I guess what I’m doing, and will do this year, is make a report on every round I play and tell you what I learned and gloat over my outstanding shots, like this one:
186 yards, par 3, 18.5° 3-wood. Started right, slight draw back toward the middle. Landed short, rolled on, toward the pin, looking good, looking REAL good, just grazed the hole going by. When I got to the green, it was four inches past the hole. I sank the putt. (The guys I play with don’t give par putts or birdie putts. We have to earn our good scores.)
A few days before I had looked at Phil Mickelson’s short game DVD, in which he talks about the “hinge-and-hold” method of chipping. I use that method on occasion, but he said to use it all the time. So, I used it all the time and got some really good shots out of it from sticky situations, like having to fly a bunker from in close but with little green to work with on the other side. I’d suggest you find a copy of that DVD and study it. It’s the same stroke that I call the Air Chip on page 63 in Better Recreational Golf.
My putting wasn’t as deadly as it was last week, but it didn’t hurt me. I played with just one other guy and we left the pin in the whole time. I love that new rule.
Really good idea; have been keeping a ‘diary’ for a number of years detailing rounds played and practice sessions. sometimes a struggle to keep out the negatives and focus on the good shots and moments but it works to boost self belief.
Bob, what was your score?
Five over for the first three holes. Then I figured out how to hide a breathtaking push, and went even the rest of the way. (9 holes)