April 17, 2008
Dry lake
My first round of golf while back home was just next door at the Laguna Seca Golf Ranch. What a fantastic course it is and quite challenging to say the least. I played with Kevin and Mike who were a couple of nice guys, just as much addicted to golf as me (if that's possible).
By the way, in case you were interested "laguna seca" is Spanish for "dry lake."
There was alot of wind and the greens were really fast, making three or even four putts a higher risk. In fact, although the greens were in perfect shape, sometimes I felt like I was putting on a pool table slanted slightly at 15 degrees. The ball just never stops rolling, rolling, rolling.
Laguna Seca Golf Ranch.
Posted at 12:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
April 5, 2008
Wet fairways
Because it rains an awful lot in Holland, the golf courses tend to be really wet, sometimes even soaked to the rim.
Even if I hit a fantastic tee shot right down the middle of the fairway, the ball plugs into the ground and doesn't roll at all.
The ironic thing is that if I hit the green right next to the flag, the ball does bounce further, sometimes even off the back of the green.
Frustrating to say the least.
Posted at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 24, 2008
Buddhist golfer
I would like to become a Buddhist golfer, but first I have to figure what that means exactly.
From inside I feel that I have a relatively good idea, naturally being one with nature, internally controlling ones emotions, and externally making the ball fly straight and into the whole.
Let's start by pursuing the middle path, meaning that I hit the ball consistently right down the middle of the fairway.
The golf ball is actually an illusion, but through it's connectedness with the rest of the golf course, it becomes an expression of my very essence.
Watch out for those nasty sand traps.
Posted at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 22, 2008
Snowing on the links
Today marks yet another first in my golf career, namely playing golf in the snow.
At one point the snow was falling so thick I could barely see where the ball was going.
Posted at 4:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 8, 2008
First birdie
After all these years I finally had another birdie which felt really great.
I had a nice solid drive to the 6th hole, which flew cleanly over the small creek and landed a mere 50 yards to the left of the green. An easy chip bounced twice on the green and landed just short of the pin, slightly uphill.
After checking the lie of the green front and back, I removed various leaves and twigs blocking the way. Holding my ping putter ever so gently, I struck the ball with confidence, watching it roll upwards, before it turned left with a slight hook right into the middle of the hole.
The sound of the ball falling into the cup and bouncing around gave me a fine feeling inside. Birdie!
De Hooge Bergsche
Posted at 5:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 1, 2008
Too much wind
So it's finally my first chance as an official club member to go out and play a round of golf, something which I was eagerly looking forward to the whole week.
Alas, powerful winds from the North Sea are pounding the coast, knocking over trees and power lines, making it impossible to play golf outside.
Oh well, I discovered a huge golfing store in Rotterdam, so I'll be going there with Maarten and look around some.
Posted at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 24, 2008
Ready to join
After having waited impatiently a number of months, I'm now top of the list to become a member of Golfbaan de Rottebergen.
Next step is to negotiate down the price for the membership certificate to an affordable amount, get an official handicap, and it's life as a happy Dutch golfer for me.
It'll be good for me to be out in nature, network and meet new people, and improve my golfing techniques.
My new goal in life is to get a hole-in-one.
Posted at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 4, 2007
Truly amazing irons
Every time now for several month that nice set of irons in the pro shop has been staring me in the eye tempting me to take them home.
I'd already tried out the nine, six and four irons, and they felt true and the ball flew nice and straight. Why not?
So today I succumbed to all temptations and bought the wonderful set of Titleist Forged 690.CB irons.
Since they are last years product line, I received a nice discount (€770).
My complete golf set is nearly complete, now I only need a good sand wedge.
Posted at 5:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 28, 2007
Accuracy counts
Who cares if I can really slam that ball wickedly into the distance. The more important thing is hitting it straight and making sure that the ball lands somewhere near the middle of the fairway.
I will have to concentrate more on accuracy, which probably means sacrificing distance by easing down the speed of my swing and hitting the ball less intensely.
Posted at 7:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 21, 2007
Sweet shots
Could it be that as of lately I am hitting the ball so fast, so far and so true that more often than not I am unable to see quite exactly where this sweet shot of mine has actually landed?
More likely it was a combination of an overcast day and my less than optimal eyesight that has been causing me to lose the exact trajectory somewhere near the apex.
Once I get my swing going more consistently I should be able to focus better within that narrow funnel through which the sweet shot will be traveling with pure gusto.
Isn't golf a truly amazing sport?!
Posted at 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 7, 2007
Fairway woods
Now in addition to my nice driver, I am also the proud owner of Benross v3 and v5 fairways woods.
Now all I need is a new set of irons, which will more than likely either be Titleist Forged 704 or Ben Hogan Apex Plus.
First I need to practice some more, work hard to earn extra money, and then when I feel certain I can spoil myself even more.
Can't wait.
Posted at 7:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 23, 2007
From slice to draw
While growing and learning golf, I had this natural slice that for the life of me I could never shake.
Now that I am much older, I have somehow slightly overcompensated this tendency with a very predictable draw.
Actually I still feel comfortable with fading it to the right rather than drawing it too far left and verging on hooking it out of bounds.
Posted at 8:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 17, 2007
Nice driver
Here is the really nice driver I just bought. It's made by Callaway, it's called Big Bertha Fusion FT-3, and it looks like this:
Except that mine has a stiff shaft and nine degree loft. Boy, with this baby I can really swat the ball down there 250 yards when I connect.
Posted at 9:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 16, 2007
Mighty swing
I took a mighty swing on the driving range and the head of my five iron flew off into the distance tumbling in the air and landing about one hundred yards ahead of me.
I was hoping to put off buying a new set of clubs until I had been able to practice for a couple of months first, but it appears that my thirty year old golf clubs of yore have reached end of life and are breaking up while I hold them in my hands.
Time to save up some extra cash, look around for a good deal, and treat myself to a nice set of clubs.
Posted at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 2, 2007
Time to golf again
Although I haven't touched a club in more than two years, I decided once and for all to take up the wonderful sport of golf again (under the recent constant urgings of my wife to go out and do something fun for myself).
The closest golf course is about 15 minutes from here on the way to Rotterdam and it is called Golfbaan de Rottebergen.
Since it is a fairly popular place, the waiting list is about 10 - 11 months. The membership is quite expensive, but the investment is more than worthwhile if it makes me feel better by getting me out in nature and meeting new and interesting fellow golfers.
In the meantime, I will practice, hit balls and see if I can saddle myself up with a nice new set of clubs. The set I have dates back to when I was a kid, so it is time to upgrade to the new technology.
I will keep my good old Ping putter though.
Posted at 7:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
