Following on from my last blog, which left off after a very successful 10 events on the Jamega Tour, it was great to have 13 days at home to rest, practise, re-group and get set to go again!!
Weeks like these are really needed after long stretches of playing, and I managed to plan this break from competitive golf at the start of the season with the hope that I would then get to play the next two events on the Challenge Tour.
Planning this break also meant planning my practice for the two weeks; as much as a rest, and time away from golf with the family, is needed, it is still so important that the practice I do is constructive and the time is not wasted!
So it was great to fit in some time with Mark Pearson (golf coach) and Duncan McCarthy (performance coach) to evaluate the last few weeks and fine tune parts of my game for the coming weeks.
Thanks for your time guys!!
www.ignitesports.co.uk & www.eddisonwanless.co.uk
I had also planned two pro-am’s on the YPGA circuit at The Oaks and Mid Yorkshire GC and these are great events in which to test the game and are what Mark call’s ‘amber’ events. They are a chance to test shots and certain swings under less pressure but with an end result in mind (for example, shaping the ball).
At the Oaks I finished T4th on -2 and had a great day with my team; as past team champions in his event we set our target high but could not quite get in the prizes on a windy, tricky day!
Thanks again, Derek, for sorting the day!!
I then had the pleasure of teaming up with father and son combo of Carl and Bradd, and their friend Isaac, at Mid Yorkshire near Pontefract. Having never played there before it turned out to be a tough day in terms of managing my game – the pins were set in crazy positions. But all the same, a very enjoyable day – and to see Carl hit it past the lads all day and Isaac shoot -1 off 3 hcp was very much a highlight!
The team finished in 2nd position and, after a bad finish, that really was a shock, but my score of +2 did not help them out much. Again, a great day for some testing and I pulled off most of the shots I picked!
So, after a great week at home, spending some quality time with Laura and Jess, I now fly off to Tenerife, and then the ferry over to La Gomera for my next start on the Challenge Tour.
I can’t wait!
Thursday 30th May – Round 1
First round complete and that’s been one of my most committed rounds this year; it was so windy out there, and very gusty at times, so trusting your shots and swings was vital! If I can have my focus anywhere near as good tomorrow I will be happy with the process, and excited to see what score I shoot.
I had 2 birdies today, both were 8 inch tap-ins, along with one sloppy bogey; I signed for 70 (-1) and was quite happy with my overall play 🙂
I’m not playing till 3.15pm tomorrow, so spent a constructive morning in the gym and enjoyed some relaxation before my warm up to pass the time. Maybe even a little lie in … but I won’t tell Laura, as she will be up first thing with little Jess back home! 🙂
Round 2
I played ok today in parts, but a very similar wind to round 1 and a few poor shots led to me easily losing any momentum from day 1 and I finished the day +4, missing the cut of level par by 3!
That was very disappointing after a first round that showed so much promise, but that’s golf and learning to forget the overall outcome and look forward to the next event is the only thing I can do.
It also just shows the standard of the CT when you look at -12 leading for two days in that wind, that was some serious golf and my putting certainly needs to warm up if it’s going to compete with those scores!
So the journey home begins, and it’s a long one too, a full day to get back to Huddersfield, but one that will be worth it for a few days with the family and a bit of practice before returning to Manchester airport next Tuesday to fly to Prague!
The 1st tee shot & the course map!
Hole 1 is at the top of the mountain and you work you way down, not playing any holes uphill, truly amazing!
Will be in touch again soon.
Regards
Chris
P.S. – for anyone local to Woodsome Hall, on Sunday 30th June, it’s the ‘Woodsome Hall Scratch Foursomes’ 36 holes and some of the best professionals and Amateurs in the North of England playing.
Would be great to see people up there supporting the event and watching some great golf!