Memorial Day Pro-Am

I followed up my one-club playing sessions with a team victory in the LGC Memorial Day Pro-Am! Team Kurt Flionis, Chris Murphy, Rob Justice, and Eric Carlson shot a 128, for a two-shot victory over Rob Lynch's team. We finished on the 13th hole with a gross birdie (Kurt) and a net eagle (Eric) to close out a tremendous back nine of 9 under par 63 (gross and net).

The tournament format was 90% handicap, with each team having to take 1 gross score and 1 net score per hole. The field included 13 teams of 4. Each team was comprised of an A, B, C, and D player.

What a fun day! Eric Carlson shot 85 as a 19 handicap and Rob Justice had 86 as a 16 handicap! My team was money.

I played much better and shot 74 with 5 birdies and 1 eagle (drove the 16th green to 10 feet), a strong contribution to the gross category. I had 9 one-putts. Lately, I have not been making birdies, so this was a sign of improvement. I feel better about my game going into the Sherrill Cup on Wednesday.

Great day at LGC! (on a random note, my teammate Eric Carlson says he can get me out on Lake of Isles anytime!)

To positive energy,
Kurt

One Club Secret to Success?

My Dad asked me to play 9-holes this Saturday at Lexington GC, intending to help me regain some confidence in my game. However, it was not just any round of golf. He told me that I could only use a 7-iron and a putter! Okay, hmmm I thought about it...and the idea of making may way around a golf course with only one club seemed brilliant and fun. I shot 42, including a birdie and 3 pars. Next day I played with 3 members at Lexington (Tom Harvey, Paul Zabrinski, and Steve Jackson) and used a 4-iron only on the front nine and 5-iron only on the back nine. I shot 39-41 with 13 pars. I played so well and walked off the course with more energy and excitement than I've had in a long time. Playing with my Dad with one club was the most fun I've had on a golf course in a long time. My Dad actually played against me with a 5-iron only that night. On Sunday, my playing companions all played with their full set of clubs. It was so awesome. On the first hole, I had a greenside bunker shot and hit my 4-iron to 10 feet. I hit bump and runs from inside 100 yards. I choked down. I opened the face. I changed the length of my backswing. I visualized shots like never before.

Let me tell you the many reasons why this could turn your game around (keep in mind, i would NOT recommend this during tournament play or on a full time basis, but definitely as a practice method):

1) Creativity - It breaks the mold of hitting predominantly full swing, max shots. You are challenged to be creative with your shots by changing your grip, your length of swing, your clubface angle at address, your ball position, your swing speed...When would you ever hit a 4-iron on a 100-yard par 3? Probably never. But thats not the point. (And I did hit my 4-iron on a 100-yard par-3 over the weekend.) The point is to improve your feel or bring back your feel. Its amazing what you can do with one club. You realize how good you can still hit a shot swinging at 50% or 70%, etc. Made me realize that I am too technical over my shots, trying to hit the perfect distance at full swing.

2) Only one option - You only have one club option. It sets your mind with lower expectations and it forces you to just get it done. No time to think about whether its a hard wedge or soft 9-iron. Its one club, get it done using imagination. There is a lot of to be said about standing over a shot thinking "this is going to be fun to pull off" as opposed to thinking "this shot is so standard that I have to hit to well, anything less is a failure"...the latter being more of a 'burden' and the former being an 'opportunity'. Each golf shot is a great opportunity to shine, regardless of what happens.

3) Fun - A great change of pace to the game. My playing partners reactions were so different than a typical round. 'Can't believe you did that with a 4-iron'...what a shot for a 4-iron...'not bad for a 4-iron'...more positive, more fun, more energy.

4) Becoming close friends with each club - By the time you finish 9-holes with one club, you will find a new sense of comfort with it. For example, I could go multiple rounds without hitting a 4-iron, leading to lack of confidence under pressure. When you are forced to hit every shot with a 4-iron, you will learn what works for you and will gain trust.

My goal is to play 9-holes with each one of my clubs. I got through the 4,5, and 7. So far the 4-iron is winning with a 39.

I have to thank my Dad for turning the ship in the right direction!

I teed it up on Memorial Day with the full set of clubs in LGC's Memorial Day Pro-Am. Things started to look and feel better :)

Patience and practice,

Kurt

Norfolk County Classic - Most 3 putts ever

Over the weekend (May 21-22), I competed in my first Norfolk County Classic at Presidents GC in Quincy. Its a 36-hole stroke event that earns MGA Player of the Year points and draws the best amateurs in the state. I came into the weekend feeling good about my putting and not good about my swing. I have developed a consistent fade that does not feel natural to me, yet, its becoming normal, if that makes sense. And I have yet to accept it, at least temporarily under tournament conditions. Instead of playing it, I fight it, waiting for that slight draw to return. My best results over the weekend were when I aimed 5-10 yards left of target and let the fade take it toward the pin. Unfortunately, I mostly chose to aim straight to slightly right hoping for a draw. I think a hit a handful of draws over the weekend, but not enough to justify playing it.

Shot 80 - 88. OUCH! Five three putts in Round 1 and Seven three putts in Round 2. These stats include putting from the fringe. In my book, I consider that a putt. If you haven't played Presidents, the greens are the most difficult part of the course. They are severely sloped. Granted some of my three putts were from 40 feet plus, it was still atrocious. It happened so many times, it became acceptable in my mind that I was going to 3 putt. I stopped seeing the lines. On a 40 foot putt, it was like automatic 'hit putt 30 feet', walk up 'hit putt 9 feet', and tap in. Then, when I hit a putt 'nicely' to say 4 feet...it was like 'i can't 2 putt', okay i'll block it out and not even hit the hole (this happened twice!). Oh, the trials and tribulations. But you know what, I can't wait for the next one.

My best nine was on the front nine (my back nine) in Round 1. I shot 36 with two three putt bogeys to finish the side. I made it around the course easily for 9 holes. The rest was a struggle, mostly with the putter.

Takeaway of the Weekend: Its okay to play with what you got during a tournament round and save the swing thoughts until practice. I get too caught up in hitting the ball well and 'looking good' to score. You can score in so many different ways, even if it doesn't look pretty. Also, I want to become more of a feel player than mechanics guy.

Some Highlights:

-Played Round 1 with a 1999 Bentley graduate who works at Gordon Brothers, he fired 69, maybe had 1 bogey; solid round and good to see a fellow alum play well!

-Round 2: While walking into the middle of the third fairway, a player's tee shot from the group behind us landed at my foot. It literally passed by my eye. I saw the ball and flinched as I almost was clocked with a golf ball traveling from 250+ yards away. Scary! The guys spotting on the hole, both cringed as I looked at them and they radioed back to the volunteer at the tee box and said 'hold up' on the tee shots (thanks buddy). They knew a scary event was narrowly missed. Glad I am here to talk about the near miss. This helps me get over my bad play!

-Weather was perfect on Saturday, 60s and no wind. Sunday was chilly in the morning and warmed up to the 50s and breezy. Course conditions were good; greens were not too fast given the course got a week of rain prior

Moving forward,

Kurt