The competitive season for us club golfers is getting ever closer. If you’ve been putting the work in over the winter on your technique, I can’t say I’ve done half as much as I intended to, and yet again I’m disappointed in myself on that score, then you should be feeling fairly confident about having a scorecard in your hand again.
We all know it’s a totally different kettle of fish when the pressure is on to save your score. Over the winter, we get so used to those gimme putts and the general feeling of playing relaxed golf. Plus, you never seem to have that same bit of luck when you’re out there playing a medal round, do you?
Also, for many of us, jumping back into 18 holes can be a sudden shock to the system. If you haven’t kept up your fitness levels, you might find yourself flagging by the 14th hole.
Someone who has been working hard on their game throughout the winter months is single-figure golfer Jess Ratcliffe, which is exactly why she’s achieved her handicap goals and I haven’t!
In this article, Jess explains that these weeks are the perfect time to bridge the gap between winter practice and spring scoring. It is well worth reading her tips before the competition season moves into full swing.
One of her tips is to work on the hard shots. It really struck me last weekend when we were still picking, wiping, and placing the ball from absolutely everywhere on the course. While it's a nice luxury for now, we should really be testing ourselves from those difficult lies while we can. The rough isn’t going anywhere, and if we can get the ball up and away in the current heavy conditions, it will give us far more confidence when we have to play it as it lies in a scoring round.
On a separate note, I’ve realised I’m still far too one-dimensional with my club selection around the green. I stood over a chip shot and instinctively reached for my pitching wedge, but then I paused. I knew deep down that the shot actually required a sand wedge. I wanted a softer landing with less roll-out to keep the ball close to the pin, and, of course, the extra loft did exactly that.
It is so easy to stick to a safety club out of habit. I’ve never been particularly confident with a sand wedge in my hands - including in bunkers until my breakthrough lesson last year - but while we are still playing casual golf, this is the ideal time to experiment. I’m certainly glad I did, as I proved to myself I can hit the shot and it’s a very useful one to rely on.
It's good news, the clocks spring forward this weekend and it suddenly feels like the golf season is really beginning, so get prepared!
By Alison Root, Women's Editor Golf Monthly.
