What a day !

Freezing cold today (3°C) with a chilly wind, but I nevertheless tried to go out golfing. And it was the right decision ! Indeed, I did not think I was going to learn so many things in one day. Well, I know already a few things, but putting them into practice is another challenge. Today everything went smoothly though the beginning was as usual : disappointing. I tried to remember a few things from the dvd about Mike Austin. And they worked. Moreover I took nice divots with my irons and for the first time in months I managed to use my 7 wood correctly on the fairway. I know all these things, I know what to do but what was unusual and so pleasant was that I could reproduce the same good shots, with hte same feelings, not thinking "oh I'm in a good day, I'm lucky". I think Iv'e climbed a step; no I'm sure of that. It was a nice pleasant golfing day for all that it taught me.

Why blades ?

It may seem so stupid and irrealistic to be willing to play TA1s...

I am a mid-handicapper and I do not have such a fast swing : it could even be the contrary; my clubmaker measured my speed at 88 mph with a driver and 71 mph with a 5 iron. Not tremendous ! But my contact is really regular and I loved the soft touch of these blades. Beside, I wanted the exact sort of feeling I have playing my TA900 wedges. I wanted the exact look. This year I want to have fun, I want to find pleasure and excitement in my game, whatever the score. Christmas has just gone by but I also got a new Aldila NV-55 R for my driver which seemed so pleased...

I know perfectly well that the swing is more important than the clubs but I am so excited, I am really looking forward to warmer days so that I can test my new toys. Golf is a game, isn't it ?

New year... new clubs !

They are so beautiful ! They already have a story since they come from Marlow, Oklahoma.

You know the Internet is a powerful media which breaks barriers. They were an original Cleveland TA1 series X-100 stiff. I exchanged a few mails with Clyde and a few weeks later we made the deal. They could be mine !

Of course I had to change the shafts to True Temper TX -90 Regular but my clubmaker really fitted them well. Theya re fit for my size and swing. We'll see what happens next, but I already love them ! I have wanted them for so long, looked everywhere in shops, on internet web sites.

I will not play for the index but to have fun and get some pleasure... so I don't worry...

Creation of my first web site

I adore new technologies and I believe in the power of the Internet. From a photography taken on a golf course, Photoshop transformed it on to a black and white drawing that would become part of the final logo of my first web site. Thank you to my girl friend and Laurent for their understanding and patience because these holidays have been very busy. There will be an English version of this site, don't worry !

But you can still visit the first pages of this site at the following address :

http://www.littletigersworld.com

What an enchanting new year !

Happy New Year !!!!

I wish all golfers a happy new year ! You may have noticed that you haven't had much time to do all that you wished during this period of the year and that was the same for me !

At least the most precious gift we have is health, so may we be healthy enough to swing on the fairways. A special thought to those who can't or those who are no more able to golf for diverse reasons.

May this year be a year of joy despite the scourges of 2005.

May God bless you all !

Looking for a steady swing

A swing only lasts less than 2 seconds. So much work for such a short movement ! Whether you are a pro or an amateur, you have to work again and again, to check what goes wrong with a coach, with the video. You learn more and more things as you play or misplay, as you read magazines, books, as you watch videos or tournaments on TV. When you hit the ball you hope the result will be great. It sometimes happens; it is often a disappointment because perfection does not exist. The REAL thing with golf is that you can be a champion on one stroke, like Tiger Woods. You believe you have understood or felt something, at last. But the following stroke is a sort of disenchantment. This is what is so annoying with golf; understanding only lasts a few seconds. This is what makes it magic : its ephemeral side.

First shots

Yes, this is me 3 years after my beginnings at golf. I love so much this game that I decided to create a blog to remember how difficult it is, how marvelous it is to play golf. So you will have regular messages depicting my inner thoughts from April 2002. Be patient ! I'm French and it takes a while to think and write in English !

I have always been amazed - especially at the beginning - at the way confirmed golfers' ball flew in the air. With such easiness, effortless. Beside me at the Montpellier practice, in the sunshine, people were staring at me : I couldn't touch the ball OR worse it gently rolled for a few yards in front of me or even behind me... Why worse ? because I had squandered a chance to get it right. My wrists hurt, my ego harms. Why on earth was I here ? toiling to get ONE ball right.

The first time

I began golf in April 2002 at the age of 35. My dad had already been playing golf for a few years and I was a (poor) tennis player since I had no physical condition. But I could teach kids. So I was looking for another sport which would allow me to meet people, to breathe fresh air...I had tried golf a couple of times, but I wasn't good at all : I couldn't even touch that naughty yellow ball ! And it really hurt when the club touched the practice mat... Or I missed it several times in a row, air shot they call that...After a new try in April at the Montpellier Massane golf in the South of France, I decided that the ball would not tease me any more and back home in Troyes, in the East of France, I went to the local golf club, La Forêt d'Orient.