2006 Open Championship
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April 23, 2006
Golf Performance Charts
Golf Performance Charts provide a graphical view of my golf performance in 2006. Visit regularly to track my progress (or lack thereof) toward an even-par round. Charts are updated after every outing.
Results by Hole
90 holes have been played so far. The following pie chart shows what percentage of these resulted in birdies, pars, bogeys, etc.
Results by Round
5 rounds have been played so far. The following line chart shows how my scores have changed over time.
April 21, 2006
Chasing Par Calendar
The Chasing Par Calendar is a public Google Calendar you can use to keep track of my golfing rounds. If you have a Google account, you can subscribe to the calendar by clicking the button below.
April 17, 2006
Golf Course Locator
The Golf Course Locator uses Google Maps to track my golfing rounds. Use the available controls to zoom, pan, or change map type. Click on the markers for more information about each course and round played. The map is updated after every outing.
Setback at Hidden Lake
The last thing a golfer wants to do is repeat the same mistake, especially in consecutive rounds. A week ago, I put on a horrendous display of putting, so my objective was clear as I prepared for another round at Hidden Lake Golf Club, located in Burlington, Ontario. Above all else, I wanted keep the putts to a reasonable number.
Single-minded determination often produces results, and this was no exception. Playing the Old Course at Hidden Lake, one of two 18-hole courses available, I finished with my best putting round of the early 2006 season. Unfortunately, it was also my worst overall round. You might say I was so preoccupied with putting, that I neglected the rest of my game.
Weather conditions certainly didn't help. At the first tee, one of my playing partners made a comment to the starter about the gusting wind. With a straight face, the starter replied, "Don't worry, it's only blowing out on the New Course." The joke drew mild chuckles from those within earshot, including myself. In hindsight, I wish he had been telling the truth. Wind was definitely a distraction on many shot attempts.
On the positive side, I managed a birdie on the 373-yard, par-4 eleventh hole. My tee-shot on the intimidating 14th hole was also noteworthy. Considered by many to be the signature hole on the Old Course at Hidden Lake, this 160-yard, par-3 features a narrow green perched on the side of a steep embankment. A large bunker and dense trees spell disaster for anyone that carries their tee-shot to the right of the green.
Score: 108
Par: 71
Putts: 36
Fairways: 3
Greens: 3
Single-minded determination often produces results, and this was no exception. Playing the Old Course at Hidden Lake, one of two 18-hole courses available, I finished with my best putting round of the early 2006 season. Unfortunately, it was also my worst overall round. You might say I was so preoccupied with putting, that I neglected the rest of my game.
Weather conditions certainly didn't help. At the first tee, one of my playing partners made a comment to the starter about the gusting wind. With a straight face, the starter replied, "Don't worry, it's only blowing out on the New Course." The joke drew mild chuckles from those within earshot, including myself. In hindsight, I wish he had been telling the truth. Wind was definitely a distraction on many shot attempts.
On the positive side, I managed a birdie on the 373-yard, par-4 eleventh hole. My tee-shot on the intimidating 14th hole was also noteworthy. Considered by many to be the signature hole on the Old Course at Hidden Lake, this 160-yard, par-3 features a narrow green perched on the side of a steep embankment. A large bunker and dense trees spell disaster for anyone that carries their tee-shot to the right of the green.
Score: 108
Par: 71
Putts: 36
Fairways: 3
Greens: 3
April 16, 2006
Putting Woes at Hornby Glen
Putting is the part of my golf game I've always been most comfortable with, but that wasn't the case on April 9, 2006, when I played at Hornby Glen Golf Course, located near the Village of Hornby, Ontario.
Perhaps I should have seen the writing on the wall when I arrived at the golf course and found the practice green covered by a big blue tarp. Hornby Glen renovated its clubhouse in the off-season and is currently making improvements to the course itself. When I discovered the practice green was off-limits, I decided to hit some of my own balls in the driving area instead.
The practice seemed to pay off, as I had a surprisingly good round striking the ball with my driver, fairway woods, and irons. Unfortunately, the same could not be said of my putting stroke. I struggled on the greens throughout the round, leaving some putts far too short and others way too long.
In fact, my greatest success came when I didn't have to putt at all. After my drive landed right of the green on the 211-yard, par-3 fourth hole, I was forced to play a tricky second shot. My chip attempt bounced off a mound, slowing the ball just enough to roll into the cup. It was a birdie that required no putts!
With some average putting, this would have been a sub-100 round, so I'm encouraged for the future.
Score: 103
Par: 72
Putts: 42
Fairways: 6
Greens: 3
Perhaps I should have seen the writing on the wall when I arrived at the golf course and found the practice green covered by a big blue tarp. Hornby Glen renovated its clubhouse in the off-season and is currently making improvements to the course itself. When I discovered the practice green was off-limits, I decided to hit some of my own balls in the driving area instead.
The practice seemed to pay off, as I had a surprisingly good round striking the ball with my driver, fairway woods, and irons. Unfortunately, the same could not be said of my putting stroke. I struggled on the greens throughout the round, leaving some putts far too short and others way too long.
In fact, my greatest success came when I didn't have to putt at all. After my drive landed right of the green on the 211-yard, par-3 fourth hole, I was forced to play a tricky second shot. My chip attempt bounced off a mound, slowing the ball just enough to roll into the cup. It was a birdie that required no putts!
With some average putting, this would have been a sub-100 round, so I'm encouraged for the future.
Score: 103
Par: 72
Putts: 42
Fairways: 6
Greens: 3
Fresh Start at Banty's Roost
My 2005 golf season ended in late October with a disappointing round at Banty's Roost Golf & Country Club. Defeated in every sense of the word, my only consolation was a sweet red apple, plucked from one of the many apple trees that line the 27-hole course, located in Caledon, Ontario. Though the apple was fantastic, my performance was not. In fact, it left a bad taste in my mouth that lasted the entire off-season.
As a result, it was with great anticipation that I began the 2006 season in early April at Banty's Roost. What better way to exorcise the demons of the previous year than to return to the scene of the bloodletting? Off-season developments gave me reason for confidence, too. Back in December, I took advantage of a Boxing Week sale at the local Golf Town. I strode up to the first tee carrying a bag loaded with a new TaylorMade R580 driver and a fresh set of Callaway X-16 irons.
Playing the White and Blue courses at Banty's Roost, I got off to a shaky start, except for some textbook play on the par-3 third hole. Managing to turn things around on the eighth hole, I began a stretch of bogey-golf that lasted through the 17th. Going into the final hole, a 125-yard, par-3 over water, I had a score of 94. With a double-bogey or better, I would have broken 100, something I've only done six times in my golf career. Unfortunately, two consecutive shots into the water meant finishing with a familiar score of 102.
Despite choking at the final hole, it was a respectable start to the season.
Score: 102
Par: 71
Putts: 38
Fairways: 7
Greens: 3
As a result, it was with great anticipation that I began the 2006 season in early April at Banty's Roost. What better way to exorcise the demons of the previous year than to return to the scene of the bloodletting? Off-season developments gave me reason for confidence, too. Back in December, I took advantage of a Boxing Week sale at the local Golf Town. I strode up to the first tee carrying a bag loaded with a new TaylorMade R580 driver and a fresh set of Callaway X-16 irons.
Playing the White and Blue courses at Banty's Roost, I got off to a shaky start, except for some textbook play on the par-3 third hole. Managing to turn things around on the eighth hole, I began a stretch of bogey-golf that lasted through the 17th. Going into the final hole, a 125-yard, par-3 over water, I had a score of 94. With a double-bogey or better, I would have broken 100, something I've only done six times in my golf career. Unfortunately, two consecutive shots into the water meant finishing with a familiar score of 102.
Despite choking at the final hole, it was a respectable start to the season.
Score: 102
Par: 71
Putts: 38
Fairways: 7
Greens: 3
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