Last Sunday, while Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, and a host of other professional golfers were contesting the final round of The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, in Hoylake, England, myself and a group of amateurs were contesting Round 3 of the 2006 Deepwoods Golf Association Tour, at Guelph Lakes Golf & Country Club, in Guelph, Ontario.
Conditions in Hoylake were dry, and judging by the parched Royal Liverpool fairways, must have been that way for some time prior to the tournament. Watching on television, it looked like the course could have used some of the rain that fell in Guelph. We certainly had plenty to go around, and that was really the story of the day.
Before the skies opened up, it was shaping up as a see-saw round. A near birdie on the par-3 second hole was bookended by a triple bogey on the first hole and a quintuple bogey on the third. Yes, that's right, I said quintuple. Two balls into a pond and an excursion into some long fescue produced that outcome.
The rain started on the fourth hole and was coming down hard when I teed off on the fifth. I should have known I was in trouble with the wind pushing my practice swing all over the place. I forged ahead and launched two balls out of bounds. By the time I holed out, I had recorded another quintuple bogey. Yes, that's right, I said it again.
At that point, we took shelter in the nearby snack hut and waited for a break in the deluge. When it came, I rattled off a stretch of four bogeys and a birdie. The respite was short, as the heavy rain soon returned. With it, came a stretch of two triple bogeys and a quintuple bogey. Yes, that's right, I said it again.
The rain eased up, but persisted in some form for the remainder of the round. In the lighter rain, I had a stretch that included three bogeys and a par. Clearly, I let the heavy rain bother me.
Looking back, it's amazing I escaped with a score of 106.
Score: 106
Par: 71
Putts: 40
Fairways: 2
Greens: 4
July 25, 2006
July 18, 2006
Personal Best at Deer Creek
Success in golf is a bit of a foreign concept to me, so I'm not entirely sure how to react following my latest round at Deer Creek Golf Club, located in Ajax, Ontario. Following most rounds, I usually have to dig deep for positive things to build on. This time, I don't have to look any further than my final score - 90!
That may not sound particularly impressive to a lot of golfers, but for one that has scored less than 100 only eight other times, it represents a massive accomplishment. The result is even more impressive when you consider that my previous best was a score of 95, set just three weeks earlier. To improve my personal best by five strokes over such a short period of time is infinitely rewarding.
Playing the Sapphire nine at Deer Creek, things got off to a good start. After opening up with three consecutive bogeys, followed by two pars, I could sense that the round might be special. I faltered somewhat on holes five through nine, but regained my composure and played inspired golf throughout the Emerald nine.
Driver, irons, chipping and putting were all working reasonably well. There were a few mistakes, but nothing terribly costly. If I could bottle up the ingredients that produced this result, I would save them for future rounds. Let's hope this is the first of many similar rounds to come.
WOOHOO!
Score: 90
Par: 71
Putts: 34
Fairways: 7
Greens: 5
That may not sound particularly impressive to a lot of golfers, but for one that has scored less than 100 only eight other times, it represents a massive accomplishment. The result is even more impressive when you consider that my previous best was a score of 95, set just three weeks earlier. To improve my personal best by five strokes over such a short period of time is infinitely rewarding.
Playing the Sapphire nine at Deer Creek, things got off to a good start. After opening up with three consecutive bogeys, followed by two pars, I could sense that the round might be special. I faltered somewhat on holes five through nine, but regained my composure and played inspired golf throughout the Emerald nine.
Driver, irons, chipping and putting were all working reasonably well. There were a few mistakes, but nothing terribly costly. If I could bottle up the ingredients that produced this result, I would save them for future rounds. Let's hope this is the first of many similar rounds to come.
WOOHOO!
Score: 90
Par: 71
Putts: 34
Fairways: 7
Greens: 5
July 12, 2006
Return to Kedron Dells
Last Sunday marked the date of my first repeat visit to a golf course this year. The scene was Kedron Dells Golf Club, which I last played in early June. My final score this time around was 107, an eleven stroke improvement over the previous visit. Still, I was less than satisfied. At this stage in my development, anything over 100 has to be considered a failure.
Much like my round the day before at Grey Silo Golf Course, it was a mix of good and bad. I made at least one nice shot on every hole. Unfortunately, I couldn't string three or four nice shots together on a consistent basis. The seventh hole, a 341-yard par-4, and the sixteenth hole, a 333-yard par-4, were the only ones that yielded a par.
My best hole may have been the eleventh, even though the result was bogey. At 557 yards, this par-5 is straight as an arrow, with out-of-bounds along the left side. A driver, followed by two 3-woods carried the ball to the green in regulation. Pin-high, but on the other side of the large green, it took three putts to hole out.
The gutsiest shot of the day was my second on the fifteenth hole, a 307-yard par-4 with a severe dogleg to the right. My tee shot travelled about 160 yards, landing in the right side of the fairway. Since the dogleg is so severe, that position did not allow me to go directly at the green, unless I shot over a meandering creek and some very tall trees. I wasn't in the mood for playing conservatively, so that is precisely what I tried. When the ball disappeared over the trees, it looked promising. Sure enough, the ball came to rest just a few feet in front of the green, which I discovered as I rounded the bend.
Kedron Dells has always been somewhat of a nemesis for me, but I feel like I'm on the verge of figuring it out. We'll see what happens next time.
Score: 107
Par: 71
Putts: 40
Fairways: 4
Greens: 2
Much like my round the day before at Grey Silo Golf Course, it was a mix of good and bad. I made at least one nice shot on every hole. Unfortunately, I couldn't string three or four nice shots together on a consistent basis. The seventh hole, a 341-yard par-4, and the sixteenth hole, a 333-yard par-4, were the only ones that yielded a par.
My best hole may have been the eleventh, even though the result was bogey. At 557 yards, this par-5 is straight as an arrow, with out-of-bounds along the left side. A driver, followed by two 3-woods carried the ball to the green in regulation. Pin-high, but on the other side of the large green, it took three putts to hole out.
The gutsiest shot of the day was my second on the fifteenth hole, a 307-yard par-4 with a severe dogleg to the right. My tee shot travelled about 160 yards, landing in the right side of the fairway. Since the dogleg is so severe, that position did not allow me to go directly at the green, unless I shot over a meandering creek and some very tall trees. I wasn't in the mood for playing conservatively, so that is precisely what I tried. When the ball disappeared over the trees, it looked promising. Sure enough, the ball came to rest just a few feet in front of the green, which I discovered as I rounded the bend.
Kedron Dells has always been somewhat of a nemesis for me, but I feel like I'm on the verge of figuring it out. We'll see what happens next time.
Score: 107
Par: 71
Putts: 40
Fairways: 4
Greens: 2
July 09, 2006
Streak Ends at Grey Silo
Back-to-back rounds of sub-100 golf hardly qualify as a streak, but given my struggles this year, I have no problem taking some descriptive license. This past Saturday, I quickly ended the streak with a final score of 107 at Grey Silo Golf Course, located in Waterloo, Ontario.
It was another first-time visit to a course, but I can no longer use that as an excuse for poor play. After all, my two best rounds this year were played at courses I had never visited before. Weather conditions were ideal and the course itself was immaculate. Kudos to the grounds staff for keeping it in great condition.
Out of eighteen holes, seven resulted in bogeys and seven more in double-bogeys. Two holes produced triple-bogeys, while one produced a quadruple-bogey. So, what about the remaining hole? If you're good at math, you've probably figured out that it wasn't a birdie or par. In fact, it was a disastrous six-over-par.
Since it would take too long to describe all eleven strokes taken on the 442-yard par-5, lets just say it included a drive pulled into the bushes, a penalty stroke, a few duffs, a greenside bunker shot that nearly made it back to Toronto, and some questionable chip shots.
As bad as that hole was, there were some excellent shots made throughout the day, mostly with the driver and 3-wood. That combination put me in great shape to reach the green in regulation on the fourth hole, a 496-yard par-5. Unfortunately, my sand wedge from 75 yards drifted left of target and it took a chip and two putts to walk away with bogey.
Generally speaking, short approach shots and poor chipping let me down all day. All too often, I wasted a great drive or second shot with a wayward approach from 75 to 100 yards away. Seven penalties on the day did not help either.
Score: 107
Par: 71
Putts: 37
Fairways: 7
Greens: 1
It was another first-time visit to a course, but I can no longer use that as an excuse for poor play. After all, my two best rounds this year were played at courses I had never visited before. Weather conditions were ideal and the course itself was immaculate. Kudos to the grounds staff for keeping it in great condition.
Out of eighteen holes, seven resulted in bogeys and seven more in double-bogeys. Two holes produced triple-bogeys, while one produced a quadruple-bogey. So, what about the remaining hole? If you're good at math, you've probably figured out that it wasn't a birdie or par. In fact, it was a disastrous six-over-par.
Since it would take too long to describe all eleven strokes taken on the 442-yard par-5, lets just say it included a drive pulled into the bushes, a penalty stroke, a few duffs, a greenside bunker shot that nearly made it back to Toronto, and some questionable chip shots.
As bad as that hole was, there were some excellent shots made throughout the day, mostly with the driver and 3-wood. That combination put me in great shape to reach the green in regulation on the fourth hole, a 496-yard par-5. Unfortunately, my sand wedge from 75 yards drifted left of target and it took a chip and two putts to walk away with bogey.
Generally speaking, short approach shots and poor chipping let me down all day. All too often, I wasted a great drive or second shot with a wayward approach from 75 to 100 yards away. Seven penalties on the day did not help either.
Score: 107
Par: 71
Putts: 37
Fairways: 7
Greens: 1
July 03, 2006
More Nineties at Ballantrae
Maples of Ballantrae, located in Stouffville, Ontario, was the scene of my most recent golfing exploits during the Canada Day long weekend. On the heels of a best ever 95 at BraeBen Golf Course, the positive streak continued with a 97, good enough to tie for my third best score ever.
The round got off to a lucky start on the first hole, a 323-yard par-4 that requires an opening drive over a pond to a narrow fairway cut through deep woods. My tee shot cleared the water, but drifted right to the wrong side of the trees. An opening in the trees presented a clear path back to the fairway, but I launched the ensuing pitching wedge clear across the short grass. Fortunately, I hit a tree trunk dead on, and the ball bounced straight back into the fairway. After a lovely pitching wedge to the green and a nice putt, I actually saved par.
The next hole of note was the twelfth, a 362-yard par-4. My drive off the tee was straight, but only travelled 185 yards, as it popped high into the air. However, my next two shots were things of beauty. Gripping my 4-iron, I stood over the ball and launched a perfect shot to the centre of the green, 177 yards away. Next, I rolled a 15-foot putt into the centre of the cup for a textbook birdie, only my third of the year.
The 16th hole, a 444-yard par-5, also featured a fabulous shot with the 4-iron. After popping another drive straight into the air and chunking a 3-wood, I was right of the fairway, 180 yards away from the green. Trees prevented me from taking dead aim at the center of the green, so I set my sights on the left edge. With the 4-iron in hand, I launched a shot right on target. The ball came to rest on the left fringe and two putts later, I had salvaged par.
The only adventures of the day occurred on the final two holes. The 17th hole, in my opinion, is the toughest on the course. Golfers have to make two perfect shots to reach the green in regulation, as the entire length of the fairway is lined by thick woods on both sides. I could not avoid the trees and finished with a quadruple bogey.
The 18th hole is a 162-yard par-3 over a large pond. Standing on the tee box, I could not help but think of my opening round of the year at Banty's Roost, where two consecutive shots into the water on the final hole turned a sure sub-100 round into a 102. It was a bad thought to have, as I proceeded to plunk one right into the drink. Luckily, my second attempt made it over. Though I finished with a triple bogey, I walked away with the real prize -- another round in the nineties.
Things are looking good.
Score: 97
Par: 72
Putts: 32
Fairways: 5
Greens: 1
The round got off to a lucky start on the first hole, a 323-yard par-4 that requires an opening drive over a pond to a narrow fairway cut through deep woods. My tee shot cleared the water, but drifted right to the wrong side of the trees. An opening in the trees presented a clear path back to the fairway, but I launched the ensuing pitching wedge clear across the short grass. Fortunately, I hit a tree trunk dead on, and the ball bounced straight back into the fairway. After a lovely pitching wedge to the green and a nice putt, I actually saved par.
The next hole of note was the twelfth, a 362-yard par-4. My drive off the tee was straight, but only travelled 185 yards, as it popped high into the air. However, my next two shots were things of beauty. Gripping my 4-iron, I stood over the ball and launched a perfect shot to the centre of the green, 177 yards away. Next, I rolled a 15-foot putt into the centre of the cup for a textbook birdie, only my third of the year.
The 16th hole, a 444-yard par-5, also featured a fabulous shot with the 4-iron. After popping another drive straight into the air and chunking a 3-wood, I was right of the fairway, 180 yards away from the green. Trees prevented me from taking dead aim at the center of the green, so I set my sights on the left edge. With the 4-iron in hand, I launched a shot right on target. The ball came to rest on the left fringe and two putts later, I had salvaged par.
The only adventures of the day occurred on the final two holes. The 17th hole, in my opinion, is the toughest on the course. Golfers have to make two perfect shots to reach the green in regulation, as the entire length of the fairway is lined by thick woods on both sides. I could not avoid the trees and finished with a quadruple bogey.
The 18th hole is a 162-yard par-3 over a large pond. Standing on the tee box, I could not help but think of my opening round of the year at Banty's Roost, where two consecutive shots into the water on the final hole turned a sure sub-100 round into a 102. It was a bad thought to have, as I proceeded to plunk one right into the drink. Luckily, my second attempt made it over. Though I finished with a triple bogey, I walked away with the real prize -- another round in the nineties.
Things are looking good.
Score: 97
Par: 72
Putts: 32
Fairways: 5
Greens: 1
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