There is a specific kind of “golf fever” that hits in April. The air is finally warm, the grass is waking up, and the dream of lowering that scoring average feels more attainable than ever. Last week, I headed out to Sligo Creek Golf Course in Silver Spring, Maryland to put the Mid-Range Swing to the test over 18 holes (playing the nine-hole loop twice).
The course was in surprisingly good shape for early spring, but it brought two unexpected challengers: golf anxiety and a relentless army of gnats.
The Ball Striking Breakthrough
I’ll be honest—pushing 60 with a herniated disk means I’m always one “ego swing” away from a week on the heating pad. But at Sligo, something clicked. I wasn’t changing my swing, but I was striking the ball with a purity I haven’t felt in a while.
When you’re a mid-to-high handicap golfer, a day of good ball striking is like a shot of adrenaline. It reminded me why I’m doing this: you don’t need a “pro” swing to find the center of the face. You just need to play within yourself.
The “Gnat” Factor and the Mental Game
While the weather was perfect, the gnats were out in full force. If you’ve ever tried to settle into a putting routine while a cloud of tiny insects decides to investigate your eyeballs, you know the struggle.
Beyond the bugs, I had to deal with a much bigger hurdle: Someone Behind Me. I caught myself rushing. I felt that familiar itch to “hurry up” to be polite, even though I wasn’t playing slow. This is where the 92-average goal is won or lost. Rushing leads to tension, tension leads to a stiff back, and a stiff back leads to a 105. I had to consciously force myself to breathe, stick to my Mid-Range routine, and realize that my score matters more than my perceived impatience of others.
Key Takeaways from Sligo Creek Golf Course:
- The Rough is Radioactive: I had two specific holes where I unsuccessfully tried to “muscle” a ball out of the thick April rough. Lesson learned: My back and my scorecard both prefer a wedge back to the fairway over a hero shot that goes nowhere.
- The 150-and-In Philosophy: Even when I lost two balls I shouldn’t have (it happens!), I didn’t let it spiral. I focused on the next pitch shot. I had a pitch over a bunker that “just” cleared the sand. In the past, I would have decelerated out of fear. This time, I trusted the “Mid-Range” contact.
- Two-Putting is Scoring: I focused heavily on lag putting. Taking the “three-putt” out of play is the fastest way to bridge the gap from a 98 to a 92.
The Physical Report
Playing 18 holes as a replay was a big test for my back. I felt good, largely because I wasn’t over-swinging. By staying disciplined and not trying to outdrive the world, I walked off the 18th green feeling encouraged rather than exhausted.
The journey to a 92 average continues. Sligo Creek showed me that my ball striking is there—now I just need to keep my head (and the gnats) out of the way.
Resources & Community
🚩Blog: Welcome to the Clubhouse – Mid-Range Swing
🚩YouTube: Mid-Range Swing – YouTube
🚩Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0KXnsQgCzWNiZAyNIsHlYy
🚩Join my Facebook Group: Mid-Range Swing | Facebook
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