Week Mar 30

Weight: 256 lbs Height 6' 0" Handicap 27

Mon:
Tues: 30 min elliptical trainer workout ( 150-160 s/min; 12 resist; 500 cal) plus 5 upper body and 1 core weight machines.
Wed:
Thurs:25 min elliptical trainer workout ( 150-160 s/min; 12 resist; 450 cal)
Fri:
Sat: 1 bucket at the driving range
Sun: Round at Riverbend Golf Course: 108

Overall Comments:

Workouts are coming along. I am feeling stronger and able to push the exercises a bit more. My endurance is still a little low. I seem to fade after about 20 minutes.

Another round of golf (2nd). Sunny, temperatures in the 70's. Score and play was very much like the start of 2008. Today was 108.

My driver completely abandoned me -- very short ( about 150 yds) and all over the place, but never in the fairway. Unfortunately, this was very similar to last year, too similar. My distance and accuracy was as bad. So much for changing the year.

My attempts at hitting a hybrid was pretty marginal. Good balls were very low trajectory. I did hit two reasonable ones -- to a 190 par3 and an approach on 18. Both sliced -- one ended up on the green due to a bad start.

My shorter irons are improving. When I make good contact, the ball is traveling well -- straight and as long as I have ever hit them. By no means perfect. But much better than last year -- less skulls and duffs. I do sometimes hit it shorter than expected. I am thinking too far forward in the stance.

I must admit, I was tired and sore at the end of the round especially ankles and left knee. Could be from a number of factors including not eating enough (only a bagel in the morning until 630PM), not drinking enough -- 3 bottles of water(?) and/or not taking my drugs. Really need to be better prepared or attentive to these needs.

Overall, 1 birdie, 1 par, 4 bogeys, 8 doubles, 4 triples plus. Actually, not a bad outing except for the triples. Front nine was good through 8. Nineth was a 9! for a par 4. Just could not advance the ball.

Week Mar 23

Weight: 257 lbs Height 6' 0" Handicap 26

Mon:
Tues: 25 min elliptical trainer workout ( 140-160 s/min; 11 resist; 400 cal) plus 5 upper body and 1 core weight machines.

Wed:
Thurs: colonoscopy: no workout.
Fri: 30 min elliptical trainer workout ( 140-160 s/min; 11 resist; 450 cal)
Sat: Driving range 2 buckets. All clubs.
Sun:First round of the year!! Maplewood Golf Course, 108 (white)

Overall Comments:

Driving range practice is getting better. My swing is improving. I am getting a higher percentage of shots to be struck well. Distance is also getting better. I think that my improved swing with a more complete finish -- squaring up the hips and finishing up on the left foot.

First round of the year. Played Maplewood. Course was wet, muddy and the greens were just punched. Score: 108. Overall not a bad effort for the first outing. Driver never really worked. Lots of slices, and not very close to the fairway. I hit lots of fairways, just not the fairway that I was aiming at. My longer clubs were a disaster -- especially my hybrids. Never really hit the ball well at all. So much for translation of range to course.

For a good points, I had 4 or so good holes. Lots of good short irons and wedges. Actually placing the ball on the green near the hole. Several nice 6i. Putting was very good except for a couple of hits.

Week Mar 16

Weight: 258 lbs Height 6' 0" Handicap 26

Mon:
Tues: 25 min elliptical trainer workout ( 140-160 s/min; 11 resist; 400 cal)

Wed:
Thurs: 27 min elliptical trainer workout ( 140-160 s/min; 11 resist; 430 cal)
Fri: Driving range 2 buckets -- a little of everything.
Sat:
Sun:

Overall Comments:

Weight continues to drop. This is a good thing. Basically, it appears given the exercise and reducing the amount of snacks and attempting to distribute eating, I am losing slowly.

Practice continues to improve. I am more consistent with the shorter irons and wedges. The longer irons, hybrid and 3W are improving. More consistent hits, less pulls. Still not that great though.

As a side note, I was attempting to hit a intentional draw or fade. I did some swings. The ball is not yet reliably fading or drawing on demand. I would like to add this to my swing abilities. My GI clubs definitely allow for hitting draws and fades.

I am looking forward to possibly playing a round of golf next weekend. The weather is attempting to warm. Currently alternating between frost in the mornings. In addition, getting into the mid 50s some days.

Week Mar 9

Weight: 259 lbs Height 6' 0" Handicap 26

Mon:
Tues: 22 min elliptical trainer workout ( 140-160 s/min; 11 resist; 300 cal) + 5 upper body weight machines.

Wed:
Thurs: 25 min elliptical trainer workout ( 140-160 s/min; 11 resist; 400 cal)
Fri:
Sat: Golf Show
Sun: Driving Range 2 buckets.

Overall Comments:

The weather has turned cold here in the Northwest. Light snow covers the ground. The start of golf season is going to be delayed.

Working on getting back to things after the trip to England. Obviously ones age has something to do with the recovery periods and adjusting to lack of practice. Definitely need to go to the gym at least 3 times a week.

I went to the golf show in Seattle. The show is getting smaller, the vendors sparser. Even places like Las Vegas are fewer in number. There were only a couple of destination places present, a few of the local Indian casinos, and a smaller number of the Canada sites. Less equipment etc. I suppose some of this is due to making most of the purchases in the last year, so nothing much that I was looking to buy. I did pick up a couple of items for my Clicgear cart.

I did try out the Z-factor putting aid. Based on (1) 5 minutes with the machine and (2) an irritating salesman, I really cannot say it is good. First, no matter my position, I could not seem to get a swing that was comfortable. Now the salesman was saying I have an Utley swing -- inspite of 5 years of Pelz based swing. I could make the putt. But it felt wrong. It just goes to show that you can make a putt no matter what your swing looks like.

Driving range practice was a bit hit and miss (pun intended) due to the long time off ( 2 weeks). I really need to spend time practicing more often. I should be aiming for the every other day scheme. The only good note was the wind ( 20+ miles per hour) was causing everything to fly right, so it was difficult to evaluate ball flight. I did have a slice -- have to remember to aim to the right at the top of the swing. I tried the Hogan suggestion of a waggle, and surprisingly, my swing improved. Something about swinging with your wrists improves the way you swing or relieves tension or something. Need to do this more.

I am improving in my pitching swing. I have a fast swing even for the short back swing. Again, fairly consistent -- but not particularly close on average.

Week Mar 2

Weight: 259 lbs Height 6' 0" Handicap 26

Mon:30 min elliptical trainer workout ( 140-160 s/min; 11 resist; 500 cal) + 5 upper body weight machines.
Tues:

Wed - Sun: Traveling To England/Back for Crufts Dog Show

Overall Comments:

A week away. Traveling to Crufts in Birmingham, Great Britain. Lots of walking and traveling about. No real organized exercise or golf.