I don’t say this lightly, but this might be the cleanest 9 holes I’ve played all season. I focused on a Greens in Regulation Strategy – and it worked.

This wasn’t just a regular round — it was a playing lesson. And having a PGA pro essentially act as your caddie for 25% of your shots? That’s a huge help. From club selection to course management to tempo cues, I got the kind of real-time feedback that sticks.

Thursday night at The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort, I stepped up with one goal in mind: no hero shots, no spirals — just steady, smart golf. And for once, that’s exactly what happened.

💭 What Changed

This round wasn’t flashy — no birdies, no miraculous recoveries — but it was calm. I used my G.R.A.C.E. routine on every shot. I stayed in rhythm. I trusted my club selections.

And speaking of club selection — this was a long club round. I barely touched my irons. Instead, I leaned on my hybrid, 5 wood, and 3 wood, and they delivered.

Not everything went according to plan. On Hole 2, I sliced my drive into the rough and ended up wedged between trees, with a bunker guarding the pin and a sloped green. I aimed safely right — and when I climbed the hill, I was shocked to see my ball on the green. Lucky bounce. 20 feet away. Two-putt par. One part strategy, one part miracle.

That pitch shot marked a breakthrough. I’ve been working on my technique, and something clicked tonight — especially when I pressed my weight into my lead (left) foot. I still feel a little awkward with my shoulder motion, but apparently it looks good. More importantly? It plays well.

I had several confident pitches from inside 40 yards. And when I missed the green, I still found ways to give myself chances.

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🧠 Mental Wins

Even the missed birdies didn’t feel like losses — because I wasn’t expecting 10-foot looks. I didn’t have a single putt inside 15 feet. Most were 20–30 footers. A few were over 50.

But I got there in two. And that’s what matters.

My lag putting still needs work — especially tempo and arc width — but this was a round where the foundation held strong.

A few things that helped:

• Repeating: “Where’s the best place to be after this shot?”
• Committing to my routine, even when I had to wait.
• Accepting long putts as part of the plan — and not overreacting to missed birdies.

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🎯 What Worked

• Smart, conservative club choices
• Focused pitching technique with better lower body pressure
• GIR strategy instead of pin-seeking
• Zero penalties and full shot commitment

It also didn’t hurt that this round was part playing lesson — and it turns out, it helps when a former pro is basically caddying for you the whole time.

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📌 Takeaways

This is the kind of round that reminds me: I am improving. Not because I played perfect golf — but because I played smart, solid, and mentally steady golf.

And 41 on a 9-hole stretch where I used to shoot in the mid-50s? That’s progress you can feel.

“I didn’t sink the birdies, but I earned the chance to try.”

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⛳ What I’m Working On

• Lag putting tempo
• Wider arc for longer putts
• Trusting my woods from the fairway
• Staying patient when the birdies don’t drop

I’m carrying this confidence into my next league round — same strategy, same rhythm, same focus.