Lakeside Lodge - Lodge Course - 12/08/19
12/Aug/2019 Filed in: Reports
After saying a few weeks ago that there could be no more golf, my sciatica eased and last week I tried a few balls on the range. I had to alter my stance a bit to reduce the twisting stress on the follow through, which probably looked a bit awkward to anybody watching, but it achieved its aim. I hit the balls reasonably well and decided to try nine holes today.
Because of a misunderstanding there wasn't a place for me in the group with whom I usually play, but a friend, Claire, was playing with two other ladies and they agreed that I could join them. I played off the ladies' tees making things a little bit easier, but today was all about testing my body and seeing what was possible.
I teed off first and hit a surprisingly good drive accompanied by a sciatic twinge that reminded me to be careful. This was to happen on most shots but the walks between shots seemed to ease the pain. After this drive I hit a reasonable hybrid and then another putting me just off the green. The putt-on was short but was followed by a good putt-in for 5, a par but off the ladies' tee of course. But it was still quite a result after a ten-month layoff and with residual sciatica.
Because of a misunderstanding there wasn't a place for me in the group with whom I usually play, but a friend, Claire, was playing with two other ladies and they agreed that I could join them. I played off the ladies' tees making things a little bit easier, but today was all about testing my body and seeing what was possible.
I teed off first and hit a surprisingly good drive accompanied by a sciatic twinge that reminded me to be careful. This was to happen on most shots but the walks between shots seemed to ease the pain. After this drive I hit a reasonable hybrid and then another putting me just off the green. The putt-on was short but was followed by a good putt-in for 5, a par but off the ladies' tee of course. But it was still quite a result after a ten-month layoff and with residual sciatica.
I again had a good drive on the 2nd but then topped a hybrid into the rough on the left. The pitch was short as was the putt-on, leaving two more putts for a 6. The hybrid off the tee on the 3rd was also topped (head up!) sending the ball left onto a bank under conifers. A lateral safety shot out and another short pitch again left me two putts for a 5.
The 4th was my only poor drive, the ball slicing right leaving me an iron shot out to the centre fairway. I then chanced a hybrid and paid the price as it went left, only saved from the lake by a lucky bounce but still landing in the water's edge. A drop and another poor pitch saw me putt-on for 6, then a weak putt left me needing another for an 8.
Things went a bit better at the 5th where my drive managed to avoid the bunkers. Once more the pitch was short leaving me two putts for a 4. My drive was good again on the 6th but the following hybrid wasn't, going left into the rough. My next iron shot was just off the green to the left but the pin was on the right. The putt-on was again not good enough and I needed two more putts for a 6.
The 7th went well. A good drive followed by a hybrid left me an iron shot to the green. Two putts for a 5, which is good on this hole. I followed a similar pattern on the 8th but my iron shot didn't quite make the green. A putt-on and two putts for 6. The 9th was also without incident. The ladies' tee gives quite a distance advantage on this par 5 and I was just off the green for 4, followed by a putt-on and a putt-in for 6.
I came in with 51 shots and 17 putts, which was more than acceptable in the circumstances. It has certainly encouraged me to play again.
I didn't use the Game Golf device today so there's no detailed scorecard or distances.
The 4th was my only poor drive, the ball slicing right leaving me an iron shot out to the centre fairway. I then chanced a hybrid and paid the price as it went left, only saved from the lake by a lucky bounce but still landing in the water's edge. A drop and another poor pitch saw me putt-on for 6, then a weak putt left me needing another for an 8.
Things went a bit better at the 5th where my drive managed to avoid the bunkers. Once more the pitch was short leaving me two putts for a 4. My drive was good again on the 6th but the following hybrid wasn't, going left into the rough. My next iron shot was just off the green to the left but the pin was on the right. The putt-on was again not good enough and I needed two more putts for a 6.
The 7th went well. A good drive followed by a hybrid left me an iron shot to the green. Two putts for a 5, which is good on this hole. I followed a similar pattern on the 8th but my iron shot didn't quite make the green. A putt-on and two putts for 6. The 9th was also without incident. The ladies' tee gives quite a distance advantage on this par 5 and I was just off the green for 4, followed by a putt-on and a putt-in for 6.
I came in with 51 shots and 17 putts, which was more than acceptable in the circumstances. It has certainly encouraged me to play again.
I didn't use the Game Golf device today so there's no detailed scorecard or distances.