Golf today. Last night was horrendus – 3.30am I was still wide awake. I’d shifted posts, from my bed to the couch in order to create a mind numbing effect that I hoped would put me to sleep. No such luck. I finally drifted off to sleep at about 5am; then woke with a start, in a panic at 6.20 to my alarm.
In the back of my mind I doubted the saneness of presenting myself for golf running on about an hours sleep. I questioned my ability to concentrate for 18 holes, particularly while carrying my clubs. They get heavy when it’s hot. Surprisingly it was all good. I honestly questioned my ability to keep focus through 3 hours, or more of golf, when I was tired; or suspected that I was going to be tired. I wasn’t tired at all really. My average heart rate was up for the session, probably a little to do with fatigue, but other than that I thought my concentration was fine. I was hitting my gap and 60 well, but Mr 5 Iron isn’t working so well at the moment. May head to the driving range this afternoon to do some work on that. Also some chipping and putting – it can always do with work. I putted quite well today – 35 putts for the 18 so that was good. I had 4 x 1 putts and a couple of 3s, but was happy enough. I kissed the hole quite a bit, and nothing really wanted to drop, but I was giving it a chance at least. There were really only two holes that I lost concentration with my putting – think the rest just came down to whether the 2nd putt dropped or not.
End of the day I came in with 77 off the stick, which was +13 for the 18 holes. I was shocked when I realised that I’d come through the back 9 only 3 over, but that included a nice birdie on the 18th (not at the end of the day due to the shotgun start) from at 5 – 6m putt. Nice.
Something, somewhere deep down in me switched today. It was like I had my eyes opened, or considered another possibility, analysed performance differently and suddenly was aware of this massive factor that I’ve been happily omitting from all golf analysis. Fitness. I’m certainly not the fittest person in the world. And I am certainly not the least fit person waddling around. I’ve been thinking I get about alright, carrying my clubs and managing still to do ok. While talking with the spy (so named cause I’d bet that she was one; in a recent life), discussing my round on Sunday I realised that it’s the back 9 that usually causes me grief (with the exception of today, given that it was a shotgun start). It’s not as though I’ve been completely oblivious to the whole golf and fitness thing, I guess I just didn’t really recognise the impact on my game until I thought about it in comparison to my performance. Looking back at my polar results from when I was playing in NI, even though I wasn’t playing as well, I don’t think that I was hitting the hump until later in the match – usually about the 17th. Comparing that to my training later in the day (yes, this is an update of this morning’s blog) I was so much fitter back then. I also used to carry a full set of waterproofs with me, every single match, and much more food/water than I am at the moment. Indicative of higher fitness levels.
Went to the driving range this arvo to teach Mr 5 Iron a lesson. Didn’t really work. Was shagged from my mid afternoon session, and still not really sure whether I wanted to be sick or not. My body just felt fatigued, and I had to work really hard to keep my ‘technique’ tight. My average heart rate was also higher, despite standing there whacking it, and not carrying any clubs anywhere.
And I’ve decided I need some stats on my site. Not from all up, from now – this time round. Aussie golf.
