GOLF - 2022

[Rosscow]

Here we go boys, another year of golf has gone by and now is the time to set some targets!

I teed off at 7:45am this morning and considering the wind managed a pretty respectable 80.

Used the England Golf app to submit our scores.

Handicap remains a steady 7.3. Goal for the year? Play some good golf and get my irons back to where they were, with a bit of luck get down my handicap down to 6!

Have a good year fellow golfers!!

[Hobo]

I ended my first year of golf with a handicap of 17.2, however at present it doesn't seem justified as in the past week or so (since having the clubs regripped) have started leaving the face open on quite a few shots and hitting it right, and much less in distance, so not great.

I've been fortunate this year to play some excellent courses. My home course Headingley is itself fantastic, but have also played Woburn (Marquess), The Shire, Fire Course (Jumeriah Golf, Dubai), Moortown (local, and highly rated, but I genuinely think Headingley is better), plus another fantastic shorter course in Ilkley.

My aim for 2022 is to get my handicap what I believe to be a 'genuine' 15, and sort out my iron play which is without doubt my weakness, likely linked to weight transfer. I've got a trip to Portugal booked for May with mates to play three of the Dom Pedro courses, and a fourball booked at the JCB course for later in the year. I'd like a trip to Ireland at some point as well after seeing some courses over there on a recent TV programme.

In summary, loving golf, but its genuinely the toughest sport I've ever played and unfortunately at my age (48) have realised that my chances of becoming good (or what I believe to be 'good' having been quite handy at a couple of other sports) are limited/none existant as simply don't have the power and movement that I did 20 years ago (and when my course is 6300 yards), so think the 15 mentioned is a realistic challenge.

[pincher]

HNY everybody.

Playing first round of the year on Monday - hoping the rain holds off between now and then, otherwise I suspect it will be carry only and my back is already knackered, so could do without that.

Aiming to play a lot more this year, improve my game management and cut out the ‘hero’ shots, which invariably end up where they weren’t supposed to and to start consistently scoring low 90’s. I’m already losing far fewer balls than I was 6 months ago, so that’s progress - right?

[Patrick Bateman]

Got a game lined up for tomorrow, my first since October when I shot 77 but not expecting much tomorrow. Haven't hit a ball for a good few weeks.

[deckster]

Just had my first round of the year, which happens to be my first ever competition round. Shot 37 points off my shiny new 19 handicap so pretty happy with that especially given the atrocious condition of the course (it's so wet & muddy that it probably shouldn't be open, and wouldn't be if they weren't so keen to get the green fees in). Aim for the year is to get down to low teens which fingers crossed should be very achievable.

[Greenie]

Had a game of mud golf this morning - nice to be out let’s just leave it at that

Took up golf early summer after joining my lad for a game with his friends and have really got into it.

I aimed to get to 18 handicap by the end of the year and actually managed 17. Gone from using EG golf app and paying green fees to joining a club recently and playing my first competition (we came in last!)

Going to write my goals for 2002 if you don’t mind so I can look back at them and see how I did:

Get to 13 handicap by end of summer 2022

Try and “play” 3 times a week incl practice and games

Continue with regular lessons

Meet new people at the club and get some regular playing partners & competitions

Play at least 3 top quality courses

[Greenie]

Hobo said:

and a fourball booked at the JCB course for later in the year. I'd like a trip to Ireland at some point as well after seeing some courses over there on a recent TV programme..

How hard was it to get a reservation at JCB? Did you have to be invited?

[Hobo]

Greenie said:

How hard was it to get a reservation at JCB? Did you have to be invited?

Charity event

[48Valves]

Happy New Year all.

Finished last year with a HI of 9.3 having got my initial HI of 14.8 in March. It peaked at 16.8 before steadily dropping.

I don’t really think too much about my handicap. Whilst I do play in the odd comp, most of my golf is social. However we always play properly to the rules.

I’m more interested in shooting the best gross score I can. So to me it doesn’t matter whether that’s a proper club comp or playing on my own.

My target for this year is to be shooting regularly in the mid 70s. By the tail end of 21 I was constantly shooting in the very low 80s.

Swing changes are starting to take shape on the range, but are still a bit off on the course, but there are good signs of progress. I’ll be doing a bit of strength training over the winter in a bit to gain a bit of speed.

I got a cheeky 9 holes in this afternoon while the wife and kids were out visiting the in-laws. It was lovely to play without waterproof’s on and the brolly up even if it was bloody windy.
I started with a bang making birdies on the first two holes. Before making double on 3 after flushing a 5 iron miles over the green Stoopid game!

[AndrewNR]

I think having a "uniform" for golf that looks 'respectable' is fine in my opinion. At the end of the day a pair of black trousers and a polo shirt doesn't cost that much.

....anyway, started playing last year (March due to lockdown) with no handicap - was scoring +30 rounds to begin with due to not having played for about 20 years (I'm nearly 40)...
Managed to get an official handicap of 22 (although should be high teens really).

Plan for '22 is to work on the short game (I hit it far enough off the tee - most of the time ) and get to handicap of around 15.

Be interesting to see where I am when I revisit this.

Edited by AndrewNR on Saturday 1st January 21:40

Edited by AndrewNR on Saturday 1st January 21:43

[thebraketester]

My goal is to play more than 3 rounds, which is what happened last year.

Would be happy to get back to playing about the 15hc mark.

[AndrewT1275]

One simple aim for this year - qualify for the qualifiers for our club championship.

The qualifiers is 36 holes strokeplay over one day, with the top 16 then going into matchplay knockout. The qualifiers is limited in numbers and in the event of oversubscription is based on a handicap ballot. We've got 20 or so players who are scratch or better so I've no chance of winning but a HI of about 5.0 to 5.5 might be enough to get into the qualifiers.

That means finding 5 shots from somewhere.

Lately my consistency has improved massively and I've cut out the horror holes. Had a few rounds recently with no double bogeys. Also added 20 - 30 yards to my drives with no loss of accuracy so once the weather improves I really think I can make some big leaps forward.

[kiethton]

2021 was a good golf year, got to the semi's of both single knock outs, dropped the handicap 2 shots (to 7) and wine one of the big-3 medals of the year.

Goal for 2022 - keep it up, played twice last week and shot my handicap on both occasions which wasn't bad given the reduced run - would be great to push down below a 5 handicap over 2022 and to win something again!

[Tomm3]

AndrewNR said:

I think having a "uniform" for golf that looks 'respectable' is fine in my opinion. At the end of the day a pair of black trousers and a polo shirt doesn't cost that much.

....anyway, started playing last year (March due to lockdown) with no handicap - was scoring +30 rounds to begin with due to not having played for about 20 years (I'm nearly 40)...
Managed to get an official handicap of 22 (although should be high teens really).

Plan for '22 is to work on the short game (I hit it far enough off the tee - most of the time ) and get to handicap of around 15.

Be interesting to see where I am when I revisit this.

Edited by AndrewNR on Saturday 1st January 21:40

Edited by AndrewNR on Saturday 1st January 21:43

Exactly where I am too. Playing some of the best golf of my life, regularly have par birdie par runs during a game, from 22 but my chipping is killing me. Can't stop the clubhead drifting out at impact causing shanks and duff chips. A lot of practice might help so I'll try that at some point, try to get to a more realistic 15 hcap this year.

[StescoG66]

Tomm3 said:

Exactly where I am too. Playing some of the best golf of my life, regularly have par birdie par runs during a game, from 22 but my chipping is killing me. Can't stop the clubhead drifting out at impact causing shanks and duff chips. A lot of practice might help so I'll try that at some point, try to get to a more realistic 15 hcap this year.

I feel your pain, as I too have some dreadful short game woes. Taking 4 or even 5 to get down from 50 yards in is incredibly commonplace for me........

However, I had a few lessons late on last year as it really was getting me down. Seems short game is taught differently these days, where the body plays an active part in the shot. I was always taught the polar opposite that the body remained dormant into the short game and it was all hands and arms. The difference is marked, still a long way to go but a decided improvement. However one game in the last 2 months isn’t helping.....

[Tomm3]

StescoG66 said:

Tomm3 said:

Exactly where I am too. Playing some of the best golf of my life, regularly have par birdie par runs during a game, from 22 but my chipping is killing me. Can't stop the clubhead drifting out at impact causing shanks and duff chips. A lot of practice might help so I'll try that at some point, try to get to a more realistic 15 hcap this year.

I feel your pain, as I too have some dreadful short game woes. Taking 4 or even 5 to get down from 50 yards in is incredibly commonplace for me........

However, I had a few lessons late on last year as it really was getting me down. Seems short game is taught differently these days, where the body plays an active part in the shot. I was always taught the polar opposite that the body remained dormant into the short game and it was all hands and arms. The difference is marked, still a long way to go but a decided improvement. However one game in the last 2 months isn’t helping.....

Yes I need to turn more. Practice swing is smooth but actual shot is all panic getting back to the ball.
Oh well, got a whole new year to improve

[Blackpuddin]

Tomm3 said:

Yes I need to turn more. Practice swing is smooth but actual shot is all panic getting back to the ball.

I do that! Default strike on short shots is about 9 inches behind the ball (no exaggeration) resulting in a short fat or I leap up into the air and top it. Very little in between those two extremes unless I force myself to concentrate on a spot about 9 inches ahead of the ball. Going for another practice in a minute to try and extend the followthrough which helps when I remember to do it.
On 17.6 at the moment and sort of playing to that but as others have mentioned the weather and course condition variables are huge at this time of year.

[kiethton]

First game of the year today - 12 of us at a very, very wet and boggy Westerham, so much so I had to leave the trolley in the car and carry the bats for the first time in a year.

Finished with 33 points, 2 off scooping the £80 taken by the winner. A blob on 18 and 2 stupid shots (taking on tree gaps) cost me big time. Given the state of the course the greens were horrifically slow which, being the opposite of my home course, was hard to adjust to. At least it was vaguely near handicap to start the year off!

[Tomm3]

kiethton said:

First game of the year today - 12 of us at a very, very wet and boggy Westerham, so much so I had to leave the trolley in the car and carry the bats for the first time in a year.

Finished with 33 points, 2 off scooping the £80 taken by the winner. A blob on 18 and 2 stupid shots (taking on tree gaps) cost me big time. Given the state of the course the greens were horrifically slow which, being the opposite of my home course, was hard to adjust to. At least it was vaguely near handicap to start the year off!

Tree gaps I always go for the gap, however small. I imagine success rate is 10%, don't half crack when you hit the tree dead centre

[fourstardan]

kiethton said:

First game of the year today - 12 of us at a very, very wet and boggy Westerham, so much so I had to leave the trolley in the car and carry the bats for the first time in a year.

Finished with 33 points, 2 off scooping the £80 taken by the winner. A blob on 18 and 2 stupid shots (taking on tree gaps) cost me big time. Given the state of the course the greens were horrifically slow which, being the opposite of my home course, was hard to adjust to. At least it was vaguely near handicap to start the year off!

80 quid for shooting handicap this time of year...whens the next roll up