When your wife says, "I want you to go play golf!". . . Play golf!

Date: April 4, 2010
Tee Time: 11:15 am
Course: Breakfast Hill Golf Club
Location: Greenland, NH
Playing Partners: None - Playing as a Single

"Not your best," the starter said to me as I started walking down the fairway on the first tee after putting two balls into the left OB (Out Of Bounds).  That one statement more or less sums up my round.  However, I walk away still happy to have enjoyed a round of golf on Easter.  Spring has sprung as early as I can remember it springing in New England.  The grass is green and trees are already budding.  The golf courses are still a bit on the soggy side after 12+ inches of rain falling in the last four weeks, but play was only disrupted by this on a couple of holes.  The greens at Breakfast Hill were a bit bumpy, which is to be expected this early in the year.  All in all the course was in great condition for early April, a time in New England when courses are used to still being under a few inches of snow.

I was immediately surprised with how many people were playing golf on Easter.  I called to make sure the course was even open before leaving, and ended up needing to make a tee time in order to get out.  I am glad to see that golf courses are going to get this little spring boost, they must really need it after a few hard years.

I was joined with a couple of guys, father and son, getting in 18 before Easter dinner that night.  These two were a great joy to play with.  The Father, John had just moved to the Seacoast and was just getting familiar with the area, and his son Neal who had traveled up from Boston and his busy life as a Pharmaceutical Rep to Play golf with dad and have Easter dinner.  None of us played particularly well, but nobody got upset or frustrated, we were all out to just have a good time enjoying the unusually great weather for early April.  When one of us hit a nice shot there was some patting on the back but when there was shot the ended up 10 yards into the woods we were all just as content to shrug it off and move of without a word.

My swing I will say was not altogether bad.  The problem I faced throughout the round was a pull hook, causing most of my drives to go into the left woods and my approaches to par threes to go over the green.  My putting and chipping were surprisingly good for the first time out.  Normally at the start of the year I struggle with feel in and around the greens due to being away from the game for so many months but that was not the case.  I feel that a couple trips to the range will do me well and any flaws that I have in my swing will be easily fixed with some repetition.

My final thought for my first round of the year is this:
"Even in April one must wear sunscreen!"

Score:
Front Nine - 54
Back Nine  - 48
Total - 102 "Not My Best!"

Until the next round,

Cheers to all!

Good luck Golf Grammie

Tomorrow Golf Grammie goes under the knife to have her second knee replaced.  Let's all wish her luck that she will have a fast recovery getting her back out on the course again.  In the mean time spring has sprung early here in New Hampshire.  Time to clean the dust off the clubs and get back out there.  To anyone anyone I may join up with this year, "If you have a good story and I hear it on the course, don't be surprised when it ends up on here."


Cheers to all!

Golf Grammie on Golf Attire

A Final Thought before I head out the door.

Pay Attention to Your Looks! How you dress is very important - in this world of wash and wear - pants and shirts look better if you take the time to press them a little.  Both Golf Shoes and Street Shoes should be polished.  Plan ahead, you could be joining your new found friends at the 19th hole.  Always look your best, you may find that if you dress better you will feel better about yourself and in turn play better golf.

        Yes                                                                                                                          No

Golf Grammie

Go Tiger!

Golf Gammie on Playing with other People

Something to think about as golf gets underway here in the Northeast.

Are you the kind of person people like to play with?  

Take a minute to think of all the reasons you like playing with a certain person.  What qualities do you like about them on the golf course?  Do you practice these some Qualities?

Recently on the Golf Channel Brad Faxon was commenting that the tour pros like to play with Padrig Harrington.  He is always smiling whether he is having a good or bad round.  Brad went on talking about Padrigs's attitude, his walk, finally he said, "He Comforts you".  Wouldn't you like to feel comfortable with everyone you play with?  Think about it.

My best advice to you when playing with someone you have just met (This also would apply to your regular foursome), Keep You Mouth Shut.  They don't always want you advice, especially if you are not qualified to give advice.  If you were playing at the state level you would find yourself penalized.

According to the Rules of Golf - Rule 8-1
During a Stipulated Round a Player Must Not:
(a) give advice to anyone in the competition, playing on the course other than his partner, or
(b) ask for advice from anyone other than his partner or either of their caddies.
Penalty for breach of Rule: Match Play - Loss of hole    Stroke Play - Two Strokes 


Anyone, whether you are a beginner or a seasoned golfer could benefit from reading "Golf For Dummies" by Gary McCord.

Here is a Small Caption from "Golf For Dummies" under Who to play with.

When you are not the Worst


There is of course, the other side of the coin.  How do you behave when another member of your group con't get the ball above shin height?  Here are some pointers:


       Say Nothing.  Whatever you do, do not attempt to be encouraging as your pal's game slips further into the mire.  After a while, you'll run out of things to say.  And you Pal will be annoyed with you.  And never give advice or swing tips to anyone.  You'll be blamed for the next bad shot.


       Talk about other Stuff. The last thing you should talk about is your Pal's awful game.  Find some common interest and chat about that.  Anything to get the subject off that 20 yard dribbler your pal just hit.

As I said before just Keep your Mouth Shut.

Golf Grammie

Go Tiger!

Golf Grammie on Tiger

As a golf fan I have to have my say about Tiger.  We all now know when he is coming back.  He has been and always will be my hero.  My mind plays golf it seems like 24/7 and just being being out of the game for just a few weeks with knee replacement is more than I like to think about.  So, for Tiger to take himself out of the game for these last few months shows a lot of Character most of us would not have.  I applaud him for that and I hope that he and his family will be together for a lifetime.

Golf Grammie

Go Tiger!

Another use for those golf balls sitting round the house!

The First Par

I remember clearly the first time I achieved a par on a hole.  I was twelve, playing with Golf Grammie at Mingo Springs in Rangeley, Maine.  It was the 16th hole I think, a par four.  I managed to get to the green in three leaving myself a five-or-six footer for the par.  As I was getting ready to putt, a friend of the family came flying over in a golf cart to say hi to Golf Grammie.  He was playing in a scramble, which at the time I thought was just playing golf as fast as you could in a golf cart.  They chit-chatted just off the green as I stood there, agonizing over the putt that I very badly wanted to make.  I decided to just go for it and not wait for the man to go away.  Once the others saw that I was getting ready to make the putt, they became silent and began to watch.  I remember Golf Grammie whispering to the man that this putt would be for my first par.  I was shaking over the ball, made worse by the fact that I had an audience.  The putt itself was not easy, up-hill with a big bend to the left.  I took a couple big deep breaths and put a solid stroke to the ball.  Up the hill it slowly crept, curving just as I had pictured in my head.  As if in slow motion it fell into the hole with a gratifying clickty-click.  I let out the breath I had been holding, giving my first great fist-pump of triumph.  Golf Grammie and her friend gave me nice "golf clap" applause.  

No par since has been so gratifying.

Cheers to all!