Staying Focused for Every Stroke
Monday, June 21, 2010 at 2:02PM Due to the eye injury described in my last entry, inspiration on my part has been lacking. I've avoided the driving range and instead relied on any mechanical work put in thus far to play a few rounds. Although the rounds were short yardage wise, I actually played quite well. I shot an 86 on Saturday (a personal best) and in doing, learned an invaluable lesson on the very final hole. In fact, on the very final stroke.
Before I report the lesson, allow me to digress on a few highlights. I drove the ball, overall, decently. There were a few holes where I didn't move the ball the way I would have liked to, but this isn't to say I completely mishit them either.
On 14, a 327-yard uphill dogleg right, I envisioned a slight fade just inside the right tree line. After attempting to hit a similar shot on the previous hole, only to hit a straightaway bomb, I adjusted my arms on the downswing and came inside the ball more. As soon as I hit it it felt great. My ball hugged the overhanging branches and bent slightly right only to land dead center of the fairway. It was a perfectly placed drive, which led to a GIR and a two-putt par.
Because the course was short (6,011), my longer irons weren't needed much, but I consistently went fairway to green to par. And if I didn't hit the fairway, I stayed calm and managed to scramble for hard earned pars due to some solid well struck putts. But back to the lesson learned.
For the entire day I stay focused on the task at hand. At one point I parred four in a row and five out of six but refused to let it get to my head. When I'd hit a good shot, I'd move on. Same with a bad one. Yes, for 17 holes and three shots, I was determined to play well.
But then I relaxed on the very last shot and the dilemma began. 
On 18, a 155-yard slightly uphill par 3, with water on the front, I easily threw a 7-iron directly on line with the pin. Because of my eye injury, I couldn't tell if the ball was pin-high or long. It turned out it was 20 yards long, and that I'd need a 2-putt to finish with an 84. (Of course I didn't know the final score at the time.)
I left my first putt about seven feet short. The slope of the green led me to think the ball would roll a lot faster than I thought, especially considering the greens were firming up due to the hot sun pounding them all day. (One aspect I really have to start paying attention to is the direction the grass grows on the greens.)
On my parr putt, avoiding any thoughts that it was indeed a parr putt, I lined it up confidently but simply pushed it right, leaving a one and a half footer for bogey.
Annoyed by my three-putt (my third of the day), I assumed the tap in and proceeded to pull it left. Now this wasn't your typical stand-over-the-line-and-make-sure-there's-no-break putt. It was a simple tap in, set to conclude everyone's day. I could have easily scooped up my ball and given myself an 85. (It was also one of those putts that those you're playing with declare, "that's good" or, "we'll give you that". I'm not a fan of those and always tap in anyway.)
I struggled with my final number. The individual keeping everyone's score asked what I was taking. Still indecisive, I declared an 85. But knowing I didn't knock down that 85th shot was screaming at me. After contemplating it for the entire hour-long ride home, I decided it was a lesson I had to learn, and that an 86 would be my new best.
The lesson learned: until you shake the hands of those you've played with, never let your guard down. For every shot, the same mental concentration is required. Regardless whether it's a 300-yard drive or a one foot putt, taking it for granted only leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
And I had a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe others would have taken the 85, but knowing my aspirations to someday participate in competitive golf drives me to play by ALL the rules. (Otherwise, why keep score in the first place?) And those rules consist of having every hole end with the ball hitting the bottom of the cup.
Perhaps the sweetest sound in golf. (Aside from the birds chirping.)
Hours of practice: 430
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Reader Comments (1)
Great blog and congrats on the personal best. I'm relieved to hear that your injury is not preventing you from pursuing your quest for mastery in golf. Keep it up, brother.