Lesson 4 - Practice, Practice, Practice - but, Purposeful Practice!

Did a lot of chipping today. This is going to be the most improved part of my game!  Purposeful practice with a passion! I tend to be too mechanical during one on one.  I think it is the "Kevin" effect.  Even at 70 one tries to please their instructor. WTF for reals!  I'm paying him! I got to learn to please myself and build on the clues that he gives me.    I am learning to hit draws an finds and I'm getting a lot better at playing the course not just swinging the club and hoping to get down in a reasonable number of strokes.  I did play 9 holes with only a 7 iron today - the purpose of the exercise was to really get to know the club and what I could do with it!  A very interesting experience, but only when I started to use my noggin'!

On number 10 I didn't touch the fairway the first two shots - with a freakin' 7 iron.  I know why - I still made a 6. 2 hook shoots 2 punch shots and 2 "putts".  On 11 - Nasty hook off the tee - experimented with a lob shot using the 7 iron - interesting but very ineffective (I did better the second time I tried that - on number 15.  A chip shot and a putt for a 5.  Number 12 - another nasty hook off the tee - followed by two low punch shots and 2 putts for a 5.  So I'm 16 after three hours. Number 13 - straight down th middle - on in two and two putts for a 4 - yup, a par!. (20)  Number 14 pushed the tee shot to the right, chipped on and 2 putt for a 4 (24).  Number 15, a par 5 - I finally started thinking - challenging myself to think and to choose a shot, not just swing the club.  A draw off the tee - successful.  A fade down the middle, successful.  I fade just short of the green successful, 1 Chip and 2 putts for a 6 (30). Number 16 is a slight dog leg to the left - teed off with a draw shot - followed by a straight shot, a chip and 2 putts for a 5 - (35).  Number 17 a slight draw right down the middle, a straight shot, a punch, a chip, and putt for a 5 - 40!  Number 18 - on in 4 and 2 putts for a 6 - for a 46 and all I had was a 7 iron. What did I learn?

1. Use my head, survey the landscape, pick a target, choose a shot, make two practice swings - put the ball in the way - hit the ground!
2. Celebrate the good shots and learn from the shot that wasn't quite so good!
3. Move on to the next shot!
4. Learn how to use my clubs
5. Its good to be in the fairway most of the time!

Be in the moment - but, that is the way to be all the time!  Have a great day!

Lesson 2 - Practice time! On The Way to A More Consistent and Better Round of Golf!

Today was a practice day.  The biggest lesson I learned is that practice needs to be real - not just putting, chipping, swing clubs.  It needs to be as real as the round of golf and the situatios on the golf course.  On the putting green - use my marker, my alignment, my stroke!  On my follow through - do not lose balance - I am losing balance at this time and kinda falling backwards! I think it is mostly because I'm trying to "finish high" -

I've been given a new "practice" if follow through that should help this.  So, I need to play this way!  I need to limit my follow through - I can practice this, and I can practice my chipping at home - !

I see my mental game improving.  I focus better from shot to shot!  I am starting to "play the course" rather than just swinging at a ball!

Golf is such a great game. A really great game.  8 lessons to go!  I'm so looking forward to each day I get to play golf!  Next up Coyote Creek.... Woohoo!

Day 1 - Golf With Kevin Carlson

So, day one 1 (Friday the 2nd) was an interesting/introductory getting to know your game day.  We played 9 holes.  I was very nervous the first three and had a double, a triple, and a double bogey in that order.  Kevin asked questions and I looked at some excuses... like I always start of slow, etc.  That's the bad news, the good news is I ended up with a 42 on the back 9 of Fitz - best I've done this year.  I birdied both par 5's and on of the par 4's.  My concentration improved.  Well, for me, 80 % of the game is between my ears.

Kevin had an interesting way of tracking my game... scoring zones, shots to hole out within the scoring zone, putts made or missed from 4'.  I'm going to go practice tomorrow.  I've got a neat practice card and I'm going to use it.  I'm serious about improving my game!  I LOVE IT!  Gotta get some card stock to print some of the special score cards and practice plans!  Hey, have a great weekend.  Be in the moment - really important on the golf course.  Let go of the last shot - good or bad!

Golf - I Love It (!

I think I love the game because it is all about individual self-improvement.  I've tried over the past few years to do just that - shooting in the 110-120 several years back to shooting in the high 80's to low 90's  and the occasional high 90's the past couple of years.  I think it is time to take the next step.  I'd like to shoot my age before I hit 75, that gives me five years!  No sweat.

To that end I'm going to take some serious lessons over the next 12 weeks.  I'm really looking forward to it.  I believe that I am a good golfer.  I think I can be an excellent golfer. I've signed on with Kevin Carlson (Fitzsimons club Pro).  I start tomorrow morning.  I had to rearrange some personal training, but along with WTF  (who I think has helped improve my game) some great golf lessons should really help.  I think Kevin will help me with better practice and better course management.  These are a couple of things I definitely need to improve - besides better focus and consistency! Kevin  ( kevincarlsongolf.com ) "guarantees" a 10 stroke improvement - wow - that would put me in the high 70's to mid 80's on a more consistent basis.    I'm there. 

It is important for me to "be in the moment" and that is where I am!

Had my first ever eagle the other day.  The 1st whole at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club - a par 4.  What a great feeling!.  I know I can look forward to many more pars and even more birdies.  Wahoo.  I'm really psyched!