If you ever have a chance to play the executive course at Tashua Knolls (it's called Tashua Glen), be sure to find this "secret tee" box! Watch this episode to learn more...
Ahhh, another day, another round of golf. Today's round featured myself and Coach Dave at Tashua Knolls and ended with us shooting 5 brand new Golf is Hard TV episodes which I'll be editing and posting soon!
I played well today - putted extremely well on the back 9 and actually felt like I had some nice touch on several chip shots. I still am miserable in hitting fairways, but today was better as I'm getting used to my new Nike Str8-fit driver.
This week's stats so far:
2 days
27 holes played
36 shots over par
0 birdies
5 new Golf is Hard TV episodes filmed
This week, I've decided that I need to play golf every day, starting today Monday July 13th. We'll be shooting some new shows tomorrow the 14th, but today I played 9 with my 2 daughters on the terrific executive course here in Trumbull known as "Tashua Glen."
I played well for the first 4 holes, making bogey on all of them. I hit some terrific gap wedge shots and putted well. Unfortunately, the last 4 holes fell apart when I doubled #5 after missing an extremely easy putt for bogey. I sliced a ball into the woods on #6 and doubled it as well, again missing a short putt for bogey after a pin seeker that stopped about 8 feet past the hole.
While I'm really enjoying my new "Heavy Putter," it's taking some time to get used to it. I three putted the last 5 holes, coming up short on long putts every time. The weight of the putter is a tad distracting, but the more I use it, the more I like how it feels in my hands.
Tomorrow, Coach Dave and I are playing 18, but I've got no firm plans after that until Saturday... either way though, the goal is to play some golf every day this week!
This week's stats so far:
1 day
9 holes played
+13 over par
It started so well.
I made par on my first hole of the season!
It didn't go quite that well the rest of the round, but even so, my first round of the year was a lot of fun. It was terrific to get back out on the course and felt great to just be out there. I'll post some video from the round once I get a chance to edit it. There are a few choice words I have to remove!
I'm sure Dave will comment about his own round, but for me, it was extremely encouraging to hit the ball as well as I did today. I'm really excited about playing this year and am hopeful that my scores will go down dramatically through the year.
My driver was good, if inconsistent. I hit it straight except for one hole where I really, really sliced it hard right. Other than that, the fairway wood felt great as did my hybrids. I'm going to have to really focus some energy on making putts though. I was well on my way to 40 putts if I had played all 18 holes. I only played 13 holes today because I had to coach my daughter's softball team this afternoon.
Stay tuned for more Golf is Hard TV shows this week, we've got some golf goodness coming up including shows giving you a personal tours of the different golf social networks including Stracka, OOBGolf and The Golf Space.
We are crazy about our home course here in Trumbull, CT - Tashua Knolls. "TK" is public (it's a GREAT VALUE for residents) and is a 27-hole facility that features an original par 72 golf course and a terrific 9 hole, kid friendly course. Bobby Brown is the GM and runs a fantastic program. Coach Dave spends a few minutes with Bobby catching up on old times and talks about the golf course, getting it ready for the season and youth golf. Learn more, and play Tashua Knolls this year!
Finally, some pics from the tourney I played in with my 9 year old... we shot a 38, +5 on an executive course and had an absolutely amazing time.
I used Live maps to try to see where I might improve my course management on my home course. It's interesting to take a bird's eye view and see where I might be able to attack different holes in new ways.
On this map, I plotted our a 200 drive from each hole to the center of the fairway and 100 yards out from the center of the green (my favorite spot to play from).
Check it out and map your own attack!
The weather was perfect.
The work week was over.
I had to play some golf.
When I entered my score, the handicap computer told me that the score was much lower than normal and was I sure I wanted to submit it... uhh... yea I want to submit it!
I played out of my mind. I have never, ever felt the way I felt on golf course as I did today. I wish to god I played with one of my friends (so they'd believe me) and played a full 18. But that said, the +5 (41) I shot on the back 9 at Tashua Knolls is a round I'll remember for a long, long time.
I made par back to back TWICE!
I sunk a 20 foot putt for par!
I chipped up with a lob wedge twice to within 10 feet!
I channeled my inner Tiger Woods (hmm, maybe not - when was the last time Tiger shot +5 on 9 holes?). Back to regularly scheduled suckfests soon, don't worry.
Seriously though, here's what I think I did differently. I slowed everything down by 20 or 30% and took an extra club. I tried to keep my swing smooth and to stay "long" in my back. I've been feeling like I have been dipping down to hit the ball (lots of chunks) - staying long in my back worked for me today.
TASHUA KNOLLS WILL OPEN ON GOOD FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2008.
Sweet!!!
Played my last round of the year (most likely) a week ago. After an hour frost delay, the greens were extremely tough. Some were frozen, and some were muddy. It was odd. My putting was horrible, and I missed 4 par chances, which is 3 more par chances than I ususally miss on any given day.
After starting horribly, I settled in and ended up with a 100 on the nose (give or take a mulligan). I was disappointed at first, then realized that I'm averaging a 98 in my last two rounds. This year was a total success on the golf course.
Interestingly, I didn't pull my driver out of my bag once in either of those rounds. I managed to tee-off with my 3 hybrid which I hit about 200 yards. I think next year that I'll try to figure out my driver and will most certainly have to work on length.
That said, course management is finally something I need to consider, especially mid-iron range shots. Once I started hitting the ball somewhat consistently earlier this year, I started to realize that I need to be more strategic playing my 2nd and 3rd shots. I'm pretty good from about 40-60 yards with my gap wedge, and very good from about 120-130 with my 8 iron.
I think I'll try to play to those spots next year and see if I can lose a few more strokes. I'd love to shoot under 95 next year, maybe even get close to 90 (I'm a dreamer).
Just for the hell of it, and so I can remember, here's my club list with estimated distances.
GW 70 yards
PW 100 yards
9I 110 yards
8I 120 yards
7I 130-140 yards
6I 150 yards
5I 160 yards
3I 180-190 yards
4Hy 160-180 yards
3Hy 180-190 yards
Driver 200-220 yards (150 with a 40 yard slice)
In the meantime as the weather gets colder, I'm engrossed with Tiger Woods '08 on my Nintendo DS. If any of you play, leave a comment and we can become "friends" and play against each other online.
It's a cinderalla story - I shot a sweet 96 today, over coming 2 triples and a disaster hole by dropping in 4 pars and a stack 'o bogeys. The weather here in CT was unreal after a big storm passed by on Saturday. Sweetness!
Best round ever, doh!
I was out of my mind with golf goodness on Sunday. +12 on the front 9 at Tashua is a new record - and I had a solid chance of actually making my goal this year of breaking 100. Unfortunately, I had a softball game to coach and had to leave after the 11th hole after 2 more bogeys. I added it up as if I played all 18 assuming I played a little worse on the back 9 and came up with a 96... holy cow! 96 is good! Sweetness!
Figures I had to leave early (or maybe it was a good thing?).
Meanwhile, I had coffee with someone this morning who totally HOOOOOOKED me up with some golf books that I cannot wait to read...
Putting Out of Your Mind - Rotella
Golf is Not a Game of Perfect - Rotella
Golf is a Game of Confidence - Rotella
The Scorecard Always Lies - Lewis
What should I read first????
Wow! What a great round of golf with my daughter. We played in a scramble/best ball tourney together today. We had to use at least 2 of her drives and she had to play from the green tees, which I think are the women's tees.
Some notable action from today:
Hole 1, Par 4.
I totally mis-hit my drive and barely made it past the green tees. Julia hit a decent shot just off the fairway about 100 yards forward and we played her ball. We had a chance to get on the green in 3 but I chunked a wedge badly and we ended up with a triple bogey. It would get better, thank god.
Hole 3, Par 4.
Julia drove her ball into the woods and I hit a big time drive off the fairway, but up about 100 feet on a huge hill. Oops. Thankfully, I found the ball and made an amazing recovery, hitting a 7 iron about 140 yards to just off the green. We made bogey after Julia just barely missed her par putt.
Hole 5, Par 3.
I hit a too long 9 iron but Julia hit her longest drive ever - about 150 yards. Too bad it hit the cart path and bounced out of bounds. Bogey.
Hole 6, Par 4.
I hit a perfect drive, and Julia matched my effort within 15 yards. We played her ball and ended up with par after I hit a 7 iron on the green.
Hole 9, Par 5.
I hit a good drive with my 5 Hybrid. The guy we were playing with took his turn and when he hit the ball, the club head flew off his club. We were all shocked - it was funny as hell, but we managed not to laugh too hard. Then, his kid (a 6th grade boy) drove out about 140 yards. Julia stepped up and in a pure moment of girl power nailed her drive about 15 yards past his, just off the fairway. Unreal! I flubbed a short wedge and we made bogey.
We finished +10 with a 43 and had an amazing, terrific time.
I'm playing with my 9 year old daughter in an adult/youth tournament at Tashua Glen tomorrow! She's played twice on the course before, but has been getting much better at hitting the ball.
Given the fact that it's best ball, and my best ever on that course is +8, I'm not sure we have a shot. I can't wait to hang out with her though. How cool is this!
Shot 107 today. Lots of possible excuses: heat, humidity and more. Bottom line was I simply didn't drive well and lost tons of balls. It was very frustrating and I struggled to keep my zen on. I played the back nine first (54) and had a good run on the front, but 2 late disaster holes really killed me.
A guy we played with on the last hole took 4 shots just to get out of the sand trap. Whoo - he was so pissed! He tossed his club like 20 yards. If not for golf etiquette, it would have been funny. What can you do?
I have noticed though that with the lesson I took I am finally starting to drive the ball a lot further than ever before. On 2 different holes I really let it go - hitting one at least 250 if not further. With golf, there is always a silver lining!
I set a goal and I made it - though just barely. Played today and shot a an even 100 - which is supposed to feel great!
But not quite.
I want to go lower now (darn it!).
I chunked a 4 easy pitches and putted like garbage - I can do 95 - I know it :)
I played last Friday with a guy who used to be a golf pro - he gave me what amounted to on course lessons - and ended up changing my swing and my grip. Needless to say, I played lousy, shooting 110. On Sunday, I took the girls back out and shot a horrible 46 on the par 33 Glen course - struggling with grip, swing and swing speed.
That said, I realize that I'm on to something because when I hit it, I hit it a lot further than before, and a heck of a lot straighter. Perhaps a tiny light at the end of the tunnel? Doubtful, but we'll see.
I add a 52 degree wedge to the bag as well, and played the hell out of it. Problem is, I don't have sense of distance with the thing - I need to hit the range with it.
My first lesson is coming up Friday - I have very high hopes which are most likely totally irrational.
Both my girls have been doing a Girl Scout golf program for a few months and we decided that it was time to hit the links.
For me, seeing them on a golf course was pretty incredible - they seem to get it immediately; from teeing off, to chipping and putting. We played Tashua Glen, which incredibly includes markers at 150 yards for kids. We spotted them after driving off the women's tees and realized that without those markers, playing 9 holes would take forever. Instead, the course immediately became manageable and fun for the kids.
My 9 year old (between eating snacks and yelling at me for trying to help her swing) parred the 4th hole. She was so excited it was incredible. She sank a 15 footer for par and when she realized it, she was jumping up and down.
Teaching green etiquette was equally interesting, the kids kept stepping on everyone else's lines - not a big deal given how lousy the greens were (so slow, so bumpy).
All in all, an amazing experience for all of us!
As for me, I was +1 after 3 holes before it all fell apart. I literally cannot drive the ball. I shot 42 (+9) with 2 birdies.
Most importantly however, both kids want to go again as soon as possible!
Played my first round of the 2007 golf season in chilly weather this morning at Tashua Knolls. We had a delayed 7:30 AM start time and finally tee'd it up at 9:30 as a shotgun start. Teeing off on 18 to start the round was odd, but gave us a short walk. I started the season with a decent drive, but tripled the hole for an 8.
I've mentioned how much I love my new hybrid before, and the club continues to perform as I hit it from just about anywhere on the golf course. I had 3 solid pars on the day and shot a 102 - not terrible. I would have saved a few strokes but continue to slice most every drive. I also need to shake the rust off, as I chunked at least 4 shots that most certainly hurt my score.
It was a GREAT day though - I'm so glad golf is back!
Meanwhile, the Masters is terrific - I'm just now watching the end of the 3rd round and loving every second.
It was gorgeous out yesterday (12/17/06) so I hit the links one last time for the year... shot an unimpressive but very typical 44 on Tashua Glen. However, after shooting double bogeys on the first 5 holes, I par'd out the rest.
The hybrid I bought is really amazing - I blasted it almost 200 yards - it didn't even feel like a full swing.
I played with a chinese couple - the guy was hysterical running around yelling BIRDIE BIRDIE every time he had a chance for birdie. He even did this when he was in the rough 150 yards away from the hole. That guy ruled.
I resolve to play more golf on full-sized courses next year... and to break 100 consistently, even it it means more mulligans (just kidding).
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