Quail Valley 5.25.20

I have been on a really nice run recently. After being high 90s or low 100s most of year, I had a run of 3 rounds in the high 80s that dropped my handicap lower than it had ever been. Then I regressed to high 90s and a couple rounds over 100 again. Then at OGA I set my personal record, shooting an 82 including about a 4’ birdie on 18 to set my PR and win our flight for Frank and I with an 82. I followed that up with an 83 at Heron Lakes Greenback, was feeling good and then…a 102 I think at Red Tail. Played okay at Summerfield and finally on Memorial Day had a round planned for the afternoon.

 

In between, John and I combined to shoot a 79 at Meriwether against Dave and John where my driver was lethal and my wedges were decent, my putter was awesome. I was feeling good about my game going in.

 

Quail Valley 5.25.20

 

Spent about 35-40 minutes putting because their chipping area was closed. Was feeling good about it.

 

 First hole is a slight dogleg right, short at 340. I just wanted to make contact with the driver, nothing special, just 220-240 somewhere in the middle. Instead it was a snaphook left.  Provisional was better in that it was straight but I am not overly proud of 201…never found my first one so three off the tee to start. I then pured an 8i that went over the back. Decent chip from a tough lie to about 10’. I then drained the 1-putt for a stroke saver but still….double to start. I am not pleased but a double is not the worst thing on earth.

 

 Second hole is a true risk/reward opportunity. Driveable at 257, water runs all the way down the right side including the green, sand guards the end of the narrow fairway and over half the green. I just want to put a 7i about 165 on the left center. I get into it and hit it 179…but with a fade and it bounces down the side of the bank, ending maybe 2 or 3 yards above the long stuff along the water. Ball below my feet, 77 to pin short sided with water right and sand long. I try my ¾ swing sand wedge, trying to hit it 75 yards. I come up just short of the green and move towards the water again. But still inbounds. Chip to about 6 or 8’ but miss the putt. Still, a bogey 5 after the less than perfect tee shot and chip is okay.

 

 Third hole is 481 par 5, not a lot of trouble. I hit a draw with my driver, 255 yards but just left of fairway, not bad. There are people on green, busy day, I decide to lay up with a 7i. I duly push it right although it went 188 yards…I am getting some distance with the irons today! Beautiful chip to 5’ but I miss the putt. I thought I had a sure birdie. Still, I am not one to complain about a kick in par, my first of the day.

 

Fourth hole is a routine par 3, flag about 129 yards out. A reasonable PW gives me a look at a birdie and this time I ram it home. 2 over after 4 holes,I am liking it. A little regret for the missed birdie opportunity on 3, but feeling better than the double on 1.

 

Fifth hole is another par 5, 491 yards with water kind of a crescent around the right edge. I want to approach from the left side if possible. My driver is not overly long, 251 yards and off to the right. There are people on green but with sand left of green, water right, and 230ish to the flag, not a good time to go for it. I decide to play up with a 6i hoping to leave 50-75 yards in. I proceed to pure it and end up on the fringe, 222 yard 6i. A reasonable putt leaves me an easy 3’ birdie putt which I make. Back to back birdies, I am quite pleased with my play.

 

 

Hole 6 is a 129 yard par 3 to a short sided green with water between the tee box and green, sand both short and long. Need to be precise. I…am not. A massive pull on my pitching wedge leaves me a touch shot with no backswing and some massively long grass. I try to punch it and make too good of contact, skulling it across the green into the weeds far side of the green. I cannot find the ball so take a drop, chipping 4. Just after I hit it someone finds my ball but I have already hit. 2 putt for a triple 6. Painful. Still, just 4 over after 6.

 

Hole 7 is normally 341 but playing 380 today. Trees are short right of the green but it is not overly difficult. Couple sand traps including one just short of the green. I take driver off the tee, slight left of fairway and alongside sand trap, 241 yards and leaving about 130 to the stick. I hit a nice PW which is just a bit long, a decent chip and 2 putt bogey.

 

Hole 8 we have a par 4, 384 yards, and relatively light on hazards. Water off the tee but anything over about 160 clears it so it is not really an issue. A couple sand traps protect the green, one short right, one right and long. I get into my driver, 267 on left edge of fairway. I then chunk a PW into the sand short of the green, a whopping 94 yards. Not my best swing of the day. They try to get me to fluff the sand but I play it as it lies and end up coming out of the sand to about 4’ for a spectacular (for me) sandie up and down par.

 

Hole nine is the number 2 handicap and not hard to see why. 399 yards, the tee shot is trouble free but water starts about 130 yards from the green, swells out to cover the direct approach and the green is only 22 yards deep. I really want to favor the right side. 242 yards off the tee in right rough, I take an 8i right at the flag from about 165 out. I push it right and am on the hill long of the green and somewhat right of it as well. A beautiful chip and a 6’ par saving putt for a second consecutive up and down par.

 

I finish the front with a 5 over 41. I feel like I have been scuffling all day. My driver is neither long nor overly accurate, I think I have 1 fairway. My irons are missing right, my wedges are okay but not great. Fortunately the chipping and putting game, with one exception each, have been outstanding. I am quite pleased with a 41.

 

The back starts with a 461 yard par 5. Sand is on the left from 204 to 256 yards…right in my driver landing zone. Tight fairway but I am not overly concerned. I hit my driver with a slight fade, 254 yards to center of fairway. I then push a 5i wide right and short, a mere 184 yards. My first chip is just long to the upper fringe.  I use a putter from the fringe and then get up and down for par with a 1-putt.

 

Next up is a risk reward par 4. 312 yards to center of green but water starts about 210 yards out on the right and goes all the way beyond the green. On the left about 205 yards out are 3 pot bunkers. I am not exactly lights out with my driver, having missed almost every fairway with some left and some right. I decide to lay up with a 6i. I blister it pretty good 191 down the center. A PW from about 128 yards out is a shade right but I chip it close and, for a 4^th straight hole get up and down for par.

 

Hole 12 is a 420 yard par 4. A couple of bunkers on the left make anything landing between 190 and 260 yards out a bit dangerous. The fairway is decently wide at that point and the right side after about 200 out is clear so not really dangerous. I put a driver 246 to left center, another drive with fade action. A 160 yard 7i is pushed right under a tree. I try to cut the chip too fine and chunk it, my worst chip of the day that wasn’t for other reasons…the chip on 6 was worse but only because I had no swing path. My second chip runs a bit long, I two-putt and have a double. Grr.

 

Hole 13 is a slightly downhill par 3 with the pin at the front where the green is narrow. A huge sandtrap is just right of the green and another is deep and left.  I take a 7i 163 to about 6’ above the cup. I am feeling good about my birdie chance but it just misses by about 2”. Still, tap in par on a hole I often would bogey or worse? I am happy.

 

Hole 14 is another risk reward hole. 382 yards, water cuts into the fairway at 214 yards out, and runs along the fairway. The green is left of the fairway, not a dogleg but more a straight fairway, then the green adjacent to it. With a pond fronting the entire green and sand left of the green, you don’t want to miss. On the bright side, after about 240 yards, the right is wide open with an adjoining fairway providing a landing zone. I am not going to miss left here. I am believing I can keep a driver right…and I do, 246 yards but in the fringe right. I then take a PW, 129 yards and it pulls on me, landing about 8’ above the cup. No big deal..1-putt birdie which I am proud of. Tough hole, played aggressively, paid off.

 

Hole 15 is a 325 yard par 4. Trees adjoin both sides of the fairway for about 165 yards then sand both sides and further out a couple more bunkers on the right. I want to miss left here. I take driver and just smash it and this one looks straight, long and left center of fairway. There is a slight hill that cuts off vision. Takes me a while to find my ball which was 288  yards out…and inexplicably in the rough right of the fairway. Only thing I can think is it hit just right of the crown of the hill and kicked off. But I am happy, I have a clean shot at the green, decent chip, miss the long putt but kick in par.

 

Hole 16 is an uphill par 3 with a two tier green guarded on the left by a overly large sand trap with the flag about 132. I decide to add a club and hit my 9i. I pull it left and short, 126 yards next to sand. Decent chip but still 2-putt for a bogey. I am okay with that after the tee shot.

 

It is at this moment I notice there is a par 5 and a par 4 left and I am sitting on a 70. If I can find a way to par both holes I will break 80 for the first time ever.

 

Now comes a major decision. 17 is a par 5. Water adjoins the fairway for a goodly long way. Trees on a hill cover the left and the fairway narrows in my landing zone. Laying up with iron still keeps water in play and I have been pushing them right…danger zone. Screw it, I am going driver. I have been hitting it will on the back. Clutch…I boom it 267 and dead center. I have about 160 in to an elevated green with sand left and long. Anything right will kick down into a collection area. I confidently grab my 7i…and chunk it 56 yards. Visions of bogey flash before my eyes. But then I move on, I will just take a ¾ 50 degree and put it next to the pin. I hit it well, 104 yards…but pull it just left of the green. I chip very well and hit a 6’ putt to save my up and down par. Disappointing to have to work on it that hard after that tee shot…but a par nonetheless.

 

 

Hole 18 says 416 yards, dogleg left, trees on left side, one fairway bunker on right about 211 out. By now I am way confident in my driver. 245 yards right down the middle, just next to the 150 yard marker. I am I think 160 from the flag, I like the 8i, I push it a bit right just sort of the sand and only get 146 yards out of it. I chip it to about 5’. A 5’ putt for another up and down, a par, and a 79…and I drill it.

 

I cannot overstate how pleased I am with this round.  That first hole snaphook driver was in my head for a long time. I was not hitting fairways on the front and still managed to be just 5 over. I was a monster on the back, only missing one fairway. The driver was really a weapon for me, albeit a bit short on this particular day. Going in my average was 252, that 288 yard drive brought me up to a 250 average for the day but there were a lot of drives in the 240 yard range…which I am still quite please with but I am getting used to being if anything more in the 260 range. Curiously, all my irons other than the 9 were longer than usual…including a ridiculous 207 yard average for my 6i.

 

But what really saved me was the short game. I routinely gave myself reasonable looks at putts…not gimmes but 5-10’ putts and I made more than my share of those. 14 putts on the front, 13 on the back, no 3-putts…Really only 1 bad driver shot on the day (my first swing), a couple chunks and one lie that my swing cost me on the par 3. I limited damage overall, had 3 birdies and chances for a few more. When things were on the line, I swung with confidence and skill and it paid off.

 

I feel like I have leveled up in golf. Not that there will not be regressions where my score skyrockets…I think Red Tail a couple weeks ago reminded me of that. Over my last 10 rounds of 18 I have a high of 101 and a low of 79. My average is 88.9. Considering that the first time I broke 90 this year is 9 rounds ago, it is pretty spectacular to be averaging below 90 with a 97 and a 101 in there. I have a new career low handicap of 14.6. My chipping is far more consistent, my putting is a weapon…I am really becoming a respectable golfer.

 

Summerfield 8/14/19

Well, last night I laid out my plan. How did it go?

　

Hole 1 we were joined by a guy who for whatever reason rubbed me the wrong way. He was friendly enough and all just…off. Anyhow, hole 1 Jim uses hybrid, nice down the center. I have my 6i in hand, he comments on nobody using driver. Dave does, blasts it into the tree guarding left side of fairway and gets a members bounce right into the fairway. This guy goes left of that tree and into tree line.

 I put my 6i 198 down right side of fairway, almost exactly where I had a couple days ago. Good shape, 145ish to flag from good lie.

I proceed to perform a maneuver that will plague me intermittently for the entire round, taking a massive divot, starting before the ball, and hitting it 90 yards, well short of the green. A decent chip gives me a look at it, I miss high and start with a disappointing bogey. I was perfectly set up and an abominable short iron swing cost me a full stroke.

Second hole, last time I left a 7i short. I determine to hit to center of green even though flag is at the front. Also, although I did not hit the overhanging branches with a 7i last round, it is in my head, a 6i has a lower trajectory and the extra distance. 6i it is. I absolutely crush it, unfortunately with a pull and a draw on the pull…this one has across the street written all over it until it smacks a tree and drops under it, same one Dave found a way to get on from last round.

 I have a narrow window to right edge of green, I don’t really want to hit the tree and odds of saving par are so close to nil it is the same thing as. I punch an 8i for the fringe, planning to try to chip close and bogey. I hit it well, on the fringe pin high. Fantastic putt from there leaves me 1’ tap in for the bogey.

Third hole, 263 to the tree, I just want to put a 5i about 200-210 in the middle. I hit it not perfect, push it a little bit but am very pleased, leaving myself I think 144 to the flag on a little hill just right of the fairway…it would be on a lot of fairways.

 I need to get over the tree but I believe in my 9i. I make a really nice swing, a hair right of where I wanted…instead of center of green I am right third but very happy. I lose sight as it comes down, am not sure if it is in the sand short of green or on the green just over it. Takes a little while as the guys chunk their way to get there…and we never find mine.

Only thing I can think is it hit the hill backside of the green and bounded off somewhere bizarre. It was a really good looking and feeling shot that we never found. I dropped and made a tough chip with my 9i that I hit perfect, hitting rough at crest of hill, softening it to roll to 2’ for the easy tap in.

4^th hole, remembering my draw 3w that was awesome, I try the same but pop it up and only get 195 out of it.

 Still, I am 140 to a flag I like the location of. 9i in hand…and I push it 40 yards right and only get 124 out of it.

Now I have a delicate over the sand to a short side green shot. 60 degree I hit beautifully, rolling to maybe 8’, just miss the putt and have another bogey.

5^th hole, not feeling my 3w, I pull the 5i wanting to leave maybe a 9i in. I hit it a bit thin, a line drive that rolls a hair farther than I want but still very good, center of fairway looking over water, 86 yards to the flag, maybe 65 to clear the water.

 I try a strong ¾ SW and dunk it halfway into the pond.

 Drop about 75 from flag and put it front edge of green.

 Another "almost make it" putt leaving tap in. For a double. Not loving how I am playing and the score. I mean, I am putting myself in position to score and then stinking up the joint.

Hole 6 has the slight dogleg right but I am not in the mood to play with the sand. Grab I think a 6i, hit it with slight pull, left center fairway. 9i is pin high right edge of green. I am pin high but 2’ above hole as again little to no break. Still, I have a reasonable par.

Hole 7, flag is at 140 on lower tier. Last time my 9i was on top tier but right at break. I elect to hit that rather than a PW. It is a bit of a push but nothing awful…pin high, a few feet inside right edge of green. Flag is in left third. Fantastic read and putt is 1" from the birdie. Easy, easy par. We are rolling now.

Hole 8, a soft par 4. Last time a beautiful 5i and fantastic chip left me a very short birdie putt. With that in mind, I step up to my 5i…and chunk it about a 100 yards.

The good part about it is it leaves me 164 from pin, an easy 8i.

This I manage to push right about 20 yards of the green.

Now I have to get over a hill under a tree branch and stop it short side green. Which I do…I put the ball off my left foot make a great swing with the PW chip, it bounces in rough…and still rolls all the way past the hole. Another near miss/easy tap. Another bogey.

Hole 9, last time I had the phone showing 134 and went full swing PW, blasting over the green. This time I shot the flag, 116 I think. Perfect as I anticipate a ¾ PW going 117.

I hit it well it is almost right at the flag…ends up coming down at 124 and slightly right of flag but a really nice shot. Surprising nobody, I once again miss by a foot and have the easy tap in.

Overall a…41? Hard to say. On hole 3 there had been people behind us so I could not do the walk of shame, I took the "local rule" 2-shot penalty and the chip gave me a six.

Potentially that should be a max score 7 for ESC purposes but it only hurts me if I am accidentally a shot low if the 2 stroke drop does not apply. And I did not go to fairway, I actually dropped in more penal location but then hit a great shot. I am out of tournament play for the foreseeable, potentially for the year so I don’t really care. For our group game it was a 5, for my golfpad a six and for h-cap it does not matter.

Anyhow, for the day I felt like I played poorly but the score was not hideous. A couple bad swings, a couple good ones and it was fun.

　

Planning Summerfield

We are playing Summerfield. It is a pretty soft course, looks like a 116 slope, 2300ish yards. 6 par 4s, 3 par 3s, par 33 course. I have played it several times of course. I am looking to play a stress free round that ends up within a couple shots of par.

　

Hole 1 is 321 yards, functionally a slight dogleg left.

There is a tall tree guarding the bend, anything left of that is houses and white staked. You can miss right about as far as you want and the further down ou go the more you can miss right, although the more right you go A) the longer you make the hole and b) you can leave yourself a tricky shot over the trees and sand to a short-sided green. Ideally, the tee shot would be a slight draw starting center of fairway and moving left. This opens the green.

My plan is to take a 6i. It should get past the corner leaving an easy pw, 9i or 8i in. Since there is no range and warm-up, I will not know what swing I have until I have hit a couple but it is likely to be a fade. With a 6i I am not going far enough right to get trouble, if I do draw it will be perfect and my most likely result will be something in the fairway with anywhere from 140-180 in depending on how I hit it. From there a short iron or wedge favoring left side of green, easy 2-tap for par.

Hole 2 is 181 yards of nasty.

A road runs left giving you not a lot of room to miss, houses line the right and the resulting playing area, including fairway and trees that overhang the tee box, is pretty narrow. Those trees are a problem for my ball flight as a tee shot can easily hit them.

The green slants severely back to front so arguably short is better than long and I love my 7i but this might be a good time to grab a 6i, use its lower trajectory and see if I can hit a really good lag.

Hole 3 is a short 317 yard par 4 with a 2-tier green.

Easy hole…except the fairway narrows at about 260 yards out with trees left and right overhanging the fairway. We perfect driver leaves and easy birdie opportunity but less than perfect brings potential big numbers into play and there are houses both left and right so you don’t want to get too wild.

I will likely bang a 5i out there just trying for left center of fairway to be between the overhanging branches with a short to full PW in hand, and if it is on upper tier I will go a club longer.

Hole 4 is another that calls for a draw. 355 yards, guarded front by sand, this one is a sharper left dogleg than #1 but also guarded by a tall tree, houses all down the left and again you can miss as far right as you want, but doing so gives you tree lines and sand between you and the green.

 I am liking a 3w with an attempt at a draw swing here, if it works it sets me up for an easy GIR, if I hit it straight I can count on my towering wedge stopping on the green and I am not getting too far right so no worries.

Hole 5 is a short, 246 yard par 4.

It is driveable, but requires clearing the close water, the far water, and landing on a short side green with sand long. So…no.

This is probably a good 7i hole to easily clear the close water, stay well short of the second water and have a short iron in.

Last time out I blasted my 3W and was set up perfectly, green high out to the right and I bladed the ensuing wedge over the green. If I am swinging well, that might be the play, start it just right of the water and let it fly. Just this time I will not botch the wedge.

Hole 6 is the longest hole, 332 with a bend to the right.

There is sand and trees right at the bend. Miss right and you are likely ob and hit a house. Miss the fairway long…house if too long, in trees if just past the fairway. The play here seems to be a 190ish shot that stays center, with a miss left better than a miss right as a miss right in fairway can leave tree issues or having to hit over the bunker.

The plan is a 6i starting middle of fairway followed by either a 9i or an 8i depending on how well I hit it.

Hole 7 is a 2-tier par 3, 144 to center. I am hitting 9i regardless of what tier it is on.

Hole 8 is a gentle left-turning 278 yard hole guarded by trees and houses left, by houses far right.

It is downhill. The plan here is just a 5i down the left center of fairway, let the slope give it a few extra yards for an easy on in two.

Hole 9 is a par 3 over water, about 130 yards but plays shorter. Nothing fancy, just a pw planning to be on the green and 2-putt.

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