My 2006 Golf Schedule

4.15.06 MUGT @ Brickyard Crossing (Indy)

4.22.06-4.23.06 MUGT @ Grand Victoria (MAJOR)

4.30.06 MUGT @ Shadowood (Lou)

5.6.06 MUGT @ The Fort (Indy)

5.29.06 MUGT @ The Legends (Indy)

Indiana Amateur Qualifying - Week of 6.2.06-6.5.06

6.3.06 MUGT @ Bear Slide (Indy)

6.10.06-6.11.06 MUGT @ Swan Lake (MAJOR)

6.24.06 MUGT @ Hickory Stick (Indy)

8.26.06-8.29.06 Indiana Amateur @ Harbour Trees

7.8.06 MUGT @ Ironwood (Indy)

7.22.06 MUGT @ Otter Creek (Lou)

7.29.06-7.30.06 MUGT @ Red Hawk Run (MAJOR)

8.12.06 MUGT @ Heartland Crossing (Indy)

8.17.06-8.18.06 Indiana Mid-Am @ Tippecanoe Lake

9.10.06 MUGT @ Covered Bridge (Lou)

9.16.06 MUGT @ Indy Tour Champ. at GCI

4.03.06 @ Cardinal Club

Conditions at 1:00 pm tee time: 61 degrees, 25-30 mph winds, windchill in the mid 40's, very light rain. First time since my freshman year in high school that I wore a stocking cap!

Ok.... did you read the conditions at tee time? Brutal. Name of the game today was survival. No one got voted off unless you did it yourself. The official start to the 2006 AAGT season started in Louisville at the Cardinal Club. This course is going to be sweet when the course is better prepared. Monsoon like rains the day before could have had something to do with it. Biggest complaint by me was the greens were a bit furry ie slow!

Regardless! The fact that I doubled the first hole only means it's downhill from here. I retooled my swing with help from Greg Robertson at Purdue only 5 weeks ago. A little more time working on the changes and I will be much more comfortable with my swing. I'm really happy with the results so far! First tee ball of the year is straight but because it's into the super industrial fan it blows right into the bunker against the lip. No real shot to the green but gave it all I had.... halfway there. Yikes. Short chip to the green, another chip and two putts. However, I did not miss a 6 inch putt as one of the guys in my foresome did. I told you the greens were slow - he gave it the old wrist flip and it moved it to 3 inches.

Next seven holes were a matter of fairways and greens and two putts. If not it was a chip and a putt. I was cruising and felt good so far. To give you an idea of how hard the wind blew into us on the ninth hole, I hit probably my two best shots of the day - driver and 3 wood - and was still 120 yards short. I tried to steer a punch 7 iron into the green but missed right and couldn't get up and down from there.

The back nine was uneventful. I 3-putted the 10th - first and only 3 putt of the day - but just hit a terrible first putt. Having to make a full shoulder turn on a 48 foot putt could have been the culprit! Next couple holes included an up and down and an amazing 69 foot putt to within 3 foot on a par 3. Yes, I keep the distances of my putts. When I'm practicing putts I try to "feel" my way to the distances of 10', 20' 30' putts. Gives me something to take to the course. But 70 footers are more guess work than anything. The next par 5 I played well... mostly. Driver - 3 wood and I'm pin high in two. Looking at a slightly uphill 35' pitch. Ball checks and I'm left with 8' for birdie... leaving it 2" short and in the jar.... grrrrrrrr. Missed opportunity on a tough day.

The rest of the round was a mixture of a fantastic up and down for bogey after hitting into a hazard. A bogey 4 on the "Win a car hole" that my 6 iron was hooked so badly I almost ended up on the next tee. Still almost got up and down though. A poor wedge into the par 5 17th hole made it a routine par. I messed up on 18 though. Hit a decent 288 yard drive (it was a recorded distance hole). Had an uphill, downwind wedge to a 3 tiered green - pin in back. Flew it dead over the stick and to the back of the green. Manufactured a poorly hit putt from the fringe and missed the 9 footer for par. Oops. After the handshakes - let's get inside and de-thaw!

On the day:

Lessons learned:

Golf thoughts I had during the day were to stay patient even in the worst weather. Commit to the swing. Picture the shot you want to make. In windy weather - a wider stance while putting helps to keep your body steady even in the biggest gusts. In colder weather the ball could fly almost a half club shorter than the same shot in warmer weather so grab enough club. Finally, make bold putting strokes on slow greens. Chances are you'll only be left with a 2-3 footer coming back plus 100% of all putts left short won't go in.

I'm excited about my next event at the Brickyard Crossing. I always am just because it's part of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ever since the National Championships last October, I have this feeling that I can win any tournament that I enter. Don't confuse that with being cocky and saying I will win - just knowing my game and what I'm learning I just feel that I can win. It's a great feeling. Believe me.