Red Tail 7.17.19

I want to analyze my round from Red Tail on 7-18-19. I had a few minutes on the putting green, had some speed issues…still putting past the hole, but that may not be a bad thing…a lot of them were 2-3’, not ideal but not crippling. I can sink putts from there.

　

Hole 1: Par 4, trees on right, fence on left, a pond guarding the front right, sand front left.

The plan: Bang a mid iron out to roughly the 150 marker, take a 9i if a good tee shot, 8i if not, should be on the green or fringe, count on a 2-tap.

The action: I hit my 6i, a beautiful shot, and got 204 out of it with a light draw that left it just right of the centerline, 131 yards from the pin. I left a PW short, had an okay chip that left me about an 8’er I missed pin high, tap in bogey.

What went right: The tee shot was a thing of beauty. It left me in position to score and with a soft pin location, this had birdie potential with a good approach shot. Also, when I missed the approach, my chip was decent. It gave me a look at it, but was not in the 3’ circle.

What went wrong: the approach shot. I tried to hit a 135 yard PW and got 114 yards out of it. My wedges have been consistently short, that cost me a scoring opportunity for sure.

Hole 2, downhill par 3, flag at 131 again, GUR replacing sand trap short right, water right and long, somewhat of a bail-out area to the left.

The plan: I am going to hit the PW, should be on the green, 2-tap.

The action: it drifts a bit right, rolls into the sand trap. Since that is ground under repair, I drop outside it, it buries in the deep grass. I use the Mickelson front foot to flight it, hit a great chip and tap in about a 2’er for par.

What went right: The chip was a stroke saver. After missing the green I figured a bogey was most likely but it was so good it left me an easy one.

What went wrong: the wedge drifting right. To be fair, the distance was good and it wasn’t all that far off line…maybe 20 yards? Not a perfect shot but certainly a playable one.

Hole 3 tight par 4, somewhat uphill

The Plan: I have been between the trees on the right several times, did not like it. I want to leave a shade under 150 in with something that will be in the fairway, maybe slightly left of center. I think a 6’ up the gut should leave a short iron in.

The action: A near perfect 6i goes inside the 150 marker leaving me a clear shot at the pin. The famous PW comes out for a third consecutive hole and for a third time it is not what I was looking for…really good contact, beautiful flight…to the back of the green when the pin is at the front. I have a long lag putt I leave about 6’ on, and 2-putt from there. 3-putt bogey.

What went right: My tee shot was about as good as I have had on this hole. I have no tree issues, no need to be creative, no need to hit anything stressful or hard.I am in position to score. And the first lag putt was pretty decent considering length and slope.

What went wrong: the approach shot. It was a distance issue, and left me with a very difficult putt.

Hole 4: Uphill longish par 4, trees on right, sand short left of green.

The plan: A tee shot to or inside the 150 marker, preferably on right side of the marker to open the green, followed by a mid iron that hopefully is on the green, 2-putt.

The action: I get a little left with my driver but am just at the 150 marker on the left side. Not far enough left to have tree issues, I am in the rough but in good position, 165 from the flag, albeit with sand between us. The sand on this line is short enough of the green to not really be a factor. I debate between a 7i and 8i, remember how often I go long, am not worried about clearing the sand. I make a beautiful strike, towering shot…that goes 179 and is down the hill. From there a blind chip up hill I barely make it on the upper edge of green, 3-putt for a double.

What went right: My drive was on the shorter side, 229, but uphill that is not awful. It put me in really good position to score as I had an 8i in my hand and a clean approach. My strike on the 8 was pure.

What went wrong: my approach shot going long brought a big number into play. I thought I had hit a really good chip but that is the nature of a blind chip, what I thought was good turned out really short. I then mis-read the green leaving a lengthier second putt than necessary.

Hole 5: downhill par 4. Trees bordering right of fairway all the way down and crossing fairway at 160 from pin, sand protects almost entire green which is short side.

The Plan: If I was confident in my driver I would bang it out to the left, opening the green. But my miss is right, I have been by those trees bifurcating the fairway a lot. I am going to try to draw a 3h to inside the 150 marker and drop a 9i on the green. I want to avoid the trees and sand.

The action: a 3h that leaves me a happy 145 in. 9i is the clear play here. It will easily clear the sand and should land roughly center of green, should stop on green. Love that tee shot. I promptly blade the 9i over the hill behind the green, chip back, 2-putt.

What went right; the tee shot put me in probably the best location I have ever been on this hole between club selection, ball location, and angle to the green. I may once have had a driver that was better…but that is iffy. It was a fantastic tee shot. My chip back gave me a 6 or 8’ shot at saving par, I just missed it.

What went wrong; stop me if you have heard this before, the approach shot was awful, a mis-hit that cost me a stroke minimum.

Hole 6 Downhill par 3 guarded with a horsehoe pond, sand on the left. Pin at front of 2 tier green.

The plan: 9i to left front of green, if I fade I am in the center. Putt from there.

The action: really good strike carries me to upper tier, left fringe. It will require touch but I think I see the line. I just miss my line by a bit, leave maybe a 5’er which I duly miss because I cannot putt today.

What went right: Despite not hitting a good shot on the hole, I score a bogey. I am essentially a bogey golfer. I have no right to be displeased. This hole has trouble all over…one guy rinsed his leaving it right, the other hooked his over the sand and was beyond the red stakes. Yeah, my distance control was bad and my fringe putt could have been better…but I gave myself a reasonable look, just did not make it.

What went wrong: poor distance control on the tee, execution on my attempt to get close to the hole.

Hole 7: long narrow dogleg par 5. Driver landing zone protected by pond, right side blocked by trees that interject into fairway 200 out, go too far left and you are in other fairway hitting over sand to a narrow, tree lined fairway you will likely miss.

The plan: I want to hit my 3^rd shot from the 150 marker (because, you know, I have been so lethal from just inside it all day…) so I am going 4i up left side off tee, 5i from there, and try to be on in three. I generally hit both those clubs pretty straight so it is an easy stress free hole despite being really difficult. Even if I am a bit off line on thethird shot, I am fine with a bogey on this hole.

The action: I fade the 4i, it clips the last tree. I have a potential hero shot through the right side but man…it could hit a tree or a limb and plunk in the water, if it gets through it is right at the line of trees…I am going to punch out and play for a bogey. I punch out. A smooth 5i puts me just inside 150 so I try that. Slice into the trees. No worries, I can punch out…elevate it, drops still in the trees. Another punch out. And 180 out…I come up on the green, chip on, 2-putt for a 9.

What went right: I wisely decided to punch out after the first tee shot. I was in great position…5i, 9i, 2 putt, bogey. I put myself in the right position.

What went wrong: everything else. A faded tee shot. A faded third shot. Having to take two tries to punch out from there. 3 punchout strokes on this hole with 2 faded shots…that is 5 strokes to leave me outside of 150! I was probably lucky to "only" score a 9 (recordable 8). Just a horrible, horrible hole. I still like my initial plan and even my recovery plan, but you HAVE to execute.

Hole 8 Moderate length par 4, trees on the right 290 out, a tree on the left 246 out, an elevated blind green with a false front.

The Plan: Drier down the middle about 250 leaving me a ¾ swing pitching wedge in, try to score from there. Full swings have not been my friend.

The action: I hammer the drive, 291 yards, leaks a little right. Ends up under the tree with the second trees branches meaning I cannot elevate the ball and have to hit a 85 yard punch shot. I execute a pretty solid punch that gets a couple yards onto the green, easy two putt for par.

What went right: I was able to manufacture an opportunity after a long drive that was less than ideal position.

What went wrong: not much, really. Sure, would be great to not be under the tree…but it will be some time before a 20 yard miss right on a 291 yard drive is something I am upset about. The tree was only in play because of a superior drive.

Hole 9 dogleg right par 5, sticker bushes last half of hole on left, sporadic trees all the way down the right

The plan: This hole has historically given me fits. I either slice into the tree line, often forcing a punch out, or, knowing this, I aim left and when I don’t slice go into the wrong fairway and have tough recovery shot. I have tried different tee clubs but all lead to trouble. I am going to go driver, and depending on where that leaves me, 3h on down to 7i, whatever either gets me home or over the trees.

The action: A perfect drive, 258 down the right center. Minor tree issue between me and the green but a 5i easily gets over the tree and to center of green. I have created a scoring opportunity. Until I chunk the 5i, then put a 7i just off the back edge, rush my chip and barely get on the green, have a tricky downhill slider I leave a lot on the bone, 3 putt.

What went right: the Drive was perfect, just about my average, set me up beautifully. The 7i I absolutely tattooed, almost hit it too well.

What went wrong: Chunked second shot. Chunked chip. Bad line on first putt. Turned potential eagle, definite birdie opportunity into a double bogey. 6 over on the last three holes…including a par.

So for the front, I feel I was very successful off the tee and just stunk up the approach game beyond belief. I cost myself about 8 strokes in the approach game and a couple more putting. I absolutely was hitting the tee shots and overall chipping well enough to be a stroke or two off par.

Hole 10: dogleg right to an uphill green, sand in front, sand left side of fairway right at bend.

The plan: a 4i should put me just at or inside the 150 marker. 9i to center of green, bring it home.

The action: I slightly fade the 4i but it ends up cutting off a bit of the hole, leaving me about 130 out barely into right rough. Out comes the famous pitching wedge which I duly fade and hit short, right into the sand. I power out of the sand, 2-putt.

What went right: The 4i was a little right but a very, very acceptable tee shot. Once again I am in position to score.

What went wrong: $%^& full swing wedge.

Hole 11: dogleg left par 5 with bushes/water all down the left, a creek bifurcating the fairway after the dogleg, sand short of and also right of the green, the water still on the left of it.

The plan: Driver is too much club. Essentially, I plan this to be a 3 shot hole to get home. 3h off the tee with a gentle draw, a long iron, chip and couple putts.

The action: 3h 228 to the right center of fairway leaving me 206 in. Hey, that is a great number for my 4i which I hit pretty straight! Lets do this! Dead pull over the yellow stakes into the water. Drop at 180, hit my 7i about 10’ right of the pin, 2-putt bogey.

What went right: The 3h was a good tee shot. The 7i was a spectacular approach shot.
What went wrong: the pulled 4i. I still believe it was the right club. It was just a pull. That is who I am. And I bogeyed one of the 2 or 3 toughest holes on the course.

Hole 12: Par 3 that I consistently come up short on. 165 to the pin, monstrous green.

The plan: I debate between the 8i and 7i. Having just hit a gorgeous 7i, I decide to do this. I hit a gorgeous, slight draw 7i…onto the hill back of the green. Decent chip, 2-putt.

What went right: okay tee shot, not short, okay chip. No big mistakes. I can live with a bogey.

What went wrong; probably should have been the 8i but I was afraid, knowing I am short and it was extreme range for that club, I might have overswung. I am okay with my choice.

Hole 13 Dogleg left par 4, water all down left, water long of fairway. You can miss right but adds distance. Sand guards two sections of the large, dogleg green.

The plan: Driver can reach the far water. 4i not long enough. Last time here I snap-hooked the 3h into the water, but a 3h with a little draw down the right side is the right call here. Should put me about 170 out and I like my 7i. 3h to 170ish, 7i to green, lets go.

The action: Realize on the tee I grabbed my 3w, not my 3h. I need to learn to hit this club. Whack, 241 with a gentle draw to about 165 out. I could not walk out there and place this much better. Too bad I chunk my approach. No worries, leaves me a perfect 95 yards which is my ¾ 50 degree. Which I nut…only to watch it settle a foot above the sand trap leaving an awkward stance. I so-so chip leads to a 2-putt which means…a double.

What went right: that 3w was a thing of beauty. It adds a club to my bag.

What went wrong; Everything else. The chunked approach. The short wedge.

Hole 14: moderately long uphill par 4 with a narrow, tree lined fairway. Sand a ways back and left of the green, seldom comes into play.

The plan: I need a club that is not going to miss. Better a 220 yard approach than being in the trees in the valley right and the trees left are sparse but leave no clear lanes. I am going to take a 3h hoping to leave 160-170 in, and go probably 7i.

The action: I snaphook my 3h over the sand so irrelevant I did not even mention it. I am on the cart path. Relief would be in ground under repair. Drop no closer actually leaves me lane through trees, I punch out to just outside the 150 marker. I am there in 2…not ideal but not crippling. An 8i comes up on the front edge of the green, I walk away with a bogey. That could have been so much worse after that snaphook.

What went right: I took my medicine on the punch out, had a decent approach shot.

Hole 15 dogleg and a half long par 4, water on right most of the way, where it turns then water left and between you and the green. This hole used to be so much worse but they moved the teebox up 40 yards.

The plan: I am believing in my driver, just going to take it left center of fairway leaving myself wedge or long iron in. No need to play with the water.

The action: Driver 241 down left center leaving myself 145 in. I am happy. Yeah, I need to go over water but it is 30 yards short of anything I am worried about, the sand right and right front of the green has been taken out of the equation. Pin is upper back left, I will aim left center of green. I proceed to shank my 9i into some long stuff 80 yards right of the green. I take a provisional…which I chunk and leave 40 yards short of green. I never find the first one, the chip is to above the hole, 2 putt. A triple.

What went right: Once again, my tee shot put me in great position to score. My chip was actually, from that distance to that part of the green, if not above average then at the least average, but really it was pretty good.

What went wrong: shank/chunk approach. This should have been on in 2. Full stop. Not on in 5. Approach from 145 and takes me 5 to get on? So not happy with my wedges and irons.

Hole 16: par 3 with water right and back of the green, multiple sand traps left of green and water left of them. Playing to pin tucked at back, 194 yards away.

The plan: A well struck 5i could go long into water. It is probably the right play but I am going to center of green with my 6i and try to 2-putt.

The action: A decent strike, it fades just a bit into the rough about mid-green. A good chip leaves me a 4’ putt…that I lip out. It is okay, tough par 3 for me, I am not displeased with a bogey.

Hole 17: they advertise this somewhat long dogleg par 4 as "toughest green on the course" and they are not kidding. Trees all the way down the right, they start about halfway down hole on left, green has bunker short left, trees right, and bends about a thousand different directions.

The plan: Tee shot starting left-center, hopefully fading right center to take sand out of play. Short iron into green, planning to take one club long to avoid the sand. From the left side of fairway the sand blocks any pin location on upper back side of green.

The execution: Power fade drive, ends up in the trees. Take slightly aggressive punch line and reach the 150 marker, leave 9i on front fringe of green, tap it close, putt for the bogey.

What went right: the punch out and approach kept the score manageable. I am not sad about a bogey on this hole.

Hole 18: dogleg left par 5 guarded left and right by trees, multiple fairway bunkers in the landing zone right, more fairway bunkers further up fairway, elevated green guarded by deep bunkers in front.

The plan: Hit something far enough to reach the corner but short enough to not be in sand, hit next shot to left center of fairway to open green and minimize sand, on in 3. Initially was going to hit 3 wood hoping for that light draw I hit back on 13. Ah, screw it, let the big dog eat. Driver 259 straight as an arrow over the sand, right behind a tree. Try to punch out to fairway, only make the rough. 191 yards out, sail 5i over left edge of green. Up hill chip over a berm to short sided green, try to elevate it but it runs out. Lag a 30’ putt to about 1’, tap in for the bogey. Heave the ball into the bushes.

What went right: nothing went horrifically wrong, a great lag putt. This hole just does not set up for any combination of clubs I can think of unless/until I can draw my driver on command. Or add 20 yards to my 3w.

For the day I went 47-47=94. That was not a bad round…it lowered my trending cap from 17.3 to 17.2. But…BUT…I should have shot much lower. 7 holes my tee shot put me at or inside 150 yards. 3 holes it put me in 200 or less, including on a par 5. 4 holes were par 3. On the front, only hole 9 did my tee shot put me in a bad place and that should have cost just one shot, the punch out. Hole 14, another bad spot but again…punchout means it just cost me one shot. Holes 17 and 18 I needed punch outs. So 4 sub par tee shots. 4 strokes. I did have a couple 3 putts. But this was a day I should have been threatening breaking 80 and I did not threaten 90.

Worse, I am not sure what I was doing wrong. First hole, swing felt great, watching the ball fly, thinking I am en route to a great starting hole…what the…short? Third hole, long? Second hole, right? 3 PW attempts all brutal. The 8i long was just striking it pure, okay. The bladed 9i…the fade/slice shot 5i?

I believed in my ability every shot, did not feel like there was a lot of overswinging…a couple shots, not many…and again and agin, in position to score, a terrible approach shot. Penalties, chunks, shanks. Grr.

Wildwood 8/5/17 Personal Best for 9

I have been scuffling a bit lately but after a range session last night, had a plan. Would play for bogey today. If I hit a spectacular shot I might get a par but should stay out of trouble. Went to the range Friday night and was feeling good about most of my game but…well, struggling with pitch shots. I might bump and run everything from 100 in!

 

First hole and I am feeling good about my driver.  Tee markers are a bot further back than normal so my initial plan to bang a five iron out left of the trees went away. I pull the driver, choose an aggressive line, have a nice, smooth controlled backswing, a nice smooth downswing…and hit behind the ball, chunking it way left and short.  Fortunately it was SO bad, I still had a path to par. Just put one down the middle to 150 or so, try and get a good pitch and 2 putt. Unfortunately I pulled my 4h left but on the bright side I pummeled it and was looking at 135. Nice smooth pitching wedge, still looking at par. Waited for the foursome on 4 to hit their shots as I was close to their green, they all laid up well short, went to hit my shot and noticed…one of them had moved to a second ball and was hitting again. Rushed my shot and a tree that is NEVER high enough to be in the way of my shot was and knocked my ball down. I then chunked a wedge into the creek, dropped, put it on and 2-putted for a disappointing triple bogey/snowman to start out.

 

Hole 2 I decided to lay up. Unfortunately, I then put it into the middle of the water/rockpile. Drop, pin high but left, get on and 1-putt for the double. Hey, heading the right direction!

 

I love #3, the 116 yard downhill par 3. I did not want to go long so played my ¾ swing 50 degree which is usually about a 95 yard swing.  Now I am looking at a 12’ birdie putt which I duly miss but have about a 1’ par putt. Hey, now we are cooking.

 

Hole 4 I explain to my playing partner, “The left is wide open, you will just be in the second hole fairway, right is OB, no reason to play with the right side at all.” He duly puts two balls OB right, one of the pair we are matched up with does likewise. I then slice into the woods. Retee laying three, blast it 280 down the left side. My 4h needing 225 to the middle goes about 235 leaving me a super long par putt. I miss by about 3’ but tap in for the bogey. That was one costly miss off the tee…

This next one is about the hardest hole on the course for me. Again I tell him no need to play with the right, you can miss by an entire fairway left and still have shot but on right you are either in trees or have tree and sand issues. They all play driver, I play 5i and am longer than any of them and drift a hair right but no trouble. Not even really sand I have a clean shot between. Needing about 47 to the center I hit my 60’ little less than a half swing. It really carried and left me at the back of the green with about a 25’ downhill with a slight bend. I thought I had a pretty good read on it and made a nice smooth stroke…about the longest birdie I have ever made and one of the longer putts. Huzzah, a bird!

 

Next hole I need the same shot I had back on three. Nice smooth swing, I am liking it…what just happened? The creek is about 6’ wide and I landed dead center in it. No clue what happened, usually I am afraid of going long with that swing. Retee, lay it just short of the fringe, get to about 6’ and 3 putt for a quad bogey 7. Mentally crushing as I am coming off a birdie to a distance I like where I thought on my first swing I was going to be doing a happy dance.

 

The next hole is a short, 455 yard par 5 but the water from 250-290 out depending on where you land coupled with either OB or no shot all down the right side…no driver for me. I pull the 4h, aim down the center and just crush it but slight pull. End up unable to take a full swing so I punch out, end up being short, then have to ship on in 5 and 2 putt for a double 7. Grr.

 

Next one is the troubling uphill par three. I take plenty of club, hit my 8i on the uphill…but jerk it well left. Coming off the hill, I chip it short, then long, then on but not close and 2 putt for the triple 6. I am playing awful. On just 6 holes I am 15 over, and one under on the other 2 holes. That means I am either par or double bogey or worse. What is going on? All sorts of badness.

 

But hole 9..ah, a beautiful drive, I leave it about 30 yards below the green. Sand in the way, no big deal. I watch the Czech land a foot short of the green and roll 20 yards down the hill. Well, I have no plans to play with the sand so not an issue for me, I am going center/back of green. Or I can chunk it, hit within inches of where he did and roll right next to him. A 9i chip puts me on the back fringe but from there I roll in the 8’ downhill slider for a par and complete a miserable front in 50, a whopping 14 over, all of that on just 6 holes.

 

Well, the back is going to be better I hope. First hole, I thought about the 5i but if I hit it and pull it it brings the sand into play. Much shorter and I turn it into a three shot hole. Marginally longer and I need to fade it which I no longer can do on command. I elect to go driver and take an aggressive line. If I pull it it gives me a straight look to the shortsided green. If I go straight I could be on and if I fade it the hill should redirect it.

I crush the drive and honestly…downhill par 5 where I am cutting the corner…I think there is a chance I am past the green. Until we get there and I am center of the fairway 100 yards out. It had to have hit a tree I did not see and taken an interesting bounce. But I hit a nice wedge to the back of the green and 2-putted for the par.

I did wisely tee off with the 5i and put it about 4 yards left of the stake I was aiming at 200 yards out and uphill. Wedge to the back right of the green, just past the green. Got on but not close enough, 2-putt bogey.

The water beyond, the other guys are pulling 9i, 7i and 5i. I pull 50 degree and  land about 20’ from the cup. I am starting to realize how skewed my perceptions are as I cannot imagine hitting a 7i on a downhill 160. I am so used to my distance advantage that except when people mention it I don’t think about it. Anyhow, I am about 2’ from the birdie and happily take my par.

Next hole I pummel the driver down the left center leaving myself 75 yards in. On fringe to left, putt to 4’, par. Hey, I like this game!

I usually leave the next one short, but this time a pitching wedge has me pin high on the left. I just miss the putt for birdie but another tap in par.

Now for the first of the back to back 5s. I absolutely crush my drive, it is a bit further left than I would prefer but the hill rolls it back to the center of the fairway. So now I have 160 uphill to be on in 2. I grab my 7i and promptly pull it hard left, it ricochets off a tree just past the green and I get a break as it bounces back to the front of the green and down the hill. I have a pedestrian pitch, miss the 12’ birdie putt but tap in for par. Feeling good.

 

The next five, I am trusting my driver and take a slightly more aggressive line than usual. Unfortunately, it is too aggressive and I am slowed by a tree. Still, I can reach the green with a well struck 4h. Or I can slightly pull it, clip a tree and now I am 150 out still after 2. Oh well. The back has been kind, I can take my lumps. I rip my 8i and am just past the green on the left. A nice chip leaves me a 6’ putt which I roll in to save my par. Huzzah!

 

This time I drift right a tiny bit with my driver on the 313 yard par 4 and another tree decides to leave me about 110 in. I hit my 50 degree ¾ swing about 15’ right of the cup. But when I roll it in I suddenly realize…I am even par for the back with 1 to go and, in fact, going back to 9, I have my first ever 9 consecutive holes at par.  I am pretty excited.

I actually have my 5i in hand. I just want to bash it out there 200 and leave myself an 8 iron to the green and try to 2-putt. But I have faith in my driver at the moment (even though in retrospect I probably shouldn’t) so I blast it. 303 yards later I have 45 to the flag. I get a little loose with my chip and have 40’ to two-putt to save par. I make a gorgeous lag to about 2’, putt in and boom, 36 for the back, 86 for the round (cap adjusted 85). I am ecstatic and excited, this is my personal best for 9 and just 3 strokes off my best for 18.

7/15/17 Elk Ridge

J and I were taking on D and JA up at Elk Creek in Carson, WA. They elected to play blue tees. I was good with that, though somewhat concerned as my game is really bad. My driver and 4h have deserted me, my pitch game is garbage. I like my 5i off the tee and anything down to about a 9i, though even those I tend to pull left. This could be ugly.

 

First hole, 329 yard par 4, J topped it just past the ladies tees. I considered the wind, took an aiming point left of the fairway figuring the wind would push the ball pretty far right. I then pulled it even further left  but luckily it hit the side of the hill and bounced down into the rough just left of the fairway. J had an okay pitch, mine was a hair short but puttable from the fringe just short of the green. I read his line as he powered it past and managed to put mine within about an inch of going in. We took a par. Meanwhile, JA and D had gone short, short, then were on the bank above the hole. They got to about 10’ from there and 2-putted. Our par had us up two.

 

On the second hole, a 493 yard par 4, J hit it maybe about 150 down the middle. Far better than my wind-aided slice that bounced on cart path and carried out of bounds. He then shanked his second shot about 50 yards…still better than my sliced 4h that went even further into the woods than my tee shot. Then we both came up left of the green, and both chipped short of the green. Laying 4 just on fringe. Meanwhille Jim and Dave were in the sand right of the green in 2. Their out of the bunker was not spectactular, they then two-putted for a 5. Still, we are laying 4, just off green, a 12’ sidehill.  they already have their stroke picked up in mind. Until J rolls his putt in to save our 5. A bogey we can live with.

 

Next up a 160 yard par 3. I yanked my 8i well left and a bit short. It was the better shot of the two, and D and JA were well back after a couple…questionable tee shots shall we say. They hit a beautiful approach to the top of the green, 45 yards away and above the hole on fast greens. I am thinking they will for sure 3 putt and possibly 4. I go first…and shank my 55 yard swing about 25 yards into the center of the sand. J puts his on the far side of the green. Playing ready golf, we go first and put it about 4’ from the cup. Our bogey will minimum tie the hole and likely pick up a stroke…until D shouts “Slow down” moments before his curling downhill slider plops into the cup from 45 feet out for the par.

So after three holes I am feeling terrible about my game. My handicap is up 1.5 points in a month. I have gone pulled drive, short 50 degree that was offline, Driver out of bounds, 4h out of bounds, 8 iron pulled left, 8 iron left and short, half swing wedge I chunked. A couple timely putts and nice balls by J have us about where we should be and only a miracle putt by D means they are down but one…but I need to play better!

 

On the the 493 yard par 5. I promptly hit the big ball before the little ball and have a short drive, roughly 186 yards. We are 307 out while Dave has slightly outdriven me. I then hit my 4h. I was aiming off to the right, hitting a 22.5 degree…I hit a line drive down the left that goes about 250 as it turns out. 2 terrible shots, but we are looking good to be on in three and maybe 2 putt. Then I stick a wedge to 4’ and drain it for a natural bird. That wedge was my first truly good shot of the day. 2 terrible played well and one great shot. 

 

Of course, they just recognize the natural bird and after JA and D [ar the hole, they are down 4, losing a shot on a par. I realize I am playing very poorly. Although that 4h went a long way and played well…I missed the shot badly, just got lucky. I am pretty down on myself at this point.

 

Hole 5 is a dogleg right par 4, 392 yards. J hits the shot I planned to hit, banging it out to the 150 marker, avoiding the sand and water. I elect to blast my driver about 100 yards right of the fairway. Still, from 150 we get it to the green and 2-putt (JA and D struggle most the rest of the day, so with rare exceptions, no need to make it worse…suffice it to say J and I finished 6 ahead on the front).

 

Hole 6, 160 yard par 3, I hit the green with a 7i that landed almost exactly where I aimed, we two putted. Machines I tells ya…

 

335 yard par 4 left dogleg. I decide to try driver one last time. Nice slow takeaway, don’t accelerate on the downswing, go stand 70 yards from the green after best drive of the day. Put the pitch about 6’ right of the cup, another natural bird.

 

Don’t remember much of 8, but 9 is 499 yard downhill par 5. Road on right. I decide to start my ball left. By which I mean big pull that hits a tree 100 yards out…and J and D and JA all do likewise. We all four break out our Mulligans. J hits over those trees but well left. I swing pretty smooth, it stays right. I am worried, they all think it is great. We get down and I have tree issues, about 4’ inbounds. Nothing to do but punch out to the 150 which we do. Meanwhile, JA and Dave are put their next shots in the water and ob. From 150 I go 9i because of the downhill. And promptly think I launch it ob right. J thinks so too, his is short. We get there, I am just off the green to the right, a decent pitch. We get on in 4 and 2 putt for a double….and end the front 4 over.

 

I felt like all but maybe 3 holes I was really scuffling and with a shot here and there, J gave us just enough to have a comfortable 6 shot lead.

 

10 is 447 yards of uphill, tight fairway fury. On the tee just behind the blues was a red circle with a red dot in the center. We joked about “if you hit into the water (left of the tee alongside the tee box) you deserve to be penalized and drop there”. J promptly puts his into the water and so does JA making my slice across not just our fairway but the next one the best tee shot. I then launch my 4h about a mile but on a horrible line. J goes up the fairway we are on. I then hit towards the wrong flag. We are on in 4 and pull out a double bogey.  And win the hole as they took a triple…

 

I forget what happened most of the way because we were still gaining ground. The next to last hole I really remember had sand at 260 and was a downhill sliding left dogleg where after the sand the fairway was blind. So I pulled 5i to take the sand out of play….and promptly hit it even with the sand but left side of the fairway.

 

Finally on 18 we all had our mulligans…and for J and I, our best shot was a 200 yard tee shot downhill. We both then chunked our chips about 50 yards while JA and Dave were just left of the green. We reached the front on our next and found a way to 2 putt. They were short with their chip and 2-putted.

 

So for the day, they one just one hole from us, tied a few and J and I finished with an 8 over 79 while they came in with an 89.

 

The ice cream was delicious.

 

Once my driver started working, which except 10 and 18 it really did back on 7, any chance they had really evaporated. I felt like the blues were a box deep for them but part of it too was D just getting back and not having golfed for a month and JA swinging out of his shoes and thus playing poorly.

 

J had some really great moments at just the right time. We seldom had good shots at the same time but when we needed to pull one out he did so, draining 3 or 4 key putts and hitting a couple chips and pitches that gave us looks, probably saving us 10-15 strokes. So well done, lot of fun and take the W.

This year in golf (so far)2015 as of 9/22/15

Until this year I have never played much golf. 4, 5 rounds a year, sometimes less, rarely ever as many as 10 and even then only 1 or 2 would be for 18.
This year the wife and I talked about it, I wanted to get "not horribly bad, maybe respectable" at golf. She okayed me getting fitted for clubs, lessons, and getting March through October unlimited golf at a local retirement community track. http://www.kingcitygc.com/  it is short, par 34 (should be 33 or 32, really). The challenge comes from if you miss a fairway you probably hit a house and/or are ob but for a hackmaster like myself...fine course.

My goal for the year was pretty modest. A round under 40 for 9. I generally shot in the mid-40s both there and at "real" golf courses. Some forays into the mid-50s and occasionally when everything was working right maybe a 42 or 43. 1 41. 

Early in the year, before the club fitting, I had a so-so round going...until I finished birdie-eagle when i chipped in on 9 for a 2. Later in the year I would get a second eage, so that was exciting.

As the lessons started to take hold I was struggling. It was a complete swing change from outside in, playing for a slice, to trying to hit it straight and attempting a draw. I would have a couple low 40s. I would have a 55. My scores were similar...but the WAY I was getting them was different. Now it often was a couple duffed chips around the green after getting close in 2. I could see the improvement even if the scores did not show it.

Then the magical day came where it all came together, I had a 35 going into 9. Drive down the middle. Wedge to the green. lag putt close. I was standing over a 4' par putt for a 39...of course I finished with a 41, could that part of the story end any different? But I was encouraged. I had a legit shot at it. Visible improvement.

I went to my favorite course, Wildwood, played 18 and shot a legit 84. I had never done better than an 89 on ANY course before. That was exciting. My driver was 33 yards longer than my average at the time. 

Came back to King City. I was working hard, practicing my chipping and putting at Red tail, hitting the driving range between lessons...I changed my chipping grip, my chipping approach, my pitching approach. I read Dave Pelz short-game Bible borrowed from the library. I went out and bought it, developed the 1/4, 1/2, 2/3 swings. i bought a 60 degree wedge to add to my PW, SW and AW. My short game got better.

Played some "real courses" 2-man best ball with my friend John against Dave and Jim.

Broke 40 with a 38. And again with a 39. Later I shot a 44/36 on the King City. Then I melted down. For a month.

My driver went wild. My 4h went wilder. My 3w was unhittable. I took to teeing off with a 6 iron, sometimes a 7 iron just to keep the ball in play. I met Tequila4Kapp and YetiLooper and came to enjoy the THP style round. 

Then the game started to come back. I broke 40 a couple more times. And then came perhaps my favorite round ever. On the front nine I hit 7 greens in regulation. I made one birdie putt. I shot a 40 that was my fault for melting down on 9 and pulling a double bogey. On the back after 4 holes I had hit zero GIR but 4 1-putts had me at par. I texted a brag about that bizarre stat to Tequila and Yeti, promptly took a double. BUT...

IMy mental game is stronger. I 1-put par on 6. I 1-put birdie on 7. 3-putt double on 8. 2-putt par on 9. I shot a 36. 

So for the front I was playing really well as hitting the green but not close enough to birdie. On the back I was missing the green but chipping close.

Actual, real, live example of the improvement in my game year over year.

And this time instead of reverting to my bad ways as I did last time I had some success, this time I shot a 42 for 9, then tonight a 42-38. I am experiencing sustained success.

Oh, I know the bad swings will come. I sliced a 6 iron on 5 tonight that had me "fore-tee box" screaming. I yanked a drive left that only stayed in bounds when it bounced off not one but 2 houses and found its way to the rough from which a 7-iron found the sand which I barely got out of. I am not a "good" golfer and neither I nor my trending handicap claim that I am.

but I can visibly see the improvement. At this end of the year if I land next to sand or water it does not bother me because i have the capability to avoid the trouble most of the time and, should I hit the sand, I get out more often than not in decent shape to save bogey instead of launching it 100 yards past the green and looking at snowman or worse.

I credit many things. The fitted clubs have been a wonder to behold. My ball flight is much better. For the first time in my life I am getting a really high ball flight that stops the ball on the green more and more frequently. I hit straighter more often and longer. I have a wider array of shots to select from and am gaining confidence in them all.

I credit Matt, my instructor, for much of the improvement in my short game and Pelz' principles for more, and honestly...I have worked hard at practicing what Matt has taught, spending hours hitting thousands of shots on the practice range. 

Coming down to the end of the paying season, golf is a much different game for me than it was at the beginning of the year. My skills are better and, while I will never be a scratch golfer, and probably not a mid-teen much less scratch handicapper (per the Grint I have gone from I think 32 or so at beginning of the year to 23.5 per most recent update), I don't feel like I want to run hide at corporate outings or anything like that. I have met some really cool people, had a ton of fun and even grown to the place where I can still tell you I have had precisely 3 eagles in my life (2 this year), I have had enough birdies they stop being a life-changing event...

Tomorrow I hop on a plane for Flagstaff and am taking my clubs, something i never would have done before because I would have wanted to hide my lack of skill from random strangers and would not enjoy rounds. Instead, so far this year I have played in Washington, Oregon, and California and have plans to play in Arizona. That alone is a sea change.

I think it has been a successful year. I know this is of little interest to most people but I just wanted to remember it and this little post might help with that. thanks for listening and hey..lets play 18

Rounds 36,37

Fresh off my near miss, I went a few days between chances to play. I had a double lesson, spent some time working on chipping.

Mostly I was working on air time v roll time, I carefully paced it off, marked down in my book how every club from 6 iron through 55 degree went...then left the book by the green I was practicing at. Oops.

So nearly a week after my good play and just a day after my racquetballing, I headed out. Fir-Gir-par. Should have had the birdie, missed about a 5'er that just lipped out.  Then I shanked right behind trees, no view of the green, somehow managed to roll around an elecrical box and get just onto the green, a 2-putt bogey. I feel like I am playing well.

I feel wrong as I promptly hook the 4h left over the houses, then hit a nice drive to 40' from the green. Then I chip twice to 5 yards from the green...and chip that in. Hmm. a zero putt 6...

then my 7 wood gets loose. I think the first may be gone, hit a provisional...left over houses. If you have seen that hole you know how bad that is. Then right over the clubhouse again. I give up, walk up...and find my first one behind and under a tree. I manufacture a shot to fairway center, get on in 3, in in 6. 2 lost balls that did not matter...a big score that did.

And so forth until I par 7 and 8, then get all sorts of loose on 9. A 46 going out. Not good.

I then go way right with the 4H. I am struggling with it today. I beautiful 7 iron gives me a chance at a scramble, but a poor chip and missed putt lead to a bogey. Then I bogey 11. And 12 (Fir-Gir Bogey :-( ), and 13.

The 167 yard, tree lined par 3 I decide to play my 7 iron. If I had gotten any roll I might have made an ace because I stuck it 3' short dead on line for the pin, it bounced about 2" according to the ballmark. birdie. Nice!

Bit of a wait, got joined by Jennifer, very nice lady who was struggling a bit.

I hit a fantastic drive but had tree issues. Tried draw around it but hit it straight, clipped a limb. Shorted 2 chips, then went long...a 7. ouch.

Then went way right with the 4H, landing 150 from green well right, just inbounds. Stuck the 8 iron just beyond the cup and got a birdie. 2 birdies in one round...it is now a good round.
Good thing I decided that because I backed it up with sticking 2 4 H ob, switching to my driver, going 240 down left side, taking a 9.

And then driver ob right, long right but right of 1, bad chips, another 9 for a 49.

95 for the day but I don't care...two birdies.

Round 35: Made IT! except, not really...

I started off killing it. Hole 1 was a Fir-Gir-Par. Textbook with my 4 Hybrid being a solid 260ish yards, my 10ish yard chip leaving me a long makeable putt I did not feel bad about missing, and the decent leave letting me par it.

On 2 I was a bit right and went beyond the far side with my mis-chip. But then a nice lag from the fringe lipped out and I tapped in for bogey from less than a foot.

On 3 I put the ball just off the left fringe with the drive. A poor chip left lots of work and the frist putt was well short but I rolled in the longish second for a par. A second Fir-Gir-Par.

Next on the 196 yard par 3 I had to wait for a father-daughter group. She was maybe 5 or 6 and they were playing SUPER slow. Anyway I was pin high about 10 yards right of the green. Of course I could not stick the chip. I still should have made the putt but lipped it out. Still a bogey.


Then the famous 167 yard par 3. I actually mishit the tee shot, taking ground prior to the tee. perhaps for the best as I was pin high left of the green maybe 19 yards. I then chipped really well for a change, reading the green well and leaving a very makeable putt which I then made for par.

So I started this round par-bogey-par-bogey-par. And for those paying attention, I finished the last 4 holes of my last round par-birdie-par-bogey. So over the last 9 holes I have shot a 2-over 36 which is pretty spectacular for me. Now I just need to finish strong.

I then top my drive 5 yards past the red tees. I follow up by topping my 7 wood, hitting the tree in center of the fairway and getting a break that ricochets it into the center of the fairway 56 yards from the green. Nothing i cannot make worse by picking my 55 degree clean, ball flies OB. Drop for 5, this one lands front fringe. On in 6. Leave the first putt 6' short but hit that. Yay, one decent shot on the hole for a snowman. I just scored as many as any two prior holes...

Then the tee shot is topped again, barely scuttling past the red tees. Then I launch it ob, drop, etc...lets skip to the end. After that great start I finish 8-8-5-7. 28 and 19 is a 47..."only" 6 shots worse. But they were a painful 6...

Round 34: So close!

My goal is to break 40. I did it once many years ago at Gearhart. With a 29. There is some question in my mind if I really did it. Naturally I would rather do it on a par 36, but I will take what i can get.

Today went out, nobody ahead of me, took 2 practice hits with 8 iron and stepped up to the whites at King City. My 4 Hybrid was pure, with that right to left ball movement leaving me about 45 yards from the green. A nice soft 55 degree to about 8 foot, a 2-putt. Starting with a par is always nice. A Fir-Gir-Par is nice too.

The 178 yard par 3 I am generally right. My 7 wood was pin high just off the green about 5 yards right. I tried the wrist hinge but much too much force, went off green on far side...when pin was right next to where I went wide right. This time I put it about 4' away and 1-putted for bogey. Would have preferred the par I should have scored...but that is a shot I struggle with.

Despite there having been nobody ahead of me when I first arrived...changed clothes...took a couple practice swings...played two holes...I was now waiting on people. Uh oh.

On to the 249 par 4. My drive was about 200 yards, slightly left edge of fairway. I went back to the 55 degree but picked it clean. It ended up in the 4th hole tee box across the street I later discovered. Drop, put it on front edge of green, 2-putt for a 6. Oops. One swing cost 2 strokes. But...here is the encouraging part. I have that 45 yard shot in my bag. It is reasonable to think I can and should routinely par or even birdie this hole.

Now for the par 3 178 yarder. My 7 wood came out again and was slightly right and short. I then overhit the green, my chip back left me a 4ish footer which I hit for the bogey. Again...poor close-in work meant what should have been a scramble par was a bogey. But it is CLOSE.

Now the 167 yard par 3 with trees steady right and interspersed left. I took my 6 iron....and would have hit the houses behind the green because I CRUSHED it. Now I had to come 20 yards back to the green under a limb. I left it short, then was too far from the pin from just off the fringe. A 2-putt and my 2nd double of the day. I did not feel like I was playing awful...but I was not playing well, either. On my way to a forgettable round.

My troubling 277 yard par 4. I have played it much better with the draw. I hammered the drive, but clipped the last tree branch, losing probably 10-15 yards. Still, I was 75 yards from the green, left side of fairway and clear shot at it. A nice smooth 50 degree put me pin high on right-center of green. I left the first putt 5' short but rolled the second in for a par.; Hey, a second FIR-GIR-Par. Nice!

Now the par 4 that masquerades as a 5. My drive I was all tense on the swing and was short and left. I was maybe 165 from the green, left of fairway, tree issue. Worse, the 2 guys in front of me spent several minutes practicing chips from just off the green while I stewed over my shot. I was ready to hit into them when they finally moved on. I pulled the 7 iron and tried a deliberate draw. It worked, sort of...I was beyond the green 5 or 10 yards after hitting the back edge with a beautiful draw. this time I left the chip about 4' from the cup and 1-putted for the birdie*. yeah, it is a par on most courses...I will count it as a birdie. And on this course, that is a second consecutive FIR-GIR, topped by a BIR.

On the 284 yard 8 I hit a nice draw that left me about 75 yards off the green. My 50 degree put me pin high right side of the green. Another putt left short4ish feet but I made that for a third consecutive FIR-GIR-Par or better. Wow!

On the 292 yard par 4 I got under it a little bit but still put it dead center fairway with the  4 hybrid. This time the 50 degree was about 4 yards short. But a nice chip left me a very makeable 3' putt to A) deliver a 4th consecutive FIR-GIR-Par+ and B) break 40.

naturally I got in my own head, missed it, frustrated missed the next shot and 3-putted to end with a 41.

Still the best front I have had and I now know I am capable of doing it. I was almost there.

Then I rushed my drive and pushed it way right...right of the 1st fairway, in fact. A 7-iron landed right of the green but pin high. Unfortunately a poor chip was followed by a 3-putt. The sadness of the missed 41 actually helped me start a meltdown.

The 178 yard par 3 saw my 7 wood go high, straight...and long. Again a low limb meant 6 iron chip, but short, 3 to get on, 1 to get in. Bogey, not horrible. Now waiting on a twosome.

I outdid the first time I played the 249 hole, landing about 35 yards from the green. Confident, I took the 55 degree, stepped up...and totally chunked it about 10 yards. I started thinking about going to the Avengers II< Age of Ultron. I got barely on the front frnge with the next chip and 2-putted for a bogey. Not horrible...but could have been so much better!

It started sprinkling on me about this time.

The 196 yard par 3 saw my 7 wood land short this time, though not horribly so. I hit a nice chip and was a couple feet from the putt. I rushed it a bit to get out of rain and...missed the gimme. Another putt but what should have been a par was a bogey.

It continued to rain, I was waiting on the other guys...I waled off and went to the Avengers.

So close to breaking 40. I can do it this year!

Rounds 30-33

Played 18, shot a 97. Not good but birdied the last, had 3 pars and a birdie on 9. Drive was mid-length and left. With ball below my feet and tree sort of in way, took it from 75 yards to 4 feet and made the birdie putt to end the round.
Shot a 42, had a birdie on hole 3, par on 5 and 9. that was back to back rounds with a birdie.
Shot a 49 with pars on 3 and 8.

Rounds 26, 27, 28 and 29

Sis was in town so no r-ball Sunday. Monday went out and played. Nobody in front of me and I was flying. I blistered through the front with 2 pars, a double, the rest bogeys. Only 16 putts. I was playing well. The back started even better and through hole 14 I was on fire, coming off 3 pars in 4 holes.

Then I caught up to some ladies. who were stuck behind some ladies. Who were behind another group. 15 minutes later when i took my next shot there were people behind me. They did not want to join. I promptly put the tee shot ob right, my first penalty of the day I believe. Laying 3 off the tee, I can still save the hole. But the next tee shot was same place. Laying 5 off the tee. next shot almost as bad but bounced inbounds, went ob, hit a bush and bounced back just in bounds. But now I am 160 from the green and need a pitching wedge to get over some trees. So I have to lay up on my 6th shot. Yeah, I took a 9. No rhythm to my game. I missed a makeable parr putt on 18 but still finished with a 46-42.


Tuesday I destroyed poor Tim in 3 games of singles, won 2 cutthroat against he and David, started messing around then could not catch up and David won one, then I won the last cutthroat and a couple more singles games with Tim.

Thursday went back to King City. Got there and ready to swing by 3:45. Teed off at 4;10. On the bright side I got lots of putting practice and had a few swings with the 8 iron in their little net area. The shots were not hitting the net but i did not think too much of it.

Then I blasted my first tee shot in a massive hook ob. Then I dribbled a grounder out to the 150 yard marker...and that would be how it went.

It was taking 15 minutes per hole at least for the group ahead of me and I could not get into a groove. I could not figure out my swing either. I was hitting laser ground balls with my 55 degree wedge. I was hitting ground balls and hooks with my 7 wood, 4 hybrid, and everything else.

On the rather soft 249 par 4 I went ob, dribbler, dribbler, missed pitch, etc and had an 8. On 6 I dribbled it short, left behind trees. My pitch across was too far. My next shot hit a tree, never found it, drop, get on, 5-putt...or something. Honestly I was defeated by then, did not bother lining up putts, was missing 3' by 5', just whacking it, I think I actually just picked it up at some point.For handicap purposes the hole was an 8 but I scored it a ten.

Snapped my next drive left over the houses. Ended up with a 7. That is 17 shots in 2 holes...not good.

And then just like that I got my swing back. 4 hybrid to the 100 yard mark, pitching wedge to the green, putt to four feet, par, except...outside of the 5-putt hole where I essentially was discouraged and not trying, my first 3-putt of the day.

But 9 was better. Nice drive, 100 yard pitch to green, just missed tough birdie putt, par. Nice finish to the front.

5 pars, 2 bogeys on the back for a 43 and a 95 overall.

Oddity; both Monday and Wednesday I had 5 pars in 18 holes. yet I added 7 shots in the second round due to blowups. Weird game.

4/18/15: Vernonia, king City Round 25

Got together with Kristy, Patrick, Nick and JJ in Vernonia. I got there early and worked on a putting maneuver used by Justin Spieth where you look at the hole, then move your hands forward to start the putting motion. It was working well.

It did not start well as i started the ball right and hit a tree. Rather than punch out I tried to go around but the ball hit a tree and died. And again...anyway...

then on the back it was more of the same. Hit a much better drive but kind of lost sight of it, by the time we got down there I never did find it. I think I took like a 6 and 7.











Hole 2/11 should play well for my fade. I powdered the first drive but a bit too much bend. I would find it on the back nine but on front we thought it was in the water about 230 yards out. Drop, put it close...on the back I snap-hooked the drive and from 150 out could not put fade on it, decent chip but missed makeable putt and bogeyed it.












Hole 3/12

Yes, this is carved into a stump on the left side of the fairway...

This one has a tight fairway but is playable...until you get to the green and it is all over the place and heavily slanted. A missed downhill 2' putt just became an 8 yard chip as two people discovered. I had okay work on the front and a killer drive on the back. In fact, on the back I was 100 yards out and used the pitching wedge stroke I worked on with Matt Bryda, sticking it about 6' above and left of the hole. However, that meant I was realistically in danger of a double even with the fir-gir. But I made a decent lag with the first and just rolled in the second downhill sidehill putt for a par on arguably the toughest hole on the course.

Hole 4/13
115 yard par three. Tree short right, sand traps both sides.
on the front I found the left trap. It took me three tries to get out of the gravel. The less said the better. On the back I was 2" short of the right bunker. But it was BURIED in deep rough. I think I bogeyed it maybe?

Hole 5/14 has a tight range. Trees left and right off the box but then it opens up. I crushed my drive down the left side. Unbelievably we never found the ball so i had to drop. My hook did not hook on either the front or back. Drive on the back stayed right, some other guys picked up my ball so I had to drop. I did hit a nice 220 yard 4 hybrid to the right side of the green, a nice 55 degree over the sand to a makeable putt range so that was something.

Hole 6/14

Should be an easy one but I struggled all day. but this is fun:the bear carved into a stump.

Hole 7/15

This little prize is a beast. The water on the right is further protected by a ring of trees. The left is all trees and steep embankment. So you have a narrow opening to hit through and need a slight draw. I was pin high but right on the front. On the back I hit it straight and way long, then hit a tree on my first attempt, finally getting on in FOUR. It might be the only hole I played better on the front than the back...

Hole 8/17
If not for the dogleg I would have been going driver. But it was dogleg. No driver. No good on the front, though on the back I 1-putted for par.

Hole 9/18

On the front I pulled the driver for the first time all day. On the bright side I hit it about 260. On the dark side I was playing from the 8th fairway and landed short on my second shot, then took i think a bogey for a 52.

On the back I went further less right and less wrong, scrambled a bit and ended with eh.

On the back I ended up at 48. So 100 total.


Then I went to Redtail where they were having a club exchange/50% off sale. Spent a couple hours with Rick trying to find a driver that worked. We finally found a Calloway X2 Hot with a stiff tour shaft that between the club and his coaching he figures I will eventually be about 290 yards off the tee. And vaguely straight.

I was frustrated by my earlier round so went to King City to sneak in a quick 9.

On 1 I took the new driver, did not roll my rists but was a solid 260 and in the #9 fairway but not by much. I then left a half swing 55 degree short, chipped short, on in 4, 2 putt for a double.

My 7 wood was barely short on the 178 yard par 3. I had a nice chip and just missed the putt. bogey, okay.

Used my 4 hybrid and with the ground firming up got some roll, about 235 yard drive just barely left and short of green. I short-chipped but 2-putt for parr. Okay, now we are cooking.

From about 140 yards I went 7 iron and was pin high, albeit left. Decent chip but no break on green, and my first putt had no break. Still 2-putt for bogey, decent for me.

Stuck the 6 iron a little long and right. With a downhill chip to a sidehill green I was short on the green, then the first putt just would not roll but I hit the 2nd for another bogey.

Caught up to some guys who waved me through. Hit the 4 hybrid too high, landing about 120 out. Hit my 9 iron thin, long and right. Short on the chip, and a weak second chip but another 2 putt. A double, but not horrible.

The 352 yard "par 5". Tried the new driver with the tee it high, let it fly. It did fly...high and left. It was a cart path aided 150 yarder. My off the fairway 4 hybrid (nice bounce) was a little short from 200 out and slightly right. Decent chip, just missed putt, "par".

I am sitting on a 33 and thinking about my low for the year. New driver, rolled my wrists...rained it off the condos way left. Laying 3. Rolled my wrists, well left into the street. Laying 5. Switched to the 4 Hybrid, skied it to the 140 mark. Bladed the 7 iron pin high but right. Overshot green to far fringe. Putted from there so badly I was further off the green than that shot...ended up with a ten. First double figure hole of the year...

So much for my low. Rolled wrists on new driver...never saw the ball. Had literally no clue where it was. Re-tee. Hit it to the 150 mark leftish. 8 iron onto front edge of green. Saw first ball...it was 270 yard drive left of fairway. Ball below feet I did 8 iron half swing and about 5 yards short. Not a great chip left long putt. 2 putt for bogey.

And a 48 that should have been a 43 or better....but better than the morning round

Round 24

Went out with a vendor and it started well. Drive was long and just barely left of center. Overshot green by 20 yards but chipped to 6' and 1-putted for par.

Next hole a little rougher...no draw on tee shot and hit provisional, though figured I would find the ball. I did not. 3 off the tee, a bad chip, a 2 putt...I just had a 6.

A nice drive followed by landing on the green in reg. Missed birdie by about 2" but had a second par on the first three holes.

We have now completed the decent portion of the proceedings.

Hook left ob, made a great lag on my 4th shot, missed an easy putt, one-handed the overshoot, missed that, basically just gave up and took a triple. Followed by a quadruple, bogey, bogey, quadruple, triple. It was a complete and utter meltdown and a 54.

King City rounds 21,22,23 4/11/15

I was at the course by 6:30, teed off at 7:05. 4H long but straight...which since I was playing for a draw meant into the 9th fairway.But a nice wedge over trees to close, chip to 4', 1 putt par. Should have walked off the course right there because the day only went downhill.

I missed the 178 yard par 3 short right, chipped to about 6' and just missed that. Still, a bogey is not bad.

Then I hit my 4H well and fairway, but my chipping game betrayed me. Long on the second chip, putted from the fringe, had makeable putt I missed, another bogey.

That was the problem. I hit my 4h on the tight hole, had a beautiful drive. But then took 3 chips to get on the green from 65. Multiple times on all holes this happened all day long. I would have a nice drive. My 4H was solidly between 200 and 240, mostly fairway all day.

Played 27 holes. 13 fairways, in 18 attempts. many 1-putts 5 pars. But many times after a fairway I would take 2-4 more shots from 85 yards or less to get on the green. I MUST get that under control. Still, lots of fun, lot of distance walked.


I also hit a couple shots I am very happy with. One was a 55 degree wedge from about 85 yards that i was able to "shape" right to left to go around a tree and it landed in directional terms exactly where i wanted, successfully going around.

The other was a 7-wood I tried to go the other way and successfully created a left to right ball movement. Unlike most of my life, however, this one was on purpose. I considered angles, swing path, and deliberately created it.

King City 4/10/15 Round 20

After Camas Meadows I was anxious to see how I could do. Got joined by "Rich" on first hole. I promptly tried to justify yesterdays score and hooked the first ball left over the houses. But I HOOKED it. Not aimed left and hit it straight, I hooked it.

Then I sliced right and short. From 135ish out I hit a 9 iron straight and way wide of the green. Then i chipped over the green.On in 4, in in 6, plus 2 for being three off the tee. Starting with a snowman, a big number.

Still trying to play yesterdays game, I sliced short on the par three, ending up blocked by a tree. I tried to go under it with the 4 hybrid but was much too hard, going long. I did make a nice 3rd chip and 1-putted for a bogey. Not bad after the first 2 shots.

Then he topped his drive, going maybe 30 yards. I decided that was a good idea and went 20 yards. Then I tried again, overswung, and went maybe 20 more yards. Then I hit it right of the green. Took 4 shots to get on again, a 2 putt for a 6. 18 after three. On pace for an ugly 54.

On the 167 yard par 3 I hit my 6 iron 100 yards, albeit straight. I did get on with an 8 iron pitch, but way to the left of the green and flag was way right. I was short with the first and just missed pulling off a tough 2 putt, ending up with a 3-putt for a 5.

But finally I hit a good shot. The demon hole was nothing as I hit it dead center, 210 yards using my 4 hybrid. Unfortunately, I then flew the green by 15 yards, short-chipped back, bludgeoned a putter from deep in the rough and 1-putted for a 5.

After the drive I was thinking birdie, after the first chip a double so...yeah.

Then I hit my 4 hybrid decently but left, ending up behind a tree. I deliberately tried to amplify the draw to go around the tree and pulled it off, hitting from 200 out to the left fringe of the green. I then misread it horribly and was not close, but was on in regulation. It was a long putt and I missed by 4', but then hit that for a par.

I then let him talk me into trying the driver. I tried to play a draw and really crushed it, but there was no draw. I would have been about 280 but it was right and over the houses. I then hit the 4 hybrid 210ish down the left side, took my A wedge long, got it somewhat close, 2 putt for a 7.

Finally I tried the driver again but swung too hard. It was fairway left but short. From 150 out I flew the green by 10 yards, took 2 tries to get on the green, missed a makeable putt and finished with a 6.

Total of a 51.

I am on the verge of making progress. Not there yet.

Camas Meadows

After work Wednesday i went to the driving range to check out the new clubs. Started with an 8 iron. Lined up carefully, tried the "swing to right field", the swing felt good, sounded good...never figured out where I hit it. Did I slice? Hook? Fade? Draw? Straight? Was it short? Long? right length?

Tried it again. Same result. And again. Same result. Went to my old swing. Ah, there it was. Nice, towering ball flight, beautiful shot. Back to the inside-out swing. Where did the ball go? This pattern lasted the entire session. I saw a handful of balls and they were mostly vaguely straight, some had a slight draw, a couple sliced, one hooked. But out of maybe 110 balls I saw maybe 20? So I really had no gauge of either distance or accuracy since I literally had no idea where the ball was going.

So today John and I took on Dave and Jim. The first hole is 348 yards, tight fairway. John hit it straight albeit short. I selected the hybrid 4, lined up carefully, nice smooth takeaway, came across swinging to right field...beautiful 200 yard drive left center side of fairway. From 150 I pulled my 8 iron and stuck it about 10' left of the pin. I 2-putted for a natural par. Nice!

The second hole is a 167 par 3. I yanked it left, pin high but well left of the hole. We played John's. I did manage a nice chip but we both missed a makeable putt.

The next hole I hit a line drive with the hybrid, ending up short and left. I mis-hit the 8 iron ob.

And so it went. I would hit some really nice shots with every club...I pounded the green from 120 and in with my 55 degree and 50 degree wedges. I hit the 4 hybrid between 200 and 240 yards with mostly accurate shots. A few times I broke out the driver and sliced every time. Not once on the day did I hit my beloved 7 wood.

On one memorable hole, a long par 5, I hit the driver 240 but we were behind a towering tree. I wisely took a pitching wedge, only moved the ball about 140 yards...but dead center fairway. The guys were impressed at my restraint.

The last hole is a dogleg left, 204 yards to the shortside of the turn. Everyone else tried to go right. I tried to play a draw and, to my surprise and delight, did just that, hitting the turn perfectly and leaving 195 to the green. The green has water short left, bunkers both sides. I did not realize that. I tried to draw the 4 hybrid but got more of a hook. I was pin high but about 20 yards left of the green between 2 trees. I tried to chip up high, just trying to get on the green but toed it off the end into the near bunker. John went in the far bunker, we played his. I tried to play a proper bunker shot and did not even get out of the bunker. We ended up taking a 6 on the hole and tying them for the round.

John and I went 44-44, they went 45-43. Great time and I am very pleased with the new clubs and swing path. I had a couple natural pars, looks at a couple more, and I now have the distance to play any yardage respectably and the short clubs to hit the green pretty consistently. I just need to dial in my short game now. Love, love, love the new clubs.