lesson 3

Not too much new at this point, but it's getting more fun all the time and really looking forward to a lesson. He is a great guy, and seems to able to get through the gray matter residing in my skull.

We used most all the clubs today, and while the long stuff was still a huge challenge, I was popping the old PW wherever I wanted. I still don't release properly and I'm not sure why...I do OK when the pro is watching, but the next day, I don't have the confidence to put the ball where I want. I am not really good enough to worry about moving the ball right or left, but it's awful boring out there unless you can have fun working on different stuff.

I have been to the range 6 days in a row!! I'm still very rough around the edges, and having a helluva time with releasing the club. I am getting better though and there are days where I really feel like I can put the ball where I want.

The hardest part is the usual---trying hard, but staying relaxed at the same time.

The short irons are feeling pretty darn good, but I am still lost with anything above a 5 iron. That extra length just does something to me...

Lesson 2

The lesson was concentrated on making

--- a half swing
---hitting at least an inch in front (after) of the ball
---balance
---stiff left side
---releasing the hands (hopeless, so far)
--- spine angle

I hit a zillion really good balls today...He is VERY big on having a draw as the "go-to" shot, and since I have been a slicer my whole life, it works for me. So far, we are only using the PW and 9 iron. I'm not at all sure what I am doing, but it sure is fun to hit the damn ball. Sweet spot, almost dead straight with a little draw-what's better than that? And taking a divot where you are supposed to is awesome!

Little things---
---He has me standing up a bit straighter
---relax
---relax some more
---see above

I have no idea why, but I took his words to heart, and practised chipping for about 4 out of the last 6 days. It's a small basket, and it costs 5 bucks. Boring as hell, but there was a some "feel" going on that surprised me...

I still haven't hit a full golf shot in almost 10 years...

Damn...


I'm going with this thing, but truth is I am slightly annoyed. I just had my first lesson today, and all my pro did was have me chip a few balls to the pin. He wanted me to feel the spin of the ball as I chipped...I guess I was mildly pissed and expected more. He does seem like a really nice guy, so we will see how it goes. I did hit a few pretty close, but my short game was never horrible.


lessons learned

---don't be afraid to choke down on the club

---weight forward, stay steady and keep it there

---use your hands (chop)

Once the decision was made, the rest was easy. I called the local driving range/golf course and asked for the number of the golf pro they recommended. I called.

He sounded like a quite a character, but since I am in that category as well, I played on. After hearing his fees, I just about hung up, but I had just received a nice bonus, and was on a mission. Jesus, that's a LOT of money! So, I signed up for a 5 lesson deal...

So...Poker went to shit...So being the genius I am, I turned to possibly the only thing known to mankind that is more frustrating than poker...

GOLF ! !

I hadn't hit a ball in years, but I knew I had to do something, as my ass was becoming way to comfortable planted in my chair. I'm not trying to pretend golf will be any exercise for me, but at least it gets my butt out of the house once in awhile.

A Brief History

I was always a decent athlete, but that was years ago, with a different lifestyle and most certainly a different body. I played a bit in my late 20's, tutored by an old guy (who's name escapes me) who was a pro years back, and played with the likes of Jimmy Demeret and others. He worked with me, but I pretty much sucked. I really wanted to get better, and worked quite hard at it, but the damn game just never clicked for me. I played with a bunch of other bartenders and had a great time, but I never really got comfortable with the game. I eventually moved away, and golf was a distant memory.

I did play a bit a few years later with a group of buddies after work. It was always a Wednesday, and I still sucked, but boy did we have fun!

Fast forward several years---
OK, several more---

As noted above, I needed badly to do something besides gaze at a computer screen 16 hours a day, so I decided to mess about with the game of golf.

Let's see how it goes...