Hard work to gain a few shots

Played at les Serves in a competition for recucing the index. Played with Gregoire, very intense, described himself as a perfectionist, further from the truth couldnt be possible. i started well par on the 1st, the only hole where i was given 2 stableford points. From there went downhill, topping and slicing with no feeling, nothing positive , just hang in there until I felt better.Pregnant wife of Gregoire turned up he went from bad to worse, so Swiss, must be the most anal stressed racê in the world. First round 18 points. Started the second with a par then messed up the second again. put the woods away and used the 4 iron, still sliced and topped but not so far. Pared 4 of the last 5 holes with 23 points, So 41 points in all, got the index down to 21.2 so still moving in the right direction.

Confidance coming back after emergency round

After last Sundays collapse on the last five holes at la Manchette, when drives were all over the place and approaches too short as well as missing some very short puts it was time to put things right. Turned up at 16h30 and had the course to my self. During the week La Manchette costs Euro 31 and Euro 21 after 18h00. Downside is that there is no driving range to warm up on. After five holes even par, made it to the twelth without too much damage, six over par.A couple of wobbly drives, slicing the first, second was straight down the middle so frustrating. Realised that I have no control or feel over the sand iron, need to figure out how it works. leaving too many puts short. Joined by Eric from the ILO on the 18th and played another five holes together, all pars which gives confidence.

Frustrating day at La Manchette

1st competition of the season, Stableford, Tee off at 10h30 with John Martin and Tom Ike, great company, as hadnt played golf with John for two weeks so heard about his adventures. Tom turned out to be fascinating, with all his travels and experiences, everyone with his type of job are born optomists. Dream start, pitched three metres from the flag then holed out for a birdie. First hole easy, just need to get over the bunker protecting the green and then all is fine. Second hole , irritating out of bounds 200 m on the right, found it so played three off the tee, made up for it with a fine bogie. Pared the next two, out of bounds again on the fifth, finished the front nine, six over par, hitting the ball well. Took four puts on the short 11th, very irritated couldnt believe it, followed up hitting the ball out of bounds on the narrow 12th, next two careless play and dreadful approach play to the greens. 12th, safe par, played safe on the narrow par five 16th, didnt enjoy it and took four from 50 metres, getting more frustrated, last two holes hit three balls out of bounds, had to smile as had ruined a solid start, 23 points going out and an awful 13 on the return. As usual they had run out of food in the clubhouse, quick drink and away as quick as I could.

Index 29.5 target 0, the road may be long.

Crazy French system where no matter the level a new licence holder starts with an index of 53.5. Last season having started in mid August and playing in five specially organised classement medals for people like me who need to reduce the index, managed to reduce to 29.5.
Played at Les Serves with Julien the Swimmer and Michel the banker in the first classement medal of the season, put up a good first round and held on in the second, 43 points, but still room for massive improvements. The target is to have an index of zero, with a bit of luck it will take me about two years.