2022 Season is underway!

Yesterday, I opened the season in excellent fashion.  I was trying to bang the rust off my game, prepare for next week’s golf trip to Myrtle Beach, and have fun.  Check. Check. Check. 

After a brutally cold January, yesterday’s mid-50s temperatures were a welcome respite, however when I showed up to the course, the wind was blowing, and it was cold – but still playable.  The tendency on these first rounds is to do too much and I may have stepped slightly over the line because my golf muscles are sore today.  I started with a range warm-up where I hit at least three balls with every club in the bag.  Normally, the first thing to come around is full swing followed by short game and that was the case.  I tapped into a swing thought that I found from my last practice session in December and surprised myself at how solid I struck it.  This held up through the entire round and I probably hit driver better than any round in 2021.  Where I struggled was on the partial wedges and around the green because touch shots require the most practice. 

On the greens, I found that it’s amazing what some consistent rug putting will do for your stroke.  I had been working in my basement and was pleased with the way the practice transitioned.  A little trick I found is to set up your indoor putting station with a slow putt and a fast putt.  My basement has berber carpet, which is kind of bumpy and slow, and I set up a 10-footer on the surface.  I also laid a yoga matt down for a fast 4-footer.  Switching between the two helped to prevent my mind from becoming complacent and focusing too much on mechanics.

Back on the course, I was playing for score but also hitting shots that weren’t appropriate for the current situations, because I knew I would need them next week.  Mainly, I focused on 3-woods off the tee for position, and chipping with lower lofted clubs since there is not much tall rough around the Bermuda greens in Myrtle.

To put a damper on things, another inch of the white stuff fell overnight ☹ and I’m trying to figure out how to get some live short game practice in before traveling.   It’s going to be tight.  On the trip, we’re playing:

• Meadowlands
• Long Bay
• Grand Dunes – Members
• Tidewater
• Thistle

I will try to capture enough pictures and information on the first three for new course reviews.  If anyone has information on current playing conditions at any of these tracks, please send!

Play well.