Oh well, there's always next year.......

I'll start very quickly with the Sussex Open - 78 and a missed cut. Needn't say more, had I!

Dad and I travelled down to Weymouth for my last playing test this year on the sunday and I must admit I was extremely confident that I could do it this time. However, we both decided that we were just gonna enjoy the break, not take the golf too seriously and if it all came together, then great and to be honest for 75% of the day it did.

We played a practise round at Weymouth the day before and i didnt like the look of it at all. My dad, baring in mind he hadn't picked up a golf club for probably 2 or 3 years was awesome to watch. I really enjoyed playing that round and it would be great if eventually he got into golf properly because he has all the natural talent in the world but an abysmal short game (haha!)

Weymouth was in fact a very tight parkland course with lots of trees and not the links course I thought it was going to be but it was fairly and I knew that if I played sensible golf that i'd be in with a great chance.

My first round couldn't have started any better, a good par save at the first followed by playing my first 12 holes with all pars and 2 bogeys. But, unfortunately a huge ugly shank (remember those?!) into the adjacent gardens at the next tee left me feeling somewhat unsettled. If it wasnt for dad being there i think my head would've gone in a big way but he managed to get me composed and refocused and I completed the rest of the round in a fairly steady fashion with 76 - a score which left me a 7 shot cushion for the afternoon round.

I felt fairly relaxed at lunch but was a bit anxious because I knew I was prone to beginning afternoon rounds poorly and this was a huge obstacle for me to overcome. As it turned out, my worst fear was realised in a big big way! I got off to a shocker, dropping 6 shots in the first 5 holes and this left me feeling very unsettled indeed. I battled back well and with 7 holes left, I had a cushion of one shot remaining. But an awkward bunker shot led me to a treble bogey and a desperate attempt to eagle the par 5 16th led to another double and after signing for an afternoon 82, I was on the way home pondering my actions to prepare for the following year.

A moment to mention my dad, he was brilliant company all day and did a fantastic job caddying, even at the expense of very sore feet due to the shoes I got him being too small (whoops)! I have a very fluctuating temperament on the golf course which needs a lot of work and he was great at keeping me focused altho I did lose the plot a few times which I regret! I really enjoyed spending these last two days with him and although I failed, I would like to think that he was impressed with my game. Thanks dad.

So, to the winter! My main aim is look into ways I can improve ways I can whack a ball with a stick (sounds simple when put that way). I will endeavour to get in better physical shape, work hard on my golf game so that when next year comes round i'll put a huge lewis-sized stamp on it cos for this year, I just dont think I had the game physically, mentally or emotionally. These are all things I will work hard on because right now I dont think I have ever felt more determined to succeed!

Onward and upward as they say......

Countdown to Weymouth.....

My Weymouth test looms just a week away now. I'm getting quite nervy now as I never wanted to put myself in a position where I was taking the last test available this year but there's no point in dwelling on that because it'll be wasted energy.

The course at Weymouth is a links course I believe, which will suit me down to the ground as it will be similar to the course I have been playing at all my life. I'm just praying that with it being right on the coast, the wind wont become too huge a factor as it tends to wreak havoc with my high ball flight.

That being said, I had my third lesson down at Chichester this week which transpired into good and bad feedback. I have unfortunately lapsed back in to old habits slightly but was given three drills to help me with my current faults which I am going to start working on hard this week. These drills are more sort of quick fix drills, in which the coach is hoping will get me through my test and also give me a chance of performing well in the Sussex Open, which I am playing in this week.
I was told that there are things i need to work on in the long term but we will be addressing those over the winter, a prospect I find exciting as I would love to emerge as a much stronger player next year, be it as a pro already or as an amateur still trying to make my way.

Either way, I am not gonna place too much expectation on Weymouth. If I pass, great!! I will honestly be on top of the world and feel perhaps the most relief I have ever felt because I will have saved this year. But, if for the fifth time I fail, then I will work damn hard over the winter, take the test at the first possible chance next year and to be honest enjoy the months leading upto beginning my training next september. I want this so badly, but it sure isnt gonna come easily.

Au revoir.....