Tag Archives: putting

Going Down South, Part 2

13 Oct

We went and came back from the Forest City Resort Golf trip. It was an enjoyable but tiring trip because of the journey both ways. Waking up at 4.00 a.m. to take the bus with the rest of the group was not fun but necessary for the 12.30 tee-off. But we were delayed along the Plus highway with a traffic crawl due to an earlier accident.

Thankfully, we arrived on time at Senibong Golf Club. After a quick catered lunch, we teed off. I have never played speed golf before. The game at Senibong felt like a race against time! There were three of us on our flight, and buggies were allowed on the course. We found ourselves racing and chasing every shot.

The weather was cloudy, and unexpectedly, rain clouds were threatening. And when we heard thunder, the race to complete the game became more evident. We finished that game in three hours and thirty minutes! What a record.

That evening, we checked into Forest City Resort Golf. The Hotel seems to have lost its luster. Our room did not have a luggage rack. The TV did not work, the furnishings had scratches, the bathroom amenities were minimal, and they wouldn’t issue a second room access card. What has happened?

Luckily, the golf course was pristine and top-notch. The fairways and landscaping were excellent. However, the greens on the Legacy Course were frustrating. It was slow, making putting difficult. I recorded 38 putts compared to 30 putts at Senibong.

Drinks after game

The next day’s game was at the Classic course, and the greens felt better. But being a more challenging course, the return score could have been better. Oh well. The weather was a scorcher, and I don’t think I could have played any better.

Would we return to play again? I wouldn’t mind playing at Senibong, after it was our first time there. As for Forest City, perhaps we should play one course twice instead of both.

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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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Not Being Fickle

25 Sep

The good intention to bring two putters for a round of golf did not pan out well last Friday, partly because the green was inconsistent and unpredictable. I could not get the feel and rhythm of both putters. Sometimes, one putter worked, then it didn’t after that. The situation confused me even more!

I was alternating between the Peanut and Scotty at the start of the game but, towards the end, stayed with the Scotty. I made 37 putts again that afternoon. Sigh.

To resolve my putting woes, I must trust the putter more and allow the weight of the putter head to do the work. I should not be aiding anymore with my strength when putting. And with this mindset, the Saturday game yielded a much better result: 30 putts! Yay.

I should not be fickle – maintain just one putter and trust its ability. With this decision, the Peanut will be retired, and for now, my Scotty Cameron remains in the bag.

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Being Fickle?

22 Sep

For my upcoming golf game, I have decided to bring two putters! Why? The last golf game was horrid as I had three three-putts in a row for the first three holes; it spoiled the mood and outing.

Could it be due to the greens being sandy and inconsistent? I struggled and was so frustrated with the TaylorMade Spider Mini because I couldn’t find the right balance to putt well.

So, to avoid the horrors again, the Mini is giving way to the Scotty Cameron, along with the Peanut Putter. The Peanut Putter has not seen much action lately because I have been alternating between the other two. Maybe it will see some action this time?

But I hope I don’t have to swap putters for every putt. It is probably not the wisest thing to do, but my rhythm’s lost, and I need to rediscover it. With two putters in hand, I can fix my putting woes immediately; when one does not work, there is another. I don’t think I am being fickled-minded, and I hope this works. Fingers crossed.

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A Good Change

12 Sep

It was a good decision to change my putter to recalibrate my putting. The TaylorMade Spider Mini did its magic, making seven one-putt this morning. From seven three-putts in the previous game to this, it did wonders for the mindset. Overall, I recorded 30 putts.

There was one three-putt blemish because I rushed to hole out as the flight in front allowed us to bypass them. So I’m not too irked by this little flaw. I’m happy with the outcome, and things will remain as is until a new putting disaster comes around! Golf, especially putting, is so unpredictable.

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Time to Change Again

8 Sep

You know it is time to change the putter again when putts go left and right instead of into the cup. Yes, my Scotty Cameron has been very erratic of late. For the last few games, there were several three-putts. But I brushed the stats aside because they did not bother me so much.

However, when several missed putts resulted in seven three-putts for the most recent game, I was ready to switch the putter! On one of the Par 3 – my ball landed and rolled to stop at two feet from the cup. A chance for another birdie! Alas, the putting was a letdown again! The ball rolled past the hole to the right, then left, and before finally third time lucky for a bogey.

This frustrating scenario repeated itself seven times throughout the game. Seven times, unbelievable! I scored a ‘hat-trick’ three-putt on three Par 5s, being on the green on four but three-putted to hole out. Grrr!

Why is putting so hard? Is it me or the putter? Perhaps it is the green speed or the terrain? Well, I have decided to switch my putter to recalibrate myself again.

So, out with the Scotty, and in its place will be the TaylorMade Spider Mini for my next game. Sometimes, a change and a refresh in equipment can build back the mental prowess to confident putting.

On a brighter note, my tee-offs were good, the woods and irons were also commendable, and the short game was sharp: a small consolation for myself here. It is the putting that needs to be better. So, I hope the Spider Mini will fare better from here on.

We will find out, as I have a game later today.

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Eagle Achiever!

21 Aug

The golf game on Saturday, 19 August 2023, will forever be etched in my mind, for it was during this game that I holed out from the fairway for an eagle! A two on a Par 4.

Saturday’s game was the Carlsberg Classic tournament held at my club. I played well despite performing poorly on all the Par 5s again. This phobia is hard to get rid of. Slowly, perhaps to change the mindset.

Thankfully, I fixed some issues I had earlier, and it helped. I was sharp on the short game, and my Scotty putter was good. I also had good company on my flight, and the camaraderie eased our waiting for each shot.

I told my buggy mate we should all aim to finish with a par on Hole 1 because we started with three pars and a birdie on Hole 2 during the shotgun start. With that in mind, I teed up and launched my ball.

Typically, my ball would fly to the left, but that morning, it went right. And actually, it was a much better position to approach the green. I brought two clubs with me when I walked to my ball on the fairway. The distance on the Hole 19 app on my AppleWatch showed 119m. The hybrid choice came to mind since it was a white flag, so it is better to land the ball short for a one-chip, one-putt strategy.

But when I stood still at the ball again, the reading changed! Aiks. It became 125m. Maybe I better use my wood instead. One last effortless hit and a par is still within range.

I lined up my shot, took a test swing with my 5-wood, and struck the ball. It flew beautifully, landed on the green, and rolled a bit before disappearing into the hole! I saw the whole scene unfolding in slow motion. Holy moly, what just happened?

Retrieving my ball from the hole-out eagle shot.

OH WOW! I could not believe my eyes! I just holed out for an eagle. Everyone on my flight whooped and shouted, and I was ecstatic! After twenty years of playing this game, this eagle achievement is my first.

After the game, the club presented a dozen golf balls to me, and I will get an Eagle Achievement certificate too. Nice! Sometimes when the going is so bad, a little surprise pops up, like this one, and you love the game all over again. I am officially an eagle achiever, be still my beating heart!

Marking the Gutty ball on the historic feat

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An Alarming Uptrend

15 Aug

The golf game downtrend has continued. My handicap has recently gone up at an alarming rate! It’s disheartening and embarrassing. Have I been playing so bad? Reality check here to relook at my game performance.

I should not focus on putting stats only because it does not reflect the whole game. I should look at all aspects of the game and see how to play better. I recently resolved my approach shots, but unfortunately, not helping to return with better scores. Then again, I do find lately, even in Jakarta, the passion to excel at the game is not quite in me.

Separately, my weight is also on the uptrend, like my golf handicap! It’s just as disheartening and alarming. I have not been eating a lot nor binge drinking beer after my golf games. Something is causing an imbalance, thus the uptrend.

I have to do something to tackle these two issues because they are bugging me to the core. Perhaps a little more disciplined with food and well-being to manage the weight, and be more focused to improve all aspects of the game and rediscover the passion again.

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