It’s Windy Out There!

So this will be the first of my weekly roundups, where I’ll talk about anything I did during the week, from rounds to training.

This week the focus for me wasn’t necessarily all about golf, as I recently setup my instagram page, so needed to get some content for that.

I did manage to get a couple of range sessions in and a round at Kingsnorth GC.

For those thinking of starting a golf instagram page - it is NOT easy. I’m still finding out about the right sort of cadences for the various types of post, but it’s safe to say that it is going to be a big challenge to keep up with the sort of content that is out there already.

My week started with putting out some content from a round I played at Lydd just before my last blog post was written. The level of engagement was fine, but images from the course definitely seemed to resonate more than the reel I put out.

I then went to the range to try filming myself for the first time. For work, I am completely comfortable standing in front of a crowd and delivering a speech, whether scripted or not. Put me in front of a camera though and I do not feel comfortable. So this is a little alien to me, but it feels like a good way to learn and develop my swing, as well as sharing that with others.

As I’ve said on this blog before, my aim for 54 to Scratch is to build a community that is inclusive. Golf is too often the complete opposite, with people mocking others they don’t know for poor shots and swings. The swing is something that is unique to you and although there is some merit to analysing and improving, there is also an argument to accept and “own your swing” as the great Arnold Palmer has said.

So videoing myself and putting it out there for all to see is as much to push me to do this as it is to fulfil any sort of potential underlying need to feed the narcissist in me…

Anyway, my range session focused on alignment and swinging with my arms rather than my hips, something that Tom has been drilling into me.

After some swings without the ball focusing on the final stage of my swing, I worked my way through my bag in increments and filmed the results.

I then put out a reel, which had a ton of views which was surprising to say the least!

So, based on the success of this - I thought it a good idea to film my round on Sunday. I was playing at my home course with my step-dad and brother in law. I apologise to both of them for the extra time it took for me to play while also filming…

I really hope it gets more comfortable. I felt tense in front of the camera but got a 5 on the opening par 4, so not a bad start. Unfortunately, on the next hole, it became just a little bit windy… The camera blew over on the tee and after re-setting the camera I failed to reset myself, proceeding to slice my hybrid into the evil rough on the right hand side. I then took a couple to get out of there, but the second attempt got me into a good spot with a chance of hitting the green to recover.

This is where I experienced what it’s like to have spectators as people playing the 9th started to stop and gather to watch me take my shot. Just because I was filming myself. I hit a good shot, but slightly right and ended up in the rough. A couple more shots and a 3 putt meant I finished with a 9.

I then sliced my next tee shot and did the same with the chips, duffing my first before 1 putting from about 7 feet to recover a bogey.

A 6 followed due to a lost ball and ANOTHER duffed chip - the sodden ground is really affecting my chipping game…

I then managed to redeem myself with a GIR and Par on the next par 3. Having left myself with a long putt for birdie, I was chuffed with this.

On the next hole, I played the hole near perfectly for my first 2 shots. However, another duffed chip meant me finishing with a 6. I then got 2 bogies and finished the round with a 7 on the par 5 9th.

Having had the camera blow over at least 6 times, I didn’t play too bad, finishing with a 49. I decided to put the camera away to focus on the back 9 and proceeded to get a par to start. The tee position meant that the green is drivable, which I tried, coming up just short but leaving me with a simple chip to get close for a birdie. Unfortunately, this was also duffed, leaving me with a 10 foot putt for birdie, which I missed.

3 double bogies in a row threatened to derail what was going to be an ok round, before another par on the 14th. I hit my tee shot to within 6 feet of the pin, but left the birdie putt about an inch short.

I then got a birdie on the 15th hole. This par 4 is a tricky one for a slicer, with trees on the right that cut into the fairway, making it narrow in the middle. My first shot left me behind these trees, but I smashed my hybrid over the trees and about 20 yards from the pin, on the fairway still. I opted to bump and run with my 8 iron, and managed to chip it in with the ball breaking left and right before hitting the flag and going in the hole.

A double, single and triple bogie followed but rounded out the week with a 94, which after corrections by the WHS app became a 92. This was my best score for quite some time (in fact, since the 6th November).

Having said that, my last few rounds, I’ve been feeling the most comfortable over the ball for a while, so I’m getting quite confident that once the conditions improve, my handicap will come down, even with playing a harder course more regularly once we get to April.

Thanks as always for taking the time to read, please subscribe and feel free to follow my instagram too for shots of courses I play.

Gear Check

Driver - Callaway Rogue ST

Irons - Taylormade Stealth

Wedges - Taylormade Hi-Toe 52, 56, 60

Putter - Scotty Cameron Squareback

Shoes - Adidas Tour 360 22

WHS Scores

So this will be the first of my weekly roundups, where I’ll talk about anything I did during the week, from rounds to training.

Gear Check

Full Meltdown

2022 Review - 2023 Goals