Back to Golf for a Moment

The rains have retreated for a few days.  The cold has arrived.  The temperatures are down 15 degrees and the hand warmers are are kept, well, handy.   I played today.   It was at Wente, an upscale course in Livermore.  The course runs through the hills and a lot of the holes can be described as steep.

Carts are required and included in any golf package.  But when the rains have come, the carts have to stay on their paths.  So there is a lot of walking.  But it could be worse.  They used to have one of the lower level pro golf tours at the site.  I went to watch one and walked the course.  There are not too many times when my life flashed before me and I thought death was near and walking the course was one of them.

The cart path between the 9th and 10th holes is called Lombard street.  They have a snack shop at the base of the hill.  Then up you go and it is switchback after switchback until you get to the top.  Boards and stout posts guard the road as a moment's grope for a sandwich or a hot drink in the lap would put you off the path and down the hill. 

One summer, as I rode up Lombard street, each guard post had its own lizard, perched, waiting for love or food, I suppose.

I got to the top and waited patiently for my lungs to recover.  I also walked to the driving range which is at the highest point on the course.  Another killer climb.

Today it was cold and wet and we were walking from carts to ball and back.  That is not as bad as it sounds and one of the aspects I dislike about cart golf is the lack of exercise.  Getting out to your ball, carrying some clubs, and maybe even walking all the way to the green from there is a welcome means to keep warm.

There wasn't a lot of wind and the sun was out intermittently.  The company was good and the lunch is always a pleasure.  All items neatly summed up, it was a good day.

One of our players, Kwan, hits the ball a long way.  He sets his hands forward, cocks the wrists, and seems to keep them there.  The backswing is lacking length.  Kwan doesn't, but he could boast of a manly torso and the shoulders of Atlas.  This means of hitting the ball is not unknown.  Imagine you are swinging an axe.  You wouldn't release your wrists totally in that case either.  Another useful trait of this method, is that it will de-loft the golf club face, giving you a lower and longer shot for any particular club.

This forward hand position creates a solid hit and looks a useful technique to steal.  I tried this with one shot and hit one about 30 degrees right over a small hill into tall grass.  Other attempts were more successful. 

I also seemed to find a wider swing around my body.  That helped with all shots.  I wasn't longer, but the timing was better and I even hit a couple of drives that split fairways.

I'm looking forward to drier, warmer weather.  Hope, once more, is on the rise...