Highs of 2009, Goals for 2010

Anyone got any thoughts on their 2009 ?  courses played, goals acheived ?

Here's mine - http://www.golfshake.com/user/blog/1/1869/My_2009_golf_review.html

Terry Gardners also done a great round up of his golf played over the last few years - http://www.golfshake.com/user/blog/26511/1870/Rounds_played.html

How have you got on ?

Well - mine was an expensive one - getting back into golf at long last..... new mx200's, putter, driver, clothes (of course!)... and Mrs B took up golf too.... so new mx100's for her and everything else that she needs to play golf.... (of course including the clothes!!), and then both little Barnes's got into golf... so Santa was very busy buying clubs, bags, and accessories for them.... then lessons for everyone.... seems like the golfing Brady bunch! Happy days and happy new year to all :-)

2009 was an interesting one for me, one where I think I actually started playing seriously rather than just doing a few rounds.  Started off with a 20.4 golfshake handicap and have now managed to wrestle it down to 18.1.As for the stats, I've tracked 39 rounds but played over 50, visited 35 courses of which 23 were brand new to me and two I'd not played for many, many years.  Despite this my average score has dropped from last years 97.23 to 93.85 which I'm really pleased with.  I also got the Portugal bug in February and am really looking forward to returning in 2010. I also got to play a few more singles matchplay games, definately a format I want to play more of in the future. It was also good to get another couple of teams out for the YMCA Charity match, finishing 1st and 3rd.The highs were definately winning the Organisers Cup at the Golfshake Open and the County Golf League summer series, the latter boiling down to the last hole of the last round.Lows?  Only the one really, the N v S captaincy. It wasn't just the thrashing we recieved as a pair from James Marshall and some old bloke but the frustration of being the first North captain to lose.  But thanks to all my team and to our opponents for a cracking couple of days.Bring on the Abbey    

Yes David, but he won't be the first...

Highs for me in 2009 were:
My first ever hole-in-one in May, and being in an official comp meant the insurance covered the bar bill.
Finally got down to single figures after 5 years hanging around the 10 mark - already crawled up from 8.6 to 9.1, so don't know how long it will last.
Made my first ever knock-out final - and won the Vice Captain's Cup (for H/c 10 and below).
Pushed the boat out and bought only my second new set of clubs since I started playing regulalry in 2000.

Lows in 2009 were:
No golf holidays at all this year.
Only got to play 'away' 18 times in 2009; an all time low, and probably less than Tiger did ...... wink, wink.

Goals:
Play over 150 rounds in 2010 - should be able to achieve that.
Play more courses - this is gonna take some effort, but some of my buddies are already planning away days, including Woodhall Spa in April.  Must have a look at Seniors Opens this year - I only played one last year - Newmarket, Links GC, and there are some seriously cheap Seniors Opens at good courses if I can find the time.

Pipe dreams for the future:
Keep my handicap down to single figures - yea right, like that's gonna happen.
Win the lottery/Premium Bonds and buy the flat I stayed at in Pinehurst some years ago.
Not too sure which of those last two is least likely.

Have a great 2010 everybody and play some good golf!

And as a footnote, go to play some cracking courses and some not so good ones..

Foxhills, fantastic course despite the weather.

Chapel-en-le-Frith.  Lovely course in a stunning location.

Flamborough Head.  Two rounds in a day in another beautiful setting, set off with one of the nicest fish and chip lunch's I've had.

Rutland County.  Desperately bad 9 hole course followed by an outstanding 18 holer.  Worth a go if you fancy playing in the middle of nowhere!

The Carrick on Loch Lomond.  Stunning course in stunning location, would have enjoyed it if the course had not been in such an appalling state.  

35 rounds at 26 different golf courses, most of which I wouldn't have played had other people not taken the time and trouble to organise games.

Big highlight - PGA National at the Belfry £35 with Open fairways card, on arrival the lad at the desk gave us £10 vouchers each for the shop as "some work" was being done on the course.  Only saw greenkeepers on two holes and about six other golfers - great day all round!

Had a great day at the Golfshake Open, loved the course and second in the Organiser's Cup behind Tim (that seemed to be a regular occurence in 2009 as most players who play in the CGL games will testify!)

Had two storming rounds - 43 points in a social round in April and 40 on a strange course in a charity competition in July.  A big low was when the organiser began the prize ceremony with "in third place with 45 points...".

Have met loads of golfers through golfshake and am looking forward to this continuing in 2010.  Happy New Year to all!

2009 was a pretty good golfing year for me as i played more rounds than ever before thanks to golfshake and CGL, dropping my handicap from 12 at the start of the year to 8.8 now. I've met some great people through playing in these competitions and look forward to the same again in 2010.

Highlight of the year would have to be the Golfshake charity event at Beeston fields where i came 1st with 43 pts  after playing the round of my life where everything just went right and of course the putting comp on the same day which i'm sure Dave Ley remembers well (sorry Dave!!). Just summed up the whole day for me.

Lowlight was definately the N v S where i played poorly and putted even worse losing 3&2 (i think) in the end, but well done to the south, enjoy it while it lasts.

Happy New Year to everyone and hope to see you on the course soon.

Highs for 2009

Coming 1st & 2nd in a monthly medal.

Reducing my handicap by 2.

Successfully defending the YMCA title.

Switching to forged irons.

Goals for 2010

Get my handicap down to 10

Defend the YMCA title

Read more books on course management & pychology.

Win my NvS match

Win more monthly medals

Renamed this post to better describe what it's all about

Highs of 2009

• Here's mine - http://www.golfshake.com/user/blog/1/1869/My_2009_golf_review.html

Goals for 2010

• Play more golf!
• Drop the handicap, watch this space
• Play a course in each of the home countries ie England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland achieved 3 in 2009
• Better support on the site (believe it or not but we get 100+ emails per day (averaged out) across the team of Helen and I)
• Make Golfshake.com the no.1 place for tracking and analysing your game, golf course information and all things golf
• Get out and meet more golfshakers through golfshake events, meet ups and the Gtour events

Lewis that is also one of my goals, handicap of around 18.  To be honest I just don't play enough therefore I plan a little challenge to see if with some focus I can achieve this.  So can I break 90 in 90 days ?

I've not started yet but will be doing so very soon.

http://90in90days.com/

Wayne, Mr Long is a member of my club, Sherfield Oaks and one of the many bandits we seem to attract.

I remember the two rounds that he scored well and still did not win, our club is blessed with this kind of player. He is still a single figure handicap strker and player, take it from me.

Wish I had a back problem mines all in the front!!   

Hi David, I have been a golfshaker for nigh on three years now, played in two N v S, victor both times I might add.

Nice to see you on the site, I have noticed how well you have been playing, being called a bandit is an endearment, the system will never let you get to what you are worth in respect of handicap.

I have not played at Sherfield since I renewed my membership on the 1st Novemeber, so it is not good value at the moment and I cannot see any light at the end of the tunnel where buggies are concerned. but we will have another game soon so that you can show me how it is supposed to be done.

Haha, David, Gorillas can hit it a long way but only a bandit can shoot in the low sixties.

Keen to drop in highs and goals for 2010!

Highs of 2009

Became a member at Clandon Regis Golf Club – very much enjoying it
Bought a great value set of Titleist AP1’s – and love them!
Playing Hindhead Golf Club with my father (his course, but it’ll always be a high)

Goals for 2010

Practice more
Play in a N v S Golfshake event
Get a single figure handicap at Clandon (this may need to be a 2011 goal!)
Continue to produce quality golf videos for golfers to watch and enjoy

Tim
Visual Golf
www.visual-golf.com

I don't really set myself targets but if I were to set one for this year, its to be more consistant.

Too many times in my rounds do I shoot silly scores i.e 6's on par 3's, 7's on par 4's etc.. If I could eradicate these stupid scores from my game I will be happy.. Its in me, I know it is and I'd love to shift my handicap down a bit more..

Good luck for 2010 everyone!

15 Handicap is the goal by October! I'll do it.

Could you not do it by April, David?

I will be focussing on it after April when conditions are suited to lower scoring!!

David,

now you've gotten used to Handsworth you'll soon start to see your scores tumble. I was exactly the same when I 1st joined.

Hopefully by April we will have forged an unbeatable partnership!

I won't want to draw you two in the N v S John.

JP - likewise. All though I would love to have an 18 hole round and some time on the practice range with you for your valuable feedback/instruction, I would rather it not be under matchplay conditions.

COME ON THE NORTH

Highs of 2009

Hitting my lowest round ever round of 74.

Playing West Hill GC.

Playing The Addington GC.

Continuing to play with true friends.

 Goals for 2010

Continue lessons with best coach i have found.

keep my single figure handicap (reduce if possible)

Have a golf holiday (missed out in 2009)

keep the north on their losing streak in April !

Continue to play with true friends.

2009 Highs

• First sub 85 round
• Achieving my target handicap of 18
  
• Improving my short game enough to consider it a strength
  
• Getting some consistency into my game
• Becoming a member of a course for the first time
• Being able to play two or three times a week
  
• Playing some good new courses (too many to mention)
• Getting married (and being allowed to play golf on honeymoon!)
  

2009 Lows

• Losing my job.  Twice 
• Those sub-standard rounds that made me miserable

2010 Targets

• Get at least two more shots off the handicap
• Find a new, challenging course I enjoy playing to join when I move house
• Improve the swing so that I hit more greens