3 D

Three-D. Get it? Positioned early this day in Fort Worth awaking at the Seminary. Some preliminary stretching done and out of the way as the in-room coffee finishes brewing.

This is ‘payday’ or as a volunteer compensation or reward for the annual passage of the PGA tour thru FW aka The Colonial.

Playing the prestigious Colonial CC is a treat. Playing golf has always been fun but without question more so in the earlier years and the later ones now not so much.

This does not mean that one (THIS ONE … your correspondent) takes the fewer opportunities lightly. Thank goodness Rick is the range attendant where I can practice and hit balls as a comp. I met Rick while working at the Home Depot and we have become friends.

Anyway, he happened to be working yesterday and I stopped for a small bucket as the conditions were similar to what they will be today when we start.

Today at the start we are looking at 7-9° but warming, sunny and 18-19 by early afternoon when we SHOULD be finishing up. So the timing might not be the best but as General Custer once said, ‘We MUST ride.’

Confidence due to practice and preparation are quite high. The ‘door gym’ S1 gifted me a few years ago came in very handy and was most helpful getting quality swing reps reinforcing muscle memory without going to the range and actually physically hitting balls.

THIS SOUNDS INTERESTING. CARE TO EXPLAIN THE MECHANISM HOW THAT WORKS? POR FAVOR.

For you, sure.

First, I broke the swing down into two (2) steps for exercising. The take-away or backswing and reversing, the downswing emphasizing the impact area. During both it is most important to position the feet and so the bands are pulled straight out from the door.

Hand position on both is as close to the actual grip a I can get but this is not critical. It certainly helped for as this progressed I found that the more little point emphasized the better the results.

IT’S GETTING DEEP.

Just say when and I’ll stop.

The idea with this ‘muscle memory’ training concept is not anything new. I read a book back in high school and did a book report and can say again it works.

During actual trips to the range between such workout sessions I noticed a significant difference in the ease of the movement(s) and was much more consistent faster as a result of this off-range training.

WHEN

POSTAL SUBSCIPTION: G. Sanchez

GS: So how you play?

WS: I played well and had a blast. A good grouping, struck the ball exceptionally well and even the bad shots I hit well.

GS: Splain that por favor.

WS: OK. On 14 I hit a pop-up drive, short and a 2-iron heavy was short of the bunker left of the green. I left the ball in good position to pitch-and-run up a five iron up to the pin and struck it solid but it took a lousy kick to the left and ended up in the bunker. I got out OK but not that well and two putted to another double bogey. So easy I wanted to puke.

GS: Any good memories?

WS: Of course. I blasted the first drive off the first tee. That’s always nice. On #7 with a strong tail wind I crushed another then hit a 6-iron flush to about 10-12 feet for my best chance for a birdie. I missed the putt badly. On the front side I had bogies and doubles but on the back I had a few pars and toward the end of the round started making some longer putts.

I played a good round of game management and fell apart badly on #18 where I got into a bunker and for the first time I did not get out on the first attempt. In a scene reminiscent of Tin Cup I struggled to get out and on the third time I finally did get out.

GS: And your group?

WS: I had probably the best score. James my cart partner was a nice older gentleman. He was an aggie. Smiled a lot and we joked around until he had to stop at the turn. He had some health issues. A couple of strokes, a pacemaker and taking some meds. He broke away to take a leak a often.

Keith was having trouble. Bad knees from an old baseball injuries. Mike retired from IBM and he struggled at times as well.

This is Guerillmo Sanchez with a five (5) minute sport update from Colonial CC in FW.

Bill back and on the way out I stopped at University Park Village and had some fun with the staff of J Crew. I bought three (3) shirts and ordered three (3) more. From there I went to Pottery Barn and found inspiration(s) and shamelessly took pictures of things I could easily make. They had none of the white coral out and on sale. It must be a seasonal thing. No big deal.

Anyway, back home and looking forward to a night in my own crib.

Tomorrow and the rest of the week is paint, paint and paint to get the last and most inventory done as possible for the Holiday bazaar at Tupp’s on Saturday.

So I may be shut down and off the grid for a few days. DO NOT be alarmed and not need to light up the switchboard.

I really hit some great shots today and it was nice to see putts head into the center of the cup and drop. But the course was set up friendly and quite easy. Par threes hurt as I only hit one of four and made only one par.

My preps paid off and I was oh so close to having an exceptional round.

But NEXT time.