As the calendar makes the turn we find ourselves a few weeks from summer’s formal introduction armed with a swing we honed in our frost-bitten garages and basements, armed to make the 2010 season our finest. Unfortunately somewhere along the line something gets in the way, and try as we may the numbers we’re carding are lagging behind our snow covered day dreams.
The putts don’t fall like they did on the basement carpet, the driver doesn’t travel as far as it did on the simulator at the store, and your irons have a few bruises.
I found myself in a comfortable rhythm on the course a few weeks ago. I knew what I would score if the putts fell and what I would turn in if they didn’t. I knew which clubs were cooperating and which to avoid. I was absolutely certain my personal breakthrough was inevitable, just find a day when the putter cooperated and I’d have a new personal best.
And then it all fell apart.
My worst round of the year before Memorial Day was a 94 at North Kingston GC, and while I’ve matched my personal best 90 four times I hadn’t broken through. It was only a matter of time before I got a few lucky bounces and shot comfortably in the 80s. Until Meadow Brook early Monday morning sent me reeling. The driver never found the fairway, the irons were missing two ways, and I found myself in 13 bunkers (13 freaking bunkers!!!).
I limped in with a 109. My scorecard had one par, and only 6 holes of bogey or better golf-down from my season average of 14.5.
“How did this happen? What went wrong?” I was ashamed to tell MyNEGM.com writer and host of The Lesson Tee Steve Riggs what I’d posted. I thought he’d be disappointed after we spent so much time together this winter. Unfortunately Steve saw a teaching opportunity for his listeners and two days later I returned as a featured guest on his radio program to try and explain how a 15 handicap does THAT!
The 2010 New England Golf Challenge has afforded me so many opportunities to meet amazing people in and around the golf industry, and it looks like my 109 is the wart hiding on every princess. After countless hours with area pros, and all the generosity the New England golfing community has shown me I was ashamed so it was back to the range.
After more time with Steve, a better fitting 3 metal, and a more focused plan of attack off the tee I’m happy to report several low 9 hole rounds. I don’t know if the summer slump is over, but I have a good feeling I’m in a better place because of my 109.
When your summer slump hits take your medicine, try to survive with an acceptable number then get back to the fundamentals that helped your progress in the first place.
Matt Manco is a freelance golf writer working on the 2010 New England Golf Challenge, he also covers the RIGA and Rhode Island golf scene for New England Golf Monthly. Track his progress on mynegm and twitter.
About Matt Manco
I am a freelance writer, baseball instructor, and restaurant manager embarking on the first New England Golf Challenge. The New England Golf Challenge is an experiment to find out how much the average golfer can improve in one year with diligent practice and lessons. Check in weekly for updates and articles chronicling my experiences working towards a better golf game.
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