Plan the Work; Work the Plan

Written on 7-21-14.
   
    I am in a tough holding pattern right now.  Play golf.  Write about it.  Play again.  Write about it again.  Bummer.  Ha.  Just kiddin’.  This is great!  Summer is so fun. 
    Belinda just finished cutting my hair.  I bought a haircut kit instead of a haircut when my hair was getting long a couple of weeks ago.  I have to give credit to Bruce for this fantastic idea.  For about the same price as one haircut, I can now have B cut my hair every month, or every once in a while when it gets shaggy. 
    My haircut style is not complicated.  She followed the directions and did an amazing job for her first time.  She used the trimmer and trimmed everything up about a week ago, but she barely took anything off the top, afraid that she might overdo it with the scissors.  Tonight, I forced her to take more off the top, and using those same scissors from the kit, she did just that.  Then she cut the part across the front, the part that sticks up to make it look straight and even.  Voila!  I now have a completed haircut, and it looks sharp.  Way to go, Belinda!
    On to golf...
    I have three more birdies to write about, and I had a...

The Birdie Count Continues and I Get an "Ace"

Written on 7-20-14.

    My family is on its way back from a trip to Las Cruces.  I just spent the past weekend “bach”ing it.  I cleaned the house, bought the groceries, did the laundry, mowed and trimmed the lawn, and watered all of B’s plants.  Oh, and I played an insane amount of golf, but I am taking a break today.  I was working very hard to improve my scores from the blue tees.  I could manage a 45 on the front nine, just eight over and a 43 on the back nine, also just eight over, but I was unable to beat either of those two scores these past couple of days.  I won’t give up, though.  I can try again tomorrow.  Ah, summer.
    During all of those rounds, I managed to...

More With Dana and Two New Birdies

Written on 7-13-14.

    It’s a lazy Sunday at the Swope house.  Belinda just left to complete our weekly grocery shopping.  James and Amanda are hanging out in his bedroom.  Danielle left to go for a short hike and be alone with her thoughts.  I am watching the U.S. Senior Open.  Pika has joined me here on the bed.  She’s curled herself into the letter “C,” and her right front paw is also curled, covering her face.  Lazy and adorable.
    Back to my latest lesson, Dana also showed me a different type of chip, an unorthodox style that was more upright.  He showed me that heels dig in, but toes don’t.  It’s a Tom Kite chipping style.  I put the chipping club’s grip in the lifeline of my left hand, similar to putting, stand closer to the ball, and make a putting stroke. 
    As I mentioned before, we didn’t get much time for...

"Third" Instructor is a Charm

Also written on 7-11-14.

    I had my first lesson with my newest golf instructor, Dana, this past week.  I first met Dana when he came to McCoy with Tom (last name) for the First Tee Program.  He is my third golf teacher.  Or the fourth if I count Tom (other last name) at Golf U.S.A.  Golf U.S.A. has closed, by the way.  They had a big “going out of business” sale, and now it’s gone.  The store I bought my first set of clubs and other various golf “stuff” is no longer in business.  Sniff. 
    Tom shut the place down due to a lack of business, among other reasons.  He stated that many golfers would buy their golf items online at lower prices, so he could not compete or keep up, although I saw that his prices were very competitive.  He also had great service, in my opinion.  I enjoyed his honesty, his help, and our conversations every time I went in there.  I will miss it.  My most recent purchases there were my push cart and my R2-D2 putter headcover.  My push cart is getting used as much as my headcover is not.  Thanks, Golf U.S.A. Tom, for helping me get my start in golf.
    So, Dana’s lesson was...

I Play With My Neice ShyShay and Guy Scams Me

Written on 7-11-14.

    Yikes!  We are a month away from reporting back to school.  Lots to share, so here I go.
    Playing at Grand Lake was fabulous, but different this year.  We played Pole Creek for our second time ever, but it wasn’t Guy, Dad, and me this time.  For the front nine, it was Guy, Annmarie, ShyShay, and me.  This was the first time the two ladies could join us because A.) Shy was old enough to play and wanted to go and B.) Shy was old enough and wanted to go, and that meant Annmarie could go, too.
    Let me tell you about my niece ShyShay and how well she did on this official/“real” golf course.  She is...