I stopped playing golf approx 2 years ago. I had a new job, 2 young kids, and no time. When I left it was as struggle to break 90. My average score was about 92 and I had been lucky enough to shoot 86 once, and 42 for 9 holes once.
In January I started to really miss golf, but remembered how much I HATED the way I played. I had no idea where the ball was going. Huge slice, hook, push, top, chunk… I loved the game but was so disappointed that I couldn’t compete.
I set my goal at getting to scratch in 2 years. I would dedicate myself to one swing style, and practice diligently… if I couldn’t get to scratch in 2 years then it wasn’t meant to be, but I’d surely improve over that time. Hopefully to a point that I could at least compete. Ultimately, my goal is to get to at least a 5 HC and play in “The Ike.” It’s the stroke play championship of the Metropolitan Golf Association (New York). JJ Henry has won it along with many great amateurs and some pros… I just want to get in. You have to be a 5 HC at least.
I started working on Module 1 mid-January. Bent my irons flat, and started to work in the garage. I’d go to the range and discuss “lightbulb” moments with the members here. The discussion here certainly helps.
I then moved to Module 2 without having played a round of golf yet. Still just working on the modules each night in my garage after the kids go to sleep and the wife puts American Idol on… I can do without AI.
Starting in April I had progressed far enough to move onto Module 3. I went to the range more, and decided to get out on the course.
I played my first 9 holes in 2 years and shot a 49… not exactly an improvement over my previous golf experiences, but I was happy to just get out there.
I played my second 9 the following Saturday. I had gone to the range each day the prior week, trying to feel the modules and develop a consistent swing. I shot a 42 with 5 pars. Matching my career best for score, and I had NEVER had 5 pars in 18 holes, never mind 9! I was very excited. My swing wasn’t incredibly different “look-wise,” but just enough of the modules had seeped into my swing DNA to give me a 1 way miss. The left side of the course was gone and I could actually play a shot shape, pretty cool.
Yesterday I got out for my first full 18 holes in 2 years. I felt like I was struggling, but in actuality it’s just that my expectation have increased. I thought I was hitting it poorly, but in actuality I still only had a one-way miss and I could keep the ball in play on every hole.
I shot an 82… 41 front, 41 back. New personal records for 18 holes (by 4 shots) and 9 holes (by 1 shot)!!! I had 10 pars!! I don’t feel like I’m ever out of a hole. Bad tee shot, no worries. Poor approach, no biggie. I double bogeyed a hole and forgot about it… made a great par on the next.
I went from getting MAYBE 2 pars/round to 10 in my first time out. I went from hitting maybe 2-3 greens in regulation to 7 yesterday. I still see SO MUCH room for improvement. I had 1 penalty stroke and so many garbage shots that I should have easily broken 80. That would make this whole story REALLY good… “Guy can’t break 90, takes two years off, joins ABS and shoots 79 his first day out…” LOL, I could read the headlines.
Currently I’m 1800 reps deep into Module 3. Module 4 is lurking around the corner, and I’m excited to see what it brings. Golf will always be a passion of mine, but having a 2-way miss makes it a hard game to enjoy. Shooting in the 90’s is certainly respectable as the majority of golfers will never break 100, but I need to compete and playing bogey golf was frustrating. ABS has given me the confidence to step up to any shot and know for a fact that the ball will not go left, unless I want it to. I could never say that before.
Thanks for listening.
… it’s the fluid motion and smooth tempo that are so mesmerizing. Except for Laura Davies, of course. 