美奈木 (Minagi)

Today is golf at Minagi ［美奈木］in 吉川, near Osaka. Score was 47/52, not bad for a tough course. The yardage on this course is measured to the front edge of the green, so on average every hole has another 10-25yards added for the actual distance to the hole. We played off the blue tee, which isjust over 6,500 yards.

Not a very forgiving course, every approach to the green is uphill and every green is protected by bunkers. My practice in trying to improve my tempo has paid off. My drive mostly found the fairway, if not, in the rough. I did not have a single OB...I checked my Suunto G6 and every drive was showing exacty the same head speed, 43m/s ! Talk about consistency!

Master san

This is the master of an izakaya near the hotel I am staying for the night in Amagasaki, Osaka. Having a few sochu before going to bed. He kindly obliged to a photo, as many friendly Osaka people would...

Blog is back

Apologies for the absence but there was a problem with my blog. It kept referring to an invalid address. Although I could post and edit blogs, the page refused to display. Some searching within the help centre revealed that this "invalid page" problem is caused by the wikipedia search widget. So I have now managed to remove it now and my blog is back...Thank you.

Sicky Ms. E

Today, Ms. E told me she was sick.....so went to visit her at home and brought her some fruits and Evian water. No appetite for food. Pain all over, jaw, chest, feet, my goodness....she's even under physiotherapy. She really is working too hard. Poor girl, she knows it yet she does it.

Ms. E was so delighted she started working after that! Advised her to take it easy...

Student

Sunday was at the range to practice with my student Y. She has acquird a decent looking swing and with some small adjustment to her grip, can now hit straight with 7 iron and the driver. You can view the swing here:

Tomorrow she plans to buy a new Taylor Made set....

I am glad for her that she is able to grasp the basics of a golf swing so quickly. Next weekend it will probably be a game with her in a course.

I certainly look forward to the first game....