Golf Virgin

Sorry to say goodbye

2008-07-28T09:59:21Z

I am sorry to have to end this blog. Pure and simple, I don't get enough free time to play. I hope that I have learnt something and I will carry on playing as and when I do manage to get a free moment. Thanks for visiting Mike

Who's looking forward to the Open??

2008-06-29T21:50:40Z

Hopefully I am going to get some tickets for the open. If I do I will post some images on this blog and a report of how the grounds and players are doing. I will be bringing my daad so he can explain everything to me. Hopefully it will inspire me to continue with golf and to finally get a handicap. cheers Mike

I know how Tiger feels

2008-06-23T06:10:27Z

Having recently returned to golf from having an ACL reconstruction, I know how frustrated Tiger Woods feels. While he has had the best surgeons money can buy, a team of physios, masseur's, dietitians, experts and family and friends. The rest of us (IE me) have had the best surgeons the NHS can afford, weekly visit to an ACL physio class (1 hour), my daughter Asha who has been moisturising my dead skin ( masseur?), my wife cooking her usual lovely vegetarian food ( I have lost 4 lbs), the internet (expert) and my family and friends. Not that I am complaining, I feel better than ever in my stability. The knee feels firmer and according to the Physio I will hit the ball straighter. I managed to get a game in recently with My Dad and Tommy ( a sprightly near 90 year old). I managed to arse up the first 9 as I was more concerned with my knee than enjoying the golf, but I relaxed and the back 9 was much improved. I WAS hitting the ball straight and long, I was on for par more than once and if my putting had of been better I could have under parred maybe two holes. Golf is a game of optimism played by pessimists. Here is one pessimist hoping to get a game of golf soon. See, I told you I know how Tiger feels. Mike

Golfing tips week 3

2008-03-13T08:02:10Z

Here is week 3 golf tip View image

Golf tips week 2

2008-03-13T07:58:02Z

Here is the second PGA golf tip for us all to brush up our skills with. I will practice at home again and bring a video review later this week. This week it is all about getting consistency from the tee, how we all wish we could. View image

PGA Tips and Hints week 1

2008-03-06T17:00:21Z

This weeks tip is about pre-shot routine. My own pre-shot routine is rubbish but hopefully following the PGA hints it will improve. Here I am in my garden getting ready to take a shot. This is before I am trying out this weeks tip. This is how NOT to do it. After laughing at me now watch how that should have happened, I am a bit rusty so please be kind in any comments. This is better or is it?? What do you think?? Quite a bit of room for improvement and I will try and bring you a new video next week of the next tip which is. How have you got on? Let me know. cheers Mike

PGA Golfing tips

2008-03-03T13:46:26Z

Here is some help for all you golfers awakening from your winter slumber. Why not take this opportunity to brush up on your skills. I will place a new tip every week on this blog. I will try it out at home and you can also. Let me know if it helps and I will brief you on how I got on. Click here your first tip Cheers Mike

BAD NEWS!!

2008-02-27T07:37:39Z

Just as I am looking forward to getting on to the course some good news and bad news arrives. I should be able to get my first game of the year in quite soon but it looks like the mopnth of April could put things on hold for a bit. I am going to have my Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction done on my right knee. It looks like my stop start golfing learning curve might take a little longer. On the other hand it might make me more confident to twist my knees when I am striking the ball. Hopefully it will be for the better, not the worse. Have you had the operation and did it improve your game?? Let me know. cheers Mike

Spring is nearly here . . . .

2008-02-06T07:41:29Z

And the sound of golfers awakening from a winter slumber is happening throughout the land. As a relatively 'new' golfer I cannot wait to start whacking my balls around again. I feel like a caged animal, desperate to escape to the golf course. Like a junky, I need my weekly/monthly fix of the green stuff. New clubs, new clothes, new appetite, new season. As Delia Smith said 'Lets be having you' Have you managed to play a round this winter? How did you find the courses? Pass the knowledge around via this column and let us all know the secret gems of the North West.

A long walk but no Golf

2008-01-28T08:28:19Z

This weekend I managed to get out for a long walk, but sadly no golf. I was taking part in the Scouts Moonlight. A long walk with scouts from one place to another but with out the fun of whacking balls at flags. I am hoping that the courses will be dry soon as I am aching to get back at it. cheers Mike

Water hazard

2008-01-22T13:16:43Z

Water, water everywhere and not a round in sight. I wish that the rain would go away and that the grounds would dry up. I have some days off coming up and looks like I won't be able to get a round in. Hurry up summer Mike

Into Golf then welcome to my World

2008-01-17T12:08:17Z

If you are new to this blog, then welcome. Hopefully YOU can help me. I need advice and tips on how to help me get my 28 handicap down. I have played about ten rounds of golf and I have birdies a few holes. I have drove from tee to green once at the 16th at Kirkby and I have putted off green twice. I am hoping to get to a level were by I can challenge my cousin Paul Williams to a game and not be too embarrassed. Paul plays off scratch. Any help You can give will be appreciated. Thanks in advance Mike

Into Golf then welcome to my World

2008-01-17T12:08:17Z

Half an hour to spare

2008-01-08T07:50:22Z

After stripping all weekend, paper off walls that is, I managed to find half an hour to play golf in the back garden. With a selection of clubs I pottered around the garden blasting, chipping and putting. It felt great to be alone with the clubs and my thoughts. Thoughts like, how hard should I chip this?, do I need my hands tight or loose?, is my stance correct?, and many more. One thing I have found with golf is that it keeps your brain working, sometimes overtime. Any tips, news or anything comment and lets start the year off with a par for the course. Mike

Stripping so no time for a game

2008-01-03T07:06:24Z

It is now three days into 2008 and as of yet I have not played a round of golf. I am cannot see when I will get a chance to play properly with my new clubs. Since Christmas I have been stripping, walls that is in preparation of painting and updating the décor of the family home. I am hoping that I can get a few hours off to slip away to the course but at the moment my knee is sore again so I have all sorts of factors to worry about. Oh well, hopefully I will get a game this year and my goal is to get my handicap down. cheers Mike