Fighting Back: Rob Smith Golf Blog 8

Rob Smith, Golf Monthly Contributing Editor, continues his golf blog as he looks to improve his game

rob blog 8

Fighting Back: Rob Smith Golf Blog 8

On the first Friday in August I joined several of my GM colleagues at The Grove to prepare an article on the different ways of getting round the course, caddy/buggy/trolly/etc, which will be in the November issue.

It was another chance to see if the guys could spot the changes and there were some very positive signs, especially when I hit my confidence-boosting Ben Ross Hot Speed 7-iron from 160 yards to 4 feet at the penultimate hole for birdie.

The following week I was down in deepest, rolling, rural Wiltshire to prepare a Golfer's Guide. One of the most telling statements on my swing changes so far came from a chum I was with who is an excellent golfer who plays off five at Walton Heath.

I have played golf with him for many years and he identified the tell-tale sign that differentiated my good shots from my bad.

The good ones were when I took the time to prepare and concentrate rather than simply run up to the ball and play before anyone else was watching.

At the lovely hill-top West Wilts I managed 38 points with nine pars, my best score since beginning this exercise.

And at Salisbury and South Wilts I finished with back-to-back birdies, I think for the first time ever.

All very encouraging - and just the tiniest bit frustrating that this progress was about to be halted temporarily (I hope) by our family (hence non-golfing) holiday to Spain.

Rob's other Blogs

Golf Blog 7 Golf Blog 6Golf Blog 5 Golf Blog 4 Golf Blog 3 Golf Blog 2 Golf Blog 1

Rob Smith
Contributing Editor

Rob Smith has been playing golf for 45 years and been a contributing editor for Golf Monthly since 2012. He specialises in course reviews and travel, and has played more than 1,200 courses in almost 50 countries. In 2022, he played all 21 courses in East Lothian in 13 days. Last year, his tally was 81, 32 of them for the first time. One of Rob's primary roles is helping to prepare the Top 100 and Next 100 Courses of the UK&I, of which he has played all but seven and a half... i.e. not the new 9 at Carne! Of those missing, some are already booked for 2024. He is a member of Tandridge in Surrey where his handicap hovers around 16. You can contact him at r.smith896@btinternet.com.