Golf Thoughts for 2007 - Update

I am sure much to the disappointment of my daughter, my first post in six months will be to update what I have accomplished in golf so far in 2007

1. Play more for fun.

Harder than it sounds, a lot of stuggling this year, so it has not always been fun.

2. Get properly fit for a driver

Done, hit it good when I focus

3. Upon return from Phoenix, change workout routine to be more golf focused

Not done, lazy bastard!

4. Pick a favourite ball and stick to them

It is difficult to find the right ball. Prov 1's are great, but $5 a ball is silly. Have settled on Maxfli Noodle, Long and Soft. $22 a dozen

5. Get all clubs regripped

Done, this will be an every season first.

6. Work on your grip everyday

Pretty close to doing this. I swing a club every day

7. Get to the Dome at least twice before Phoenix

I think I did that.

8. Get to the range at least twice before Phoenix

It was too damn cold, I was no where near the place

9. After Phoenix, get to the range/dome once a week

I think we went once

10. Stretch

Lazy bastard

11. Workout at least 4 times a week before golf season

Lazy bastard

12. Workout at least 3 times a week during golf season

Lazy bastard

13. Chip and putt everyday

When I'm at the course I do this, have not putted or chipped much in the house this summer.

14. Have no expectations until May 15th

This caused me to allow my handicap to slip to 12.5 during that time, that was ugly.

15. Get Noah, Diana and Barb out to the course often.

Approx count : Noah - 12, Diana - 3, Barb - 0

16. Don’t lose your cool in front of them

Depends what this means, I've been better, but not perfect.

17. Play one shot at a time

Uhh, no

18. Hit the ball from the inside

Harder than it sounds, more than 1/2 of my hits are coming across the ball, this needs to stop.

19. Play the club championship again (1st or champ flight)

Played in the first flight and came in a tie for 10th. I easily could have won or Top 5 if I just would have played to my handicap.

20. Play some practice days with just one club

Not yet, but will do that soon.

21. Never hate the game

There are moments when I do, but it usually passes.

22. always love the game

This is the best game in the world.

23. Take lessons only if you start hating the game

Done, but have decided to ignore the lesson and have switched my swing to stack and tilt. Gonna give it a year to see if I can make improvements.

24. Be humble in tournaments

I would say I have done this.

25. Give your best effort on every shot

Well, I try.

26. Know your yardage

Thank you sky caddie!

27. Take more club

Yup, funny how that works.

28. Play more break

Oddly, does not work that well at Transcona.

29. You should like every club in your bag and what to hit it when the shot calls for it

I still hate my 3 wood, never should have bought that damn thing.

30. Only carry 14 clubs, that’s one of the rules

When it counts, that's all I carry.

31. Relax

When I'm not mad, sure.

32. Don’t think about golf in between shots

Much of this will depend on who I'm playing with. some guys will just yack away about golf. shaddap!!

33. When practicing, 60% short game, 40% long game

Yup!

34. When practicing, always have a target

Yup!

35. Don’t buy anymore e-books

Yup!

36. Read Harvey Penick and Ben Hogan often.

Read Harvey all the time. Hogan, not so much.

37. Learn to hook the ball

This has been the cause of the most penalties I have taken in the last 3 or four years.

38. Make par on every hole at Transcona – all season goal

Done, I actually did this before May 15th.

39. Make birdie on every hole at Transcona – all season

Only have birdied 1, 7, 9, 10, 12, 15, 17. so 11 more holes to go. This is a big stretch as I very rarely hit 4 or 18 in reg.

40. Shoot in the 70’s 10 times

6 and counting

41. Shoot in the 90’s less than 5 times

5 times already..ouch!

42. Stay honest

No point not being honest.

43. Play by the rules

Within reason, the lost ball rule is dumb and causes more delays in this game that I can shake a stick at.

44. Make an eagle

Not yet, haven't had the perfect two shots together yet this year.

45. hit more greens

Hitting less this year..grrrr

46. Drive the ball in play

Less in play this year than last year.

47. Take your lumps

Oh yeah, and I have taken a lot this year.

48. Pretend the $5 game is $500..maybe you will win more

I've never remembered this one.

49. Start the search for new irons

done, beauties

50. Walk more

I would say I have walked just a little more this year than last year. Finally walked 7 holes with Noah yesterday. I think he liked it more than he let on.

51. Buy a good pair of shoes

Done, Footjoy Contours, awesome!

52. Always look like a golfer

I'm starting to look more like Craig Stadler everyday!

53. Buy the swing glove

Done, its a good reminder.

54. Buy a sky caddie

Done, and this thing is really cool.

55. Always bring food and water to the course

Always, really has helped me make it through the back of the course with no problem.

56. Always tip the servers

Always!

57. Tip the pro shop guys at the beginning of the season

I didn't do that, so will have to catch the boys at the end of the season.

58. Arrange 6 to 10 games with friends this year

Sadly, only 3 times this year

59. Make sure you get plenty of sleep

Sleep is overrated. I read that Tiger only sleeps about 5 hours a night. I get about 6, and usually have a nap or two for a couple extra hours here and there.

60. Take a break from golf a few times during the year

I'll take a break when it snows!

61. Win…anything..once

Not yet.

62. Volunteer at an event

Always seems to be on a weekday.

63. Always make it a goal to have 18 putts for par

It is usually about 16 for 18 on this, not bad.

64. Play a few rounds by giving yourself an extra shot for a GIR

Not yet

65. Play a round where you always lay up to a good wedge distance

Not yet

66. Warm up..always

I wish we had a real range.

67. Ride your bike to course as much as you can

bought a new car instead!

68. putt the ball to the hole..always

85% of the time I do this, more than the average guy, that's for sure.

69. chip and pitch, everyday

Sometimes when I'm at home, I just want to be with my family. Watch the silly summertime TV and do nothing.

70. keep handicap under 10 for the whole season after May 15th

I've been close here, it was 12.5 on May 15th, sitting at 10.2 right now.

71. Hands ahead of the ball

Still a work in progress.

72. Never throw a club

I'm afraid this is a good drill for tension reduction.

73. Buy a round of drinks for the boys

Haven't won enough money to do this yet.

74. Play five different courses this year

Done. Clear Lake, cottonwood, Niakwa, Quarry Oaks, Transcona, Kingswood

75. Fix your ball marks

Yup

76. Makes divots

Not always

77. Fix your divots

Always

78. Always bring a seed bottle with you

Usually

79. Play in the rain

Played one tournament where the rain gear was on a good part of the day.

80. Learn to use the wind to your advantage

Most of the time, the wind really hurts my chances. Still a work in progress.

81. Aim

A constant battle, my alignment gets messed up.

82. Develop a pre shot routine

Done. Look at the target from behind. Lift my hat up and re-adjust, set up behind the ball, one more look at the target. 3 waggles and go.

83. Develop a pre putt routine

Done. read the putts, two pratice strokes and go.

84. Pick a way to putt and stick with it

switched to the claw early in the year and have putted pretty good this year.

85. Play in a charity event that you pay for yourself

I have given a lot to charity and in the event I have played, have given a lot.

86. Right elbow to your side on the downswing

Work in progress

87. Plant your left foot to start the downswing

hard not to do this.

88. One or two thoughts per swing, that’s it!

really hard to do this.

89. Focus on results, not methods

agreed. I can make par from anywhere.

90. Try no coffee before a round

a few really early morning rounds where done this way. Does not really make a big difference.

91. Play 36 holes one day

Done

92. Play 54 holes one day

Not enough light to pull this off this year

93. Play when the sun just rises

Done

94. Play till its dark

Done

95. Play in March if you can[MCL1]

Too much snow, nothing was open here.

96. Play in November if you can

Will see!

97. Take care of your back

Barb bought be a balance bracelet and I have had steady chiro care, back feels great!

98. Hit the middle of the green

I wish

99. Always say, “this is easy, you can do this”

Only do this about 10% of the time.

100. Bring slurpees home often

Oh yeah. If I have accomplished any goal this year, this is it.