2008 season review

Along with every TV station and newspaper I thought I'd kick off with a review of my 2008 season, and to see how everyone else got on.

It's been interesting has 2008, my handicap has been slashed today to 17.5 from 21.8 at the start of the year, although at the time of writing I think this may be partly due to an admin error but it will surely end up around 18 after a storming last round this morning.  Today was memorable as we had a 7.52am tee time, and instead of finishing in the dark we actually started before sunrise!

I've played (and tracked) 44 rounds in all at 26 different courses.  Out of the 26 courses 19 were tackled for the first time.  I've managed to play at some superb venues, The Belfry, Lindrick, Gloucester and South Winchester jump out immediately.  Particularly pleased with the Belfry performance, 3 sub 100 rounds.

My nightmare round was at a Golfshake event at Hollins Hall, played in very hot weather on a mountainside, where I managed to score my first point on the 10th, finally limping home with 15 or so.  My best round was probably today when I ground out my second best ever score of 87.

I managed a respectable placing (5th?) in the Golfshake order of merit, attended every Golfshake event and had the privilege of carrying the victorious Northern Team captain Wayne Santorini around Belton Woods to win our match by one hole, topped by a spanking 185yd 3rd shot over the water to the green.  I entered two teams in the Worcester YMCA charity game and kitted them out in custom printed shirts, and was repayed by two stirling performances to grab 1st and 2nd spot.

Not a bad year all in all.

You have to be congratulated on all counts, Tim, for the not only reducing your handicap, but by supporting Golfshake as well as you have done. They say that those who do good, get repaid in other ways and I am sure you feel that you have had a successful year.

I only wish that mine had been as successful as yours, but I am not complaining, as I have met some really nice people from Golfshake and hopefullly I will recover enough strength to do it all again next year.

I have spent the dormant period of my rehabilitaion attempting to get my golfing memoirs into some coherent shape. I think I am almost there and have currently 26 pages to share with you all. How Darren decides this is to be done we have not yet discussed.

I too feel I have had a year which I may find difficult to eclipse. I competed in my first Golfshake event ever at The Southern Cup and thoroughly enjoyed the experience and was hooked to come back for more.

I achieved my first goal which was to finish the season with a single figure handicap, which I did by lowering it by 4 shots from 11 to 7. This was mainly acheived by my winning a major club competition at my home course, Mapperley with my best round of the year - a level par 71.

This was joined by a further two victories in singles competitions at Golfshake events, The North v South and the Northern Cup. These two performances enabled me to win the first ever Golfshake.com Order of Merit which I am very proud to hold and am looking forward to defending the title in 2009.

A special mention must go to Darren Ramowski for his tireless efforts in maintaing the site and organising the many great events that I have attended this year, despite some of the problems he has faced. Big respect !!!!

The most enjoyable thing for me was meeting other "Golfshakers" at these events, namely Wayne Santorini, John Pettit, Dave Ley and Tim Hawkins to name but a few - characters one and all.

Here's hoping for a successful 2009 for all golfers connected with Golfshake and the honour of defending the Order of Merit.

John, I'm sure that 2009 will be better, it's an unfortunate fact of life that we have our ups and downs, and as we advance in years the downs continue for longer.  If it's any consolation I feel that both you and David have contributed to my drop in handicap (which you may have noticed has gone to a more realistic level again - I knew I shouldn't have had a -3.5 drop in handicap for a round of 97!) with your snippets of knowledge.

Not a great golf year for me. Only 15 or so rounds, with only 3 sub 90's.

Started a new job, which after 16 years self employed takes some getting used to. 4 of my rounds have been through work, which means I get payed to play golf on those days, if I can just get another 40 or so rounds out the company, then I'll be laughing.

Will hopefully attend some golfshake events this year.

2008 review from golfshake.com - note the comment about average reduction in 3 shots by those tracking scores throughout 2008 !!

I'm happy with my golf over the year.

I started with a handicap of 21 (20.8) and ended the year with a handicap of 15 (14.5)

My lowest handicap during the year was only a couple of weeks ago, it was 14 (14.1)

I've had a few lessons over the year and I can say that my overall game has improved, and the lessons mean that I now know what I'm meant to be doing and why.

A hole in one came very close for me in two rounds this year.  I've never had a hole in one but it's coming.  My closest was at the 15th hole on the Abbotts Course at Stapleford Abbotts GC, my ball ended up about three inches from the hole.  And it was on line, if only my ball had rolled over a couple more times!  The only problem was that I was out on my own during both rounds so nobody would have seen it.

My aim at the start of the year was to get down to a 18 handicap, so I've achieved my goal for this year.

Russ

Rather than posting on here, mine's on my blog

http://www.golfshake.com/user/blog/11007/

This is my first year playing golf, Started in July and joined my club in november.

My goal was to reach 25 HC and it is 19.5 so have achieved it.

3 months ago my best score on a full length course was 112, now it is 90.

Here's hoping for a good progression next year and maybe go down to 15 by the end of it???