Hittin balls

I finally got a chance to hit the range last week.  Finally.

It was ugly. 

I started off by hitting about 25 7-Irons at a flag that was about 160 yards out.  For me, thats just about the right distance in the cold 30 degree weather.  Also, there was about a steady 7-10 mph wind whipping hard from left to right.

I missed my target by about 75 yards to the right on the first swing.  It was a weak push-slice; my typical miss.  After a long lay off it was to be expected I guess, but it was still painful.  I knew what happened becuase its happened before- my body turns before my arms start back toward the target, I break my wrists and elbow, and I "spin out" of my shot.  Fortunately I have fixed this miss before. 

Twenty-four swings later and I was still broken.  I was emarrassed to say the least.

So I grabbed my pitching wedge and tried to hit a few knock downs to a flag 100 yards out.  Taking less club and taking half swings usually helps me to get my body and arms to sync up.  Still fanned them out to the right.

I tried everything.  Back to the target.  Head down.  Swing in a barrel.  Make my left leg a post. 

Nothing worked.  I could still feel my arms hanging up in the air as my body turned, my ball flight sucked, and it was not going in the right direction. 

So I took a break.  Walked over to the putting green, and rolled some balls with the flat stick.

I actually putt well.  Good speed, and good lines.  I kept the pendulum motion consistent and kept my arms moving at a steady pace.  And that set off a light bulb in my head-- it occured that the pendulum notion would be a good swing thought as I tried to keep my irons and woods from veering off course.

So back to the mats I went.  This time to focus on maintaining the triange between my shoulders and the top of the golf club. 

It worked like a charm. 

My ball flight came way down, distance went way up.  Most importantly though the ball started and ended on virtually the same line.  It was a miracle.

I hit about 100 more balls before deciding it was too cold and calling it quits. 

Unfortunately there wont be much of an occasion to put my newly renovated swing thoughts to the test on a course.  At least my confidence is back up and I know I havent totally lost my shit...

The Best Shots of 2010

A few years ago ESPN put together a list of the most memorable golf shots of all time.  Even though I wasnt alive, or even a golf fan for many of them, I've seen the footage enough times to recall them from memory.  

The highlights include :

-Gene Sarazen records a double-eagle at the 1935 Masters.

-Ben Hogan hits a 1-iron within six feet on the 18th at Merion in 1950.
-Arnold Palmer drives the green to 20 feet from the pin from 346 yards at the 1960 U.S. Open
-Jack Nicklaus' 1-iron on the 17th hole at Pebble in the 1972 U.S. Open hits the flag stick.
-Tom Watson's birdie chip at Pebble in the 1982 U.S. Open on the 17th hole.
-Constantino Rocca makes a 90-foot putt from off the green to force a playoff at the 1995 British Open.
-Justin Rose holes out from the rough on the 18th hole of the 1998 British Open as a rookie.
-Tiger Woods makes a chip shot on the 16th hole at the 2005 Masters to stay alive.

The nominees to join this elite and coveted list are:

1) Lefty's amazing shot from the trees at the Masters

2) Matt Kuchar's shot from the rough to win at the Barclays

3) Jonathan Byrd's Walkoff Ace at the Shriners Open

Honorable Mention:  Rickie Fowler had the weight of the country on his shoulders as he stood over the longest 15 footer of his carreer.  With the US about to mount another Ryder Cup comeback, Fowler rolled in this put to win the hole and halve the match.  Unfortunately, hardly anyone will remember this putt in a decade because after the putt fell, Fowler's teammates couldnt get the job done and the U.S. ended up losing the event...

You've got to be kidding me...

I am speechless. 

http://www.dogschasingcars.com/2010/12/man-played-600-rounds-of-golf-in-2010.html

I am not one who usually will turn down a round of golf, but this guy is insane.  600 rounds in one not-yet-finished year.  Almost 30 holes a day.

I've never understood the drive some people have to get in the Guinness Book of World Records.  I mean really, just think about all the ludicris things people do to get in this "elite" club. 

In case you were wondering, here are a few examples:

1. Most people applying facial masks: 828
2. Longest parade of motor-scooters: 528
3. Largest Santa Clause collection: 25,104 unique clauses
4. Fastest time to make, throw, and catch a boomerang: 1 min, 11 sec.
5. Fastest mile whilst hula-hooping: 11 min, 29 sec.

So as you can see Mr. Lewis will be joining an elite group of men and women.  And thankfully his record will be immortalized in the most immoralizing book of all-time.  Three cheers for you good sir.  Three cheers.

Winter Sucks

It is twenty eight degrees today with a twenty two mile per hour wind.   There is an inch and a half of snow on the ground, and the meteorologist says its not going anywhere any time soon.

Winter sucks. 

It's been 43 days since I last teed off.  November 11th, Veteran's Day, at Andrews Air Force Base.  I still remember it like it was yesterday.  (cue cheesy effects)

It was a blustery November afternoon when we stepped up on the tee at the West Course..I think.   My first drive went straight down the middle.  Or maybe I hooked it a little, but I think it was still a good shot.   Then my approach shot from 155 came up short.  Or wait, no, it was 115 and it came up short.  Or did I hit the trap?  Then I duffed my next shot... but I somehow had a putt for par? 

Oh Christ I have no idea.  I dont remember it like it was yesterday because it wasn't yesterday.  It was forty-frickin-three days ago. 

I dont know what it is but I am just wimpier than I was last year.  Last year I played in the cold.  In the snow.  And even in sleet once.  Am I just getting old?  Or maybe its work?  I have been working a ton, but that's never stopped me before...

Anyway it's time for all this nonsense to end.  I am home alone for the next few days and I am going to take advantage of it.  This morning before I got out of the car I made sure to put my golf spike in the passenger seat to remind me to get my ass to the range.  Its cold, but its really not that bad.  So this afternoon I'll go, hit a few balls just to keep the tempo together and remember why I'm so addicted to this crack. 

And were back.

So I got sick.  Then busy.  Then bored. 

And in my boredom I flipped on my TV to catch the end of the Chevron tournament last week in LA.  Tiger seemed to be back in form, which was nice to see, and that pesky Irishman Graeme (I spell my name like a third grader) McDowell was still in the lead.  And it tickled a little.

Then today I got an email from a friend asking about starting up the fantasy golf league again.  And he asked me to help him with his fantasy golf draft for another league.  And it tickled even more.

By the time I started setting up the league, and sending out the invites, the tickle was overwhelming.  I couldn't ignore it any more.  And I knew there was only one thing that I could do to make it stop.

So I'm back.

The weather's colder, the golf is less frequent, and I don't have that youthful enthusiasm I did a few months ago.  But it turns out the Grizzly is still in me.