[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

[PapsEdisa]

Nice recap of your round. With the exception of the one hole, it sounds like your putting is tremendously good. Keep up the good work!

~Rock

[Gometesstem]

Sometimes being able to find your ball is the best way to score well. Well done! The putting will come with time but it sounds like you did well putting most holes.

[BILBONDER]

Not sure I have time to read it all but it is good to know what you are doing out there and go over it after a round.

[ELURNSERB]

Just a thought... you seem to chip everything around the greens with a lob wedge. Not saying that can't work, but may want to try chipping with a gap or pitching wedge. May work better for you. Again, not saying it will - but it might.

[Unakjyfk]

Just a thought... you seem to chip everything around the greens with a lob wedge. Not saying that can't work, but may want to try chipping with a gap or pitching wedge. May work better for you. Again, not saying it will - but it might.

This is true. While I use a 60 degree a lot of the time, many pros will tell you to use a little more club. Supposedly there is less room for error. I'm in the process on working on using a 56 or 52 more often right now, and I can tell many times when I use those I have more control over the shot I'm playing.

[ELURNSERB]

This is true. While I use a 60 degree a lot of the time, many pros will tell you to use a little more club. Supposedly there is less room for error. I'm in the process on working on using a 56 or 52 more often right now, and I can tell many times when I use those I have more control over the shot I'm playing.

Yea, there are a few different schools of though... many people use all there irons ( 6 - LW ). I can do that, but I prefer to be really proficient using 3 clubs - GW, LW and actually, my 4 hybrid!

[Carfanate]

Just a thought... you seem to chip everything around the greens with a lob wedge. Not saying that can't work, but may want to try chipping with a gap or pitching wedge. May work better for you. Again, not saying it will - but it might.

Thanks for the thought. Yes, I did use my LW most often this round and primarily it was in order to become more familiar with the club and its reaction for me. I have not typically used this club, though it has always been in my bag. During a recent session with my pro, the need to do a short, high-up, and over a bunker shot came up and he suggested I use my LW, where I would have normally used my PW with a choked down grip. There are shots this past round where I normally would use another club, but chose the LW for practice.

One of my favorite clubs for short chips is my 8-iron hit with a putting stroke. This is a shot that has worked really well for me in the past.

Thanks for the support though. This forum and its members are amazingly helpful.

--Roger

[Numbiydq]

Putting looks good. Seems like when you miss off tee you can miss bad. Obviously if you just want to score, a 3 wood may be better until you develop more consistency with the driver.

[Carfanate]

Putting looks good. Seems like when you miss off tee you can miss bad. Obviously if you just want to score, a 3 wood may be better until you develop more consistency with the driver.

Very true. In fact, back when I played regularly, I never carried my driver. Now that I am getting back into golf, I've decided to put forth more time and practice with it to make it a viable tool my my bag. I expect some struggles with it for a while, but will continue to give a whirl for the time being. Thanks for the input.

[Jxmwzgpv]

I enjoyed reading that and would like to say that im puttin up very similar scores. Those long putts kill me also and are why im struggling to break 100. Its at the point where Im 10 times more comfortable with a 30 yd shot from the rough than a 30 foot putt on the green. Other than that reading your recap sounded like some of my rounds. Not that I really should be handing out advice but don't worry about the score so much. If your hitting good shots that is awesome in itself and makes the game a lot more fun.

[Carfanate]

I enjoyed reading that and would like to say that im puttin up very similar scores. Those long putts kill me also and are why im struggling to break 100. Its at the point where Im 10 times more comfortable with a 30 yd shot from the rough than a 30 foot putt on the green. Other than that reading your recap sounded like some of my rounds. Not that I really should be handing out advice but don't worry about the score so much. If your hitting good shots that is awesome in itself and makes the game a lot more fun.

Thanks Buck. A high score is easier to swallow when it includes many good shots. I know exactly what you mean about the 30 yard shot vs the 30 foot putt.