Golf swing tutorial on YouTube (10-min)

How to... ...like Tiger Woods
You'll find thousands of golf tutorials on the web claiming "How to... ...like Tiger Woods". I suspect the latter may not be that happy with how his name is abused by every second aspiring golf coach. All the same, there's some really handy tips and instructions available online at no cost - except for your internet data costs off course.

One way of quickly finding very helpful golf swing information is to search for 'swingvision' on YouTube.

Attie, a golfing buddy of mine, from the Attie Heunis Says blog, sent me a hyperlink earlier today for a YouTube video titled 'How to swing a golf club like Tiger Woods' (the video follows below). There's that name again! The 9-minute 'VideoJug' video, which does not feature Woods..., is very instructive - even if experts and not-so-expert commentators may argue about some of the finer points therein. The only advice I would add to the video is not to try all of the steps they mention at once, you have to be a genius to process and execute all of that information in the short space of time that a golf swing lasts. By all means follow a string of setup routine steps. But when you get to the actual swing look at one or two pointers per phase - i.e. address (pre-backswing), backswing, downswing, follow through.




My personal pointers / swing routine
I adjust my routine continually to try and address issues in my swing as they arise. This is off course not a perfect science, as any golfer would appreciate. At present my routine and personal pointers are as follows:

• Setup
  - I stand a few steps behind the ball in line with the target, which is not necessarily the pin. Then I try to find a closer object (e.g. a leave, knoll of grass) to aim at - which will put my shot, if well executed, on the target line. Then I step up to the ball and align my feet to be parallel to the line between the ball and the closer target object I've just chosen.
  - I like executing a practice swing or two before I actually address the ball, it helps me to get a feel for the weight and rhythm of the shot I'm about to play.
  
  
• Address
  - Straight left arm & eyes on the back of the ball.
  - Relax, breathe deeply and don't hurry.
  
  
• Backswing
  - I move the club face back on the imaginary extension of the target line, i.e. parallel with my feet, keeping my left arm straight for as long as possible. I do this by rotating my shoulders to a position 90deg to the ball (I don't worry about my hips, they'll follow my shoulders), which means that I'll be looking down at the ball over my left shoulder (I'm right-handed).
  - Easy does it, I try not to hurry the back swing.
  - Eyes on the back of the ball.
  
  
• Downswing
  - At the top of my backswing I pause briefly to consolidate control and thoughts, I try not to hurry into the downswing.
  - In the downswing I keep my eyes on the back of the ball, at least up to the point of impact.
  - I try to rotate my body through the swing, which extends into the follow through (personally I focus on rotating my shoulders - although most instruction videos will emphasize rotating from your hips up).
  - I endeavour to once again return to the straight left arm position at the point of contact, as I was during the 'address' position above.
  
  
• Follow through
  Strictly speaking you're thinking about your follow through during your downswing, it's impossible to adjust your swing once you get to the follow through itself.
  - I endeavour to swing through the ball, i.e. not to hit the ball.
  - The club needs to swing through more-or-less on the target line, i.e. not around my body.
  - Complete a full swing (aborting halfway up my body is a 'half-swing', which probably either mean that I have 'hit' the ball as opposed to swinging through it or that I've swung around my body).
  - Complete the rotation of my shoulders so that they end up 90deg to the target.
  
  
• Cut yourself some slack!
  I'm not a professional, which means that sooner or later I will hook / fade / dovetail a drive. It's no use to punish myself over it. Analyse what went wrong, e.g. I fell backwards after the swing - did I swing around my body? Then make a mental note not to repeat it - even work through a mock / practice swing to address the issue. But very importantly accept that you had a bad swing and that it DOES NOT MEAN that the rest of your game is going to fall apart. Keep your composure, refocus and most importantly relax. The best way for me to sink my game is by stressing up.
  

Trevor Immelman characteristically sober on US Open prospects

News24.com reports today on comments by South African, Trevor Immelman on his prospects of winning the US Open (enroute to a possible 'grand slam'), at a press conference leading up to the tournament. Since winning the first (golf) major of 2008, the US Masters, in mid-April 2008, Immelman has been flung into a different tier of attention in the golfing world. (More on his Masters win here).

Immelman showed typical humility (as most South African players tend to) and realism when asked about his chances of winning a 'grand slam' in 2008:

I would be the happiest guy on earth if I did it over the span of a career ... We can safely say that if I do it this year I will retire, okay? There's no chance of that...
(news24.com article)

On the Torrey Pines Golf Course, where the US Open will be played June 12-15, Immelman had this to say:

It reminds me a lot of Cape Town where I grew up and where I'm from. The coast line, the vegetation, everything is similar to where I grew up. I love it here.
(news24.com article)

Immelman downplays his chances of winning the US Open, but relishes the idea. He also gained confidence from making it into a three-way playoff at the St. Jude tournament last week. That was after some disappointing performances following his US Masters win. Who knows, maybe he hit form just in time (again) for another major win? His win at the US Masters was also preceded by less impressive form.

In the press conference he did acknowledge that in winning the US Masters "...I proved to myself that if I play my best golf I can win any tournament". I and many others believe that as well Trevor!

Other notable South Africans teeing off in this year's US Open include Ernie Els (winner in 1994 & 1997), Retief Goosen (winner in 2001 & 2004), Richard Sterne, Tim Clark and Rory Sabbatini.

18 holes at Royal Port Alfred (14.04.2008)

Playing my regular Wednesday round today and having played in an informal competition on this past Saturday meant that I played 18 holes two times within five days - an unusual but welcome occurrence.

Summary
I was disappointed not to break hundred and ended on 102 again (Stableford 25), as was the case on Saturday. I scored 50 (Stableford 11) on the easier first nine and 52 (Stableford 14) on the latter.

Today's round was once again a learning school. Firstly I was reminded that I do have it in me to play at a higher level. The ease with which I parred the first hole is very encouraging. My driving with the 3-wood was mostly satisfactory, with the exception of one or two instances where I only gained about 50m after getting my swing horribly wrong. Most importantly I realise that if I'm more than 140m from a hole with danger lurking (a narrowing fairway and bushes - especially to the right of the fairway / green) I must lay up. Ending up in the bushes is a terrible result.


Hole by hole

1. 'Hugh Kelly'. par 4. score = 4 for 3. (strokesaver)
   I really enjoyed this hole. Everything seemed so easy. My 3-wood drive ended 110m from the hole on the left edge of the fairway. That's approx. a 190m drive from an elevated tee. I played a 9-iron onto the green, ending about 6m from the hole. My first put ends 10cm left of the hole and I two-put for a par 4.
   
   Conclusion: Well played!
   
   
2. 'Hippo's Bath'. par 4. score (stroke 4) = 6 for 2. (strokesaver)
   I manage swing the club head low scooping the ball up with my 3-wood. However the result is not that bad. I end up in the right-hand rough about 40m past the start of the fairway. Not great, but no disaster. The ball's lie is not great and I opt for a safe 6-iron shot, aiming to get onto the fairway rather than gain a lot of distance. I connect the ball better than expected and actually end up in the rough on the other (left) side of the fairway... I'm 90m from the hole. A full pitching wedge swing works well in distance, but my direction is crooked and I end on the 'semi-green' on the right while the flag is on the left. I play the first put way to soft, not giving it any chance. This results in me 3-putting and scoring 6.
   
   Conclusion: I must give myself a chance on the first put.
   
   
3. 'Thalassa'. par 4. score = 6 for 0. (strokesaver)
   At this point a four ball of very friendly retired folk waves me through. I hurry along, not wanting to keep them. Predictably I mess up the hole - a hole on which par should be a real possibility for me... My 3-wood drive was quite good and I end up 110m from the hole, that's a 180m drive from a non-elevated tee. An easy nine ends up 30m short, probably the right club selection but I should have given a full swing from the rough... I badly miss-hit the chip from a bad lie in a grass bunker. My next chip, from the grass bunker, ends on the green. The first put is not too bad, but in my haste to get ahead the second is wasted and I ring the hole.
   
   Conclusion: Playing through I can play fast by walking quickly between shots, not by rushing my shots :-).
   
   
4. 'Atherstone'. par 4. score = 6 for 0. (strokesaver)
   Once again I rush to get away from the old guys and pay the price! My first drive is miss-hit and travels 40m into the rough short of the fairway. The 3-hybrid from the rough doesn't work to well but takes me to within 145m from the hole. However the lie in the rough is bad, I try a 5-iron, the ball loops off to the right - 50m from the hole and far into the right-hand rough. From a hard surface I hit the pitching wedge in the teeth and the ball travels over the green and 5m into the rough. The next chip is quite good from 30m out I end approx. 2m from the hole. However, I only have one put left and I don't sink it. Ring.
   
   Conclusion: Slow down, don't worry about the guys coming up behind you!
   
   
5. 'Mullins'. par 4. score (stroke 2) = 5 for 3. (strokesaver)
   My 3-wood drive travels quite far (190m on downhill), although ending up in the right-hand rough. The lie in the rough was quite good, with the ball elevated by the grass. Thus I try a 3-wood, I didn't connect it well and played a very flat shot. However the line was perfect - straight at the flag and the ball rolls downhill on the fairway. I end up 40-50 from the hole... My chip is hit in the teeth and the ball rolls 1.5m of the back of the green. I opt for a 7-iron put to lift the ball over the first bit of thick grass. It works perfectly and I end 10cm left of the hole. I 1-put.
   
   Conclusion: Hitting the fairway on this hole is clearly beneficial as the ball tends to roll nicely down the slope. Don't worry too much about making the ball travel far through the air - rather go for accuracy!
   
   
6. 'Happy Valley'. par 3. score = 5 for 0. (strokesaver)
   Oh my! How many more times is this hole going to get the better of me. I should score three or four easily! The markers are placed to the front of the tee, 115m from the hole. I opt for a full 9 - in retrospect I should have gone for an easy 8. The first ball is out of bounds towards the drinking hole. The 2nd drive (3d shot) is also short, on the slope below the bunker. I manage a good chip over the imposing bunker and end up a metre short of the green. I opt for the 7-iron again and end up 2.5m from the hole. I miss the put and ring the hole...
   
   Conclusion: Course management failed me. On this hole I should rather end up playing long than short. Thus I should opt for a longer iron with an easy swing. E.g. from 115m I should be playing an easy 8.
   
   
7. 'Shelly Beach'. par 5. score (stroke 6) = 7 for 1. (strokesaver)
   
   
   Looking back to fairway from 7th green.
   
   
   My 3-wood drive, while not played too well once again provides satisfactory results. I'm on the fairway - close to the right-hand rough. I opt for the 3-hybrid aiming for the left of the fairway in the distance and I end up in the right rough... I'm 150m from the hole which makes the combined distance of the first two shots 306m (/2 = 153m each). I play a 4-iron from the rough, which from a better lie should produce 150m - but which I now hook onto the left rough 50m from the hole. The ball lies below my feet on a hard surface and I have to play across a nasty bunker. My chip is sliced and ends up short of the green to the right. My chip and run from there is 10cm short, which makes it just short of the green, and it ends up 2m short of the hole. My put is pulled left. I two-put.
   
   Conclusion: I think the 3-hybrid on the second shot is not a bad selection, provided the lie is OK. The 4-iron from the rough should rather have been a lay-up with a 6 or 7-iron. My chip and run would have been less risky with a 7 or 8 iron.
   
   
8. 'Keith Grainger'. Par 3. score = 4 for 2. (strokesaver)
   
   Nicholas, not my caddie on this round, on the 8th tee, the green is in the distant
   background, just in front of a small tea-house.
   
   
   The markers are placed 140m from the hole. I decide on a easy 5-iron. It was the right selection, but I play the first shot poorly and it ends up short in the bushes. I play a provisional drive, again with a 5-iron, but well executed this time. It ends up 10m past the hole. Arriving at the green we discover that my first drive, though in the bushes, is playable. It's a tough call - do I play the ball already on the green or take a chance on the 1st ball. I opt for the latter. There's a tree in line with the flag and I aim just past the left of it, playing from a firm, twig-strewn, surface. I play a flat 5-iron and end up 2m short of the green. I opt for the 7-iron again to lift the ball over the first thick grass in front of the green. It works well and I end up 1.5m from the hole. I sink the put.
   
   Conclusion: For markers set 140-150m from the hole on the 8th a well executed easy 5-iron is the right selection.
   
   
9. 'Phillipson'. Par 5. score = 7 for 0. (strokesaver)
   My 3-wood drive, aimed at the left of the fairway, ends up in the right rough approx. 40m beyond the start of the fairway. It's a rather bad lie and I opt for a 6-iron. I hit a very poor shot and end up with an even worse lie in the rough. this time I opt for the saver 7-iron and play a good shot. I end up in the middle of the fairway 140m from the hole. Opting for a 5-iron I hit the ball on the head - the ball rolls well but it is a shot wasted. I play the PW from 60m out, the distance is slightly long but I pull it well right of the green. The following chip I mess up completely and there's no chance of making the hole with my remaining shot. I ring.
   
   Conclusion: Apart from playing better executed shots there's not much else to improve on. The 2nd shot I should probably have opted for a 7-iron. Even a shorter iron. I should rather end up playing slightly shorter but onto the fairway than hoping to get distance from a bad lie in the rough. I should consider playing a 7 or 8-iron if the ball is resting on a hard surface.
   
   
   
10. 'Whale Back'. par 4. score (stroke 3) = 6 for 2. (strokesaver)
    Although fading badly, my 3-wood drive is quite good. I end up 160m from the hole in the rough just off the fairway on the right. That's a 166m uphill drive... I opt for the 3-hybrid from a not-too good lie in the rough. I hook the ball badly to the left and end up 60m from the hole on an uncomfortably hard surface. They chip is sliced and 30m short of the hole to the right. My 8-iron chip and run works very well and I'm a metre from the hole. I miss the put! I two-put.
    
    Conclusion: When I'm more than 140m from the hole with a bad lie, or approaching a protected green I should lay up! A 7-iron or shorter is the better option! Poor putting also cost me dearly.
    
    
    
11. 'Punch Bowl'. par 3. score = 4 for 2. (strokesaver)
    I opt for my 3-hybrid. I force the shot and it fades badly. I'm very lucky to hit the open incline behind the bush-line. The ball actually rolls down it to within 4m of the green, but I have a very uncomfortable lie. The chip is poor but ends up on the green, 3m from the hole. I pull my put and sink the next one.
    
    Conclusion: I should rather aim some way left of the flag on this hole - it's a much safer option. I must give myself a chance with my first put.
    
    
    
12. 'Greenmantle'. par 4. score = 6 for 1. (strokesaver)
    I play a average drive to end up 160m from the hole - from the lower tee. That's a 170m from an elevated tee - not very impressive. On the caddies advice I attack the hole with my 3-wood. That was shortly after I commented to him that I should lay up more... I pay the price ending up in the bushes to the right. Damn. I drop 15m back from the bushes and70m from the hole. I play a very good 9-iron to end up on the green. I two-put.
    
    Conclusion: Unless there is no danger, don't attack the hole from more than 140m - LAY UP!
    
    
    
13. 'Doug Dold'. par 3. score = 5 for 1. (strokesaver)
    I opt for an easy 3-wood. In my effort to slow down my swing I end up in the deep rough short of the fairway! A 2nd practice shot works fine and ends up flag-high (178m), although to the right of the green. I play my first ball from a bad lie with a 5-iron, the poor result sees me ending just short of the fairway! I play a 9-iron from 90m out, the length is perfect but I'm in the rough on the right of the green. A good chip and run ends up 2m from the hole. I sink the put.
    
    Conclusion: A easy, yet full swing, with a 3-wood is the right option for me on this hole. From a bad lie in the rough I should not be attacking the green, but should rather lay up with a 7-iron or shorter.
    
    
    
14. 'Southern Cross'. par 5. score = 7 for 1. (strokesaver)
    
    View from clubhouse. Practice green in front.
    14th tee just beyond and below, and 14th
    fairway stretches out towards the ocean.
    
    
    My drive with a 3-wood is not bad. About 190m from an elevated tee. According to strokesaver that puts me about 280m from the hole. My second shot with a 3-hybrid ends up 150m from the hole in the middle of the fairway. What do I do? I attack a protected green from more than 140m out..... My 4-iron shot ends in the bushes to the right, and 35m short of the green! I drop = 4th shot. My chip from a hard surface is not great but actually reaches the green. My put is slightly hard and ends up a metre beyond the hole - at least I gave myself a chance. I sink the 2nd put.
    
    Conclusion: Lay up on this hole! If I can get on top of my 1-wood this is a good hole to use it.
    
    
    
15. 'Graham'. par 4. score = 6 for 1. (strokesaver)
    My 3-wood drive has good distance but fades a lot. Luckily it carries well over the bushes and hits an incline which throws it back onto the fairway. I'm 115m from the hole. I make the right decision to play an easy 8-iron, but end up in the bunker protecting the green on the right. I have to carry over a lot of sand but am quite satisfied to clear it, even though I end up on the right of the big green while the flag is downhill to the left. I have difficulty judging the weight of the fast downhill put and end up 5m short from 25m out. The 2nd put is very well executed but just runs past the left edge of the hole. I 3-put.
    
    Conclusion: With an uphill hole such as this an easy 8-iron from 115m out is the right option. On another day I would have had a better result on this hole.
    
    
16. 'Vroom'. par 4. score (stroke 1) = 6 for 2. (strokesaver)
    My 3-wood drive is scooped again, but the result is not too bad. I'm on the fairway - but as is often the case on the hole there's a downhill slope to contend with. I opt for a save 5-iron. I'm off balance falling backwards at the end of my swing. It's a rather poor shot but the result is fine. I'm on the fairway a 100m from the hole, but on a hard surface again (I'm not fond of the present dry course conditions). A not-so-well easy 9-iron shot ends up 10m short of the green. My chip is too soft, onto the green but 5-6m short. I play my put too soft but manage to sink the 1m put thereafter.
    
    Conclusion: Using a 7-iron for the chip and run may have been an option. I must give myself a chance on the first put.
    
    
17. 'Connaught'. par 4. score (stroke 5) = 6 for 2. (strokesaver)
    I lost my notes for this hole... From what I remember my drive was OK, but ended with a bad lie in the right-hand rough. From there I played a short iron onto the fairway and then another onto the green. I then 3-putted.
    
    
18. 'Settlers'. par 5. score = 6 for 2. (strokesaver)
    I play a fairly good drive with my 3-wood and end up on the edge of the fairway with the rough interfering with my next shot. I play a safe 5-iron and end even further in the rough on the right. I have a fairly good lie and my 3-hybrid shot works well taking me to 90m from the green. My 9-iron shot takes me onto the green and 20m from the hole. I 2-put to end a somewhat disappointing round on a high.
    
    Conclusion: I played the hole well.
    

18 holes at Royal Port Alfred (10.04.2008)

I joined two golf buddies of mine, Sven and Christoph, in playing an informal competition at my home club, Royal Port Alfred, today. A guy I don't know brought fourteen of his buddies from Port Elizabeth (PE) down to our area to celebrate his 40th birthday with a weekend long bash. We were netted as a local bunch of guys to provide opposition (testosterone requires that competition be part of golf...). I'm not into competitions, not yet anyway. However, it was quite enjoyable.

Christoph and I ended up in a team against one Kevin and Paul (from PE). Kevin is a member of the Humewood Golf Club, which hosted the South African Open in 2007. It is supposed to be a great, typical coastal links-type, course. He's a 14-handicapper. Paul is a civil contractor who works on water infrastructure (I think) projects in the former Transkei - these days part of the Eastern Cape province. Christoph is a viciously good golfer (in my books) with a 6 handicap at present, which gives him a competition allowance of 5. For his handicap and most recent scores go here.

Paul had a terrible day, something which happens if you haven't played golf in ages. The sole impressive aspect of his game was his drives and length in general. Wow! He would generally hit two to three irons longer than the rest of us. Something to behold. However, the rest of his game wasn't up to scratch. In the better-ball format we played the scoring (Stableford) was left up to his team mate Kevin.

Christoph and I got off to a good start 'winning' the first two holes and halving the third. We were slightly ahead until about four holes from the end. At that stage below par play from both of us allowed Kevin through the back door and 'they' ended up beating us by two points. Some of the other locals did better, but the last group also folded and sadly the locals lost :-). At least we showed the city boytjies a good time!

I played 102 (with more than a couple of rings...), but because of the competition format - better ball - did not get to add up my Stableford score. I'm pretty sure it's for the best though...

For Christoph a poor day meant playing 86. No comment.

Fish River Sun's amazing greens

In my previous post I briefly described a round of golf I played at the Fish River Sun Golf Course on 30 April 2008. One aspect of that round that really amazed me was the incredible quality of the greens. While my putting on the day wasn't great there was no way that I could blame the greens. I have never played on more true or firmer greens. With the help of a good caddie, or if you have a really sharp eye, the right line to play is discernible. There's no luck involved, you either put correctly and sink the put or you don't. That's great. At my home course in Port Alfred the greens are also of a very good quality, but nothing like this. Another course in my region, the Alexandria Golf Course, putting is a nightmare. Every put rides on luck - a good put my bounce off to the left and miss the hole or a poorly executed put may end in the hole. Not nice.

About a year ago I was told that Fish's greens were in very bad shape. Apparently the grass picked up some or other disease. However, something has clearly been done about it. While the course's fairways are slightly dry as is the case with all the over courses in the region the greens were made in heaven. Well done to the green keeper and management!

18 holes at Fish River Sun (30.04.2008)

I played 18 holes at Fish River Sun yesterday. It was a painful experience. My inexperience with my new clubs haunted me this time round, after a good first time out last week at my home club. I scored 105 for 15 - Ouch!

In retrospect I was my own worst enemy, as is often the case in golf. I paid a rare visit (only my 2nd) to our 'local' driving range some 40km from my home village. I experimented with my 1-wood a bit, a club I normally avoid, and worked out how to hit it. Mainly it was the old basic of teeing the ball high and in line with my left foot. However, come yesterday's round I ended up out of bounds a couple of times. But instead of just bagging the club for the rest of the round I persisted in trying it out. I'd see what looked like a broad fairway and decide that I can't possible get in trouble here...

All things considered I'm not to distraught with the experience. I need time to try out the new clubs. I'll try the 1-wood again in future rounds, but will need to be much more disciplined. I can only use it when a hole is very forgiving on either drawing or fading and where distance from the tee is a real advantage. Otherwise my 3-wood should do just fine - for one thing I'm mostly hitting the fairways with it.

Strokesaver website a valuable tool

I've only encountered the printed version of 'Strokesaver' at one course in my very limited golfing career - Fish River Sun. Before returning there for another game yesterday I was reminded of how helpful I found the course guide they provided for that particular course and had a look on the net to see if they provided a similar service there.

The Strokesaver home page.

Walla - www.strokesaver.co.za. The site's main selling point is once again the course graphs they provide - other than that a basic overview of each course is quite interesting. What is missing for me is hole-by-hole advice for the average golfer. But all the same, the hole-by-hole distance and layout guides are there and that's the main thing I'm looking for from Strokesaver.

Strokesaver overview page on Fish river Sun Golf Course.

They don't cover that many courses, featuring only seven in the Eastern Cape. Although it has to be said that it's probably some of the seven best courses in the province.

Strokesaver distance graph for hole 1 at Fish River Sun.

One confusing aspect of the distance graphs in Strokesaver is that measurements are from the front of the green - where most of the golf clubs I play at provide on-course measurement signage with distances from the middle of the green. That means that Strokesaver may tell you that you're 150m from the green and the on-course signage may suggest 170m... But once you figure this out the two resources combined can actually strengthen your knowledge on which to base your course management.

The site provides the option to print out distance guides or to save it to pdf format. I look forward to utilising their service in future.

Royal Port Alfred Golf Club - Description of 1st hole

Description
The 1st hole at Royal Port Alfred Golf Club is called 'Hugh Kelly'. It's a 301m, par 4 hole, ranked stroke 10. The hole should in theory be quite easy, but is in fact difficult to score on simply because it's the first hole and most players don't warm up sufficiently before teeing off. Furthermore the course's fence line about 3m off the fairway on the right side and if you're over eager on this hole going out of bounds is a real possibility.

1st tee furniture.

The green is protected with two bunkers on the front-right and one on the front-left. The circular green is quite big measuring approx. 30m across. There's thick coastal vegetation quite close to the green on the right back and also on the left and back - but further away. The tee is well elevated and most players should be able to make the green or its direct environs with two well executed strokes.

A short way downhill from the elevated tee, there is quite a large practice tee. Signs on the fence line to the right indicate distances from the middle of this practice tee. It is also elevated

Photographs

View from the 1st tee. The closest bit of green beyond the tee is a practice tee. The green is just before the bushes straight ahead. The fairway to the left is the 18th. (dry season)

Rough in front of the tee, with elevated practice tee and fairway beyond. (dry season)

Elevated practice tee in foreground, with fairway beyond. Fence line on the right. The fairway of the 2nd hole, Hippo's Bath, stretches out over the hill in the background. (dry season)

The clubhouse (side view) as seen from the practice tee on the 1st hole. (dry season)

Sign at practice tee.

The front of the fairway. (dry season)

Vehicle & antelope spoor in a sandy patch next to the 1st fairway...

Marker indicating 150m to the centre of the green. (dry season)

Club house as seen from across the 1st fairway. (dry season)

Fairway marker - 100m from the centre of the green.

The green from the front. One bunker on the left and two on the right. (dry season)

Tree in the right rough with bunker protected green in the background. Not a good lie...

Looking back up the fairway towards the clubhouse from the right rough, short of the pin. The fence line is visible on the left and the 18th green is just to the right, and below, the clubhouse. (dry season)

The two bunkers protecting the right side of the 1st green. (dry season)

Close up of bunker on right of the green. (dry season)

Bunker on the left of the green. (dry season)

This stuff is thick. Typical coastal bush found all across the golf course. These are at the back of the 1st green.

View from the front of the green (bunker rake in front), over the fairway towards the clubhouse. The 18th fairway and green is to the right. (dry season)

The view back to the clubhouse from the 1st green.

18 holes at Royal Port Alfred (23.04.2008)

This is a report on my last round played on Wednesday, 23 April 2008. I played 18 holes on my home course a The Royal Port Alfred Golf Club.

18th fairway in foreground
and dunes in the distant background.

Summary
I played on my own. I scored 53 (11 stableford) over the first nine and 45 (18 stableford) over the back nine for a total of 98 (29 stableford). The score and stableford points over the back nine is a personal best, as is the total stableford points. I'm obviously very happy with that.

It was the first time out with my new set of clubs and I may have fared even better if it wasn't for the adjustment. I also started out late after a delay and was a little hurried over the first five holes as I had a very fast 3-ball breathing down my neck (they hopped over to the 10th hole after no. 5 which is the way to play if you're only doing 9-holes on our course). Being late, my regular caddie wasn't available and one Nicholas did a pretty good job.

On checking my handicap on the National Golf Network site, after the game, I realised that under the new competition system I should now be playing off a 23 (handicap = 30), which would have brought my total down to 97 (stableford points unchanged). But I'll leave that be...

More detailed description
The weather was quite nice. A light south-easterly was blowing, it was sunny and mild.

A lot of new & different things today
A lot of things were different for this round - which could have lead to disaster. I actually fully expected a disaster. I had a brand new set of clubs, that I have not hit a single shot with before, I had new golf shoes and a different caddie. I'm also used to teeing off before the first official slot, which makes for an empty course and a relaxed pace. As stated above I was very rushed over the first 5 holes today.

The coastal vegetation on the golf course,
as viewed from the 18th fairway, with dunes in the background.

My new clubs For more on my new clubs, click here. This is the first time I put them to the test. In general I'm more than satisfied, actually pleasantly surprised. Although not reflected in my round's score today, I'm convinced that it will assist me in lowering my scores and handicap. I definitely got more distance and have more options out of the rough.

Two clubs stood out for me. The 3-wood definitely has a larger sweet spot than my previous one. I hit much straighter and even my bad shots had significantly better results than with the old wood. The 3-hybrid is incredible. It's my first time playing with a hybrid and it was an absolute pleasure. I'm comfortable playing it out of the rough in lies for which I would previously have resorted to a 5-iron and obviously get more distance as a result. It also plays very sweetly from the fairways.

Mpumi, a wonderful lady, who takes my food order via cell phone
from the course and has it ready for me shortly after I walk off the course.

The biggest adjustment for me is the Pitching Wedge. My chips were terrible today. The one or two times that I hit it sweetly were great - but it was mostly disastrous. At least it was only the one club. It could have been the case with all of my new clubs. The putter is heavier to what I'm used to , which meant that my weight on puts was often a little out. But I like the putter. I hit one good drive with the 1-wood at 190m, which is a good distance for me. But I'm putting the 1-wood aside until I get a chance to hone it on the driving range. I'm not used to teeing the ball high enough for a driver.

Part of the clubhouse bar.

My swing
I use a three-quarter swing for more control, i.e. not a full back swing. However, it is obviously a compromise. I'll probably get much more distance from a full swing and I'm curious to try it out on our very distant driving range. Tampering with something that's not badly broken is dangerous, but what the heck. I did fade some of my balls quite badly and I'd like to see if I can tweak that as well.

Hole by hole

1. 'Hugh Kelly'. par 4. score = 6 for 1.
   Drew the drive with new 3-wood, but got good distance. Semi-rough, not a bad lie.
   I pull my approach shot to the left of the green and end up in deep rough.
   My chip is messed up and I need another one to get on the green.
   2-put into hole.
   
   
2. 'Hippo's Bath'. par 4. score (stroke 4) = 6 for 2.
   Faded drive with new 3-wood, but good distance. Lucky not to be out of bounds, lie close to the fence line, but playable.
   2nd shot PW onto the fairway.
   3d shot PW, hit a flat shot (in the teeth) over the green with a lie at the foot of the 3d hole's tee...
   4th shot PW, hit on the head - wasted shot rolling two metres...
   5th shot PW, once again poorly connected, but luckily it runs onto the green.
   6th shot, good put into hole, thus avoiding a 7 on this hole.
   
   
3. 'Thalassa'. par 4. score = 5 for 2.
   Lovely straight drive with 3-wood. Better trajectory than my normal flat shots - perhaps a bit high in fact. 160m drive. Not incredible, but I'm quite happy considering that I hit the fairway and am in striking distance of the green.
   2nd shot with 6-iron faded to the right, but more or less pin-high.
   3d shot with PW. Good chip to within a metre of the hole.
   4th shot with putter. Line 100% but I get the weight wrong with the heavier putter and the ball pops out of the hole...
   5th. Putt in for 5.
   
   
4. 'Atherstone'. par 4. score = 6 for 1.
   Nice straight, if low, drive with new 1-wood. 190m drive. I hit the fairway. Best position ever on this hole for me. Open line to the pin, 90m on.
   
   
5. 'Mullins'. par 4. score (stroke 2) = 7 for 1.
   Flat, hooked, drive with new driver. Poor shot into rough.
   2nd shot with 3-hybrid. Poor direction but very good connection and distance.
   3d shot with 7-iron from the rough, ±150m from hole, which is at the end of a long downhill. End up 40m from the hole.
   4th shot. Messed up chip...
   5th shot. Chip onto green.
   Two-put into hole.
   
   
6. 'Happy Valley'. par 3. score = 4 for 2.
   1st shot with 7-iron into light south-easterly. Pin high, but approx. 15m left of green. I'm lucky that the ball runs down a slope to within 3m of the green.
   2nd shot, PW chip attempt hit the ball in the teeth... but onto the green.
   2-put into hole.
   
   
7. 'Shelly Beach'. par 5. score (stroke 6) = 8 for 0*.
   * = After entering my score I visit the NGN site to check my handicap and learn that at my present handicap of 30 I should be playing of a 23 (up to now I played of 24) and thus this hole should in fact have been 7 for 0...
   
   
   Looking back to fairway from 7th green.
   
   
   Drive with new 1-wood once again, flat, low and hooked. However, the distance is not bad and I end up in the left rough 'two bumps' past the front of the fairway.
   2nd shot is my first with new 8-iron, for that matter first with an 8-iron in a very long time as I lost my previous 8-iron somewhere on a course long ago. I hit the ball high... but it rolls onto the fairway at least.
   3d shot with 3-hybrid from the fairway. The moment I connect it I know it's going to fade. Good distance and connection, but I end up to the right of the very narrow rough - out of bounds. I suspect I have to look at straightening my swing?
   4th shot = drop.
   5th shot with 5-iron 40m short of the green into the right bunker...
   6th shot with SW roles 2m, still in the bunker. Didn't swing through...
   7th shot with SW gets me out of the bunker but short of the green.
   8th shot with PW short of the hole = blackout on this hole.
   
   
8. 'Keith Grainger'. Par 3. score = 4 for 2.
   
   Nicholas on the 8th tee, the green is in the distant
   background, just in front of a small tea-house.
   
   
   Drive from elevated position with 7-iron (I think) and end up just onto the front of the green.
   Three put...
   
   
9. 'Phillipson'. Par 5. score = 7 for 0.
   Drive into bushes with 1-wood...
   4th shot not great, but I reach the fairway.
   5th shot with 3-hybrid from fairway. Great line and length.
   6th shot from approx. 100m out on the fairway, with wind from behind. Full swing with PW. I hit it in the teeth and travel over the back of the green.
   7th shot a bungled chip. I blackout on this hole...
   
   
   
10. 'Whale Back'. par 4. score (stroke 3) = 4 for 4.
    Great drive with 3-wood, onto the left of the right sloping fairway - within reach of the green.
    2nd shot from fairway with 3-hybrid is pin high, but about 5m to the left and below green.
    3d shot an attempted chip with PW. I hit the ball on the head but I'm very lucky that it rolls to within a metre from the hole.
    4th shot is a solid put into the hole.
    
    
    
11. 'Punch Bowl'. par 3. score = 3 for 3.
    Perfect drive with 3-hybrid. Straight to the flag, ending up approx. a metre from the green. Probably about a 160m drive - the tee is slightly elevated.
    2nd shot is put onto the green, perfect line, but a little soft ending up 40cm short of the hole.
    1-put into the hole.
    
    
    
12. 'Greenmantle'. par 4. score = 5 for 2.
    Tee is at the back most elevated location today, 358m from the hole.
    Drive with 1-wood is disappointing. I feel the club head shift on impact and suspect that I didn't swing through either. End up approx. 165 from hole, i.e. a 193m drive (from high elevation...)
    2nd shot with 3-hybrid from the rough doesn't work well, with ball veering off to the right - almost in the rough again. 50m from the green.
    3d shot with PW is well executed and reaches the green.
    2-put for 5.
    
    
    
13. 'Doug Dold'. par 3. score 4 for 2.
    
    Nicholas on the 13th green.
    
    
    On the caddie's advice I opt for a 5-iron, which I believed would be too short for the 178m to the green. In my effort to extract distance from the ball I force my swing and end up in the rough 50m to the left of the green. The distance was actually OK.
    My 2nd shot, PW, is hit in the teeth and ends up against the bushes 30m to the right of the green.
    3d shot with PW and virtually no room for a back swing. I improvise a shot angling the club face towards the green but swinging sideways from an angle. It works perfectly and I'm on the green.
    2-put into the hole.
    
    
    
14. 'Southern Cross'. par 5. score 7 for 0
    
    View from clubhouse. Practice green in front.
    14th tee just beyond and below, and 14th
    fairway stretches out towards the ocean.
    
    
    Drive with 1-wood is disastrous. I hook the ball into the 13th rough.
    2nd shot with 3-hybrid across Milkwood trees works well and I in the middle of the 14th fairway.
    3d shot with 3-hybrid from fairway takes me to within 50m of the hole.
    From there disaster strikes with my PW and I ring the hole...
    
    
    
15. 'Graham'. par 4. score = 4 for 3.
    At this point I've decided to put away the 1-wood. Drive with 3-wood fades but works very well and hits the fairway. A 200m drive into an uphill fairway, with assistance from a light easterly.
    2nd shot. A successful swing with the PW ends up on the edge of the green.
    A 30m put ends up within 40cm of the hole and the 2nd put finds the hole.
    
    
16. 'Vroom'. par 4. score (stroke 1) = 7 for 0.
    Drive with 3-wood hooked and very low, ends up in the 17th rough. Once again the distance gained is better than a similarly poor execution would have produced with my old 3-wood.
    2nd shot with 3-hybrid from the rough not great, it dovetails to the right but at least finds the fairway approx. 80m on. 200m from the pin.
    3d shot with 3-hybrid is hit on head and only travels ±55m to within 145m from hole...
    4th shot with 4-iron similarly poor shot, but it rolls along the fairway and ends 40m from the green...
    5shot with PW again hit on the head, but once again I'm quite lucky and it ends up 3m beyond the pin.
    6th shot I put right-side, while caddie actually said 'right-edge' and my well executed shot rolls past the hole.
    I miss a short 1m put and ring the hole...
    
    
17. 'Connaught'. par 4. score (stroke 5) = 5 for 3.
    Drive with 3-wood is below average and I end up in the left rough, with a fair lie. 140m uphill drive - not great.
    2nd shot with 3 hybrid is not well aimed but connected very well, travelling nicely.
    3d shot is a good 40m PW, within 3m of the hole.
    2-put.
    
    
18. 'Settlers'. par 5. score = 6 for 2.
    Drive with 3-wood not well executed. Drawn to the left rough, but distance surprisingly as good as I've ever got on this hole with my old 3-wood.
    2nd shot with 5-iron from the rough not to bad, ending on the fairway.
    3d shot with 3-hybrid fades into right rough, 80m from the hole, which is not a good place to be on the 18th.
    4th shot a full swing with the PW from a very deep rough, ends up 10m short of, and 10m below, the green.
    5th shot with PW well executed, ends up 2m from the hole.
    I round of the day's play with a good 2m put straight into the hole.
    

My new clubs

(To skip the blah blah and see what I've got in my bag just scroll down to the bottom!)

Until last week I played with ancient clubs that I took over from my dad. I started playing golf approximately three years ago, at which time my dad felt like moving on to newer technology. One of my resolutions for 2008 is to play much more regular golf (last year I only handed in four or five score cards). Having not done too badly in following that resolution, I've decided it's time for new clubs. My birthday (today) was the perfect excuse for purchasing the new set.

My budget at present does not allow for expensive, top of the range, clubs. I went around to a couple of pro shops and other suppliers to see what was available on the market. I was considering a set of irons from Walmer Country Club's pro shop at approx. R1 450 (South African Rand). By the way the Club's course and pro shop are both more than worth a visit.

What I found interesting is that the various suppliers offer a limited number of 'straight' iron sets (3-9, PW, SW), most clearly prefer to market boxed sets (i.e. a bag, a set mix of irons & hybrids plus one or two woods). With the latter the reduced cost is a great advantage, but provides no freedom to choose between an iron and hybrid for example.

Eventually I ended up in Game (a hypermarket type chain offering a limited product range but low prices because they push through volume on their selected items). Not being too brand conscience this turned out to be a good move. I found a Spalding 'V Force' boxed set for just over R1 200 (I was happy with the mix). It is the only set of clubs in Game's offering! While the above set of irons may have been marginally better clubs, in addition to irons I now got two woods, a putter and bag thrown into the deal for ±R200 less! My impression is that I still got a solid set of clubs. Time will tell.

Here's what I have in my bag now
All the below are Spalding 'V Force', all iron club heads are stainless steel.

• 1-wood (driver) - 'R-Flex', 'High Modulus', graphite shaft; Forged 400cc head.
  
• 3-wood (fairway wood) - 'R-Flex', 'High Modulus', graphite shaft; 250cc head.
  
• 3-hybrid- 'R-Flex', 'High Modulus', graphite shaft.
  
• 4-9 irons - 'True Temper', stainless steel shafts; perimeter weighted, stainless steel heads.
  
• Pitching Wedge - specs as per irons above.
  
• Sand Wedge - specs as per irons above.
  
• Putter - specs as per irons above.
  

7-iron club face

7-iron, back of club head

7-iron, foot.

Update - My first round of golf with the new clubs
The below comes from a report on 18 holes at Port Alfred played on 23 April 2008:

...My new clubs ....This is the first time I put them to the test. In general I'm more than satisfied, actually pleasantly surprised. Although not reflected in my round's score today, I'm convinced that it will assist me in lowering my scores and handicap. I definitely got more distance and have more options out of the rough.

Two clubs stood out for me. The 3-wood definitely has a larger sweet spot than my previous one. I hit much straighter and even my bad shots had significantly better results than with the old wood. The 3-hybrid is incredible. It's my first time playing with a hybrid and it was an absolute pleasure. I'm comfortable playing it out of the rough in lies for which I would previously have resorted to a 5-iron and obviously get more distance as a result. It also plays very sweetly from the fairways.

The biggest adjustment for me is the Pitching Wedge. My pitches were terrible today. The one or two times that I hit it sweetly were great - but it was mostly disastrous. At least it was only the one club. It could have been the case with all of my new clubs. The putter is heavier to what I'm used to , which meant that my weight on puts was often a little out. But I like the putter. I hit one good drive with the 1-wood at 190m, which for me is good distance. But I'm putting the 1-wood aside until I get a chance to hone it on the driving range. I'm not used to teeing the ball high enough for a driver....

Fuzzy Zoeller's amazing lucky break (YouTube)

I browsed South Africa's "National Golf Network" site today to get an update on my handicap. I drifted off to other corners of the site and encountered the amazing video below. It must be on of the most amazing golf shots ever captured on video.

I couldn't find any information about the tournament or year in which this shot was played. All I know is that the player is one Fuzzy Zoeller, a former Masters champion.

I vaguely remember a shot in the Sun City Million Dollar golf tournament some years ago where a guy's ball ricochetted from a tree into the hole for a hole in one, which saw him winning a car for his effort. However, a quick YouTube search for the incident did not deliver anything. I'd love to see a clip of that again...

18 holes at Royal Port Alfred (16.04.2008)

Playing partners
Sven and I was joined by my brother in law's brother in law for a round of golf today at my home course in Port Alfred.. Yes, you didn't misread that - Hanno is the brother in law of my wife's brother :-).

Hanno is about a ten handicap and it shows in his style and easy swing. However, he played with borrowed golf clubs today (my dad's), on a strange (to him) and challenging course with a strong westerly over the last nine holes. Even though Hanno's score was only a couple of shots more than ours he'd prefer that it not be published... Enough said on that topic!

Sven pitching out of "Hippo's Bath".

Synopsis I played a round of 102 (27 Stableford points). Sven played 98 (Stableford 29).

My performance on the first five holes is reason for hope. At that rate I may be down to the mid nineties in the not too distant future. My course management wasn't too bad, but can be improved. My putting slipped a bit today and kept me from dipping below 100 again. Another factor was the very strong wind over the last nine and my insufficient sleep the night before. My 5 on the (par 3) 6th and blackout on the (par 3) 8th were disappointing. Both are probably psychological failures and I have to try and get my mind around those holes. Drives into the bushes at the aforementioned 8th, short of the fairway on the 10th, into the bushes at the 12th and twice into the bushes at the 15th cost me dearly.

Hanno drives on the 2nd.

A more detailed description of my round follows below:

A very promising start
For me the day started very well. I have this tendency to mess up my first hole and more often than not I end up with a ring 6. This may have a lot to do with not warming up before teeing of... However, today I managed to hit the fairway - which is always a good start. I scored 5 on the par 4 (for 2), followed by 5 ( par 4 for 3), two more 5's (both par 4's for 2's). The last good hole in this opening streak was a 6 for 2 scored on the stroke 2/ 413m/ 5th hole (Mullins). Thus after five holes my Stableford score was already an impressive eleven! If only I could continue the streak...

Hanno tees off on hole 1

Happy Valley (6th) slows me down
In golf you should never count your chickens before they've hatched. The next hole was a ominous sign of things to come. Relative to my normal performance on this hole, I actually didn't play too badly. Compared to my start over the first 5 holes today though, it was downright depressing.

Royal Port Alfred's par 3 holes (four of them) are really quite well designed. Three of the four reward good shots but severely punish bad ones. The most forgiving is the par 3, 13th. But I found myself on the 6th. Happy Valley is one of those holes which should in theory by easy. Somehow the shrubby coastal bush in front of, and to the side of the hole tend to draw bad balls in and swallow them whole... Luckily a played a 'half-bad' shot that at least carried over the latter but my ball ended up plugged into the rough 30m short of the hole and probably 30m below as well (very steep gradient). A simple chip was not an option, I had to punch it hard and overflew the green and down the back on a similar gradient. Luckily closer and not plugged in this time. The third shot reached the green and I two putted for 5 (for 1).

Sven a little higher up the slope than I was...

Shelly Beach (7th)
Shelly Beach is a hole that tends to really cost me. It is a par 5 / 456m hole. The distance is obviously not too daunting and in all fairness the width could have been less. The problem is that it is extremely uneven (typical links type fairway), sloped steeply to the right, with a narrow rough before you end up in coastal shrubs or -God forbid- go out of bounds over the fence line 3 metres further. It is stroke 6, which for me -at my current handicap- can result in a nauseating score of 8. Today I managed to hit the fairway with my drive. Thereafter I zig-zagged across the remainder of the hole but at least scored 7 (for 2).

Another par 3 nightmare at the 8th
The 8th at Royal Port Alfred is once again a par 3 that rewards good shots and mostly punish bad shots severely. Its a 144m hole where one tees off from an elevated tee. While there is limited fairway in front of the green, none of it is visible from the tee. The thick coastal bush between you and the green is very intimidating and once again swallows many a poor shot. Today the markers was set back, making it about 150m to the flag. I faded both my drives badly into the bushes on the right of the hole. Ring 5...

Sven tees off on the 2nd hole.

1st nine in the pocket
I finished the 9th hole of quite well, scoring 6 for two on the stroke 8 par 5. That gave me 49 on the 1st nine. For me that's a satisfactory score, although judging by my first five holes I did loose the plot along the way. At one point a 46 was well within reach... I did score only one ring and had a Stableford total of 16 - not bad.

The wind picks up...
As is probably true of most coastal courses, the wind -particularly the westerly- can be a major factor. At this point in my game the westerly was beginning to show it's bite. That and probably a lack of concentration and some fatigue after less than 5-hours' sleep. The 10th & 11th went quite well. A 6 for 2 on a par 4 (stroke 3) and 4 for 2 on a par 3.

Hanno lining up a put.

Nosedive at the 12th
I messed up the 12th without any help from the wind mind you. Teeing off from a very elevated tee, I managed to connect the ball too high resulting in a top-spinning diving ball. It ended in the bushes. My 2nd drive (3d shot) was a beauty, but a little late... The fourth shot ended short in the rough and eventually I ring 6'ed the hole.

Battling cross-wind on 13 & 14
We were all a little sceptical of the lines given by our caddies on the 13th hole, par 3. They wanted us to aim way left. My two buddies both ended up to the right of the hole, compensating for the caddies' dramatic lines. I saw the results and planned not to repeat their mistakes - except that I dovetailed my drive into the rough and short of the fairway... All the same I was actually in a better position and ended up just missing a ring while my buddies were less fortunate.

My caddie Eric is closest in picture with the red shirt.

On the 14th the wind did not bring back my ball onto the fairway as I expected and my ball flew straight where I aimed it - into the rough behind some trees! I dug myself out of the situation fairly well on my 2nd shot, just to see my 3d end up to the right behind some more trees. From there I sliced my 9-iron shot and took to more poor chip shots to reach the green. The only thing that saved me from a ring was a long range put that found the hole.

The last four holes
I once again messed up two drives in a row to 6 ring the 15th, par 4. The 16th hole is stroke one, thus statistically the most difficult hole on the course. However, straight good shots will give you a good result. My drive was one of the best of my day. I scored 6 which on this particular hole is a good result for me. Then I managed to repeat a good showing on the (par 4) 17th. The latter two holes has sunk many a promising round. They're long par 4's (17 being uphill and into the prevailing wind). Hole no. 18 should have been plain sailing, but I maxed out on 7 (par 5).