Man it's been a while!

86
Had a great time finally get back out there, the weather and vacation has been a deterrent, can't believe I haven't played for almost a month. I was so excited and nervous to play it felt like a year since I'd hit. I hit well, some pars and birdies, was getting really exhausted after the front 9 but held it together pretty well on the back. It felt nice after the break, mentally clear and it showed in my putting which other than a couple that I gave away, was stellar and confident, just the way I like it. I started with almost a 25' putt to hold par on 1 and had a great time throughout, even dropping a couple birdies. Still wishing I could keep dropping my score by playing a lot, it has been torture feeling like I was just on the cusp of really breaking through into single-digit handicap territory, but oh well, life is a helluva lot better with decent income. Plus, I am realizing this is very much like disc golf in the sense that once you have the shots down, they stay and the game really only depends on the mental side of things. Might get a chance to go melt tomorrow for at least 9, but not going to push it as I have quickly lost the prime shape I had been in before moving into the cushy, air-conditioned desk job I find myself in. According to my boss I am a "glutton for punishment" for walking and carrying my bag in this heat as most people would have to be paid to do it. I say it's absolutely worth it and can't wait to get back out there!

The Crossings in Virginia

85
Visited Cheryl's dad and sister this weekend so I went and played the Crossings right by his house in Glen Allen. WOW. Just a beautiful, very, very well maintained course. The carts had real-time GPS tracking and specific pin locations on a huge 15" flat-screen hanging from the roof. Running water (not as many stations though as I would have liked in this heat) and their greens were just superb and fluffy. I played like ass the front nine, got my shit together and hit a 40 on the back nine. I was consistently over-playing the greens and finally realized they just were not going to break as much as I thought and finally starting sinking some long putts, most notably a 20' for birdie. Purely mental issues on the front, just very excited and nervous to play a new course. All in all, not a terrible showing and I wish I had that course in my backyard, but good old Wildwood is rated about the same, just much bumpier speedy greens. At least I now get to treat myself to playing the Crossings a couple times a year.

Keeping it up without practice

83
Not too bad, had a lot of one-putts (5) and then nothing but 2s except for a very nasty 4 (ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!?) on 17. In my mind, I played a 78 today despite a couple of ridiculous shots (my 1' push on 9 as I was walking off the hole, stupid, just stupid but it counts). So that's it, still playing very well, conistent, controlled golf. Have to get down though, almost there.

Standing in the Way of Control

So, had to get a real job, wasn't cutting it making 200 per week for the 6 night shifts I have been working at Mellow Mushroom so I broke down and got a day job again as a cad tech/land surveyor. It's work, same old same old. It has cut into my golf game significantly in days played, but so far my control is there even though I am only playing once, maybe twice, a week now. I shot a 40 on nine and an 84 as well last week which isn't as bad as I had feared and actual have made some breakthroughs as well, so going well, just not as much. I really wish I could do just this but we have just can't swing it getting by on so little. Our new apartment (FUCK YEAH) rocks, and is 1000 feet away from the course. Boo and Yeah. Anyway, my new job is 2 minutes away as well, so there ya go, can't really complain about that (still work though, damn! I still complained!). Going to miss feeling retired, it wasn't long enough and I want it back. I am also signed up and finally becoming a divemaster this summer which is something I've been wanting to do and can't afford to put it off any longer so hell yeah and honky tonks. Clound 9 baby, cloud 9.

Nice Day Outside

81
Met a nice guy from Twin Lakes Golf Course named Paul who was down in the area and going to Pinehurst for the weekend with his chapter of the American Singles Golf Association. Sounded pretty cool for the 45 and up group and they get to play a lot of courses with mixers and stuff once or twice a month. He has been attempting to play in all 50 states and was at 35 so far. I played well today, my best score from the blues. I had quite a few really close putts. REALLY CLOSE. Man when they drop the score is going to plummett. Maybe after telling myself to devote more time to putting per week I might begin to listen, because honestly, at this point, my inside-100-yard-game is really lagging. However, it makes sense that the driving came together, the irons and full-swing wedges have all but completely locked on. I'd say they're about 85-90% there, would be higher but I still have a couple flubs on tricky lies sometimes. So, therefore, the inside-100-yard-range is the next skill to fall into place. This will leave the entirely separate game of perfect green-reading and putting, which I am definitely scratching at, but not putting enough effort into. Ha ha. Isn't that some sort of something witty? I've just been informed it's a pun. That sounds good to me. Just counting the days til I'm back in the higher paying prison, uh, I mean job. I've come to peace with it, it was my decision and I am tired of being poor, so golf will consist of after work, probably around 12-18 holes, along with plenty of practice shots, followed by trying to get in 2 rounds per weekend, but 1 at the very least. It's going to be busy but worth it.

Game on!

78
Finally shot below an 80!!!!! I have been hitting some 39s and 38s but then losing control on the second 9 over the last couple weeks and it has been infuriating, but I finally hit below my first milestone. 39 on both front and back 9's. Also, without the blow-up 7 (AAAGGHH!!!!) on 11 and missing 2 or 3 putts that I really should have made, I am easily closing in on a 75 round. My driving control was completely there today as I hit the fairway or green on every single drive except one. Amazing what happens when I take just about 10% or so off my drive power, they all go straight and where I want them too! Putting is coming along, I was so pumped to have sunk my birdie on 18 because my second shot landed pin-high and I would have been very upset if I couldn't have made the short 5 footer I left myself. Everything is getting that much closer to my 70 goal. Could happen tomorrow, we'll see!

Oh yeah.

82

41 on front and back, with a few putts that should have dropped, along with fighting monday errant driving, so I feel pretty good. Such a perfect day. Well, almost to my first milestone, but for how I'm playing, it really can and will be a lot better, soon. Tomorrow. That's it, very happy to have finally started shooting better and I finally developed an actual putting grip. Didn't know until the nice guy who re-gripped my putter at Golfsmith mentioned that I wasn't supposed to use the interlock grip when putting. Who knew? Well, control was significantly better and easier, so nice, one more key element to the game. I guess mine is pretty classic like Tiger's or many others. Rain supposedly tomorrow so looks like I'll have the course to myself and might be able to play 2 complete rounds at once. I hope so, because man I love that.

Heartbreak Hole-Tell

Progress this week! BIG PROGRESS! On Thursday I hit my first ever 39 on the front 9 from the white tees! Only 4 strokes over par which was exciting, but I only played 9 so it wasn't THAT exciting since was always a chance the back 9 wouldn't go so well which brings me to Friday. It was hot and muggy and just an energy-sapping sort of day. I, however, started wonderfully and shot a 38 from the blue tees (only 3 over par) on the back 9 (hole 10 start on Fridays) to start which really made me realize just how much progress I've been making because theoretically if I were to replicate that on the second 9 I would have put together a 76, only 6 over par and well under my 80 goal all-the-while that much closer to my ultimate 70. Enter that energy-sapping weather I mentioned coupled with a complete lack of enough food to keep the gas tank full and you have a f-ing 50 on the next 9!  Certainly a disappointing 88 considering the start of the round, but lesson learned that as it gets hotter and hotter I am going to need to increase my food intake from only my typical hard-boiled egg in the morning, a sliced apple and 2 Toast Chee cracker packs because I was tapped after the front 9 and had a long way to go. Very upsetting because I really hoped it would be the day I dropped below 80, but no such luck yet. Next week I know it's going to happen to talk to you soon!

My favorite golf story ever

First off, it's been a little while and have been steadily improving and playing. I developed a draw last week that has made a significant difference in my ironplay. I now comfortably hit my 9 iron 150 yards, even my pitching wedge is approaching that distance. In addition, I am beginning to get control shaping shots, the most dramatic is my driver, which I can now put various draws and fades as needed per hole (not always necessarily consistent but the control of it is coming along very well). Monday I had a round where I was on the green/fringe in 2 shots on all but 4 holes, however, my putting let me down that day making me realize I'd been neglecting it, so I've am now trying to hit putts everyday as well as all my other clubs, guess I should have been doing it all along. Still haven't hit the 80 mark, but it's very, very close and I'll post that score soon.

On to my favorite golf story ever, which actually has to do with yours truly. The best shot I've ever made in my life  happened when I was a freshman in high school, playing with my friend, and I had about a 45'-50' putt, ridiculously long. He's standing there tending the flag and says with a chuckle, "If you make this putt I'll piss my pants." I took a quick glance, stepped up and let the ball roll. It was one of those shots that you just know is going in the entire way, and I started to smile bigger and bigger waiting for that lovely sound of the ball dropping. After it went in, he stood there with a confused look of disbelief and slowly shook his head as if maybe it didn't really happen and probably wondering why in the world he offered that as an option if I actually did make it. A second later he stared at me with a mixture of anger and determination while a long wet mark slowly soaked all the way down the front of his slacks. I couldn't stop laughing and we still had 9 more holes to play. This story still gives me a smile everytime I think of it.

Break until breakthrough

I am tired of writing about mediocre scores over and over, so, I am going to just keep focusing on my game and will post if anything funny or interesting happens, but for now, it's just time to play in order to achieve consistency. I've been having a ton of fun, enjoying the beautiful weather all the while improving. It's just slow right now as I dial in my second attempts while erasing pesky errant shots. I start working tomorrow at Mellow Mushroom in downtown Raleigh, should be really cool as it's arguably my favorite restaurant in Raleigh, and certainly the most recommended. My second favorite pizza to my own, it's going to be awesome.

Getting there

91
Felt good from the blue tees today, had better fairway accuracy and some good and bad putting. Still haven't been able to shake my massive divot making ability (Tony used "strip-mining" for one shot on 7, it was arguably the worst I have ever hit, just wanted to go hide in a bush in shame). Birdied the hardest hole on the course, so I know it's possible to do it on any here, just need to put the right shots together. Can't wait to have a round with more than one. Also had a couple pars, so not bad for today. Just wish I could take back a handful of shots and man it would really help the overall score! The consistency I crave is close, I can feel it. Back at it again tomorrow, slowly but surely, slowly but surely.

Just another scoreless Monday (da de da)

N/A
Man I love my new driver! I changed to a tour stiff shaft 9.5 degree Cleveland Hibore Monster from a regular shaft 10.5 of the same club. It has been very "whippy" for my swing speed and has plagued me with that damn slice. Finally! Was hitting straight, long bombs all day (best was a 320 yard missle!). Definitely have needed it this whole time, fairway accuracy is going to go up for sure. Shot allright overall, had some flubs and such, but met a cool guy named James so we had a nice relaxed round learning from missed shots, etc. I had 3 pars and birdied hole 18  with a solid 10' putt though (it's a pretty tough hole to par in case you're wondering). Well, looking forward to this week and am hoping I play well tomorrow. Also, I banked pretty good money tonight at work, in fact the best night I've had so far which is nice after such a negative slow week last week.

I could taste a 39 on front 9

88
Started on back 9 today, went pretty rough but towards the end I started to hit a little more controlled and not so hard, letting the swing and club work a bit and started putting some pars together for 17 & 18. Feeling confident and warmed up, I shot another 3 pars in a row. I shot 7 pars for the day, by far my best (only 11 more in a round and bingo!) and I am really happy because I shot a 40 on the front 9 and almost died on 9 because the ball literally defied gravity from my 7' par putt because half of it was hanging over the edge, was totally robbed. I wanted to get down by it and start yelling "Why don't you just go to your home? Are you too good for your home, ball? Answer ME!" at it like in Happy Gilmore. Oh well, the control is definitely there today, hope it carrys over to monday because I am shooting below an 80 next week if it does! Have a great weekend!

Not a cloud in the sky

N/A
What a beautiful day it was today! No clouds, very little wind and even the birds were chirping catchy little tunes. The sounds coming out of my mouth were not so nice or clean, hence the lack of score today. Why waste such a beautiful setting with keeping track of something as embarrassing as starting out 6 6 7? Well, I figured I could let a bad round ruin my day or not worry about it and keep trying to piece everything together and learn, a practice round if you will. After ditching the scorecard around 7 and taking some deep breaths, the back 9 went significantly better. I finally calmed down and tried to get the good mood back by eating a couple extra Toast Chees. Hit some pars and had at least one great shot each hole for the rest of the round, just need for those shots to attract more nice shots, get married, then have kids and I'll be set! For the day I'll say the driving did go pretty well overall. The irons were either great or terrible and the putting was the same. On the whole, the control of my game still feels like it's moving in the right direction, even if my score doesn't seem to be. I am definitely targeting the green much better from 100-200 yards out, so back at it tomorrow, hope I shoot better though because being tortured like today isn't so fun. Oh well, could always be worse... could have happened during the final round at the Masters on tv.

I am no longer white

92
Met up with a couple guys playing from the blue tees today and figured what the hell, might as well try them out. It actually went very well today despite my score being crap. I hit the ball solidly throughout the round, just putted very poorly. Had 3 birdie attempts become bogeys (AAAAAAUUUUGGGHHH!!) and not even long second putts, like a foot or so, just bad and rushing through. Was driving solid 300's which sometimes had a slight fade but mainly were straight bombs. Good to see the drive coming along nicely. Also, my ironplay has been improving as well in the sense that my 130-180 yard range is getting more consistent in pinpointing where I am trying to hit the ball. So, not a bad or great first showing on the blues, but now the cherry is popped and there's no going back to the whites now. Blues from here on. Something very cool happened on hole 15. I was standing amidst some hardwoods about to shoot when I heard a commotion right above my head about 15' away. As I looked up 2 hawks and a robin all crashed to the ground in a melee. The hawks battled briefly over the dying robin before one grabbed it in it's talon while the other flew off. Then he just turned and looked at me standing there and he was like, "What?" while the poor robin had a few more pathetic struggles within those talons. Then he just flew up in the tree and glared at me while I walked by for my next shot. Pretty cool.

Beautiful day to be outside!

91
First 9 went pretty badly today (48), was hitting putts short and just felt off all around. Second 9 went much much better (43) with a few pars, birdie attempts and overall much better hitting even if score was only 5 strokes lower. Have to keep remembering to take a full swing everytime (get so caught up in the new techniques I am not hitting to my full potential and it's a bad habit that needs to end). Slowly but surely dialing in these shots. Might rain tomorrow but we'll see. Otherwise, the rest of the week looks perfect in the mid 70's! The Masters was one of the best I've seen with such a close final round, what a great time. Have a loooooooong way to go before even coming close to doing what they were doing on tv, just awesome!

Finally time to rest

I went to the driving range today, went well but I am sore and need to rest so that's it for the weekend. I also discovered that those stupid MacGregor balls are discontinued, duh, hence the cheap deal. So, back to Callaway Tour(z). It's all good, kind of my favorite ball anyway. Hope everyone has a good weekend, got a $12 tip tonight at my last delivery at midnight which was pretty cool.

Fun day to be out, not for keeping score

99
Bryan and Tony and I hacked our way through the course today. Each having some decent shots but mainly bad ones. I had multiple 3 putts, horrible chipping and pretty much everything else was bad too. It was a great time on hole 16 where I kept hitting the pines trying to get back to the fairway, like 4 times in a row, and it kept bouncing back 10' furtherthan where I first shot from. It was pretty comical, about all that was missing was the final shot where it bounces off the tree and tags me in the nuts, where I fall on the ground while my buddy films on his iphone laughing so hard the camera falls and the clip goes to static. We all kept our attitudes up and enjoyed the day anyway. Not proud of my score, but am proud of myself for actually keeping it through the pain and anguish. I told myself that if I am going to do this blog I have to post scores no matter what. On the plus side I am, however, getting much more confident in the 5-10 foot putt range and felt pretty consistent (at the truly very, very least) in sinking them. Time to let the aching muscles finally rest this weekend and wait to attack it again Monday. I mean it! Absolutely NOT going to swing a club until then... really... hopefully... maybe... well, we'll see.

Here is the link to my sky caddie profile. It lists each score, date & fairway % and is much better for tracking my opposite of progress. Putting in the living room  while watching the Masters is going to be fun. Going to kill some shots after getting more ideas from the pros.

http://clubsg.skygolf.com/golfers/scores.php?id=581144

Great score for basketball

92
Well, certainly not in the score I had hoped for after yesterday went well. I feel like I have a 10 point swing zone right now and today it was definitely towards the wrong end. Oh well. On the plus side, I was buried behind a bunch of pines on hole 10 and shaped a fade out and over the pond to drop it right in front of the green from about 150 yards out. The first slice I've hit on purpose, but with opening the face of the club with my grip rather than breaking my wrists. I also had a few solid 300 yard wallops on holes 3,5 and 9 which I am quite proud of. Being patient while my game improves is certainly going to be a lesson in patience. Har har, that was so lame. Both Bryan and Tony are coming out to enjoy the day with me tomorrow so it should be a lot of fun!

MacGregor Tourney Golf Ball

I found one of these during my rain round and all I can say is, "Damn, that is some sick-a** s#*t!" I hit it the entire round. I liked it much better than any other ball I'd found on the course. I originally had decided on the Callaway Tour(z) over the Pro V1 but was waiting until I felt good enough to justify spending $40 on a dozen of them. Enter the Tourney. Man it just has the great feel which is apparent from the driver down to the putter. By far my favorite all-around ball I've hit yet. Best part about it? Very affordable so I finally get to play with one specific ball. Booyeah.

Fairway accuracy way up!!

86
For those who are local in Raleigh, you know that starting to play today around 9:30 has officially placed me in the insane realm. It was very windy and raining buckets, but Cheryl had already dropped me off and I had nothing better to do and a course entirely to myself. The driving range has significantly helped in addition to the new swing, I only missed the fairway/green while driving 4 times today, with just 1 slice for the round. Just have to keep plugging away to chase down the consistency in my game, but getting there for sure. I sincerely believe I will fall below 80 in the coming weeks.

Swing swing swing

Okay, so I got out to hit some more balls at the range yesterday and was supposed to play today, but it was too early to catch a ride with Tony and I was just planning on getting dropped off by Cheryl on her way to work, but Wildwood was having an event, so just practice again today. The swing felt good, but I still have a ways to go before it becomes more natural feeling. I am excited but a bit nervous for the first full round playing with it as old habits definitely try to creep in when they can. Might have to cancel tomorrow's round due to rain, but the rest of the week looks great so at the worst I'll get 3 rounds in this week, but tomorrow still might be okay to play. Pollen everywhere right now!

Time to Swing like a Pro

So Friday I figured that since my swing has been shifting a bit, might as well break down and start switching to a pro swing. I have always had a more self-taught bent arm backswing while standing pretty straight. I figured it would take about a month to start getting the hang of because trying to rotate and bend while maintaining a straight arm backswing like they do it on tv is a little awkward. However, after watching super slo-mo videos of swings like Tiger's on youtube and having Cheryl tell me when I looked about right as far as angle of back to legs I was ready to tackle it. Plus, anything would be better than the current slice disaster going on. Amazing. It felt much easier and comfortable than I had pictured and tried inside. And... The flights were much more controlled and straight and the distance was solid (was hitting consistent 250-270 and a few hit 300 so I felt happy having tried it out for the first time, can only get further from here). No wonder they all do it like this. I am excited to head over to the range tomorrow to get ready for a round with the new swing Monday. Should be nice, calling for 82!!

Not terrible, but pretty much

93
Woof. Played back 9 first today. It went pretty well (42), fell apart on front 9 (51), just out of gas from driving 2.5 buckets of balls yesterday trying to eliminate the evil slice I have which has the power to cause my ball to stop, look both ways, then turn right halfway through the shot. Truly remarkable when it's going bad, because it's going bad really far. SO, the great thing of the day! My new MacGregor VIP wedges 52 gap and 56 sand/lob, just deadly. These are what I have been dying to utilize and have wanted since, oh, forever. I have always only had a pitching wedge so FINALLY I have some true control/spin from 100 yards and in. Rest of week is rain so I'm letting the bones knit and taking it easy. Must remember can't fix every problem by pounding a thousand balls. Back to it next monday weather permitting.

Oh yeah, got to meet and play with ex-NFL & NC State football player Koren Robinson.

The work begins!

87
So this is the first official score I have recorded since we began playing (taking into account all stroke penalties, not utilizing my toe-wedge, etc). It was wednesday the I felt I played very well, had a 25' and an 8' birdie putt, only had three 3-putts for the round and am getting the driving a bit straighter overall. Basically had one blow-up hole on the front and one on the back which added 7 strokes. If I can get rid of having two of those kind of holes, next time I should shoot closer to an 80. Not a bad start if you ask me.

He we GOlf...

Hey everyone!

For those of you that know me, I am a pretty enthusiastic person who get completely obssessed with things and, more often than not, ditches them after a few weeks or months, whatever. There are a few things in my life that I have not been able to shake. Music. I love playing guitar and writing new music, it's been a passion of mine for quite a while now and I don't ever plan on stopping. Food. LOVE IT! I am always planning meals, literally, ALWAYS. I have developed quite a few recipes I am very proud of to call mine and a few I have learned from working in various places, most recently in Sydney at the best Mexican Restaurant I have been to, The Flying Fajita Sistas. Hey Joe! Thanks for all the wisdom and time spent showing me way more that I could possibly ever remember but always did my best to retain with this old brain. I always find it ironic that I learned to cook great Mexican cuisine where there aren't even any Mexicans. Most importantly, my loving wife Cheryl. She is the single greatest part of it, she is so completely woven into my life that I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be without her. She is my best friend, companion in this crazy world and I love her more everyday. Plus, we can travel together like no other, which is pretty f-ing cool. That brings us to Golf. I have always loved the game, could never afford to really play it all that much, which is why in '97 I began a love affair with Disc Golf (it's free!). I have been trying to estimate how many rounds of real golf I'd played up until now and I am going to hazard a guess of around 30-50 rounds (many of them 9 holes from my youth). Thanks to my friend Tony, who is letting us stay with him while we try to find "real" jobs and pay off a bit of travel debt, I am now a member of Wildwood Green Golf Club. Let's just say the deal really was too hard to pass up. So, now I have been playing golf Mon-Fri and realized, not a lot of people have the option to play golf full-time at this point in life because that nasty thing called work usually gets in the way. That led me to thinking, as always, what would be the coolest thing I could do playing golf this much? You guessed it, become a par (scratch) golfer and join the PGA Tour!! Allright Dan, you never let me down in shooting for the stars immediately! So that is what this blog will be about, among other things, my goal of having a handicap good enough to qualify for the PGA qualifying tournament in December. I have a lot of work to do until then, but luckily, even though we are flat broke, in a decent pile of debt and making hardly any income I have managed to acquire the membership, clubs, clothes and shoes that I need in order to make this happen. Did I mention Cheryl is a very patient person? Well, to my first round shooting a 70, here I come bitch and let me end with one of my favorite quotes of all time. "Do you take drugs, Danny? Every day."

Dan