Mind Control

Friday was the first gorgeous, warm, dry day in a long time.  I was excited to get out there and play 18 holes @ Royal Oaks CC in Vancouver, WA in the afternoon.  I'm trying to work out all the winter kinks before my first tournament of the season next Saturday, so I put extra pressure on myself to play well.  The front 9 was disappointing.  I shot a 46 and was successfully stringing bogeys and doubles together.  The triple bogey on hole #7 after hitting my tee shot within 60 yards of the hole was the icing on the cake. 

I tried to stay focused and forget about my bad shots and my high score, but I couldn't get my head right.  My negative thoughts and lack of confidence became cancerous and I couldn't shake it.  At the turn, I was able to collect my thoughts and re-focus.  I ended up shooting a 38 on the back 9.  Not surprisingly, I was able to find that positive thinking and confidence that I didn't have on the front 9.  It was a very creative way to shoot an 84.

What I can't quite discipline myself to do is to think positively regardless of the score I'm shooting.  My thinking is dependent on how I'm playing, which is why its possible to shoot a 75 one day and a 91 the following day.  I need to find a way to trick myself into thinking positively no matter how well or how poorly I might be playing.  How do I remain positive even when I'm not playing as well as I would like?

New Gadgets

After nearly 10 years with the same irons, I have finally upgraded to a new set this year. I was fitted for the new Ping i15 irons and a new K15 3-wood.  I've been playing with my new clubs for a couple months now and I absolutely love them.  Not as forgiving as my old Callaways but I've picked up 20 yards on each club.  I can't wait for warmer weather to see how far I can hit these babys.  My previous distance with my 7 iron was 130 yards in the winter and 140 yards in the summer.  With my new clubs I am now hitting my 7 iron 150 yards in cold weather.  Can't wait to see what happens this summer!

I kept my trusty KZG 18 and 22 degree hybrids and I got my Ladies Callaway driver reshafted.  I don't know what I was doing buying this driver in the first place.  The loft is right for me (11 degrees) but the shaft was so flexible, it felt like I had a wet noodle in my hand.

I also got my first "techy" golf device this Spring - a Callaway rangefinder.  It helps when I'm 2 fairways to the left and I have no idea what my yardage is to the pin!

Hopefully the equipment upgrade will result in lower scores!!