My first steps

It was a chance sighting, coming back from a Ground Breaking Ceremony, on the curve from Yelahanka towards  Kannur. There was a Speed Breaker and I slowed down the car. "Touche' Golf" said a small sign pointing right-"at the Dead end" , it also said. A thought flitted through my mind...Ah! looks like a Golf Course, I mentally indexed it and filed it away for a later exploration. Few days later,  on FM Radio One, came a drab Advertisement about learning to play Golf etc. a nondecrepit advertisement which did not register my thinking anywhere but triggered off my filed away memory. Few moments I again forgot about it.

 

It was during around 4PM when I was contemplating the next line of action in a day which had a lot of routine activity, when this random thought again sprung up. "Touche Golf" . Googled Touche' Golf and a site sprung up. Checked out the phone number and dialled out. A bored voice came on, my query was answered ...yes its a Golf School where they taught you the basics of Golf and yes it also had a six hole Golf Course where you could play too. I was given directions and advised to go have a look at the place. 

It was late in the year of 2012. Golfing had taken my fantasy and I seriously decided to give this a shot. Had been watching considerable Golfing Telecasts on television and this had just whetted my appetite. The remarkable landscapes , the green pastures and stunning visuals did goad me on. I broached the subject very hesitantly at the Tennis courts and there were a couple who piled on the wagon - Pramod and Anil. Both were quite enthusiastic about the same.

On the 12th of November picked both the guys and we landed at the Course. It was impressive; large tracts of Green landscaped country side, dotted with determined people concentrating on their swings and a few bored instructors trying to keep pace. We were advised to register on the net and come for a evaluation which will be fixed by their director. We presumed that the evaluation would be primarily to evaluate our capability to pay out.

 

We did this later and was called for the evaluation on 19th. On the 19th promptly we were there and met Mr. Vijay Divecha. It was a small pep talk from him on the course and a self pat on his contacts in the Golfing World. It was a sales pitch through and through. Paid up the required amount and fixed the first lesson the very next day for the 20th November at 7.30am. Coach assigned to me was Mr. Rahim a young Golfer who on meeting did not waste too much time but immediately got his phone registered with my Black Berry. Communications line were drawn.

 

20th Dawned bright and sunny and we were at the Course bang on time. We were straight moved to the Greens at the entrance and lessons started earnestly with regard to the strokes. We began Putting. The first lessons taken was on the Grip.

 

Grip, Stance and Stroke:

Putting Grip. Place both the palms on the Golf Club's handle. Slide the right hand down and with the Left Palm grip the Club in the middle of the palm ( Life line in Palm to match the Golf Club.) Left hand Thumb to be in line with the Golf Club. Close the Right Hand Palm over the exposed left thumb and grip the Golf Club. The Right Palm's thumb to also be in line with the Golf Club. Drop a Ball. The Ball should be exactly in line drawn from the ball between the legs or between the feet. Stance to be wide and leaning forward, eyes to be exactly right over the ball. Elbows toward the body and a Y to be created with the forearms and the club. No wrist action to be played but to move the Y against the ball.

 

I again went back on the 22nd November - Tuesday. This time left and reached there at 6.15 AM, classes were scheduled for 7AM. It was a foggy day and we could not see more than 25 feet Spent about 45 minutes putting with Pramod, lost a match with him on Putting....looks like all lessons learnt is forgotten when you play a match. Rahim came in about 7.05AM and we went to the distant Green where Chipping is taught. Now this was something. Chipping, A stroke which is used when you are not on the green but close to the Green in the rough.

 

Chipping/wedging Grip:

 

Here the left hand palm is wrapped round the club and is not centered but closer to the right side of the palm. The ball of the palm(under the thumb) is over the club.  The right palm is wrapped close to the left palm and over the Thumb. The right palm's pinky is locked between the fore finger and middle finger of the left palm. The right Palms fore finger and Thumb grip the club also with the Thumb facing or pointing away from the club. Viewing the grip will reveal two knuckles of the left Palm and one knuckle of the right palm.

 

We spent the hour Chipping, well it was a strain on my back as we were bending partly the whole time. I was advised to walk around a bit and stretch every five to 10 minutes as this could have a strain on the back. The bucket of balls were over and we refilled it at the greens itself, by about 8 am we were finished but I decided to go on and chip more. By about 8.30am I called it a day and went home.

 

Today I was at the gates of Mantri at 5.50 am itself- I was impressed with my dedication. Pramod came like clockwork at bang on time -6am and we were at the course by about 6.15AM. It was a clear day but a bit chilly. Went to the hut and picked up the wedge or Chipper and also a bucket of Balls. Prithvi - Pramod's coach came in. Went to the Distant Green and began Chipping away. There were two more guys who were at it also. Not one of my balls were holed. This was something I have to change. About 7.15am completed the practice and went home. Intend to go back again on Thursday. Ran across a website which helped my stance http://www.free-golf-lessons.com/golf-chipping-tips.html. This helped me correct a few basics.

 

 The 6th lesson was over on the 7th December, it was primarily a reality check where you realised what you did not know. We went to the Touche' course and have a mini game. It was catastrophic for me. My Drives were abnormally dismal. The ball was going where no ball has ever gone before. My coach looked at me with exasperation and resignation. Its okay .....he kept repeating, now I realise he was calming himself more than his intention to encourage me. Golf is taking a toll on my equilibrium. Long long ago at the Birdie Range I had driven a few balls way out into the horizon and I had presumed that I was a natural to this game. Now I know that I am wrong. My Coach Rahim wanted Gurudakshina, this he claimed is when you are taken first to the course. I did not have my wallet with me so I could not fulfill his wish. After a torturous hour we called it a day and fixed up for the next lesson on the Sunday at 8 am.

 

Driving

Driving was a lesson in Classes 3,4 and 5. We used the Pitcher and Iron 8 for this. Looked quite easy but just never meshed properly. With a lot of effort the balls were just going all over the place and just not where it was intended too. The grip is similar to a Chip but then the primary thing is the relaxation of the arms and raising the Triangle formed rotating the hips and making contact with the ball. This is crucial. I have been trying this the whole week and have made myself only more frustrated.

 

Today is the 9th of December, my Drives were resonably okay enjoyed it. Actually I fitted my Tennis elbow guard on my left hand and this helped. I need to remember a few things simultaneously :-

- Grip which should have two knuckles on left hand seen and one of right hand.

- Raise the Club in front of you. The line from the Clubs shaft should be in line with the blade of the club.

- Lower the Club with your eyes in front and after reaching the maximum slowly bend your body till you reach the ball. This is the distance you have to maintain behind the ball.

- Raise the Club for the backward swing moving the Triangle of left and right hand.

- The bottom of the club should now be pointing at the ball.

- Start the swing as a slice lowering the club face and keep your hands loose and grip firm.

- Swing through the ball scraping the grass.

 

You need to have a good drive just to be in the game. A bad drive will knock you out of the game completely and also frustrate you.

  

I needed to put down my thoughts in particular to the Driving and Chipping Lessons.

 

- In the Backswing take back your clubs in the form of a V with upper body movement only.

- The Club Head should be raised.

- Drop the club head with your hand relaxed so that the drop is on normally and put speed or velocity to the club head and not force.

- It should be like a slice down.

- Right knee needs to be unlocked and slightly bent if possible.

- This will ensure that the body movement is on.

- The Hands and upper body begins the swing followed by the Hips later.

- Follow up should be clean and continuous.

 

For Chipping too the same should be followed with emphasis on the club striking the grass below the ball. In Driving the Divot raised out is actually the grass in front of the ball....the club strikes the ball and onward goes into the grass and raises the Divot.

 

Use the 7 iron to play the putting shot from the edge of the green to the centre of the hole. Stance exactly the putting stance

- Narrow stance.

- Head over the ball.

- Grip like driving.

- strike the ball in the centre.

- Only upper Body movement.

 

 This was the best I came too, I stopped my Blog and I stopped my Golf. I really have to have a drive to restart the same again. Okay only time will tell.