Were you sitting on the edge of your seat and feeling a bit sick on Sunday evening? I was! I had to remind myself, be careful what you wish for.
I was concerned the final day singles at the Ryder Cup would be an anti-climax and that Europe would run away with it. I wanted the Americans to put up a fight, but that was a little too close for comfort. The match delivered once again all the drama we’ve come to expect, and it was absolutely brilliant to watch Europe win.
The release of pent-up emotions and the joyous celebrations were incredible, but the victory was made even sweeter by the adversity they faced. The crowd abuse those European players had to put up with, especially Rory McIlroy, was unacceptable. That win was definitely an ‘up yours’ to the hostile crowd and I loved it!
I don’t know about you, but big golf events like the Ryder Cup always inspire me to get out and play. It's like a hit of adrenaline for my own game. I suppose it's similar to the Masters. That's always our unofficial signal that the golf season has begun. It’s when we dust off our clubs and feel that renewed excitement, ready to get back on the course.
We've really got to make the most of the decent playing conditions while we still have them. It's a horrible thought, isn't it? Winter golf will be here before we know it, with dark nights at the range and freezing cold rounds.
If you’re on a roll with your game, playing your best golf and watching your handicap tumble, you probably don’t want the season to end. I might be feeling enthusiastic about playing golf at the moment, but to be honest, I can’t say I’ve got that same sentiment!
Perhaps you've just broken 100 for the first time or achieved another significant milestone. That's exactly what happened to a guy who was recently chatting with single-figure golfer Jess Ratcliffe. He was on a high and asked Jess for her advice on what he should do now to help lower his scores even further.
Jess knows all about making a breakthrough in golf, she cut her handicap from 34 to 9 in just one year, and in this article, she reveals what you should focus on right now to make another big jump before the winter golf season sets in. Whether you're making fast improvements or not, there are some great tips in here we can all learn from to improve our scores.
I hope the drama of the Ryder Cup has inspired you to hit the course. While the memories of the fierce competition will stay with us, the season won't last forever. So, get out there and enjoy it while you still can.
Happy golfing!
By Alison Root, Women's Editor Golf Monthly
By Alison Root, Women's Editor Golf Monthly
