September 28th - Season Overview

Here is a quick review of my 2011 season.

July
Bavarian Championship (70 73 67) (1st)
German Qualy (69 71) (T-5th)

August
German International "IAM" (69 67 71 77) (3rd)
EPD Bad Waldsee (74 68 69) (T18th)
Swiss International (69 69 65 70) (5th)
EPD Pfaffing (74 72) (MC)

September
O-Club Championship (67 74 66 63) (1st)
German Championship (72 73 74 68) (T14)
European Q School ( 71 78) (MC)


I have excluded all smaller, one-day events, as those do not count towards European/world rankings or have any significant meaning.

Season 2011 Tournament Scoring average: 70.357
Low: 63
High: 78
Best tournament (-18)
Worst tournament (+5)
Average # of Birdies or better per round: 4.6
Average # of Bogeys or worse per round: 2.7
DGV Handicap +4.2

I deeply appreciate all the support I have received from many of you who have read my entries.  You have kept me motivated and focused between the stress and joys of tournament golf.  Thank you.  The journey is by no means over, but in the European winter months there are no tournaments, so I will spend much time on work, fitness and technical training so I can come out the gate hot next season.  I will play some tournaments around the world this winter and I will provide updates on those as they come.  For now, I will post some extra pictures I have been sent from this season and end this blog for a few months.

Season End

Even now after a week has passed, I'm still bummed about the end of Q School.  The tournament is not SO difficult where I need to go lights out.  Just 4 average rounds of golf and you get through.  Unfortunately, I fired a 71 and a dreaded 78 at the wrong time, and since the cut line was so tender, this second round put me out of the tournament.

Ultimately, it was this one decision that cost me the tournament.  A hole I will undoubtably never forget.  Hole 12, day 2.  

Par 5, which we played at 485m, (525 yards) - top 2 easiest holes on the course.  The only thing protecting this easy par 5 is a tight fairway, OB left and a large lake on the right (as seen in photo).  Let the drama begin...

I was paired with 2 Germans, and as much as they were good guys, they were extremely slow players.  On the European tour, the referees rigidly protect the pace of play, and on hole 4 we were notified that we were 10 minutes behind pace and if we fall more than 15 minutes behind the time, everyone in our group receives a one stroke penalty.  I found this absurd and argued with the referee because it was not my fault we were slow, and saw no reason that I should be penalized for this.  Their argument "it is your responsibility as a group to keep up and I need to push my players to move faster".  From now on, we had a women with a stop watch timing our every hole, which put me under a lot of unnecessary stress/pressure.  Every time my playing partners read a putt from both sides and took 60 seconds, I became more anxious.  I didn't play particularly well, but I was +2 going into 12, or +1 for the tournament.

I hit a good drive on 12 and had a 4 iron into the green.  I pushed it just a touch and it landed just right of the green and rolled into the hazard - about 10 yards from the pin.  I got to the green and my ball was in the wet mud, surrounded by thick ferns.  We determined my ball crossed the hazard about 50 meters back, and I had the option to walk back and take a drop from there.  I looked over and the referee with the stopwatch was glaring at me, so I hastily and thoughtlessly buried my feet in the mud and tried to play the ball.  My club went straight into the wet mud and my ball disappeared underneath the black sludge.  Now I was in big trouble, as my ball is now unplayable and the last shot did not cross the hazard line.  The ruling was, I must drop the ball, but ball-line-pin, meaning a continuation of the line of my ball to the pin, but in the other direction.  Well, in this case I had a huge lake in that direction, so I had to walk "more like sprint" around the entire lake, onto another hole's fairway and drop my ball 220 yards away (the only spot where I didn't have trees in my way).  Now I had a hybrid over trees and over the lake I had just been in.  Out of breathe and covered in a cold sweat, I hit my 5th shot, and with a sigh of relief, hit it to 12 feet.  Seemingly, I saved myself from a hole where I could have made a 10, or worse.  I run back to the green, miss my putt, and we receive a stroke penalty for being way behind our allotted time.  I walk off with an 8, triple bogey, on a hole where everyone else is making birdie.  I've never been so frazzled after a golf hole in my entire life.  I was angry at my group for being so slow before and I was upset at myself for being so worried about a 1 shot penalty that I made such rash decisions.  I worked hard to regain my focus, but finished with 1 birdie and 2 more bogeys for a season worst 78, ultimately putting me into a position where I missed the cut.

Such a defeat would completely demoralize me as I really spent 6 months training for this one tournament, but I am already focused on my full winter training.  Now comes the 4 month period of gym, fitness, technical training and of course work.  If this summer has taught me one thing, it's that my goals are easily achievable.  The competition is much weaker than I expected and all it takes to get to the elite is continued hard work and most importantly that "break" that lifts you through to the top.  

        

September 19 - European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1

Finally, the day has come.  I am in Berlin playing the first stage of Qualifying for the tour.   Starting tomorrow there are 96 at the start, and 4 rounds later, only the top 22 and ties will be accepted into stage 2 in Spain next month.

Q School Website

Scores

This is the most eclectic field I've ever encountered.  We are a mix of European pros, Americans, Asian players from the Asia tour and a handful of European amateurs all taking their shot at a European tour card.  In my first practice round, there were 4 languages spoken in my group; not German.

This past week I have worked harder and longer than ever before, coming from the disappointing performance at the German.  I have done everything imaginable to give myself the best preparation possible.  I have a 9:00 teetime which is perfect given how strong the winds have been in the afternoons.

Excited, confident, and hopeful.  Tomorrow I take on 95 other talented guys who have the same exact goal as I.  Good night.

Sept 4 - The Club Championship

Every year the Club Championship is the biggest tournament my home club GC Olching hosts.  It brings all the members together for 4 days and it culminates in a large celebration that runs into the next morning.  Although this is not at the level of a European Tour event by any means, it has a lot of meaning to me because I get to play 4 rounds in front of all the members who provide tremendous support for me year round as I contend throughout Europe.

As usual, the tournament has its twists and turns.  My good friend Paddy Kopp, who has some serious talent, fires a course record 66 in round 1 and follows it up with a 71 in round 2.  I was 4 shots back with two rounds to go.  In the end it was a 3 man race between myself, Paddy and Lukas.  When I shifted gears one last time, I took a lead I wasn't giving back.  I shot 66 on Saturday and my season low 63 on Sunday to go 67 74 66 63 (-18) and win by a 12 shot margin.  The previous course record of 66 held for 12 years.  I hope my 63 stands even longer.    

Thank you Abby for recording a few of the highlights.  I have attached them below.

Final Putt

Speech to the members

 

Sept 11 - German Championship Final

The weather eased up in rounds 3 and 4.  Many scores were also noticeably lower.  Unfortunately my game was far from routine.  With ample frustration, I have to say I haven't struck the ball this poorly all summer.  I have a lot of work to do this week to prepare for the upcoming Qualifying School stage.  Luckily my short game kept my scores from catastrophe.  72 73 74 68 (-1) put me in T14.  This was not the result I had in mind to back my #2 ranking in Germany.

But even on off days I try to stay positive and of course savior the good moments.  Here I was stymied against a bush in the waste and had a 6 iron over water.  Of course I went for it and managed to put it close.  My friend Vicky kept me cool and caddied for me in round 3.      

Sept 8th - German Amateur Championship

I apologize for the delay - the last 2 events between Switzerland and now I will write-up after the German.  The tournament now is live and underway.  The German Amateur is our version of the US Amateur except it is played out in 4 rounds of stroke play, no match play.  We are in Hannover, Germany at GC Gleidingen where they hosted the PGA of Germany a few weeks ago.  The winner of that tournament, (-2).  Looking in every direction, I see endless windmills and dunes.  Why?  This place averages about a 25 mph wind.  We played the first round in 50* weather and rain, and 25-35 kmh winds.  Brutal.  The greens are enormous and very fast.  The DGV had to replace a pin during the round because the ball would not stay in place around the hole.  The wind simply blew the ball off the green.

German Amateur Homepage

Link to Live Scoring

The leader board had to be taken down due to the wind.

OK, enough of me telling you how difficult it is :).  My DGV handicap of +4.3 placed me in the first group with Germany's best Marcel Schneider (+5.1), and Benedict Staben (+4.1).  I've never played with Marcel, but I've heard stories.  To no big surprise, in the first 8 holes he holed every put from every location.  It was a different class of golf, easily going -5 in impossible conditions.  Touche.

I clawed hard to make my pars, staying +1 through 7.  Relatively content, I find myself 6 back of Schneider.  Hmmmm.  

On the very difficult 8th, we were hitting 3-woods on a 195 yard hole to a half island-green.  Dead into the wind.  We all miss right so we could take a shot at par and move on.  From the rough, I play a flop to a downhill, downwind pin.  It takes about 10 seconds from the point of landing to get to the hole, or better yet, into the hole.  Birdie on 8 easily gives me 2 shots on the field.  What a bonus.  

Number 9 was also a beast into the wind.  Par 4, 430 yards with water all the way down the right and in front of the green, waste area left, and OB over the green.  I hit driver - hybrid to 4 feet, make the putt.  Another bonus, putting me -1.  Schneider and Staben play the 2 holes in +1; 3 shot swing.  I continue the momentum train and birdie 10 and 13, going -3, co-leader with Staben and Schneider.   

The finish.  As you can imagine, 17 and 18 on this quality of course are designed to put your round to the test.  17 (below) is a close-to-a-replica of TPC Sawgrass's 17 island green par 3.  Except we are playing in 25 mph winds.            

I miss the green but am fortunate to stay out of the water.  I still make an unnecessary bogey.  18, similar to 9 is a longer par 4, into the wind, with ob right and water left.  9 and 18 have one enormous double green with pins about 70 yards apart and a large lake in between the fairways.  I hit driver and a 4 iron from 155 yards, which was still not enough club.  Water.  I drop, pitch, 2-putt, double bogey.  Thank you very much.  72 in round one.  Normally I am fully content, but given the finish...  Anyway, I'm T-8 of 90.  The leader is -3.  Schneider and Staben both bogey 18 and shoot 70.          

Aug 14 - Swiss International Final

After two consecutive rounds of 69, I easily made the cut but stayed put in T12, 5 back of the leader.  I knew I had to go low in round 3 to put myself back in contention.  So I decided to go to the Ascona's world renowned night club, Seven, till 4 in the morning.  Just kidding.  A group of us did however go to this very unusual restaurant.  Grotto Baldoria.  It is a restaurant found in the courtyard of an old, rustic home with only outdoor seating.  The terrace "roof" is made of grape vines with views of the mountains and stars shining through.  The atmosphere was top.  The courtyard was brimming with culture - different languages coming from every corner.  A very simple concept.  There is only one menu (actually no menu) at Grotto.  Everyone eats the same thing.  Your table is first served with red wine and white wine.  No labels, no complaining.  Next, a large wooden pallet with cheese and italian salamis is passed around.  Everyone cuts off their share and it goes to the next table.  This is followed by a massive (20 Kg) pot of pasta - everyone again takes their share.  Then comes the meat, more cheese, and desert.  An extensive, high quality meal with the price tag of a pizza.  Grotto is always full - we waited an hour for our seats.  Ingeniously cost effective and unique.  I love it.

Back to golf.  My Sunday 36 began at 8:10 am.  I was paired with 2 French players.  I think from now on, if I curse on the course, it will be in French.  Hilarious.  "Alè alè.  Le pout!"

At exactly 14:10, I climbed to one off lead.  I finally found my rhythm along side some great fan support as I was able to tame the beast for a bogey free 65 in round 3.  This still put me one back of the lead - however, by again birdieing number 1 in round 4, and word soon spreading that the leader made a bogey, I had the solo lead at -11.  I clawed my way to -13 through 12 but found out that Andrea Guirini of Switzerland and Filippo Bergamaschi of Italy were lighting it up, and -13 suddenly put me two back.  What the heck.  They even had 4 or 5 more holes left than I did.  I missed a given-the-situation must make birdie on 15 and subsequently bogeyed the tough 16th.  Some of the followers left our group to watch the action taking place in the last groups.  So did my adrenaline.  I still gave the last 2 an aggressive go but I finished the final round with a 70.  A tournament total of -11 (69 69 65 70) put in 5th at the Swiss International.  In retrospect, a great finish, but I of course wanted the trophy that came with the European Tour exemptions given to the winner.      

  

August 12 - Swiss International Round 1

Round one has finished.  A (-2) 69 puts me in T13 and only 3 off the lead.  My game was off but I was fortunate to get some good lies and managed to scratch together a competitive round.  Overall scoring for  the field was really solid in opinion, given you could best advance the ball ~50 meters if you missed the fairway.  These guys must hit it straighter than I gave them credit for.  A total of 37 players are at par or better.  The course suits my game really well - I'm looking forward to a chance to take it really low this weekend.

Round 2 is Saturday and those making the cut play 36 on Sunday.

Swiss International Championship Live Scoring

On a side note - the women's Swiss Championship is being played in tandem with the mens.  The Italians, Swiss and the Swedes... as if golf wasn't tantalizing enough.

Aug 11-14 International Swiss Amateur

 I arrived in beautiful Ascona, Switerland after a 4 hour drive, through 4 countries.  

♥ Europe 

The city of Ascona is located on the Lago Maggiore, 30 minutes from Lake Como, but equally taking.  We are 10 minutes from the Italian border.  Despite being "Swiss", the local tongue is 90% italian, 10% German.  Menus, newspapers, radio, street signs etc are all in Italian.  However the cost of living here - in Switzerland as a whole, is another language all together.  

For purpose of parity:

Lunch at golfclub (1 water and 1 Salad) = ($14 + $44) = $58

3 ProV1 golf balls = $32

Half tank of gas = $98

Pasta dinner at a side-cafe = $38

Swiss power converter to charge my laptop (borrowed from hotel) = $56

In Switzerland everything is 3X as expensive as normal.  For the Swiss, it is completely normal to spend $12 for a soda because your income is on the same level - it evens out.  Not so much for guests. 

       

Golf Club Patriziale Ascona

The Swiss Golf Association has picked a gem to host this event.  The golf course has a dynamic layout and is groomed to perfection.  They have grown the rough so high, you cannot see your shoes when you stand in it.  Every hole has a spotter, for if you miss the fairway by even 1 meter, you risk a lost ball.  

August 1-3 EPD Bad Waldsee Classic

My second start in a professional event.  The EPD Tour is the German PGA tour, a gateway to the European Challenge Tour and the European Tour.  The setting was much like the first EPD I played in Coburg.  140 players at the start with about 20 amateurs allotted places in the field.  Top 40 and ties make the cut after 2 rounds and play one final round.  Sponsors have their stands where players receive free gifts such as Pro V1's, gloves, hats and as a pleasant surprise, new Footjoy Icons.  These sponsor gifts are supposed to be "pro only", but I passed pretty easily as an amateur and bagged a few $100 worth of accessories.  Good start.

My first round was simply awful.  I triple-bogeyed the 5th - I'd rather not get into details.  I ground it back to even par only to settle for two 3-putts coming in for a 74.  (+2) put me in T68.  My plans of contending for the win quickly turned into simply "making the cut".

Round two was a little better as I was able to turn up the heat on holes 7-12.  I birdied 6 straight and finished rather discontent with a 68 and a total of (-2) after 2 rounds.  The cut was at level par.  I was able to play the final round.

Link to EPD Tour Results

My Scorecard

The final round was more of the same as day two.  Excellent ball striking from tee to green but I spent more time chiseling the frost off my putter than making putts.  Figuratively speaking of course.  Final round 69.  Total of 74 68 69 put me at (-5) and a T18.  As an amateur I had to of course forfeit the pay check.  Experience is my reward... along with the new pair of shoes.  Props to Ben Parker from England for firing a tournament total (-15).



    

July 24 - Heartbreak Sunday

 Link to IAM Website 

Video Highlights of the Final Round

Today, this fairy-tail ending was more in line with something written by the Brothers Grimm.  I came into the day with excitement, motivation and confidence.  The conditions were tolerable.  Cold with a light rain.  My friends from Munich, Frankfurt and Cologne all drove up to join the followers on this Sunday.  The first 6 holes were rather standard - I made my pars as my opponents exchanged birdies and bogeys.  My lead was now 2 over the Dutch player Daan Huizing.  The 7th was a par 3 and we had strong swirling winds.  I short sided myself to a tough pin in some wet rough.  The whole week the crowds were positive and pushed me to play my best.  "Lets go.  Up and down.  You can do it", were some of the murmurs.  I play a delicate flop, land it a few inches on the green and it ends nowhere other than center cup.  The gallery erupts.  Back to a 3-shot lead.

The downfall.
On the 9th hole, I have a 12 foot birdie putt to take a 4 shot lead.  My confidence is at it's peak and I just know this putt is going in...  I aggressively knock it 4 feet by and miss the short return putt.  First 3 putt of the tournament, 2 shot lead.

10th hole Huizing and I have equal distance birdie putts.  He makes, I miss.  1 shot lead.

11th hole - 235 yard par 3.  I miss the green, cannot convert the up and down, Huizing misses a make-able birdie putt.  We are tied through 11 at (-7).

12th hole.  Huizing and I have 15 foot birdie putts.  My downhiller tracks the hole the entire way and comes to rest on the front edge, halfway in.  I take my 10 second count, hoping for a Tiger-woods Esq putt that falls after a few seconds.  No luck.   Huizing makes a difficult putt to take a one shot lead.

14th hole - Tight par 4 with a pin only a few paces behind the water.  Both my opponents hit irons off the tee.  For the first time in 4 days I am no longer the leader of this tournament.  I pull the driver to put myself in position to spin a wedge to this tough pin and take back the reigns.  I am a very aggressive player, and this style has paid dividends, but this time it was disastrous.  I play it way to high, the wind eats it up and it misses the fairway right - Out of Bounds.  I double bogey.  3 shots back - 4 to play.

15th hole - I am now in full attack mode.  I hit a stellar approach to 6 feet, cannot convert the putt.

16th hole - I again go pin hunting - 4 foot birdie putt successful.  2 back, 3 to go.

17th hole - Par 4, 475.  Undoubtably the toughest on the course.  A solid Driver and a hard 3 iron put me 12 feet away from another birdie.  Huizing bogeys and I again cannot convert the putt.  1 back, 1 to go.

18th hole - Par 4.  OB left and right.  I hit driver on a tight hole to put myself in position.  Huizing plays his second to the center of the green.  I have a 7-iron into the wind to an island green.  The pin was classic Sunday, way in the back with the water only 6 paces past the flag.  Full attack mode - birdie for playoff.  I hit the 7 and ask for it to be good.  It lands just past the pin, takes one hop... splash.  Game over.

I took the bronze medal, which in retrospect was a very successful tournament, but I don't think I need to explain myself when I say I was very disappointed in the outcome.  The interviews and media questions were difficult afterwards.  No fun.  All I could do was credit Dann Huizing for his exceptional and consistent play and admit that he was a deserving winner.

Despite a disheartening finish to the IAM, I plan to process and learn from the mistakes, and the positives.  I know I can contend with the best.  I hope to follow in the footsteps of Rory - who's rebound at the US Open after his Augusta heartbreaker was one of the best displays of golf I had ever seen.  My "US Open" is the upcoming International Swiss Amateur - who's Champion not only receives equal world ranking points as IAM Germany, but two European Tour starts.

My Scorecard

 

July 23 - German International Rounds 2 and 3

IAM Leader Board through 2 Rounds

IAM Leader board through 3 Rounds

My efforts to avoid the spotlight and media have failed.  After 3 rounds of 69 67 71 (-9), I have a solo 3-shot lead in possibly the toughest field I have ever played against.  The support I am receiving from my friends, my golf club in Olching, the Bavarian paper pushing for a German winner, and of course family is beyond words.  I cannot describe the feeling any better than pure bliss.  I am doing my best to suppress these emotions as I have one more day of hard work needed to bring home the trophy.  I am extremely excited, for the final round will be televised by Sky Sports.  With bad weather expected tomorrow I need to stay in the game, stay focused and put my nerves to the ultimate test on Sunday.  Good night.    

July 21 - German International Round 1

Having played golf all my life, I would like to say I have the first tee jitters under control.  Not today.  My first round I'm paired with Staben and Quintarelli, who drew a gallery before the first tee shot was even hit.   We begin on the 10th, Par 5: rather tight with water hazard right, forest left.  Staben is first - a 300 bomb down the middle.  Quinta, second to bat - a low bullet fairway splitter.  My turn.  Although my thoughts of "time to show these little muppets who you are" were seemingly positive, borderline arrogant, the outcome was none other than a solid push fade right smack into the hazard.  The sighs of the crowd were the only thing louder than my heart beat.  Staben eagles the first, Quinta birdies and I hole a 15 footer for Par, avoiding disaster.

                                                         Round 1 Leader Board

The rest of the round went extremely well and it was an immense pleasure to play in front of galleries, paired with Staben and Quintarelli, who turned out to be great guys.  Given the difficult course, a first round of 69 put me in a 3-way tie for the lead.

July 20-24 The German International Amateur

After a long 5 hour drive to Frankfurt, I now have given myself 2 good days to prepare for the IAM.   I entered this international field as one of 40 Germans - the top 140 amateurs in Europe overall received invitations.  During the first practice round it was clear to me that most of the players here had ambitions of soon turning professional.  The practice areas were over run by players dressed in their snazzy sponsored outfits, only too be bested by their coaches, managers, caddies and all the other seemingly "essential" members of their team.  To help paint the picture, allow me to describe the warm up before the first round:  To my left, Benedict Staben (who is this guy?) with 2 swing coaches, the German national trainer, Sky Sports video crew and a handful of random spectators.  Over one more, Antoine Schwarz of France with coach, mental coach and 6 or 7 French-bedecked groupies.  Top handicap in Europe... something like +5.4.  To my right, Nicolo Quintarelli.  He dressed, looked, and emanated the ambiance of someone with a name like "Quintarelli".  Number one player in Italy - Italian national trainer and half his extended family, equivalent to I'd say 3 American-sized families, by his side.  Oh and of course in the middle, Daniel Schmieding.  Accompanied by, golf bag.  This new ballgame bothered me not one bit.  In fact, I relished my situation.  I'm here to play golf and let my clubs do the talking.          

July 9-10 German Open Qualifier successful

Two day event - top 10 receive a spot to the German.  I was quite surprised to encounter such a strong field in a simple qualifier.  This field had a few more additions as it was one of only 4 qualifying spots in Germany.  I'm glad I took my coach's advice to go a few days early and grind out the rudimentary preparations.  Rounds of 69-71 secured me a tie for 5th and I am now able to play the German in September.

Link to German Qualifier Results

June 2-5 First start, first win!!

Link to Live Scoring Bavarian Open

The Bavarian Open was played as a 3-day event in GC Augsburg - a course that punished those not straight off the tee.  The wind blew hard the first two days but settled a bit on the last.  70-73-67 put me at (-6), giving me a 2 shot margin over Sebastian Kannler.  What a wonderful honor it was to play in front of all my friends who came to support me.  The field was relatively small with ~80 invitees, but some definite quality near the top.  Hopefully a fundamental stepping stone for the future.   

May-June 2011. The Beginning

May 10, 2011.  

After nearly a year of planning, organizing and strategizing - I have arrived in Germany.  It feels wonderful to take this first step and of course helps to have my coach, friends and the Smart car aptly awaiting my arrival :)

Together with my coach we have worked out a trainings plan and a tentative schedule of events.  Below is the list of "larger" scale tournaments which will have live internet scoring or television coverage.  

June 3-5 Bavarian Open - Augsburg, Germany

July 2-4 EPD Coburg "Brose Open" - Coburg, Germany

July 9-11 German Open Qualifyer - Schwabisch-hall, Germany

July 21-24 International German Amateur - Neuhof, Germany

August 2-5 EPD Bad Waldsee Classic -Bad Waldsee, Germany

August 11-14 International Swiss Amateur - Ascona, Switzerland

August 16-18 EPd Pfaffing Classic - Munich, Germany

August 22-25 EPD Christnach Classic - Luxemburg 

September 2-4 Olching Club Championships

September 8-11 German Open - Hannover, Gemany

September 18-22 European Tour Qualfying School stage 1- Berlin, Germany

Dec 2-5 European tour Qualifying School Stage 2 (if successful) - Cartagena, Spain

I will post links, photos and summaries of the tournaments here.