[Carfanate]

Been reading THP for a while now, but don't post much. I'm getting back into golf this year after about an 8 year hiatus. I've been working with a coach for a month now and sent him this analysis of my round last night for his review. I thought I would share it here, more so to have something to look back on as I hopefully improve over the summer. Feel free to share your thoughts.

My instructor is Ian Ziska, the golf pro at Katke Golf Course on the campus of Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI. Ian is a great guy, a super instructor, and Katke is truly one of the best course values in our area. Top-notch all the way around.

Ian,

I thought I would share a break-down of last nights round on the front 9.

Hole 1 - Score 5 with 2 putts

First shot - Really nice solid drive that came to rest on the left side of the fairway. It felt nice to A) hit a solid drive for once and B) start the round off with a good shot and not a bad shot. Shot was a little over 200 yards and came to rest almost even with the left side bunker.

Second shot - chose to hit an easy 9-iron, as I was about 130 yards out, up-hill to the green. The ball was a little below my feet and I hit the shot a little left and ended up in the bunker on the left-side of the green. Solid 9-iron shot a little off-target to the left.

Third shot - sand wedge out of the bunker and left the ball 8 feet right of the pin. I felt really good about this recovery shot.

First putt - ball broke more left than I was planning and put me about 1.5 feet from the cup. Distance was good though

Second putt - In the cup - solid. Even though this was a bogey, I hit 3 solid shots to the green and felt really good.

Hole 2 - Score 6 with 2 putts

First shot - straight shot down the fairway, but did not get under the ball. Only about 110 yard shot, but very playable; though I couldn't go straight at the green due to trees.

Second shot - Had to put the ball right and couldn't shoot towards the green, so hit and easy 8 iron and put me up on top of the hill, in the fairway. Left me about 110 to the green.

Third shot - Hit a PW very clean, but to the right about 10 yards off the green. Nice clean shot though

Fourth shot - LW on the green, but short about 6 feet. Very clean wedge shot.

First putt - Good speed, but line was just a bit off. Rolled 1-2 inches outside of the cup and went less than a foot long

Second putt - in the cup. Double bogey is nothing to be proud of, but I agin hit several nice shots. The drive definitely affected the score on this hole.
Hole 3 - Score 6 with 1 putt

First shot - Definitely my best hit drive of the night, but pushed the ball left. Drive was in the 250-260 yard distance and ended up at the top of the approach hill in the cluster of trees. Left me with a very playable shot to the green about 120 yards out.

Second shot - hit a very clean PW that got more distance than I expected. Ball flighted almost over the pin and hit the back bunker. Fortunately for the hard pack bunk sand, the ball popped out and rest on the grass behind the bunker.

Third Shot - chose to hit LW and two things happened. 1) I second guessed how hard to hit for fear of flying the green, so I didn't put enough on the ball. 2) because the ball was sitting up in fluff, the LW put way to much loft on the ball and I got more height than distance. I ended up in the trap, right at the front lip.

Fourth Shot - Kept LW and played out of the sand. Ball hit the front lip of the trap and cut down on the distance I want and left me on the fringe. 2 more feet and the ball may have carried to the hole.

Fifth shot - putter from the fringe and I put the ball about 2 feet from the cup, to the right. Ball did not break like I thought

First putt - In the hole. The weak wedge shot behind the bunker screwed up what was really a nice hole for me.
Hole 4 - Score 4 with 2 putts (WE NEED SHORTER PAR 3s, LOL!!!)

First shot - Hit a 5-iron and left the ball about 5 yards shy of the green. Hit the tee shot well, but not great; though the ball path was right at the hole.

Second shot - LW on the green, but flighted the ball right and left myself with a 10 foot putt.

First putt - Good Line and Great distance. Rolled the ball about 6-inches outside the cup on the right and left myself with