Medal 6

No return was the final outcome.

Two shanked 8 irons from the fairway on the 8th hole, both into the right hand hazard, where I scored a nine to wreak the score. That was followed by the no return on the 9th after losing my ball in the rough. I did not have the heart to go back the 200+ yards and play another from the tee, not on captains day when I felt we were losing ground and causing a hold up. Combined with an 8 on the next hole before I got my head back together.

It all equalled game over concerning a handicap cut and the NR means a 0.1 back, so now I'm off 26 :(

It started badly in the practice net this morning before the round. I was not hitting it well at all and seriously regretted putting my old irons in the bag this morning, so I went out in a poor state of mind.

However I did get my tee shot away on the 1st ending under a tree, which was to become quite a feature of the front nine for for me.

I was playing with Stephen now off 10, and Alan who I have not played with before off 28. One of the things that has changed from my first medal is that the nerves have gone. Alan played well apart from off the tee which cost him, and Stephen went out in 4 over par was looking like he was onto a great round but it unraveled for him on the back nine, I'm sure it was the beer that the captain treated us to at the halfway house!!

Anyway I played steady just under my handicap going alright up until the 8th, finding tough lies under trees cost me but not seriously, I was going OK. Then the nightmare of the shanks and the no return.

After the half time beer I cheered up, I mean why get upset, I'm playing golf on a fantastic sunny day with good company!

I proceeded to come home in 44 which included the 8 from the 10th hole.

Ohh well, I learned some stuff as usual.

My swing changes unraveled in the pressure of marking a card, even the woods, I played an OTT swing all day. The only time I felt secure was inside 100 yards!

On the positive side, my putting was good today on Captains day when the greens were as fast as they can make them and the pins were in the toughest places. Also I did not shank any short pitch shots, just the two full 8 irons which is probably due to the ball being below my feet at the time.

After the round I took my name off the comp list for next week, I need to sort my iron play out before trying again in a medal. Next comp Monday 21st after work.