Time to write again

Ok, so I've taken several months off from blogging about my golfing adventures. Time to start back up...I'm playing for real here in about 3 weeks.

I quit writing for a while because they were all sounding the same. Get up. Practice. Work out. Go home. Sleep. Repeat.

Here's what's new.

Charlie (Chuck) Farley is going to caddy for me some this summer. Charlie worked for me when I was a Store Manager for Dillards. Actually, his wife and parents worked there too. One of the most genuine and caring families I've ever been around. Chuck graduated from college in December, so hopefully we can earn both of us some money this summer before he goes to work teaching and coaching. He grew up around the game and has caddied before, which is a big advantage for me. He's also a fierce, spirited competitor of a person who will be able to keep me fired up and shooting at flags.

On May 13th we're playing in the local qualifyer for the US Open in St. Louis. Locals are held at about 100 courses around the country. A few players from each local tournament site will make it to the next level, called sectionals. That's when it gets tough. The sectionals not only consist of the players who made it through locals, but also PGA Tour players who are not exempt into the US Open already by way of winning tournaments or being high enoughon the money list. Sectionals separates the men from the boys. Get through sectionals, and you're playing in a major championship. Around 8000 people will enter the US Open. About 70 of those will earn spots into the field. The competition is brutal.

After that we're trying to play our way into the St. Jude Classic in Memphis. PGA Tour events are even harder to qualify for, with 150 or so guys playing for 4 spots in the field. It takes flawless golf to pull it off. You might get away with a mis- hit shot once or twice...maybe. But make an actual mistake...like miss a green on the short side or hit a shot into a water hazard and you'd might as well keep walking all the way to the car.

After that I'm going to try and Monday qualify a few times on the Nationwide Tour before going through q-school in the fall. Most likely I'll try in Ft. Smith, Springfield, Chattanooga and a couple of others.

I've been playing very well for the past several months, and am still grinding hard every day looking for any improvement I can find. I'm looking forward to getting the first tee jitters again. I'm sure I'll be horribly nervous, but I'm still looking forward to that first tee shot.

Watch for several posts a week from now on!

John