I am usually very particular in making sure I have switched on the switch and made contact with the plug insertion, sounding a bit like Biggles when I say ” Switch on; Contact”to myself.
Arm Lock putting with my Arc Master putter on my indoor practice mat( 42 inch shaft) kept me sane. If the results are indicative of on course results, my putting might improve. Tomorrow maybe I will get to test it, weather permitting.

Today looked as if it would be the last day of the week suitable for playing golf weather wise. I was about to load my cart and head up to Heywood golf course, about 25 km inland, when my son-in-law rang asking if I wanted to have a hit with him at the local course. This is code for my two year old grandson is driving him crazy and he wants to get out of the house.

If you have ever tried to entertain a 2 year old and play golf at the same time you would understand why our scores on the first few holes were crap. It was blowing from the north about 30-40 kph in gusts, which I found was about a 2-3 club breeze. The little fella is still teething and was a bit miserable, plus he is not fond of the wind. I closed the side and rear blinds on the cart, which seemed to placate him for a while. He has his own ball and plastic golf stick that he hits near the tee box.

I started with a double on hole one, then a triple on hole two, 3 putting both times. Normally I would have been disappointed/ peeved with that, but I was trying using the Arc Master putter rolling the ball off the verges rather than chipping with my 8i, as has been my usual practice. I hit it a bit long on hole one and wrong path on hole two, which left me > 3m putts for the second putt. Anyway using the arm lock method the AM putter has given me confidence again on the green.

I had adjusted my F9 Cobra 5W to 18.5 degrees for a higher trajectory shot, and I am not doing the low draw shot as much now. I need to stop aiming quite so far right now with both the 5 and 7 W clubs. My tee shots were staying out right with the 5W. The only time I used the 7W was on the 160 m par 3 11th hole . I faded that one to hold it on the cross breeze. It worked!

I think I have found the solution to my club ” issues” in the 19-29 degree lofts. I was not getting consistent carry distances/ overlaps. I tried replacing my SL Milford golf 6 iron ( 29 degree) with a Tour Edge E721 hybrid-iron. That worked; a good shot will give me in the high 130 m range and a average shot 130m. It was too close to my 7 iron distance before. I was using SL Cobra hybrids 19 degree/ 160 m shot ., 22 degree/ 150 m shot /, 25 degree /140 m shots. They worked pretty well, if I struck them well. All to often they would bunch up during a game giving me similar distances. That is why I decided to add a 7W for the 160 m shot. I have found the 19 F9 hybrid to be very versatile ( great off poor lies, punch shots, shaping the ball, bump and runs on poor terrain) so I was reluctant to leave it out of the bag. On windy days the 19 Hybrid is great for into the wind low shots off the tee. Today I ” borrowed” a Cleveland HB Launcher hybrid-iron 24 degree ( #5) and left both the SL F8 hybrids out of the bag. Today showed me that this is possibly the best of both worlds solution. if you have never tried these Hybrid -irons you should, especially as a long iron replacement. Ugly as, but they are so easy to hit well.

I hit an 88 OTS, 2 birdies, 3 pars, a bunch of bogeys, starting and finishing with double bogeys and one triple on hole 2.

Two Steps
1) Putter confidence is restored
2) The 7W ( 22.5) , short 19 Hybrid, 24 HB Launcher ( will my wife notice it’s gone?) was giving me versatility in 140-160 m approach shots. Seeing that I am not that long off the tee, I get these length shots a lot.

One Step back
1) Tee shots into the wind today were not that good. I settled on trying a low flat straight/ fade-ish shot with Driver.

Wind ++++ from the South East; so cool conditions that gradually warmed as the sun came through breaks in the cloud cover.

I didn’t start all that well and my putting was poor again. Not so much the short 4 footers, but the direction and speed of my lag putts let me down. I was trying to chip closer to the hole, which on occasion was good, but in general today I was happy getting it on the green. Tee shots were not bad, but I lost a few out right of my intended start line and the wind did the rest. I even topped a few fairway wood shots, something I rarely do.

Two steps forward
1) I hit a few really good 7 approach shots.
2) The Single Length 3H proved its worth today in the wind. It is a very versatile club. I hit a few Cleveland HB Launcher 5 iron- hybrid shots that flew very well. It confirms my decision to add the 7W and single hybrid at 24 degrees to my bag , and deleting the 4&5 SL hybrids.
One Step
Speed control and direction on long putts needs something to be changed. I was either short of wayward.

Tomorrow I play Heywood with my son in law and possibly the two year old.

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Weetbix

Is the practice area supposed to be shut, or not? It usually only fits 4 people maximum, but mostly you get to use it solo. Anyway I used it late this afternoon with my fairway woods ( 5&7) to work on my topping issue. To start with I sprayed a couple out right, then topped one. I set up slightly open foot line, shoulder line at the target and kept my weight on the front foot and swung well within my limits. I got nice tight draws that went 160 +/- 5m with the 7 W and 170 +/- 5 m with the 5W. Stay balanced and stop trying to smash the shit out of it! Let the club do the work.

Then I went over to the putting area to work on “seeing the line” of the putt. The idea is to work out the slope ( however you do that) , stand behind the ball looking at your desired line, place the line on the ball to follow your start line. Then approach the ball from the say 7-30 position for R handers, and adjust your head position until your sight agrees with line on the ball ( it looks right) , then place putter face square and position your feet to make sure your head does not move. Then let it rip. It seems to work.

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Weetbix, Can break 80

Actually I thought it was a mob, whatever, he was impressed seeing them laze around and then hop off as we approached.

I had my first AZ shot yesterday , so I had no intention of playing today. I did go to the range to help Adriano. He wanted to try my single length irons and hybrids. If he can ever control his swing plane and close the club face he will be hitting some great shots. I measured his Driver swing at 103 mph. He is 20 years my junior, so I calculate I have lost 1/2 mph per year minimum!

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Weetbix

Mumbannar Masters 9 hole social comp this morning. I played with Adriano , John and Naomi. Cool conditions, heavy air,overcast and wet under foot. No roll at all today.

I pulled my tee shot into the left side trees, trying to cut the dog leg corner. Too greedy, too early! I had to chip out sideways. I hit the 6 hybrid pretty well and in the right position for the ball to roll onto the green. Except there was no roll, so I had under clubbed. Double bogey to start. Not so good!

I hit a pretty accurate fade off the tee on the second hole. Using the Melaska under hand fade movement I am getting confident that I can aim left and know it will not turn over. I didn’t quite hit the 5W approach shot solidly, but the low penetrating flight was just wide of the green. My 9 i chip was good and close, but the putt just missed. Bogey.

Hole three was text book par 5 , Reasonable tee shot in play, good 7 W ( 178 m) , and 9 i 2m above the hole. I almost got eh birdie putt. A par is good!

Hole 4 wasn’t test book. I hit the 5W tee shot a tad too far left. My draw around the left side trees clipped a twig and dropped. I tried a bump and run down hill to the green, but once it hit the grass it stopped. I should have flown it! I hit my 60 degree well onto the green and narrowly missed the first putt, Double Bogey.

Hole 5 I hit a better tee shot and a good 9 i chip shot and one putted for par.

Hole 6 another good fade to position. Then a 6H faded onto the green and one putt for a Birdie.

Hole 7 started well. Tee shot in play, a well hit 160 m 19 Hybrid shot, but there it ended. I had a ball below feet 7 iron that I tried to be too cute and aimed at the flag hoping for a draw away from the bunker. The ball faded a bit and went through the trees and ended up in long wet grass , with the bunker between my ball and the flag. I hit a firm 60 degree making sure that I would not go in the bunker, but with the wet grass I got a flyer. I ended up on the other side of the green with a difficult down hill chip, with the bunker waiting for a thin chip. I hit a PW chip with too much finesse and it stopped just short of the green. I had a long down hill left to right putt and I didn’t allow enough for the slope. 3 putts later, I had a fat lady blow out hole.

I made par on 8 after a nice 6H shot over the flag and a long downhill putt, that stopped slighlty up hill and 1 metre out. I had allowed for more slope than was there or the wet green had slowed the ball a bit more than I expected.

Hole 9 I hit another good fade off the tee and put a 7 i approach shot on the green. 2 putts for a par, almost another birdie ! It rolled up to the edge of the hole and teetered on the brink.

OTS 43 ( better) 1 birdie, 4 pars, 2 bogeys and 2 double, one triple. According to Arccos I played to handicap with approach shots, short game and putting. Still too short on the tee shots, possibly because I was fading the ball on purpose and no roll at all.

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Can break 80

I forgot my two/ one steps.spiel.

Two Steps forward
1) putting confidence is much higher, though I did miss a sitter birdie putt on the third. In general line and length have improved.
2) approach shots from inside 140 m were good

One step
1) On the three holes i mucked up today I was too aggressive for my skill level. Normally on hole #1 I aim to get to the corner. This time I went for a draw around the corner and mishit it ( hook) that cost me two shots. Then on hole 4 my tee shot went slightly too far left, making it essential to bend the next shot around the left side trees ( 3 trees) . Instead of aiming safely right of the trees, accepting that I would land right of the green then chip on, I tried for a hero shot and clipped some twiggy branches on tree 2.. That cost me two shots. On hole 7 I aimed at the pin expecting a draw, but the sloped lie resulted in a fade and subsequent pitch shot/ chips to get on the green. I should have aimed left and got it on the green and putted 10 m at the hole. Cost about three shots.
2) Wisdom in hind sight with the wet grass/ no roll conditions I should had clubbed up for the . approach shots on hole 1 and 4 rather than hoping to roll onto the green. Added two shots to the score.

Live and learn!

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Weetbix