The heatwave continues in Japan and honestly I don’t think it has rained in over 2 weeks. Courses are beginning to show the stress of the scorching sun with maintenance crews battling browning fairways and deteriorating course conditions due to the lack of rain. My other neighbors, a couple next door asked if I would go with them to try out Hon-Chiba which is about a 20 minute drive from Kiminomori. As always I can never so no to golf so we headed out early yesterday morning to try and get a quick start ahead of the heat. It certainly is very convenient to live in a golf community where everyone simply wants to play golf.
Hon-Chiba Country Club features 27 holes as well as a caddy option. It’s an older club designed about 40 years ago by Akira Hocchi. The 27 holes are broken up into three 9 hole runs called Higashi (East), Naka (Central) and Nishi (West). Our front nine began on Naka just before 8:30am and it was already blazing hot. The Naka course was showing signs of the heat with browning fairways and patches of damaged grass everywhere. It was obvious they were working hard to keep it from drying out as even during play watering was going on everywhere in the Naka course.
In the afternoon after lunch we played the Nishi course which featured 3 long par 5’s as well as 3 par 3’s which I thought was an interesting makeup of holes. On both Naka and Nishi there are plenty of water hazards and forest lining all the holes. Greens were a bit on the slower side probably from the constant watering. Bunkers were abundant and in good shape with nice and soft sand. Overall the course was interesting and not many out of bound areas at all which always help ones score. It has a good mix of different elevations, a few blind holes, and tricky greens and holes were very accurate iron play is required.
For lunch it was soba noodles as always with Tempura on the side. Lunch was short and we found ourselves teeing off just 10 minutes after finishing eating meaning over-eating is definitely a no-no if you want to get off to a good start on the back nine. The early afternoon was blazing hot with temperatures reaching 35C (NOT including the humidity). I downed 3 bottles of sports drink and found I did not have to relieve myself at all as I just sweated out all the fluids. You probably didn’t need to hear that but it just goes to show how hot it was.
On the equipment side I struggled a bit with the driver today. I had been hitting the Ryoma so well in recent rounds but on this day I started off not hitting the driver cleanly creating less than desirable smash factor – the up and down sign of inconsistency in an average golfer. I could not figure it out for a while but then at lunch I saw the pictures taken of my swing by the Hon-Chiba staff (taken on the first hole – which is usually where everyone’s worst swing of the day happens (^_^)) and noticed I was not properly transferring my weight to my front leg and my left foot was actually twisting during impact and follow through as it was not properly planted. I consciously try and stay behind the ball which has me sitting back sometimes. Luckily I saw this at lunch and was able to make adjustments and drive the ball much better on Nishi in the afternoon.
Besides the Ryoma, the most reliable clubs in my bag have to be the VG3 Forged irons. Wonderful looks matched with great performance they always seem to come through providing lots of ease of use and great distance in a reasonably small package. They’ve stuck in my bag now for nearly 8 months and I have not had the thought of changing them at all (unless its simply to try something new – though I know I shouldn’t!). I’ve actually also done quite well with the Raylor Ghost putter… I’m putting quite straight and having to putt much less than usual which is a good thing.
Now if only I could get a full turn and back swing like my neighbor:
Another fun day at at reasonably priced course. I think I will try it again but probably not for a while as there are so many great courses in Chiba!
You need to start with your grip, especially your right hand, the lower hand. It’s too strong to the point of being UNDER. Your left hand is OK. You need to try to overlap your right hand over your left a bit more, more on top. That will help you get over the ball more as you swing down into the impact position. If you can’t cock your wrists like the lady and get square at the top, no need – just copy a bit of Stricker and be more one-piece-ish swoop around and bring it back to the same place at impact with a nice straight left arm like you already have. And, if you watch Stricker, he falls back on his right side a lot with his driver, actually, hardly finishes his swing at the final pose. He just lets it all go at the ball and makes sure it’s right down the target line with full force.
GT those are pretty good observations. My right hand grip is certainly on the strong side. I’ll check out Striker’s swing and give it a go. Thanks for the advice.
@gocchin:
Strong? Well, lets say it’s UNDER, that is, it is WAY TOO strong. Just try to reach your right thumb over your left to line them up almost in the same line on top of the shaft. I think it’s OK to be strong, look at Darren Clarke who just won – his is a strong grip, built for slapping at the ball. But it’s still not as under as yours. Yours almost remind me of Jim Furyk, actually, who has that weird double overlap.
As a matter of a fact I do double overlap which probably explains why it looks under. Anyway thanks for the advice again. Appreciate it.
@gocchin:
Well then! Stop swinging so funny LOL
I want to man but bad habits are hard to kill especially in golf. I have taken your advice though and will gradually change my right hand grip.
G’day, G’day,
ParCon is the name and golf is the favorite game now that I am too old to play rugby anymore!
I was introduced to golf here in Chiba some 22 years back when I was requested to organize
a golf day for a group of Sambu Gun Guys visiting Canberra at the time. After assisting them with
three golf outings I was surprised to be offered a job here in Japan teaching by the leader of the
group, the principal of a high school in the area.
I did not have an official teaching qualification at the time but was informed that I did not need one!
The old guy said that he had not needed as many putts in our third round together following a
technique that I had introduced to him on the morning that we met. He said if my techniques
for practising English were as clear then his students would be happy. I thought that I would give
it a try and am still here. I live quite close to Oami Green and assist with the juniors on the weekend,
my own daughters participating in the simple lessons for the kids. I am always keen for a round so if
you are looking for a player then drop me a line.