It's beginning to look a lot like ... winter?!?

Apparently, yesterday was the first day of winter and no one told me because there were more snowmen on my golf scorecard than there are at the North Pole.

Another round in the golf league last night and some typical results ... shot 65 and we lost.

I did well in not focusing on my score (I really had no idea what the actual number was while we were playing) but, I knew it wasn't good because I couldn't stop shooting double pars for many of the holes.

It started off badly when I shanked my first tee shot and had to take a drop about 30 yards from the tee. But, what seems to be my modus operandi in such instances, I made a really sweet rescue shot (this time with my 4-iron) and set myself up for a nice pitch onto the green ... which I then proceeded to 3-putt on and wound up with a seven.

Sigh.

Still, I was making much more consistent contact for most of the afternoon (something that's eluded me recently) but once again I would lift my head at the absolute worst possible time and just kill any momentum I had going.

Truly, my worst hole was the 7th (405 yards, par 4). It's a dog-leg right which features a wide water hazard just after the bend. Two weeks ago I dominated this hole ... hit the perfect tee shot for about 220 yards with my 3-iron, then shot right over the water (still with the 3-iron) to about a foot outside the edge of the elevated green.

Last night? Not so much.

It's about 250 yards from the tee to the bend, and I flopped my tee shot about 30 yards at the most, so with my 4-iron in my hand, I went searching for the ball because the greens were very tall. I actually almost lost my ball and found it at the last minute. After three attempts to lift it out (tried my pitching wedge, too), I picked up and dropped. I was at nine strokes before I even got on the green. So I took a 10 for the hole and used it as putting practice. Hoo boy.

Now for the good (or, least the better) news ... my tee shots with my driver (when I was making good contact) were straightened out. I've said before how I've developed a wicked slice lately in my drives and was at a total loss trying to fix it. I asked a co-worker who has been playing for years and he suggested turning my right hand in my grip a 1/4 of an inch to the left so my hand was more on top of the shaft. I saw immediate results. I didn't realize my grip had changed that much. Thanks, Craig!

Another testament to my shots being straighter (although not always well-aimed) was that I spent very little time in the woods. Good feeling. Still, I lost three balls for the night because when I did hit into the woods, there was no way I was going to find them.

There were a lot of frustrating things about last night, but I did end on a high note because I parred the last hole (#9, 320 yards, par 4). Had a tremendous tee shot that landed just outside the green. Nice flop shot onto the green and I 2-putted ... I'll take it!

Also, my pitch shots are getting better. I'm not over-hitting them as often and I'm getting better at controlling the shot, so that's helped on those lies that are within 100 yards of the green.

So, what did I learn this week?

1. I really need to work on putting. There are times when I can get onto the green in two or three but then I'm all over the place with my putter (#8 hole, a par 3, was a perfect example last night because I could have parred the hole but ended up with a six instead). I was reading the greens fairly well, but just couldn't make the shot to sink the rock. Putting is key and I don't work on that enough at the range.
   
2. I have got to stop over-thinking shots. No doubt this is killing me, especially when I tee off. Look, I know perfectly well I can hit the damn ball, I do very well at the driving range. The issue is that I start thinking too much on the course and it destroys what little talent or touch I have. I'm considering not taking practice swings before I shoot ... we'll see.

Next week we'll be playing on my birthday. My golf partner said she'd understand if I skipped next week and I thought, "Playing golf on my birthday? How cool is that?!?" I mentioned this to Kell and, god bless her golf-widowed heart, she totally agreed. Sweet.