One distinction between my Playing Golf five years ago and my playing golf these past few months is practice. Five years ago, I lived at the range. Since then, not so much. While I would love to think that new equipment, more regular play, and positive thinking will shave the ten strokes I’ve added to my handicap in the past few years - I realize I need some time at the range. More importantly, I need time at a chipping and putting green.
I found both last night. Ten minutes from my house I was able to spend $15 and get a large bucket, time on an empty chipping area, and a bottle of water. A few hours later, I was back on track – I even flushed a final 5 iron into the dark sky.
I sought the range out because I had the beginnings of a swing thought. It started while playing last week and was further ingrained from a comment a club fitter gave me. Not that it would help anyone particularly, but it had to do with staying behind the ball through impact and feeling my hands reach through the hit and down. I needed to work it out. Halfway through the bucket it clicked. Then my irons did to. It was awesome. I used to describe the feeling I had as “the secret” because when a new thought starts to work and you get on a roll grooving irons, it can feel like you discovered how to play the game at last – uncovered the elusive secret. I know it doesn’t last, but the more times I can get a successful thought and work it out through 150 balls or so, the better I have grooved one successful element of a golf swing, right?
Anyway, sorry to bore both of you reading this, but I am getting excited about this great game again and felt like sharing.
