I hate the end of season

[NoBack]

Now that we're almost done with the golf season, I would like to know if your goals were met. Did you break that magic number on the course? Did you bring your handicap down like you wanted? Did you play enough rounds? Have enough fun??? Let's hear about "The Good - The Bad and the Ugly"

[statsfreak]

In my case it was a great golf year. I would have liked to have got out for one or two more rounds towards the end (it always ends too soon), but I played more than I normally get out for, so I can't complain.

As far as the times I did play are concerned, I do feel my game improved. I was hitting the ball better off the tee and improved parts of the short game also. I would still like to be able to hit the mid and long irons with more consistency, but what the heck, that's one of the things that keeps us going out there isn't it.

Played a bunch of courses in the area that I haven't been to before, and that is always fun. And I played with a great bunch of friends and met a whole load of new folks who were fun to be with, even if it was only for a few hours.

The weather at the start of the season was the pits, but July, August and September were fantastic. Maybe a bit hot at times, but its better than rainy. Can't wait till next year already!

[The Shtick]

Well, since I didn't play from the beginning of July until the middle of September, I will consider this to be an "off" year for me. Going from a 9 to a 14 doesn't help much either and I know that's because I still haven't found my rythmn yet since the injury. Mind you, I've played 10 times so far this October (trying to make up for what I missed I guess) and it really seems that winter is coming around way too fast.

As for courses and fun?? The OttawaGolf Tour was the best! Lotsa fun, good golf, meeting new friends, and lotsa beer!

Here's looking forward to a great (and hopefully prosperous) 2003!

[golfdoc]

Well it looks like the season is pretty much over. It was another great golf year, lots of fun rounds and lots to practice in the off-season.

I'm not sure how much yuo guys practice or work on your game over the winter, but let me tell you, it really helps.

I am a 5 handicap. I dropped by 1.5 strokes this year and it was mainly due to my off-season practice. Throughout the winter, I was always hitting balls at a local indoor facility. I hit the ball straight but don't hit it super far. I managed to increase my clubhead speed with my driver by almost 5 miles per hour. This translates into 10 yards or more of the tee.

Trust me. Hitting balls over the winter makes a huge difference. There is no warm up time once the nice weather starts. There is a great facility if you are interested but I'm not sure if I can mention it in this forum.

[Kilroy]

Originally posted by golfdoc
There is a great facility if you are interested but I'm not sure if I can mention it in this forum.

Absolutely
Always nice to hear some good reviews

[golfdoc]

Ottawa Carleton Discount Golf
Located on Canotek Rd.

There are eight turf mats to hit from into a net. These are great just to keep working on your swing and contact. The best part is, you can't see where the ball goes, so all you can work on is solid contact and consistency.

The Golf Simulators they have are very helpful. They are different from those at Golf-O-Max. These ones are more of a teaching tool and less of an entertainment machine.

Feedback from every shot is available, including clubhead speed, tempo, contact on clubface etc... Using the machine in its driving range mode is great.

[faldo]

Definitely a plus-year.
I managed to had 7 new golf balls to my wall case for Ottawa Valley Courses that I've played. Of course both sides of the river...
Up to 49 & hopefully still counting. Sometimes I think they are building them faster than I can get to!!
Then there's those "goofy" ones like CEDARVIEW that doesn't support the idea of Logo Balls.

I managed my two best scores ever, a 76 at CLOVERDALE & a 74 at MOUNTAIN CREEK. Of course the usual 93's are still lurking!!

My wife et moi had a delightful trip across Southern Ontario. We went via bed/breakfast for a week. Stops in Smiths Falls, Belleville, Aurora, London ending with 3 days in Niagara Falls. Highly recommended folks!!!

OK, enough good stuff.
We got stuck with an absolute asshole when paired to play WHIRPOOL G. C.at the end of our trip. He cursed, kicked his power cart several times, threw clubs, etc. etc. What a great way to celebrate your 25th anniversary with your wife in the same cart. On top of that he's people he's never seen before!!
He kept saying he was a really good golfer & all these shots had never happened to him before. He did get a PAR on the 12th hole.......
His wife finally managed to get thru to him & he felt really stupid. He insisted on buying us dinner & drinks at the clubhouse to apologize. It turned out he had won $8,000 at the Niagara Casino the night before............

[Colby]

And who says money won't ruin a man!

[Chris]

At the beginning of the season I changed my swing
and I thought I would see immediate results. Well I did but they were soooo discouraging. It was like I had never played before. My worst enemy was myself. I must have had a dozen thoughts passing through my head when I was standing over the ball...
At least I know for the most part what I have been doing wrong and what I need to do to correct them. My game has improved with practise and persistence (more FH and GIR). My short game has developed and my drives are more consistent. Overall I'm very pleased with my achievments this season. Now winter golf school is coming up and I'm really looking forward to working on my technique and preparing for 2003.

As well I would like to thank the administrators of OG and the members for thier contributions towards an entertaining forum. Like the morning paper, the latest threads were a ritual to read before starting my day. I enjoyed the banter and discussions and I am considering joining the tour.

[NoBack]

The Good...............

Best of 2002 - Being part of the OttawaGolf Tour and meeting a whole bunch of new golf friends.
Best Moment: Oct.15 - Manderley - shooting Par 71
Best Shot - Meadows North course - Par 5, 8th hole - Holing out an 80 yrd shot with sand wedge for Eagle 3.
Having my index end up in single digit.
Winning more side-bets with Dan than loosing.

The Bad..............
Loosing the inaugural Ryder Cup to Dan's Green Team

Worst shot - Cederhill - Par 4 - 7th hole - Duck hooking my tee shot onto my buddies golf bag breaking the clip completely off.

The Ugly.............
Walking up to the clubhouse at the Nation, knowing that I shot my worse score of the year (97) then to realize I still had 2 beers leftover.


BTW......Chris.....Join the Tour in 2003....it was a blast for sure!!!

[Colby]

My year started early. I managed to "talk" my wife into letting me get new irons, and I got a set of Hogan Apex Plus. Nice clubs, unforgiving at times, but very nice to hit.

Then I met a bunch of nice people at GolfOMax during the OttawaGolf indoor cleaners events. I won a cleaner or two, and decided to join the Tour. This has proven to be one of the best decisions I have made recently as I was introduced to even more great people.

My best times of the year...

Being a Member of Team Green and the year long bragging rights that go with it!
Shooting 81 at Stonebridge
Getting my Par 3 average below 4
Winning a few cleaners at the Tour events
Winning a CTP at the Open after skipping my ball across the water on Manderley #11
The most rounds I've played in a year (34) and shooting under 90 12 of them.
Breaking 90 at Le Geant at Tremblant


Bad times...

No eagles this year
Six rounds over 100 including a season high of 110 at Le Geant (about 6 balls in the woods)
39 putts on the way to shooting an 87 my last round of the year at Manderley in a delayed start cleaners event
Only playing 34 rounds
Too many "others" at times.

Oh well, I've got the winter and the golf school to work on things.

See you at the Max!

[Kilroy]

The Good
Observing the pride exibited by the Green team - nuff said
Lots of new friends. The Tour may be the best thing all by itself, but...

81 rounds
31 birdies, 252 pars, and some other stuff.
Broke 90 13 times.
Best round 82 at Champlain
Best Shot - a perfect li'll fade to 5" at Manderley's 14th hole to win a cleaner and CTP - worth about $25
My handicap started the season at 21, climbed to 22, and came down to 18.9 My goal was to get to 18 and hold it, so it will now hold until spring

The Bad
Failed to break 100 8 times (mostly tour events of course)

Most nervous - hitting the first ball of the Tour with 40 strangers watching; voice in my head "They all probably expect me to be a low handicapper and I'm gonna top it or something. " It went about 200 yards in the fairway. Nothing special, but it payed to pull 5 wood in such a situation.
I bought a Metcalfe logo ball and used it off the tee. It is on the top row of my ball rack.

The Ugly
Snapped the head off my 5 wood in anger. Lesson learned... throw the club FORWARD, since you are going that direction anyway.

Most silly
The marshal at Mont Cascades telling us to "Speed up, there are holes empty in front of you." "We are the lead group of a shotgun" I replied. "Well, keep pace please" as he drove away... We finished in 3.5 hours.

[el tigre]

The Good:

The OG Tour - met lots of great people who are just as fanatical about golf as I am, won enough cleaners and CTPs to keep the price reasonable (I hate paying full price for green fees).

The OG Club - played about 50 rounds without bank financing.

Shot 88 twice - once in Florida during the winter, using borrowed clubs from several different sets (go figure!), and once at Cloverdale. Even shot a 39 on Meadows East (but then blew it on the West - aka Dogleg Right - course).

Lowered my handicap - took lessons, brought my handicap down by about 5 strokes, now shooting consistantly in the 90s after 3 years.

Tried new equipment - thanks to Ebay, I was able to try out lots of new sticks, keep the ones I like and resell the ones I don't.

The Bad:

Still having bad rounds - had a few rounds over 100, especially on the tougher courses like Falcon Ridge & Eagle Creek.

Inconsistent Short Game - still can't get wedges to work for me. Need to take lessons for this in the spring.

Still looking for a driver - All I want is 230 yards and straight on a consistant basis. Still haven't found it.

[JimmyW]

El Tigre:

When I have some more time, we gotta talk. WAS shooting a consistant(?) 94, then got fitted for clubs w/ a 19* fairway wood in there too (can't hit a driver worth beans).

1st 9 after - 42 total 89
(90 or minus ever since)
CONSISTANT 220+ in the FW

It's NICE to see a 520yd par 5 and see it as 230, 200+ and a wedge

JW

Fitting- Best coin I ever spent.