This week I’m not congratulating an LET or LPGA winner, but instead Lyn Parry from Devon. She’s achieved a remarkable feat, no fewer than three holes-in-one in a month. The odds of that is estimated at 1.95 trillion to one!
But these are not her only holes-in-one. Lynn, 74, who only started playing golf aged 58, made her first one about 10 years ago and another followed a few years later. It’s incredible, as most golfers go their whole lifetime without celebrating one. That’s five expensive bar bills!
I remember when I achieved my first and only hole-in-one. It was several years ago on Lady Captain’s Day at the 7th hole at West Essex Golf Club. It was an amazing feeling. Up until that point, my score was rubbish, and to be honest, the rest of the round wasn’t much better. I spent most of it worrying about wanting to do the right thing in terms of buying drinks!
On another note, I know I’ve probably bored you to death about my bunker woes, but I did have a lesson on Friday with Sarah Bennett at Colchester Golf Club. I will be writing about it in detail for Golf Monthly, but what I will say is that understanding where I’ve been going wrong with my technique is one thing, but I’d forgotten how much confidence lessons give you to want to go out and play and believe in yourself.
I’ve directed so many instruction shoots over the years and I’ve picked up many tips from various coaches, but it’s very different having one-on-one expert tuition that focuses on what you should be feeling and how to achieve those movements.
Plus, you then know what you need to practice, whereas I’ve been trying to improve, but clearly practicing the wrong thing. Watch this space, you never know, I might become like the pros when they scream for the ball to land in the bunker to avoid a difficult chip shot!
Coincidentally, on the same day I headed off for my lesson, this article arrived from Lili Dewrance. She began her golf journey a couple of years ago and until recently had not had any lessons since she first started out. I’m sure you can all remember those first golf lessons, they are overwhelming because there are so many basics to learn – grip, posture, stance, ball position, that’s before you’ve even moved the club.
And that’s what Lili has noticed this time around, the value of lessons as an intermediate player, which have transformed her game. She describes how her relationship with the game is totally different, she knows what works for her and what doesn’t, and how working with a coach now feels far more like a collaboration, working out things together. As Lili’s coach puts it, “The key is to stay on the lesson train. Ideally, golfers should keep having lessons. That is how you keep progressing.” Like Lili, I think I’m on that train now!
By Alison Root, Women's Editor Golf Monthly.
