new goal !

stamy new goal is to play 75 by end august and to break 80 in a competition in august ! 

self discipline ! 

i would be unstoppable if i could just get started

i'm starting now

the next stage i walk alone

i think there's something wrong with my sleeping habits. it could be the way my bedroom blocks out sunlight or i have some sleep disorder. just keep sleeping for long long hours. i need to follow a regular sleeping and waking up time from now on to try and see if my condition improves.

the next stage of improvement i need to figure out myself. i want to play in the 70s from now on. but it's hard when i feel no motivation to go and practice. it's a complicated situation that i don't really know how to explain yet. release my fear of making plans because i fear not following through with it.

at least one consoling point i got from bob rotella is about perfectionism. i want to be perfect so i get really upset when i don't play golf the way i know i can or don't hit as well as i want to. then the more i feel that i'm not perfect the more impatient i get and then there's this downward spiral that makes me less and less committed to the process of improvement.

i remember i had a panic attack before an exam because  i was so scared i wouldn't do well and let everyone down. maybe i'm having recurring feelings. so many people believe in me to do well and think i can but i myself doubt the possibility of being the best and then the fear is worsened because i think i can't live up to their expectations.

so this next stage is something i have to figure out and figure out fast in order to get back on track. i can do it !
i don't give up !

the importance of my blog

i now realise how important this blog is to me in terms of staying motivated and reaching my goals. i like to talk alot but often it isn't easy to tell someone all that i'm going through, my discoveries, my worries and concerns. then i think things have started to stay bottled inside. something happened on that melbourne trip that made me lose confidence and motivation. i don't really know why and how i got into this lazy slump for the past 2 months. i've been updating less and less.

then now i discover that this blog has unknowingly become my closest friend to share my golfing experiences with. someone that i can talk to through my keyboard non-stop and will never tire. although it doesn't really understand i feel as though it is the one thing that knows all about this journey and how tough it has been.

female golfer tips: trust

i find myself often very impatient !
i look up very fast after i hit the ball to try and see if it is going in the right direction. but this bad habit is actually the cause for the inconsistency in the direction of my ball.

i'm starting to learn to trust that my swing will bring my ball to where i want it to go. then more often than not, it is actually travelling towards the pin rather than 10 meteres right of it.

so tip of the day is to trust in your swing. looking up too early in anticipation of the ball flying towards the target will only cause you to open (or maybe close) your clubface, causing the ball to be inaccurate.
also remember to do this will accelerating through impact to achieve the best outcome !

golf fashion fix: half lace golf shoes

check out the pretty shoes ! would you believe that they are actually GOLF SHOES ! they look like flats that you could wear out shopping right ! 

the Callaway Women's Half Lace Golf Shoe (top) comes in black, fuschia and cyan blue. fancy names for these pretty pretty shoes 

go to: endless.com to get your Callaway pair now 

Combine stylish with high performance to get this distinctive pair of shoes. It's unique look features a supple but waterproof leather on the upper of the shoe, a cushioned footbed, and state of the art spikes in its flexible rubber sole. 

the Sesto Meucci Women's Gabian Golf Shoe (bottom) comes in red and black

i don't know what Gabian means but i know beauty when i see it 

go to: endless.com to get yours now ! 

The Nappa leather upper and slim laces make this pair of shoes charming and feminine. The cushioned insole and sturdy rubber cleat offers comfort with traction to tackle the golf course

BE SURE TO ATTRACT POSITIVE ATTENTION WHEN YOU WEAR THEM TO THE DRIVING RANGE OR YOUR NEXT GOLF GAME !

if you own either pair, please let me know if you are able to play golf as per normal in them :) if yes, i also want a pair ! 

golf fashion fix: stella mccartney golf performance skirt

my first time seeing a high waisted golf skirt. stella mccartney's designs are definitely fashion forward. wonder if wearing it really enhances golf performance ... 

even if not to play golf i think the skirt is beautiful. perfect to take you from brunch with the girls to a game on the golf course ! 

The adidas by Stella McCartney Golf Performance Skirt is a high-waist design with an adjustable button belt, styled in soft CLIMALITE® fabric to sweep sweat off the skin. With hidden side pockets, back zipper pockets and a convenient Stella logo golf ball marker on the right pocket.

go to : http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=4592175192 if you're interested in buying. sorry for those who can't read chinese because the skirt seems to be sold out on ebay and the likes 

golf accessories : Sydney Love handbags in Golf theme

i really learn about so many brands from polyvore.com where i create golf apparel collages and inspire female golfing fashion.

the brand i've discovered today is 'Sydney Love Handbags"

to quote from their website: "Sydney Love is a distinctly recognizable brand with whimsical print handbags and accessories at affordable prices." 


i loveeee this golf design !! and because i'm a fan of big bags, i'm so into this getaway overnight bag. i can imagine myself packing my stuff into this bag when i travel overseas to play tournaments.

they come with polka dot linings too !!  how awesome and totally cute is that !! 

if you're a golfer and are looking for a golf- themed bag to carry on the golf course, at the club house after the game or to pack your clothes for shower. Sydney Love bags also come in other shapes and sizes. check out the 

Shoulder strap bag            Cross-Body Bag                 Tote Bag
                                                                

SICC Ladies Open 2010

The SICC Ladies Open 2010 was scheduled to play on Friday 16 July 2010 at the SICC Island Course but due to inclement weather, the game was washed out and will be played on Monday 19 July 2010 instead.

"so anti-climax to attend the dinner without playing golf" i heard a lady comment
"yah lo like jumping straight into it without foreplay" was the response

haha

when lady golfers party, they really let their hair down and have a good time !!

the theme for the dinner was "Pink Divas" and everything was really decorated in pink

the evening started off with cocktail drinks at the 19th hole where they served pink colored sparkling juice mixed with vodka. then we went to collect our Clarins goody bag and door gift. to my immense surprise !! everyone received a small Kate Spade clutch. 4 of us girls standing with our green boxes, eager to see what we had received. it was really cool because they had various designs.

compliments to the good selection of goody bags (pun intended)

Heading up to HongYuen for dinner, the place was well decorated really nicely. the ceiling was filled with balloons and the table was nicely done up with a black table cloth and a pretty centrepiece of zebra prints, candles, pink feathers and sparkly bits.

The night was interspersed with games, dancing and food. Our table won the table prize thanks to smart brains, fast writing, quick collection of items and sprinting up to the emcee !! each person got a tube of golf balls but at least we won something.

they served us delicious food. compliments to the kitchen for cooking everything to delectably and for serving each portion individually. it would have been great if we didn't have to wait so long in between courses but i understand all the various reasons for it. besides, the ladies enjoyed dancing in between the serving of food.

the much awaited segment of the night finally arrived after 3 hours: the LUCKY DRAW !!
there were only 7 prizes and i didn't get anything but it was still fun hoping they would call my name.

alot of people can't play on monday, so i think i'll have a better chance of winning a prize !! heehee
i'm excited to play a good score in the company of awesome golfing buddies !!

pleased that i've figured out pitching !

played 18 holes with dad and mom today and i was pitching really really well. i've cut down my error of hitting the balls 10meteres right of the hole to between 2metres and 5metres. yayyy !!

i'm so happy that i've managed to combine everyone's pointers on pitching into a method that works and follows what everyone teaches. haha

so excited to work on my distance ranging now that i have a technique that i can use to work on improving distance accuracy

just one more week of having to head back and forth from Woodlands for driving lessons then i'll be more free to practice since i'll only go there once or twice a week !!

golf tips: how to hit a clean shot out of the bunker

in a fairway bunker ? think the bunker isn't too high and a clean iron shot will clear the top ? 

then you are planning to hit a clean iron shot at the ball out of the bunker. now you need these amazing tips to ensure you execute it perfectly EVERYTIME. 

1. choke down 1 to 2 inches on your iron/wood, taking an extra club to compensate for the distance lost

2. fix your eyes at where you want your club to impact (in this case, it would be directly at the ball instead of 1 or 2 inches behind the ball) 

3. accelerate on your downswing so you able to get the distance you desire. slowing down because of a lack of confidence will likely cause you to impact the sand instead of the ball like a normal bunker shot and it will only fly as far as it 

bunker shot tips: when you don't have a good lie

i learnt this lesson the hard way. that when you don't have a good lie in the bunker such as
a. your ball lands straight in the bunker and your ball is lying in its own hole caused by impact
b. your ball is inside someone's feet mark because the bunker was not raked

try to play it safe because it is better to waste 1 stroke to get onto the fairway and then approach the green rather than keep attempting to hit a clean shot straight onto the green.

Oakley Day Singapore 2010

played the Oakley Day tournament held at Laguna National Golf and Country Club on Wednesday the 14th of July 2010.
the high entry fee was made worth it with a free pair of Oakley Radar sunglasses and an Oakley golf shirt. could see that it was a mainly male dominated day because the men's shirts were displayed on a nice rack while the ladies shirts only fit onto a small chair behind the table.
I was really excited to look at the sunglasses because i couldn't decide which color combination to get and needed to see it up close in order to make a more informed decision. We were allowed to customise a pair of Radar sunglasses but essentially we only had to choose 3 or 4 components.
1. frame color
-they looked really plastic-ey all lined up in a row without the lenses in them yet
-i chose a bright pink color (which i'd been eyeing on the website since the beginning of the year)

2. ear socks color
-you had more choices if you chose the white colored frame but since my frame was so bright i matched it with white ear socks, only to realise the possibility of them getting dirty, or even turning yellow in the future.. (eee i hope the ear socks are made of materials as good as their lenses so they will be resistant to color change and grime)

3. Oakley logo color
-almost took the last gold color O but i decided they'd look nicer on mom's red pair so i chose white instead
(now i've got a really BARBIE looking pair of Oakley sunglasses which people say suit me because i like the color pink)

4. type of lens
-they have cool names that i clearly do not remember, i classify them according to whether people are able to see your eyes through them or not
-i chose a brown shade that is not reflective on the outside. (i don't like the idea that people can look at my sunglasses to check out their reflection)
-i find the brown tint tones down the bright sunlight instead of keeping things the same color but dimming it slightly because the bright white light from the sun is still equally painful to my eyes)

i played quite a good round, only struggling with my putting on the greens.
they had a very fun way of playing novelty games on almost every other hole. we started on the 4th hole where we teed off from a waste bunker only 100m from the green although still playing the hole as a par 4. i was the first to tee off and put it nicely on the green. confidence boost !

because it was an event held jointly with Golf Punk Magazine, they had these interesting Golf Punk Dollars that you could earn along the game to be used at the end of the night to bid for Oakley products.

my worst hole was on the 18th with water all along the right side of the fairway and a waste bunker between the fairway and the water. silly me teed off with a high cut (wasn't planning on it) and landed straight in the water. had to take a drop in the waste bunker which had fluffy sand so my ball landed straight in its own drop mark. thinking i could hit it out and near the green, i dufted it in the bunker 20m in front of me only to land in someone's foot mark. (i found out you don't need to rake waste bunkers)
eventually took 5 shots to get out the bunker. mucked around the green and went away with an embarrassing 12 on a par 4. yuck a triple par :(

lesson learnt: if you don't have a good lie in a bunker, always play it safe !!!!!! especially if you do not feel confident of hitting a good shot.

feel like i really haven't updated in ages

i think it's about time i wrote a new post !
i'm getting lazy with updating because i haven't been feeling psyched about my golf improvement .
but.... i'm pleased to announce that i am making progress on figuring out how to have a better short game that is more accurate and goes the distance that i want it to.

at this point of my golf improvement cycle, i think it has to do with figuring out what works best for me while incorporating good technique in order to be consistent.

building upon my previous notion of 'acceleration' through impact, i have now figured out better how to keep a square clubface through impact so that the ball goes to where i want it to (in the right direction). i've been having problems with my pitches flying about 5-10m to the right.

this is what i discovered and thus need to be more aware of in order to reach a higher level

1.club face must be square to target during setup
-it is challenging for me because the open stance makes me tend to open my clubface. *make sure club is alligned towards point chosen in front of ball to aim towards

2. correct wrist angle at top of backswing
-feel like the face is getting shut

3. accelerate on the downswing in a smooth action along the right plane
-don't drop the club under the plane (having to flip wrists over at impact)
-don't rotate shoulders too far around on follow through or the ball will cut to the right (finish with arms in front of body)

female golfer tips: ACCELERATE !

if you are a female golfer and you are like me then you are probably guilty of decelerating as you hit the ball. this means you take a really long backswing and then slow down as you are about to contact the ball.

i especially do this when i'm pitching. i'm afraid that i'll hit the ball too far and fly it past the green so i tend to slow down before impact. this creates the opposite effect of leaving the ball too short and sometimes i even land short of the green. albeit safer because i won't get into trouble at the back of the green, especially when you cannot see the danger behind such as going out of bounds.

i tried concentrating on each shot to accelerate through the swing as i impact the ball so wait till my club shaft is about parallel with the ground, then really increase/ maintain speed during and after hitting the ball.

it is effective !

i had good pitch shots and didn't leave as many of them short of the hole. if i went too far it would only be by about 5metres which is a better outcome than having to chip again from off the green.

now, i have to find a way to make sure i keep the clubface square on impact. will update again with more female golf tips !

be strong !

someone told me to be more aggressive

i'm too calm and cool on the golf course. it seems like there is a small minority of amateurs that are able to keep their cool after hitting a bad shot. i would like to believe i am in that minority group of golfers that are able to let go of the bad shot and move forward. yes i analyse what went wrong, then i try to commit to memory not to commit the same error in a similiar situation should it arise in the future.

but maybe i'm too calm these days. there isn't a raging competitive fire when i play with other golfers because i know that the real competition i have is with myself. i am competing against the golf course and not my flight mates so although it is good to use good golfers as a benchmark for myself i can't just compare my score and theirs.

i got annoyed on one hole where i kept duft-ing my pitch shots. from 30m: i went into a bunker from the rough., then barely got out of the bunker (still not on the green), then as i was about to scold myself for being such an idiot, i hit an amazing 15 punch that bounced right into the hole. save for bogey !

i'm considering turning up the heat a teensy weensy bit when i'm playing so that i'm playing at the optimum amount of 'arousal' (which means level of intensity) to play well.

funny story in the bunker

played 9 holes today. wasted alot of strokes because i didn't recover well from danger such as getting stuck right at the base of the tree and i had to stand in this huge fern.

anyway the funny part of the round is that i got stuck in a high fairway bunker and tried to do something smart. i took 3 shots to come out of the bunker because i didn't open the club face of my 9iron enough.

aargh i'm being distracted. so back to the funny part.

my second shot hit the lip of the bunker and bounced back towards me, hitting my in my left ribs. ouch. i never knew how painful it was to get hit by a golf ball. imagine how much more painful it would be to get hit by a golf ball flying at full speed. eeek

anyway that is my amusing story of the day. if it made you laugh, check out my facebook page and 'like' it :)

tough tough

i think the weakest part of my golf game now is my short game. i'm unconfident when i have to pitch or chip. it's very confusing when you have so many different ways to go about it. sighs i've been confused and frustrated with this short game problem for some time now. its the main thing that reduces my motivation. i believe that my short is awesome !!

HUGS !

It has been proved that showing affection strengthens growth and positive development in people. We all need physical contact to feel good, and one of the most important ways of physical contact between two people is hugging.Who does not need cuddles in this society that is becoming ever colder, more competitive, that compels us to be more individualistic, more personal-goal oriented...?When we hug, we receive an energy feedback. We bring life to our senses and reaffirm the trust in our senses. Sometimes we CANNOT find the right words to express how we feel, and then hugs are the best way to say it.We need four hugs a day to survive, eight to preserve ourselves, and twelve to grow. A hug makes you feel good. The skin is the biggest organ we have and it needs a lot of love. A hug can cover an extensive part of the skin and provides the massage you need. It is also a way to communicate. It can convey messages for which you have no words. We can always resort to the universal language of hugs.The Power of Hugs
Hugging achieves many things that you might never have imagined. For example:

• It feels good
• It dissolves solitude
• It defeats fear
• It opens the door to sensations
• It improves self-esteem (wow, he or she wants to hug me!)
• It encourages altruism (I can't believe it, but I want to hug that person)
• It delays aging (those who hug age more slowly)
• It helps reduce appetite (we eat less when we are nourished with hugs and when our arms are wrapped around others)

More benefits from hugs:

• It is environmentally friendly (it does not damage the environment)
• It preserves energy
• It is portable and requires no additional machinery
• It does not require a special place to do it (an adequate place to hug)
• In any place such as a conference room, a church or a football field
• It makes happy days even happier
• It gives us a sense of belonging
• It fills the void in our lives
• It is still effective even after the hugging has finished
• It strengthens and increases our ability to share
• It harmonizes the hearts of friends

Hugging creates some form of addiction to tenderness, to altruism, to happiness...

Just as laughter, it is highly contagious! Whatever your hug may be, let it always come from the heart, not from the mind.
Come up with new ways of hugging.
Give your hugs interesting or funny names.
Become a full-time "hug therapist."
Be always ready to offer a hug to someone.
Observe the other person and always be careful of his or her personal space.
Do not try to impose your vision or philosophy on others.
A hug does and says very much.
Hug your friend, your loved one, your kids, your parents, your pet...

hugs are awesome ! go on a hugging spree ! go hug all your golfing buddies :) it will make their day so they play better or you will throw them off guard so they don't play well heh heh either