I finished my round at Juliette Falls in Dunnellon, Florida (a beautiful course with tremendous attention to detail throughout the property), carding a 94 with an “Adjusted Gross Score” of 92. My score was impacted by a triple bogey on the par 3, 181 yard, 3rd hole and my stellar effort on the par 4, 358 yard, 10th hole, almost killing a course-worker on his lunch break (fishing in the lateral water hazard on the left side), then, after making a few critical adjustments, pushing my third shot into the lateral water hazard on the right side (yada, yada, yada…nine). This 12.7 handicapper (trending to 14.2) walked off the eighteenth hole with a bit of a bounce in his step, thinking, hey, my game is really coming around!
As documented in countless posts, most recently “Half-Cocked”, I have had a lifelong struggle with my swing path, taking the club way inside, way too soon, requiring a casting effect in an attempt to finally, and miraculously, get to the ball.
Note: Somewhere in the late 90’s, Gene Newcomer, a fellow Conestoga Country Club member and a really nice player, took a few moments on the range to critique my swing, commenting, “You must have been a pretty good athlete in your day to be able to get to the ball from where you start”, then mumbling something about Saint Jude. I had absolutely no idea; I just went out and tried to make contact with the ball, have a few beers and have a few laughs.
As the years passed, I became more familiar with my issues, and consciously choosing not to address said issues. In addition, I became increasingly uncomfortable with bright sunny days, especially when the sun was directly to my back, casting a shadow, visually displaying my flawed swing in front of my ball as I attempted to pull the trigger. Frightful!
So, how can I allow myself this level of optimism?
- Due to the recent assistance from three remarkable friends who know what they are talking about (Francis, John and Mark), I have learned more about the golf swing in the past year and a half than I had accumulated in the previous 50 years, not to mention, I have the time to attempt to address my demons.
- In many ways I am starting over with renewed enthusiasm. The process is often painful and occasionally exhilarating, a few high’s, many more lows.
- I am attempting to rewire fifty years of bad habits, knowing in my heart of hearts that my “Golfing Board of Directors” are absolutely dead spot on.
- I am completely committed to the process and enthusiastically embrace my successes (i.e. a 94 at Juliette Falls).
I will keep you posted on my progress. I am not expecting miracles however I would like to get to a point where I can actually enjoy competing with friends in member-guests and not finish at the bottom of the heap. I am not talking about the bottom of the flight heap; I am talking about the bottom of the field heap!
As I reflect of my golfing journey, I do have one regret. I wish I would have saved a few of my beer drinking shekels and invested a few of those shekels in golf lessons. Hard to imagine how many lessons I could have had through the years, it’s gotta be a really big number. If I had done so, I would not be in my current predicament at the age of 64. On the other hand, there may not have been a Bad Golf Guy! See you on the range!
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The back nine can only get better!
Your hindsight concerning the lack of progress is Spot On. Alister Mackenzie golf architect of Augusta fame said it best ” The cost of the best advice is infinitesimal in comparison to the amount of money frequently wasted without it.”