When I first started this blog back in June 2005, about 10 months after I first picked up a golf club, Bush was in the first year of his second term, it had been two years since he declared “Mission Accomplished” in Iraq, I was blissfully immersed in my new golf obsession, and I already had my two holes-in-one under my belt. I was working as a sales trainer, traveling the country delivering lessons in between golf rounds wherever I could squeeze them in. I took my clubs everywhere and played whenever, wherever I could. I didn’t really practice because I just wouldn’t make the time.
I had already joined my club – I’m still a member – which calls itself coed  (we finally added our second female member this year) and plays a different golf course one Saturday a month. In between work trips, there wasn’t time to do much besides laundry, re-pack and spend some time with my then dog and then boyfriend before heading back to the airport. Somehow I managed to improve my golf game at a rate sufficient to keep ahead of my handicap index and keep winning our club events. Much to the chagrin of all the seasoned male players, I even won our club championship my first year out and went on to represent our club at the SCGA Tournament of Club Champions and – much to their delight – won that, too.  My handicap improved a bit more but the lowest it ever got was 14.2.
While all that was going on, I managed to get more blogging done in a week than I do in a month now… sometimes longer. Six years later, I’m back up over 20 and can’t win anything but a gambling match between friends.  Life has a way of getting in the way. I’ve poured my bi-polar heart out on here in more than one inappropriate and off-topic post so my excuses are available if you care to dig them up. But now… I’m going to declare myself officially BACK -on track and on golf topics primarily.
I’m so amazed and humbled by the readers who have stuck around all this time and I’d love for you all to be involved in holding me to this. So I’m going to state some goals so that you can follow along and keep me accountable if you’d be so kind.
Golf Performance Goal
First, my record round is 82, and I have only had a few rounds in the 80s at all, but, like so many golfers, my next score-related goal is to break 80. Along the way I’ll need to break 90 a lot more, of course. I plan to accomplish this with a lot more practice. Yes, practice. I still chomp at the bit to get out on the course whenever possible but I’ve also come to appreciate practice a lot more. I also have some specific plans for that practice and some coaching help which I will tell you all about in a post coming to your screen very soon. One specific goal is to fix the chicken wing you see in my swing in the photo below.
Blogging & Sharing Goals – I need your help
If you’re already familiar with this blog and my writing style, I hope you’ll expect that my documentation of this process will be anything but dry and strictly technical. I’m still me. I will share any tips I think are helping that may help people in similar situations but we all know I’m no pro. My goal is to deliver such a post at least once a week. In addition to that I intend to write another post about some other golf topic once a week. Â Martini blogging can never be ruled out so if you think I’ve strayed too far off topic, let me know and I’ll owe you another post. Please feel free to participate in the comments with your thoughts, encouragement, tips, etc. And if I don’t live up to my two post a week promise, crack the whip!
May 18, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Welcome Back! I can’t wait to hear what you have to say!
May 18, 2011 at 2:08 pm
Life does get in the way sometimes indeed Golf Chick, but you are definitely on the right track. Practice, practice, practice is what it’s all about. One thing I started doing a few years back, when I couldn’t play as much. I take a little notebook with me when I practice. You can figure out the little important changes in your swing, set-up, etc…then write it down. I would figure out these little things and then it would be a while before I play again and I would forget everything. I go over my notes or reminders just before I play to help keep my game sharp. Try it, I think you’ll see it helps.
May 18, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Golf Chick, you’ve got the right idea – continuing to practice and challenge yourself.
I took up the game at 40 (the kids were in high school) and today, at 59, I’m playing at a higher level than ever. My handicap is a 1.3, and Friday I tee it up in our state (Georgia) Mid-Am championship against the youngsters. I got there by qualifying – 73 on a 7,200 yard windy course.
I even shot my age last month, 59. It was a one-man scramble, or a ‘buster’ tournament, but I did make 13 birdies on my own.
You can do it if you want it, because I can sense from your Tweets, you’re not afraid to challenge yourself.
You’ve got to enjoy practicing, you’ve got to set goals, and you’ve got to develop a killer short game.
Enjoy trying, and just don’t forget family and friends.
May 18, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Good luck…Welcome back…I look forward to reading about your journey!
May 18, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Glad to hear you are rededicating yourself. Glad to be your friend for so many years now.
May 18, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Great keep it. I need to start playing more. After playing 11 years every Summer working, my game has slowed down a bit. My best round is a 78. Time for me to get new irons.
May 18, 2011 at 10:35 pm
Here is a link that may help some with their “chicken wing” issues: http://jaysgolf.com/forums/blog.php?page_id=85
I am lucky in two ways, I took up the game in my early teens, and my disability just so happens to not allow me to chicken wing! So kudos to you K for getting so good so fast!
With that said, have no fear, it will all come back to you!