Tag Archives: Golf game

Better Than Phenomenal

15 Dec

With two weeks left before 2023 ends, I’m cutting back on my golf games for two reasons. Reason number one is the wet weather conditions. It rains daily, and being out on a soggy golf course is not enjoyable. The round of golf becomes more like a field-plowing exercise, chunking the shots constantly on the soft ground instead of playing proper golf.

Reason number two is the festive season of Christmas around the corner. This year, I’m playing more Christmas carols on my Spotify and indulging in Christmas shopping. It’s a fun season, and I am enjoying it.

However, I must highlight the last golf game that resulted in better than phenomenal putting. I’d take this highlight anytime! The score was not the best because of chunk shots on the fairways. Even at the tee boxes that were soft and soggy, I could not stand firm and ended up with several mis-hits. But putting with the TaylorMade Spider Mini made up for all the mishaps.

I made 26 better-than-phenomenal putts! To break that down, it was 12 putts on the first nine and 14 on the back nine. There was even a silly three-putt, but the eight one-putt and a chip-in for a zero putt made up for the lone ugly blemish. The thing that helped tremendously was the short game. I was accurate and gave myself many opportunities to putt well.

I should hold my head high with this new putting achievement for this year and hope this phenomenal putting can continue. Maybe it’s the focus that creates confidence. I look forward to better-putting results next year!

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A Touring Pro?

5 Dec

Over the weekend, hubby and I attempted to do the unthinkable – playing four rounds of golf like a touring pro! Did we succeed? Well, almost.

The drive in one car with our friends to Sri Menanti Golf Club was pleasant, as there was hardly any traffic. The weather was cooling, and although our one flight teed off at almost 9.30 am, we did not feel any heat.

At 9.00am, the temperature was cool with the low hanging clouds at the clubhouse

The golf course was a gem of a discovery. Narrow, undulating, and unexpected, it was an enjoyable golf course. The best part – buggies were allowed on the fairways. Nice.

After the game, we had a hearty local lunch near the course before heading to Malacca for the night.

Come Sunday, the rest of the group arrived, and our second game was together with them at Ayer Keroh Country Club. Yet another round with the buggy on course, I didn’t feel the pain of walking because I didn’t walk that much! Such conditions help the body not to exert too much and be able to go on pain-free the next game.

The third game at Tiara Malacca Golf & Country Club was a taxing one despite being buggy on the course as well. The fairways were dry, the roughs were nasty, and the sun was a scorcher. Everyone felt the heat to the core.

I was constantly going into the bunkers, and it annoyed me to no end. Adding to my frustration was my erratic putting with the Spider after doing so well with it for the past few games. Sigh.

The three-day schedule pales in comparison to a touring pro’s. I hardly felt like one anyway when we had buggy on-course games. Despite this advantage, the will to go on was there, but the body and mind could not. We gave up the last game. Sigh. On a brighter note, we had good food each time and plenty of friendship bonding time.

Professional men and women golfers are remarkable athletes. While I aspire to be like them, playing several games in a stretch, if I cannot even handle three days of buggy on-course games, what more walking long golf courses for four days in a row? Hats off to them!

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The Peanut Putter Retires!

10 Nov

I was horrified to discover the grip of my Peanut Putter shedding when we were away for the last two games! It was fine just last week before the trip. I don’t know how or what happened, but I am dismayed by the unexpected deteriorating condition.

My heart breaks
Hurts to see the grip like this. Sniffle.

So, during the two games, I was extra careful not to aggravate the shedding any further each time I was putting. I have to say my Peanut Putter has been giving me some fantastic statistics lately. My putting confidence has grown with it in the bag for this recalibration effort in place of the other two putters.

Distances between one and four feet are very accurate. The putter does not wobble, and the ball-striking has been firm. And anything from four to 20 feet is mostly two putts to save the score.

Occasionally, there were some three-putts, but not as many as six or seven three-putts in a game like my other two putters’ erratic performances. The blemish is mostly misreads of the putting line and not the putter’s performance.

I would certainly like to continue using my Peanut Putter, precious as it is. However, with its condition like this, I have no choice but to retire it to prevent further deterioration. It is unfortunate and untimely when I am doing so well with it.

Perhaps I can find another from Amazon? I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Until then, the TaylorMade Spider Mini is in the bag, and I hope it will serve me well.

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The Peanut Putter Prevails

6 Nov

We drove up North, not to hubby’s hometown, but closer for a round of golf at Kinta Golf Club this morning. The last time we played here was ages ago, so it was a pleasant revisit.

The club’s initials, KGK – Kelab Golf Kinta, in the background

There were hardly any golfers, so the pace was good. However, memory failed us, as at several holes, we were unsure of which direction to go.

It was a hot afternoon game!

There was even one hole, Hole 6, where we couldn’t find the Red tee box! The tee box placements were a tad haphazard. And sometimes the buggy tracks disappeared!

Nonetheless, we enjoyed the outing despite the scorching heat. As we holed out the last hole, the threat of rain was about to start. We finished in good time! Phew.

The Peanut Putter did well in an unfamiliar golf course. I guess my putting recalibration is working out well. I’m happy. I hope I can sustain this for the next game.

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Putting is So Difficult

17 Oct

Lately, I can’t get my putting right when my ball lands on the green. In the last few games, putting was my biggest challenge. I have no issues with my tee-off, second shots, or short game, but putting. I have been consistently inconsistent. Is it me or the putter?

I can do 30 putts in one game, but then for the next game, return with 38 putts. Last week, I had a 32-putt game, followed by my second 38-putts this morning. All within a week. There was even an appalling four-putt today on a Par 3! Four putts!!! Horrors. Where have I gone wrong along the way? My Scotty is failing me!

Looks like a refresh is necessary all over again to rid myself of such horrible putting stats. So, out goes my Scotty, and the TaylorMade Spider Mini will finally see some action. I hope my fortunes will be for the better with the change. We will find out at my next game. Fingers crossed.

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Going Down South

10 Oct

The timing to travel south to Johore for golf is, unfortunately, not the best with the haze. But the trip was mooted before the weather conditions changed. Oh well.

We woke up at an ungodly hour of 4.15 am to meet at the club to go on the bus. At least we don’t have to drive because there are enough people to charter a bus.

On the bus now, I can feel the impending headache. Ugh. I hope I can play decent for the afternoon tee-off at Senibong Golf Club. We will find out.

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The Heat is On

6 Oct

The weather, of late, has been wonky again. It constantly flips between being hot, like a furnace, and cold, like being in the highlands when it rains. Unpredictable is what the weather is.

Playing golf in the afternoons is very taxing on the body when it’s hot. I find myself drinking more water than ever to stay hydrated. However, not all afternoons are hot, and there are days when afternoon golf can be a washout.

I’m glad I rested the last few days to allow my body to recover. Regardless of the conditions outside, I have been indoors chilling and doing nothing. It’s nice as I caught up with my reading.

Recently, there have been reports that the haze is back! The heat is on and gets to me. It becomes unbearable and uncomfortable. Sigh. I hope this won’t last; otherwise, we have no choice but to be indoors more than ever. We will have to monitor the situation.

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Time to Rest

3 Oct

I think I am playing too much golf, raking up three games in a row last week. It’s tiring. There do not seem to be any improvements in my ability to play well. The putting gets to me, the roller coaster scores upon completion irked me, and I feel piqued to sacrifice all those balls that cannot cross the ponds and lakes. The list can go on! Sigh.

Thankfully, I have conquered my fear of the sand bunker and can escape without adding additional strokes to the score. I will take a short break to let my tired body recover and focus on building my miniatures to keep busy.

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A Horrendous Record

2 Oct

I have been keeping track of my putting stats for some time now whenever I golf. Three putts are, of course, the biggest bane for me. And I’m sure for most golfers as well. The average two putts are good, while a one-putt is revered.

Yesterday, I played in my club’s Monthly Medal tournament, and as always, the putting was something I was more conscious of than my other shots. I was doing okay until one hole – it was disastrous beyond words.

Whenever the flagstick is at the back of the green, doubt would creep in. What do I do? How do I play the shot? Unfortunately, I tend to make the wrong decision on what clubs to use to approach the green.

It’s as if I never learn from past experiences and repeat the same mistakes whenever I’m in this situation. All the time! Why? Yesterday was no different.

I approached the green and left myself short on the front for a long putt. Or what I call a three-putt zone. Uh-oh, danger lights were flickering wildly for the impending three-putt.

But did I three-putt? No! I did not. Instead, I five-putted. Yes, you read that right! I landed on the green front on three and did a five-putt! I was beyond peeved. Was it bad putting? I certainly erred in my line reading.

When I missed the third putt, I lost my focus. Whatever it was, it was a record, albeit a horrid one, for me to do a five-putt. I hope this will be the first and last time.

The lesson learned here is perhaps not to approach the green short on the front whenever there is the blue flagstick. Either play it short for a chip-and-run approach or take a club or two longer to land the ball closer to the cup.

This theory may or may not work, and I will only know the next time I golf and find myself in this situation again. I hope I can remember this theory to save the blushes and no more repeat of the horrendous five-putt record.

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Not Being Fickle, Part 2

26 Sep

I stuck to my Scotty Cameron putter for today’s game. I did 32 putts in total despite making a couple of three-putts. When I stay focused and allow the putter to do the work, the results show. It is when I lose my focus that errors occur.

The first three-putt on the easy hole came about because I did not take my time and commit to the putt. Oh well, at least I know where my mistake was. The second three-putt was a pure mistake on my line reading.

All in all, I am pleased with my putting for today. I hope I can maintain or fare better for my next game!

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