It's been almost 4 years since I set out on the quest to break 80 in 80 days. Although I did not reach my goal in that time period, I have broken 80 about a dozen time since then. Every time it happens, it feels satisfying; however, it does not take long to think about all the shots you left out on the course in that particular round.
When I started on the path to try and break 80, I was a 23 handicap. As I type this, my handicap index is listed as 9.7. That is about 13 shots better a round today then when I started four years ago, so I guess that is something to be proud of. I have some good rounds and some bad rounds and the rest are what I would call very pedestrian - in the low to mid-80's.
It has been 1,367 days since my quest to break 80 in 80 days ended. However, my quest for improvement has not ended. On Saturday, I recorded the lowest round of my life - a 74 (+2). Not only was it the lowest score I ever posted, but also the 'cleanest'. I had 4 bogeys, 2 birdies and 12 pars - and both sides of the course were pretty much identical: 2 bogeys and 1 birdie going out and the same coming back in. When I look back on that round (Saturday, June 7), I can only recall 3 shots that I would like to have back: the first was a missed putt from about 2 feet and the other two were both 3-woods from the fairway (both 2nd shots from the fairway on Par 5's). The putt I missed was my lone 3-putt - of which I hit the fairway off the tee, hit the green with my approach and missed my first putt a little long and then missed the 2 foot comebacker for a 3-putt bogey. Awful. On both of my 3-wood shots, I was quick in the transition and armsy/handsy at the bottom. I smothered the first and pushed the second off the toe - neither got me in much trouble and in both cases, I ended up making par. Nonetheless, I could have and should have been near the green or pin with a look at eagle on both shots. Instead, I had to wedge on and two putt.
My deficiencies lie in greenside bunkers and pitching the ball. My irons can be great or they can be bad and I struggle with a case of the shanks from time to time. I would have to say that the best parts of my game are driving from the tee and chipping. My putting comes and goes, but more often than not, I two putt - regardless of the distance from the pin on my first putt. And I have way more 1 putts than I have 3 putts, so all in all, I am fairly satisfied with my putting. I have noticed a strange correlation in that the more greens in regulation I hit, the more putts I will take over the course of a round. I used to shoot higher scores with lesser putts. Now, I shoot lower scores with more putts - so, I guess the secret to going really low is having a high percentage of GIRs coupled with a low number of putts. Someday.
When I started out 4 years ago, I stated that I suffered from a slice on 90% of my drives. Today, I fight a nasty hook. However, I am beginning to hit draws and fades when I want and nothing gives me greater satisfaction than pulling off the shot I want, when I want. My biggest problem lies in the fact that after almost 4 years, I still do not have a swing that golfers would call 'grooved' - namely with my irons. Having said, I still am not good from the greenside bunker (no bunkers around to practice) or with my pitching (no grass ranges around to practice). On days that I shoot a low score, everything works and I feel that I have figured it out. On days that I shoot a high score, nothing works and I feel as if I have no idea how to swing a club. The highs are so high and the lows are so low. I guess the only thing that I have really learned over 4 years is that in order to play well, you need:
1) To be tension free everywhere (no unruly tension in your hands, wrists, arms, shoulders) - especially in the hitting area
2) Great rhythm/tempo (leisurely back swing and smooth transition all the way to a balanced finish)
3) The body and arms to work together (let the big muscles do the heavy lifting - never, ever swing with your hands - especially from the top).
4) Avoid eating a hot dog at the turn
So, I will focus on these 4 things as I continue the process of improvement. My new goal is to break par before my birthday (September 13 / 95 days / about 12-13 rounds). I really believe that I can do it - as I thought I was going to, at least, shoot even par on Saturday - but in order to reach this new goal, it is going to take getting better at all facets of the game: My driver is in a good place, my irons need more consistency (finding the groove/slot), my pitching and greenside bunker play need a lot of work and my chipping and putting could both use one or two notches of improvement.
So here we go again!
