Yesterday I played for the first time this year. It\u2019s been rainy all winter, but we start turning in our scores March 1, so I had better get ready since I haven\u2019t played since last October.<\/p>\n
I played nine holes on my home course, starting each hole from where I normally hit my approach shot. I also dropped balls around the green in places where I usually miss. I want my first impressions of golf to be about getting the ball in the hole. <\/p>\n
The fairways were soggy, which meant that I had to take easy swings in order not to lose my footing or hit the ball fat (or both!). That\u2019s how we should hit irons all the time\u2014easy. <\/p>\n
Sometimes there\u2019s a short shot that is unique to a particular green complex. You can\u2019t practice it because there\u2019s only one place you\u2019ll come across it. Go there and be creative. Drop five or six balls and keep hitting them until you figure out what to do.<\/p>\n
The greens were covered with dew, so there was no point in working on the speed, but I learned a lot about green-reading. The ball left a line through the dew showing me where the ball really went. A few putts that I played to break didn\u2019t move. Taking another look showed me why.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll play a few more practice rounds, easing myself into the game. Now\u2019s the time to get a few practice rounds under your<\/span> belt. They will really pay off.<\/p>\n See more at www.bettergolfbook.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Yesterday I played for the first time this year. It\u2019s been rainy all winter, but we start turning in our scores March 1, so I had better get ready since I haven\u2019t played since last October. I played nine holes on my home course, starting each hole from where I normally hit my approach shot. … Continue reading First Round of the New Year<\/span>