids
Bad news: somehow developed minor tendonitis in the right elbow

Good news: finally found some consistency
Bad news: ski season

Good news : Got out 70 days
Bad News : put em away on Halloween

Good news : was 11 over on last round
Bad news : season is over

Good news : Changed swing slightly lowered handicap 2 points to 12
Bad news : suffered thru the swing adjustment period

Good news my achilles tendonitis ( 10 months ) is about 80-90 % better after consults and exercises designed by my doc
Bad news : 10 months of hyper sore and stiffness made walking the courses a chore

Good news : SKI SEASON and the Quiver is waxed and sharpened

How in hell could there be any bad news in that except THAT its really HARD to walk around the house with your Boots and Helmet on -- they think I'm nuts --hell they may be right

WarpDaddy, I am told that we only need to wear our helmets in the bathroom.

Just a little follow on from my previous post.

Bad News: My golf season effectively ended October 20th. I have 2 disks in my neck out of place between C6-C7 & C7-C8. That and a bunch of bone spurs too. The pinched nerves are affecting my left shoulder, arm and hand, with varying degrees of numbness and pain. Surgery is required and I and scheduled on 11/26.

More Bad News: The 2-3 month recovery after surgery just effectively took out ski season too.

Good news: After I recover from surgery I will live to golf and ski another day. Which is something I can't do right now.

I've had minor problems with pinched nerves in my neck for the last 12 years. I've managed with exercise, stretching, yoga and chiropractic care. Unfortunately, this flare up is severe and it's best to get it taken care of.

On top of all this, the funding for my job is ending and I am right in the middle of a job search. I've had some interviews and some leads, but no offers yet. I'm going to be taking short term disability for the next 4 weeks, which will allow me more time to work on the job search and will help our current funding last a little longer. I can't wait to do an interview in a cervical collar though.:

I see this as a short term PIA. I'll get it straightened out in the long run.

Good luck with the surgery, SrMike. Let us know how it goes.