Have been able to play everyday since Sunday. On Sunday played Ponderosa and shot 77. Played Scenic Valley two days in a row and shot 81 and 78. The conditions on Monday were worst than anticipated as a light rain started on the 5th hole and really never let up the entire round. The condition were chilly and damp to say the least, especially since the rain wasn’t expected for another 3 to 4 hours. Wednesday went back to Ponderosa and shot 80. Today played Fort Cherry with a score of 81. Even though the scores were not that good, I felt I played 100 % mental golf for the first time this year. With 5 rounds played I am just going to go through the highlights or lowlights which ever you prefer.
The scores were high because putting is still a big problem, with not even some consistency in what the problem is. Sometimes it has been very bad lag putting or distance control with the putts. Other times it is just missing short putts. When you are going through a stretch like this on the greens, it seems like luck is not on your side either. Lots of lip outs, and hitting the pin and bouncing out, and burning lots of edges. I would grade my putting a D minus. If I had been only putting at C level then I would have easily had 2 to 4 shots less per round. There were at least a half a dozen times this week that I would hit a very good putt from 15 to 25 feet, that would just miss the hole and go buy about 3 to 4 feet, and I would miss the putt coming back. The frustration can affect other parts of your game as well, which can contribute to poor scoring. The short game is ok, but when you are not making putts, then any mistakes in other parts of your game is magnified. My ball striking is good, but even that looks or feels worse when you are not scoring.
I do want to discuss what I mean when I wrote that I felt I played 100% mental golf for the first time all year. We have all been told that in order to play well, you have to trust your swing. I think it goes a little further than that. Once you have decided on the shot, then you have to trust that your body will perform the task that your brain has visualized for the shot. We all talk about the repeatable swing. Depending on shot, many times you have to swing differently to produce that shot. What’s interesting is your body will perform the task correctly, if your brain has chosen the right type of shot to play. This is how you play with no swing thoughts. However, if the brain has chosen a faulty shot, then the body will not make a good swing at the ball. I believe this is the essence of 100% mental golf. It becomes more clear every time you play. I will give examples of this as the year goes by.
The top priority now is too find a solution to the putting problem. May not be able to play until Monday for various reasons. Hoping to start scoring better soon.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 