Well, I'm back. At least I hope so. After a one and a half year layoff from golf my shoulder seems to have healed up enough to hit the links and hit the links I did today. Playing in a 4 man superball I helped out enough for us to bring home first place in the Century 21 Easter Seals tournament. The team played great, I played lousy, however I did make 5 or so fairly long putts. At any rate, I will be back next week to try it again. Until then, hit em long and straight.

Let's support our Police Force

Attention local golfers

October 20th the New Bern Police Department will be having their annual Golf classic at Riverbend Golf and Country Club. Come join the fun and support our Police Department. The $60 entry fee includes golf, cart, lunch, and prizes.

US Open

I just got back from watching the 3rd round of the Women's US Open that is being held at Pine Needles this year. Pine Needles is located in Pinehurst which is a 3 hour drive away from New Bern. I took my son, PFC John Tyson, who is stationed at Fort Bragg which is only about 10 miles from Pinehurst. He instantly fell in love with Natalie Gulbis, shown on the right, and naturally wanted to follow her around the entire round. Hey, not only is she drop dead gorgeous she is a player and should be in contention this weekend. I have not played any golf in Pinehurst in quite some years but having rediscovered the natural of the area expect I ill be back soon. Pine Needles is a beautiful tract, hilly almost like a mountain course and I think the players were really enjoying the challenge.

Good way to finish a Friday

By 3 o'clock Friday my nerves were about shot. It had been a long week and I was ready for the weekend when I got a call from my good friend Vinnie. How about meeting me on number 1 around 4.30 Vinnie said. You got it was my reply and I knew it was going to be a rough round when I tried to hit my first tee shot and a stabbing pain ripped through my shoulder. I have been struggling with my right shoulder for about 5 months after having gone through rehabilitation on my left shoulder for almost a year. Oh well, getting old is not for Sissy's. Vinnie is relatively new to golf and I enjoy playing with him and giving him a few pointers now and again. So here I am barely able to take the club back and I am 6 over par after 5 holes. I always tell Vinnie that the important thing about golf is to try and learn something from each round and that hitting the ball badly gives you the opportunity to improve your short game. This was my chance to prove this theory. So anyway after being 6 over after 5 and barely able to take a half swing I managed to par the next 9 holes by doing what all golfers, not just the physically gifted ones, have the ability to do. That is get it up and down. Playing bad forces you to focus on your short game. The moral of the story is this. Don't let a bad day of ball striking affect your short game. Just suck it up and grind it out.

Riverbend Golf and Country Club

Today I Played in a 4 man superball at Riverbend Golf and Country Club. The course is in excellent shape, as good as any course in the area. Great food at the restaurant and everyone seems to go out of their way to make you happy. I highly recommend this semi private tract for anyone looking for an affordable round on a course in pristine condition.

Hard greens=tough chipping

Today I posted my first 18 hole round of the year. First drive no problem. Took a 5 wood and launched it down the middle. Pulled my 9 iron approach shot 20 yards left and pitched short. My chip shot hit just on the green and rolled off the back. 3 putts later and I have caulked up a triple bogey. The kind of start you dread. The greens at New Bern are so hard, fast, and small it can make you look silly trying to chip it close for a par. Even the best golfers are having a rough time. We need some rain in the worst way. With the help of 3 birdies in a row I did manage to squeak out a 76. I try to learn something every time I play a round and today I learned that when the greens are that firm at New Bern just pull out the Texas wedge. Its a lot more consistant play.

Chipping

At age 52 I realize that I cannot hit a golf ball with the power or consistency that I once could. Being a self employed businessman and serving on the Craven County board of Commission I have a very limited amount of time to practice. So I have figured out that if I am to play decent golf I will have to spend the majority of my practice time on the short game. In about 30 minutes I can get in a pretty good work session concentrating on chipping and putting. Instead of chipping one ball after the other I have started chipping one ball, and then getting my putter and holing the putt out. This way I have to concentrate on each chip, and not just mindlessly chip ball after ball. I'll let you know how it works in a month or two.