More on hitting a draw and how it improves your game

Check out this video on How to Hit a Draw. It looks like its going to be a good DVD. I think I'm going to give it a try. I'll let you know what I think of it.

Learn How to Hit a Draw and Improve Your Golf Game

So I've been hearing a lot about the "draw" shot. Everyone tells me that if you learn to draw you can immediately improve your game. My cousin Micky is probably the best golfer I go out to the links with and I know he hits draws with regularity. If he's using it, it's got to be a good thing.

I'm thinking about picking up this DVD I got an e-mail about today. The DVD teaches you how to hit a Draw. http://www.purepointgolf.com/hitting-a-golf-draw.htm I've gotten other DVD's from this company recently and I like the method they teach. I haven't been able to practice it enough for it to really make a difference, but the couple of times on the course that I hit the ball well using their technique shows me that it works.

The biggest problem with my game is consistency. The second biggest problem with my game is slicing. This method claims that it'll fix both of these problems. It's got me fairly excited. I think when it comes out I'll definitely give it a shot. They've got a money back guarantee. If I try it and it doesn't work, I'll just get my money back. But if I can improve my game that much from something that costs less than a round at my favorite course, then I should probably give it a try.

Joe

Palm Valley The Lakes Course, in Goodyear, AZ

So I've been looking forward to playing the Palm Valley Golf Course that my friend lives near (his patio looks out on the water hazard on 7 of the Palm Valley Course) for a long long time. He's been hyping this course to me since he moved there over 6 months ago. He got us a tee time on the Lakes Course (the shorter of the two courses at Palm Valley) and we finally headed out there today.

After shooting so miserably yesterday (see the previous post), I was determined to have a good round today.

What's that saying? "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry."

On this 4,745 yard par 62 course, I shot a 127. That's a big step backward. I hit 58 on the front nine and 69 on the back. Oy vey! That could be the worst round I've shot in a long time. I just fell apart in the short game. I have been trying a little pointer that I picked up, but never practiced, and it just didn't work. That's something that I can't suggest strongly enough - PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Especially if you're trying something new. By the last couple holes, my confidence in my short game was totally gone. The shots that I normally hit well - like the green side bunker - I was tanking. It was reasonably horrible.

It was a very good time though and a beautiful course - http://www.palmvalleygolf.com/
There was one hole that wasn't entirely up to snuff. It looked like some kids had gotten on the green with bicycles or something. There were straight grooves running across the green like tire treads. Otherwise the course was immaculate. A really good play, even for a shorter course like this. Good desert terrain. It was difficult without being impossible. I definitely recommend that course if you ever head out that way.

In the meantime, I'll get to practicing. Hope your last round was better than mine!

Joe

Mountain Shadows, Paradise Valley, AZ

So, uh, yeah. That might have been the worst round I've ever played. It was an executive course with a par of 57 and a total of 3081 yards. I shot a 114. Yikes. That is so awful, I don't even know how to say how horrible that is. There were too holes where I literally gave up. I was so far behind the guys I was playing with and I had hit the ball out of bounds repeatedly, I just had to give up and head to the next hole.

I shot a 64 on the front nine and a 50 on the back. I actually shot a lot better towards the end of the round, but it was such a mess early on.

On the bright side, the course was REALLY nice. http://www.mountainshadowsgolfclub.com Nice little course, very well kept. I would definitely recommend it to anybody. We had a good time and I got a little sunburnt. All in all a good day.

Playin' again tomorrow. I'll keep you informed!

Joe

Some old scorecards...

So I was digging through a closet in my back bedroom this morning looking for a DSL modem and I found a couple old scorecards. Its funny when these things just appear. Two of them were from my first couple Arizona outings, and the third was 3 or 4 rounds ago. Here's a little peek...

The oldest one was from Apache Wells (www.apachewellsgolfclub.com) I shot a 71 going out with 26 putts and 67 coming back with 22 putts. A little better on the back 9, but we're still looking at a 138. Not anybody's best round. This course is actually easier going out (34) than coming back (37) so I guess I should consider it some kind of moral victory, but the whole course is only 6038 yards and its fairly straight. We played another round there the next month where I shot a little better.

The second oldest is from Kokopelli Golf Club (www.americangolf.com) and I shot a 144. Yikes. I remember that day. It was horrible. Everything I hit went immediately to the right. I lost a lot of balls that day out of bounds. I shot a 74 going out and a 70 coming in. This was probably 6 to 8 weeks after the previous scorecard. This course is about 6228 yards. A little longer, but still not especially long. I remember that it was a nice course though. I would definitely play there again.

The third scorecard is newer - from early this year, like January or so. I hit a then personal best of 108. It was Apache Wells again, like the first card. I hit 57 on the way out with 21 putts, and 51 on the way in with 19 putts. It was a very good day. For someone that's NEVER shot a birdie (I missed one by an inch on my last round), I did have 3 pars. That's pretty good for me. I had more 1 putts that I normally have and my drives stayed mostly in play.

So the story of these cards is this: The first and third cards are the same course about a year apart. I went from a 138 to a 108. That's a reduction of 21.5%. If in the next year I can affect a similar reduction in my handicap, I'll be hitting 85. That would be OUTSTANDING. I will happily take HALF that and hit a 96.

I think I might play tomorrow AND Sunday. That will kick butt. I can't wait!!

Joe

Desert Canyon Golf Course in Fountain Hills, AZ - July 3, 2006

If you ever get the chance to play golf in Arizona, I would definitely recommend Desert Canyon Golf Course in Fountain Hills. It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! My brother and I played there while they were out for a vacation last year. Because it was July in Arizona (it was 112 degrees by noon), we got on the course for super cheap - around $40. The course is well kept - even in that heat. It had some breath-taking views - I believe it was the 8th hole, a Par 3 where you're basically look down a large hill on the entire Valley of the Sun - simply awesome. And the course was difficult in a good way. Par 71, 6,500 yards but the holes were difficult. I will definitely play there again. Check out their web site at http://www.desertcanyongolf.com/html/golfcourse.html

I'm going to be playing at Palm Valley Golf Course this Sunday. It looks really nice too. That ones down at the opposite end of the valley in Goodyear. It should be a very good time. I'll make sure I post something about it after I've played.

Thanks for reading!

Hope everyone had a nice Easter...

Hey everybody. Hope you all had a nice Easter and Passover, Spring Break, whatever...

I STILL didn't get to play this weekend. I stayed home and watched the Masters instead (it was mostly because I didn't have someone to go with). I also had a lot of work to do, so I figured I'd work and watch the tournament.

I've been working on a lot of things. Long lists of freelance stuff as well as day job stuff. I've been trying to keep up, but its a little harrowing. Everytime I turn around someone is asking for something else. I need that release, I need the relaxation of going out there and hitting a solid round. My buddy Jim has SWORN that he can make it this weekend, so I'll definitely be able to get out there. I can't wait.

So you know I've brought up PurePoint Golf's Bobby Eldridge here before. Well, Bobby's got a bunch of new videos up on YouTube. Check 'em out at http://www.youtube.com/group/golfswingsecrets

I think I'm going to start posting more links up in this blog. I'd like to point out a lot more places that I've gotten advice. The problem is that if you take advice from too many people and try to follow too many systems, you won't get anywhere. I've been trying to to stay with one system for a while and seeing if it works. I'm really into the PurePoint System now, so that's why I keep hitting on it. I've set up a separate file on my laptop here to keep all of my golf links in. I'll share what I find.

Thanks guys!

Joe

Didn't get to play this weekend...

So I had planned all last week to go out and play on Saturday and it just didn't happen. Grrr! I hate it when I think I'll get to play and I can't. I'm definitely going to go out next weekend now (maybe sooner!). I'm itching to try some of the new techniques I've been picking up. I really think they'll help my game. I'm planning on breaking 100 my next time out. I know I can do it, I just have to get out there!

So I've been watching and watching my Short Game DVD from PurePoint Golf and watching their little video clips on YouTube and I think I've got this system down. I decided a long time ago that my short game is my undoing. I have a tendency to top the ball and watch it scoot over and through the green and I think the DVD has pointed out why its happening. I'm trying to get under the ball and lifting up my front shoulder pulling myself away from the ball. That obviously is bad. I've been practicing with the low follow through that Bobby mentions on the DVD and it has proved to work much better than my normal short game swing.

Anybody got any other pointers on the short game? I'd like to hear 'em.

Joe

Painted Mountain in Mesa, AZ - February 2007

So I thought I'd start with my last outing. I played a course named Painted Mountain in Mesa, AZ (which is just south of Scottsdale if you're not familiar with the area). www.PaintedMountainGolf.com We played while all of the wives were at my fiance's Bridal Shower. It was a nice time with all of the guys. My foursome included my friend Brent, my future brother-in-law Erik and some dude named Frank. Frank was really nice and he pointed out some thing I could do to improve.

Erik is pretty bad. Worse than me and that's saying something. But Brent has been playing for a long time and is quite a bit better than me. I've played with Brent before and we always have a good time.

This time out I shot a personal best - 107. My previous best was the last time I was out which was a 108. The course was a little short at around 6,000 yards. My long game wasn't horrible - I tried to stay away from my driver and I didn't quite hook the ball as much as I normally do. I tee'd the ball a little higher than normal and got a couple quite nice shots off the tee. My short game was my usual hot and cold. One shot will look great, the next will be a horror show. I was good as always out of the bunkers.

What kind of shocked me on this round was my putting. I missed quite a few relatively easy putts. That 107 could have been a 104 or even a 102 really easily if I had sunk a few more putts on the first try. If I miss a fairly easy putt, I almost always get mad and miss the next putt too. Its infuriating! I actually missed a 6 foot putt that would have given me my first ever birdie. It was a relatively short Par 4. I made it on in 2 and then I missed the putt. I finished the hole with a bogey (as is my way). Argh!

In the last couple weeks, I've been watching those videos from www.PurePointGolf.com and their pro Bobby Eldridge has pointed out a few things that I'm going to try right away in my short game and my putting.

For the short game, he advocates a shorter swing with more of a chopping motion at the ball with a short follow-through. I've always kind of used one club inside 100 yards and tried to vary my back swing to accomodate the different distances. Bobby's got a simple little pitching method that I found really useful. I could explain it, but its easier to just suggest you watch the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1YV-8ThI4M I'm definitely going to try this out next time.

Alright, I'm going to play again this weekend. I'll put up another post after I've played. Thanks for reading!

Welcome to my first blog posting!

I put up this blog to track how my golf game has improved since I moved to Arizona in February of 2005. If you play golf, or would like to play more often, I doubt there's a better place in the world than Arizona - and namely the Scottsdale/Phoenix area.

I've heard good things about North Carolina and how beautiful the courses are, but I've found that most of the courses in the Valley are well kept, relatively inexpensive and play well. Yes, in the summer you have to play early as the temp crests 100 degrees by noon, but that's also the time of year when its cheapest to play golf here.

When I lived in New York, I'd get to play golf from around April to September. If you really pushed it, you could play in March or October, but few courses were open. Most of the courses were either public and poorly kept or private and inaccessible. The average course I've played out here is definitely nicer than the average course back in NY and here I can play year round.

So anyway, the point of this blog is going to be how I improve my game from round to round in the great state of Arizona. When I left New York, an average round for me was about 126. That's pretty high by anyone's standards. As I said, I'd only get to play 3 or 4 times a year in NY. My average since I've lived in Arizona has gone down to 115 and it keeps decreasing.

I've been reading over tips and hints on www.PurePointGolf.com and I've liked a lot of things I've read. If you've never checked them out, feel free to run over there. The pointers that they give are very easy to remember and I've been able to implement quite a few right away. They have a DVD set that they sell or you can check out some video samples. They also have a group on YouTube where you can see some of their free tips - www.youtube.com/group/golfswingsecrets.

So the point of this blog is to track my progress as I improve my game. I'll post any pointers I find interesting and let you know what my scores are every time I play.

Thanks for stopping by.
Joe