Fast approaching the end of the season up here. Only two more medals at my club and then we're on to winter scrambles and the like. Seems to have raced by this year.Not helped by the wet summer. My course was closed for more days during the summer than it was for the winter!

So - did you have a good season? 

I only had 1 victory this year - that was in a 4BBB match play comp that started in April and finished last week (1 knock-out round per month).  Strangely - although I had an outstanding year (for me anyway) last year with three individual wins they were all in 1 or 2 day stroke play comps. I much prefer match play. Seems much more personal and enjoyable. 

Anyway - that's my season - "not bad, had some fun, could have done better".

 How was yours? Don't be shy. Nobody will care that you're boasting.  Why not sing your own praises on here?

The only highlight in my season that was a 1.8 drop in my handicap from 18.2 ~ 16.4.

This was due to one of those days Where everything Clicked and I won a Midweek Medal I shot a Gross 85, Nett 4 under off 18. (Par 71) 

I have not been able to get anywhere near it since, and judging by the last weeks performances I'm going Backwards!

I think the last time I broke 90 was about 3/4 weeks ago with an 89?

I'm going to be spending a lot of time over the winter on the range! and I might even Invest in a couple of Lessons!

I sympathise. I started the season on 16.5, went down to 15.4 and am currently standing at 16.1. I expected more. Of a drop that is.

On the plus side I did go for a lesson with my club pro  recently. It really made a difference. No silver bullet - just making sure that I get the basics of stance & posture right means that my driving has been really solid ever since.

Lessons are good.  

Had a rollercoaster of a season really. Started well after a poor end to last year, then went to Spain in April with 15 others and had a great week, playing well.

Spent the next 2 months fighting a snap hook and it got so bad I dropped myself from our clubs Jubilee Cup team.

Suddenly found a swing again and have been playing very well since June, culminating in winning the honours board singles matchplay comp at my club 2 weeks ago. 2 weeks previous to that I won my first honours board competition in a 4ball medal. I also reached the quarter finals of the foursomes matchplay comp and also the semi final of the mixed fousomes matchplay.

The only downside to all the matchplay golf this year is I've hardly had time to play in any of the handicap qualifiers to work on my handicap, which has fallen slightly this year, but I'm still aiming to get down to 13 before the end of the year. Now my matchplay commitments are over, this is now my main focus.

I've had a great year, my golf has gone to a whole new level. Had a round mid-season where everything clicked, to the extent that my average round since has been 9 shots better than my average before it.

Sadly, I don't see that continuing next year as I probably won't have the time or money to keep my club membership going, and I'll be lucky to get into double figures of rounds in 2009.

Due to personal circumstances and the fact that I run the Junior Section at our club, my golfing season had hardly got going until the last month.  I was playing regularly, but was never able to make it for qualifying competitions, so my handicap was stuck at 15.3.

Then both Ben and I played in our main handicap competition, a 36 hole event, with a cut after the first round.  A nervous start saw me start with a double, but I settled down and then was level par gross for the back 9.  A gross 72 gave me a net 57!  Ben was in the group behind me, so I knew that he had played pretty well and he shot 73 for a net 62 and second.  The second round was postponed until last Sunday and I managed a 78 to secure 1st place and my first ever win!

Best of all was that whilst practising for the 2nd round, I had my first ever hole in one!

So, I have won a competition on my own (previous wins were with Ben), reduced my handicap and had a hole in one.  I am also playing pretty consistently and hope to reduce my handicap further, to 12 or below.

I am hitting the ball a lot better, but my handicap has stayed the same mainly due to an up and down short game and not great distance putting 

Have not been happy with my putting for a while so have been putting with my right hand lower than my left for the last couple of months which has helped, although it still feels odd.

As Del Boy might say this time next year I will be down to single figures

Nice work Steve!

I look forward to Finally meeting you at Weston Turville and Buying you that drink I still owe you for the Golf show tickets!

Steve - superp play. Level par gross for the back nine playing off 15? Did you buy tequila's all round to celebrate?

Seriously good win 'though. Well done.

Wish my club had competitions over the winter. I feel a bit short changed 'cause of the crap summer. 

Single figures! Well done.

I aspire to low teens never mind single figures.

One of my regular playing partners plays off 6 - Mr consistency. No bad shots and always (and I mean always) thinking his way round the course. Things like - making sure he goes past the hole so that if he misses he's got an uphill put. Or making sure he's on the correct side of the fairway for his approach shot. Mind you - it helps that the ball goes where he aims it!

Mine wasn't exactly fab.

Joined a club that I couldnt walk cos of the terrain resulting in an enforced 2 month layoff to rest my ankle. Played pretty crap most of the year with the occassional decent round.

Lost interest in the game due to - the ankle, the club, the weather, playing lousy, and put off by the golf club mentality .

Now rejoined the old place, a public 9 holer, but its flat (so walkable for me!), playable all year round, pretty quiet, nice people, and I can walk on and play just about any time of any day without having to consult online diaries, the stars, whether societies have late booked etc etc. I am happier now. I get to play golf, its fun, and while my game aint much to speak of at the moment, my attitude has changed and my interest rekindled. I guess we all have to find our place in golf. I play with ordinary people from all walks of life, who play the game for the joy of the game, not cos they may fiddle their handicap and win some grotty prize in some equally grotty club handicap comp. Interestingly as well, everyone plays off scratch, just friendly social games, better ball etc, but no-one wants or expects shots, refreshing to play golf with people that count their score rather than those who think negotiating shots is the main skill of golf. Playing with golfers who vary from decent club pro's and +handicappers to guys, juniors and ladies who struggle to break 100. Everyone just plays, chats, enjoys the moment, and does their best, regardless of the skill level. Real golf, real people.

not bad thanks. One of my goals was to make the ryder cup side and i did that, was the highest point scorer too of course.

Just missed out on my first major but remember this, I will win one next year !

regards,

Ian.

started like a house on fire within the 1st 2 weekend comps came down from 16.4 to 13, then it all went wrong for a while......until i finally got it into my head that i only needed to make 5 pars and the rest bogey's to play to handicap which came prob a bit late as i rose back up to 14.3. but once i'd got my head around that it came back and currently off 12.4 with 2 comps left this season to better that. confidence is back and looking forward to next year and aiming to try and break into single figures!!!

Has been my best year. A bit restricted for outings due to a new job and thus lack of holiday, but enough weekend rounds to keep playing regularly enough. No competitions (I hate 'em) so that's a bonus.

Main improvements have been a higher lofted driver (13.5 Ping Rapture) that has seen me playing almost all of my second shots from the fairway. Which means that I have been consistently mid-teens over par every round - none of those lashed drive card-wreckers that ruin every other round. Even knocked on the door of 10-over a couple of times.

And a big outing to Spain at the end of the month to look forward to (family issues permitting).

After a crap start to the year its not turned out too bad. I haven't won any club comps this year but have won the last 2 society matches in a row, and now I'm in the running for the order of merit trophy because of it.

Handicap wise I have gone up a touch in my club to 11 I think and been cut down to 6 in my society!!

I had been playing really well till an accident saw me hurt my knee and that saw an end to my best form of the year,  that said it hasn't stopped me playing too much, just is very painful after 8 holes or so and some times I cant complete a round.

Anyway its just about better so onwards and upwards.  Roll on Nov 9Th for a meet up with some of you guys