I've had a good first season playing the comps, very up and down though. Had 6 lessons early to mid season which caused my handicap to go up!!

Started to settle down during the last few weeks and was striking the ball much more consistantly, was looking forward to the last medal which was last Sunday hoping to get the H/C below 20 but hurt my back at work last Wednesday have been crippled with sciatica since so couldn't play.

I found this though which I think has kept me from going completely insane whilst I've been house bound - golf game does anyone else play on here?

I've ended up pretty much where i started. Pretty poor season but was saved by a couple of good medals to keep my handical roughly where it was.

Never looked like winning anything, and yet again had a crap day in the only county event i entered. Starting to get the feeling that my serious competitive days are behind me, and that golf is going to take a bit of a back seat for w.hile

This weekend, for me, was a real eye-opener.

I was playing in a work competition and, on paper at least, my team had the real advantage.

 But after 30mph gusts blew three of my balls OB on the first tee, my head went and I ended up with 2 points over 9 holes. 

2 POINTS OFF A 13 handicap!!!!

How appalling is that!

I just couldn't hit the ball like I usually do. The thing that got me was the fact that I hit all threee of the first hole tee shots near-on perfect, the wind just got the better of me. 

I must learn to hit a low, penetrating ball-flight because it totally ripped my confidence to shreds....

In the end my team got hammered by 17 points. We had 34 over 9 (with two to count), whilst the other  side amassed 51. A bad day for us!

 Where did everyone play this weekend?

On reflection not a bad year (despite this weekend).

About £200 won throughout season when I started to think about it. Handicap down 2 strokes. Best medal ever - 79 (+8). Best bounce ever - 77 (+5).

Struggled the last 2 or 3 months and carded a 98 Net 86 on closing day . This included NO penalties, it was an exact 98 blows!

I am now convinced my downturn was either a) weather or b) reverting back to a Pro V1. Next season I think I will start with TM Burner TP's again or something similar. Will work on game and decide on ball through the winter. Unfortunatly I have no control over the weather.

I think it is amazing how games can just suffer so quickly.

It really got me down when I shot that crap round... 

 It made me question whether I'd like to continue playing, but I doubt I'll ever stop.

Does anyone else ever question why they play golf?

After 16 holes, and 31 points, I'm left with a full wedge shot uphill to a plateau green for my 3rd shot at the 17th. Its' probably my last comp of the year and I'm hoping to ratain my 8 handicap(8.4). Up to this point my driving has been unusually good and my wedge play poor.

I have to admit to having some doubts because of a couple of other bad shots and feeling a bit of pressure. Anyway I chunked it short of the green and left myself a tricky chip up onto the green with a front pin placement. But I'd been chipping quite well and felt a bit more positive about this one and the ball finished about 5 feet to the left of the pin. I holed the putt for par 5 and 3 points.

So, after 4 1/4 hours and  just the second easiest par 4 to go and I've got 34 points. I only really need 1 point to be sure of keeping my handicap. I'm playing with my mate Graham and a chap who looks and plays like Foggy Dewhurst. I got my drive away ok but Graham couldn't find his ball. We had to let the group behind through, so I have a long wait to play my uphill, ball above the feet , wedge shot! 

My patience was running out and having no great hopes for the approach I duly chunked it again. Worse still I left the next effort  about 10 yards short of the green. I'm now staring at a likely 6 and back to 9 handicap. The chip wasn't easy but I thought I had a chance and managed to get it to 2 1/2 feet below the hole.

In the meantime, Foggy is in the bunker,  and after 3 carefully planned shots he managed to get it out onto the apron. He has one more go for a point before I can eventually attempt my putt and having missed it, strides up with the intention of  finishing. He thinks better of it and at last I can  finish.

The putt went in for 1 point, but I don't know whether to feel good or bad about it. I definitely surcumbed to pressure with those wedge shots, but managed to save myself with the chipping and putting. I missed out on some money(just) but retained my handicap.