I'm back.......I think!

After a winter of very little golf, and a lot of back pain, I think I am back on the path to recovery and regular DG. I started playing two weekends ago and have been very happy with my return. Last weekend I played at a "Preview Day" for the Pleasent Valley Disc Golf Course. The event was organized to show off a potential new course in Vancouver, WA. The course is a lengthy 9-holer (as compared to the other 9-holers in the area). I set the course record at -10 for 18 holes, won the local weekly and eeked out a win in the Stumptown Disc Golf bag tag match. My back was loose and pain free. I struggled to get my body to stop protecting my lower back. Subconsciously, I was not allowing a power transfer from my hips through my lower back.

This weekend I headed out to the first Dabney Doubles at Dabney State Park near Troutdale, OR. My back was sore from my gym workouts and the temperature was cold. I didn't expect much as I was unable to get the back loosened up. Luckily, I was teamed up with Mike Linamen. We didn't have an outstanding round, but we did take turns in making big shots and wound up tying for 1st at -9. Not an impressive score considering the course layout, but a happy surprise non the less. Personally, I was happy with my play considering the weather conditions. Again, my subconscious was protecting my lower back by not allowing a transfer of energy from my hips through my lower back.

I think I will be relegated to DG once a week for at least another month. I hope to jump back into weekend tournaments in late June. Just in time for the return of the A-Tier at Ft Steilacoom in Lakewood, WA.

Note: My putting has been solid since my return. I thought that this was the one part of my game that would take a great deal of time to reestablish. At this point, it is probably my strongest skill on the course.