500 putts before 10 am, and then it was out to the course. Will I see results after 1.5 days, 1500 putts and some mind expanding exercises? I think it was about hole 5 that I felt the answer. Stepping up to the tee I visualized, focused on my target, ran through a simple breathing exercise, released all tension and let my drone rip on a line directly at the basket. I approached the basket expecting to see it parked only to see it 25 feet into the brush – big skip. I crawl my way into the crap line up an awkward shot, commit to a line, and give it a run that skips off the rim of the basket and 25′ past. A perfect opportunity for my putting practice to shine. I line up my shot, breathe, commit, nail the left side of the chains and onto the ground. I dropped in the bogey and smile – about the time I’d normally start cursing internally, I’m feeling pumped, getting a bogey never felt so good. Hole six I followed the same breathing exercise, committed to my shot, and “clang!” nailed the cage.
Was I shooting the round of my life? No. Closer to average finishing at a -1. Did I expect to see dramatic results after 1.5 days? No, but it opened my mind to the potential. So much so that I had to immediately throw another round – average front 9 (even) and a great back 9 (-4). I feel mental improvements, I saw myself hitting my lines more consistently, I hit near all of my putts inside of 20′, was consistent (~%50) inside the circle, and nailed a few big jump putts, all with more confidence.
I’ve had the pieces to this puzzle, but they’ve been relatively abstract. I’m starting to see them with come clarity and feeling their tangible qualities. I feel it, I’m so excited to put these pieces together, I have confidence I’ll be able to make a beautiful picture.
Data.
Round Scores
18 holes at Bancroft – 53
18 holes at Bancroft – 50
Putts
15′ – 200 inside 100 outside
20′ – 200 inside 100 outside
25′ – 200 inside 100 outside
PP360
83+84 = 167
