It was another Duffer's Dream event, this time at Cambridge Golf Club, located in Cambridge, Ontario. The course is relatively easy, featuring flat terrain, straight fairways, and few hazards. Bunkering provides some challenge near the greens, while the fairways are lined with a spattering of trees. Out of bounds is in play on nearly half the holes, but the fairways are so generous that it should not be a problem. Five par-5 holes and five par-3 holes lend some variety.
Despite the easy nature of the course, I could not get into the groove. Mediocre chips and bad putting led to double-bogeys on holes three through five. Before that, I was doing OK with a pair of bogeys on the first two holes.
I exploded for a quadruple bogey on hole #6 after an errant tee shot. The ball came to rest right under a pine tree - the kind where the lowest branches touch the ground. I tried to punch the ball out to the fairway, but only made it about half way there. Still shooting from among the trees, I tried to cut a shot through an opening, but missed badly. I was once again under a pine tree and had to chip out sideways. My final approach to the green was decent, but off the green by a couple of yards. I then skulled a chip shot, before 2-putting to end the misery.
I made par on the seventh hole, a short par-3 measuring 134 yards, but followed up with a triple bogey on hole #8, a par-5 measuring 452 yards. I hit a decent drive, but was in the rough. Trying to drive the green from 210 yards out, I was unable to get the ball cleanly out of the long grass. Switching to a different club, I managed to get back in the fairway, but still a long way from the green. When my final approach landed in a greenside bunker, things got worse. I launched the ball to the other side of the green, requiring a chip and two putts to hole out. I bogeyed the ninth hole, which could have been par with better chipping and putting.
After some trouble on the tenth hole, the back nine was a little better than the front. I didn't realize the right side of the tenth fairway was bounded by the driving range - I hit my ball in that direction and it faded out of bounds. It all led to another triple-bogey. From that point on, I averaged bogey golf, with a bunch of bogeys and a couple of double-bogeys, offset by a couple of pars. The main problem continued to be suspect chipping and poor putting. I hit a couple poor drives as well, but they did not do as much damage as the putting did.
I am thirty games into the season and my handicap has not changed. It's disappointing.
Score: 101
Par: 72
Putts: 42
Fairways: 4
Greens: 4
August 26, 2008
August 19, 2008
Deepwoods Field Destroyed at Oakridge
The greens were hard, dry, and much too fast as the Deepwoods Tour paid a visit to Oakridge Golf Club, located in Port Perry, Ontario. When you hit a sand wedge high into a green, you expect the ball to stick, maybe even spin back. On this day, those approaches were bouncing off the back of the green, with nary a ball mark to be found. With the greens in this condition, you expect the pin placements to be a little forgiving. No such luck. Many of the pins were on ridges or severe slopes. It all added up to nasty scores for most competitors.
My problems came on the first four holes. Only one of these involved a 3-putt, and surprisingly that was the one that produced the best result - a double-bogey. It was the third hole, a par-4 measuring 377 yards. I hit a 3-wood from the elevated tee, just clearing a bunker on the left side of the fairway. When I approached the landing zone, I was surprised not to find my ball in the rough. It must have bounced in the fairway, since I found it up about 40 yards, just inside a hazard on the right side of the fairway. I was forced to take a drop. From 100 yards out, my approach shot bounced twice in front of the green and amazingly continued to roll all the way to the back of it. It was that kind of day.
Problems at the start of the round were numerous. I topped a couple of attempted shots with the 3-wood. I caught a couple of bunker shots extremely thin, picking the ball clean when I wanted to catch all sand. Both of these errors may have been caused by shifting or lifting my head before impact. I also had a horrible hook to many of my iron shots. This is a new phenomenon for me, so it caught me off guard. I think the problem is one of tempo, when I get too quick on the downswing. Even after I reminded myself to swing fluidly and easily, I often came down too fast on the downswing. On three or four occasions, I solved the tempo problem and the results were much better. I also got quick with the driver a couple of times, which resulted in a straight pull.
With the exception of one hole, I averaged bogey golf on the back nine. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late. I did manage to get closest to the pin on hole #13, a par-3 measuring 144 yards, so at least I won a consolation prize. Nobody on the tour scored well at this round, so I'm still in the hunt for the championship, which will be decided at Willow Valley Golf Club in early September.
Bring it on!
Score: 109
Par: 71
Putts: 41
Fairways: 4
Greens: 5
My problems came on the first four holes. Only one of these involved a 3-putt, and surprisingly that was the one that produced the best result - a double-bogey. It was the third hole, a par-4 measuring 377 yards. I hit a 3-wood from the elevated tee, just clearing a bunker on the left side of the fairway. When I approached the landing zone, I was surprised not to find my ball in the rough. It must have bounced in the fairway, since I found it up about 40 yards, just inside a hazard on the right side of the fairway. I was forced to take a drop. From 100 yards out, my approach shot bounced twice in front of the green and amazingly continued to roll all the way to the back of it. It was that kind of day.
Problems at the start of the round were numerous. I topped a couple of attempted shots with the 3-wood. I caught a couple of bunker shots extremely thin, picking the ball clean when I wanted to catch all sand. Both of these errors may have been caused by shifting or lifting my head before impact. I also had a horrible hook to many of my iron shots. This is a new phenomenon for me, so it caught me off guard. I think the problem is one of tempo, when I get too quick on the downswing. Even after I reminded myself to swing fluidly and easily, I often came down too fast on the downswing. On three or four occasions, I solved the tempo problem and the results were much better. I also got quick with the driver a couple of times, which resulted in a straight pull.
With the exception of one hole, I averaged bogey golf on the back nine. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late. I did manage to get closest to the pin on hole #13, a par-3 measuring 144 yards, so at least I won a consolation prize. Nobody on the tour scored well at this round, so I'm still in the hunt for the championship, which will be decided at Willow Valley Golf Club in early September.
Bring it on!
Score: 109
Par: 71
Putts: 41
Fairways: 4
Greens: 5
August 15, 2008
Charity Tournament at Crosswinds
I drove through a short, but fierce, rainstorm to get to a charity tournament at Crosswinds Golf & Country Club. Playing the ever-popular scramble format, my team did not have a great performance, but we did have a great time, which is what really matters. We actually took home the "Most Honest Golfers" award, which as you may know, is traditionally given to the team that finishes in last place. :D
As far as my individual game went, something very peculiar happened. I was driving the ball amazingly well, but struggling with my short irons. I didn't keep track of the fairways hit, but there were many, probably twice as many as I usually hit. It's too bad then, that I duffed a few short iron shots and hooked a few others. It was weird. However, I am not too worried. I think I can fix that fairly easily.
My next round is a Deepwoods event at Oakridge Golf Club. I'm near the top of the leaderboard, so I need a good round to put some pressure on my competitors.
As far as my individual game went, something very peculiar happened. I was driving the ball amazingly well, but struggling with my short irons. I didn't keep track of the fairways hit, but there were many, probably twice as many as I usually hit. It's too bad then, that I duffed a few short iron shots and hooked a few others. It was weird. However, I am not too worried. I think I can fix that fairly easily.
My next round is a Deepwoods event at Oakridge Golf Club. I'm near the top of the leaderboard, so I need a good round to put some pressure on my competitors.
August 11, 2008
Winning Duffer at Delightful King's Forest
I had the lowest net score in round seven of the Duffer's Dream Tour, which was held at King's Forest Golf Club. This was my second victory on the tour. More later.
It was my first visit ever to King's Forest and I thoroughly enjoyed the course. I'm a bit of a sucker for older parkland style courses, as they seem to arouse a certain degree of nostalgia. I can imagine players enjoying these types of courses in simpler times, when the golf industry wasn't quite the behemoth it is today.
I opened the round with a par on the first hole, a 432-yard par-4. I found out later that no one else in the field managed to score par on this particular hole. My drive from the elevated tee came to rest a few feet into the right rough. From there, I hit a pure 6-iron that landed softly on the green, pin-high. I made a nice lag putt and a tap-in for the textbook par.
Criss crossing over the rushing river, I played the next three holes fairly well. I did extremely well to save bogey on the third hole, after starting with a pulled 3-wood of the tee and a punch shot that bounded right across the width of the fairway. A strongly pulled 4-iron on the fifth hole, a 203-yard par-3, was responsible for a triple-bogey. Fortunately, this was the only triple of the day. I closed out the front nine with four consecutive bogeys, as I hit decent drives, approach shots, chips and putts. Bogey golf seems so easy when one can avoid major mistakes.
I got unlucky on the tenth hole, as I striped my drive down the middle of the fairway, but ended up with a bad lie for my second shot. The fairway slopes quite severely from right to left. My second shot hit a pine cone on the left side of the fairway and deflected into the rough. All of this led to a double bogey. No worries however, as I settled into another groove where I played bogey golf for the next seven holes. This included a par on hole #17, a par-3 measuring 168 yards. My tee shot landed on the green and I had a very good run at the birdie opportunity. Unfortunately, the ball was one rotation short of going in the cup.
I played the par-5 eighteenth hole quite well, hitting a solid drive and advancing the ball with my second shot to the 150-yard marker. I caught my approach shot a tiny bit fat, which worked out poorly because of the soggy condition of the fairway. It seemed I was headed toward par, but I had to settle for a double bogey.
Still, it was enough to collect the low net score and walk away with victory.
Score: 95
Par: 72
Putts: 36
Fairways: 5
Greens: 4
It was my first visit ever to King's Forest and I thoroughly enjoyed the course. I'm a bit of a sucker for older parkland style courses, as they seem to arouse a certain degree of nostalgia. I can imagine players enjoying these types of courses in simpler times, when the golf industry wasn't quite the behemoth it is today.
I opened the round with a par on the first hole, a 432-yard par-4. I found out later that no one else in the field managed to score par on this particular hole. My drive from the elevated tee came to rest a few feet into the right rough. From there, I hit a pure 6-iron that landed softly on the green, pin-high. I made a nice lag putt and a tap-in for the textbook par.
Criss crossing over the rushing river, I played the next three holes fairly well. I did extremely well to save bogey on the third hole, after starting with a pulled 3-wood of the tee and a punch shot that bounded right across the width of the fairway. A strongly pulled 4-iron on the fifth hole, a 203-yard par-3, was responsible for a triple-bogey. Fortunately, this was the only triple of the day. I closed out the front nine with four consecutive bogeys, as I hit decent drives, approach shots, chips and putts. Bogey golf seems so easy when one can avoid major mistakes.
I got unlucky on the tenth hole, as I striped my drive down the middle of the fairway, but ended up with a bad lie for my second shot. The fairway slopes quite severely from right to left. My second shot hit a pine cone on the left side of the fairway and deflected into the rough. All of this led to a double bogey. No worries however, as I settled into another groove where I played bogey golf for the next seven holes. This included a par on hole #17, a par-3 measuring 168 yards. My tee shot landed on the green and I had a very good run at the birdie opportunity. Unfortunately, the ball was one rotation short of going in the cup.
I played the par-5 eighteenth hole quite well, hitting a solid drive and advancing the ball with my second shot to the 150-yard marker. I caught my approach shot a tiny bit fat, which worked out poorly because of the soggy condition of the fairway. It seemed I was headed toward par, but I had to settle for a double bogey.
Still, it was enough to collect the low net score and walk away with victory.
Score: 95
Par: 72
Putts: 36
Fairways: 5
Greens: 4
Hot Start at Granite Ridge
It was pouring rain when I pulled out of the garage, but the only moisture I had to deal with at Granite Ridge was that which had already fallen on the course. Playing the Cobalt Course, I got off to a good start on the front nine. The stretch included two pars, five bogeys, and two double-bogeys, for a score of 45. The pars came on two of the three greens that I hit in regulation. One of these was a 139-yard par-3, the other a short par-4 measuring 275 yards. The double-bogeys came on a 313-yard par-4 and a par-5 stretching out to 490 yards. I was pulling shots slightly with the driver, but managing to recover. I fared better off the tee on the shorter holes, where I used a 3-wood or an iron. Approach shots were quite good, with just a couple of miscues. The fairways were soggy in certain areas, which probably cost me a couple of strokes. Putting was solid, though not spectacular. I made a lone 3-putt on the fifth hole, a par-3 at 139 yards.
Earlier in the year, I shot a 46 on the back nine at Cobalt, so I really felt like I could take a run at breaking 90. Questions emerged on the eleventh hole, when I topped two tee shots in a row with the 3-wood. This was surprising, since I had been hitting that club well and feeling good with it. I managed to limit the damage to triple-bogey. A double-bogey on the fourteenth hole was disappointing, since my approach shot was rolling right to the front of the green, only to stop dead in some standing water. A 3-putt didn't help. My real undoing however, was on the fifteenth hole. The hardest of the holes on Cobalt's back nine, it is quite unforgiving. The entire right side is out of bounds on this 534-yard par-5. On the left side, marshy areas cover virtually the entire length. I succumbed to the hazards multiple times en route to shooting an abysmal five over par. The 3-wood, 3-iron, and putter all failed me.
I made a nice par on the sixteenth hole, a 130-yard par-3, but then spoiled breaking 100 on the par-4, 351-yard seventeenth hole. My tee shot was short, but in the fairway. I caught my next shot fat, but the ball was still in the fairway, 130 yards away from the green. I took a practice swing with my 9-iron and it felt amazingly good. I know it's only a practice swing, but this swing was so easy and fluid. My playing partner even commented how good the practice swing looked. It's hard to explain therefore, what happened next. I think I threw the club head at the ball, rather than making a committed swing. The club face was open and the ball went waaay to the right, only a short distance. This shot really damaged my concentration. I calculated the distance on my next shot as 100 yards, but then proceeded to hit a full pitching wedge, which for me is 120 yards. I ended up taking a quadruple bogey. I played the eighteenth hole well, but bogey was only good enough to score 100.
Disappointing score for sure, but if I disregard hole #15 and hole #17, I quite like how I played.
Score: 100
Par: 72
Putts: 38
Fairways: 5
Greens: 4
Earlier in the year, I shot a 46 on the back nine at Cobalt, so I really felt like I could take a run at breaking 90. Questions emerged on the eleventh hole, when I topped two tee shots in a row with the 3-wood. This was surprising, since I had been hitting that club well and feeling good with it. I managed to limit the damage to triple-bogey. A double-bogey on the fourteenth hole was disappointing, since my approach shot was rolling right to the front of the green, only to stop dead in some standing water. A 3-putt didn't help. My real undoing however, was on the fifteenth hole. The hardest of the holes on Cobalt's back nine, it is quite unforgiving. The entire right side is out of bounds on this 534-yard par-5. On the left side, marshy areas cover virtually the entire length. I succumbed to the hazards multiple times en route to shooting an abysmal five over par. The 3-wood, 3-iron, and putter all failed me.
I made a nice par on the sixteenth hole, a 130-yard par-3, but then spoiled breaking 100 on the par-4, 351-yard seventeenth hole. My tee shot was short, but in the fairway. I caught my next shot fat, but the ball was still in the fairway, 130 yards away from the green. I took a practice swing with my 9-iron and it felt amazingly good. I know it's only a practice swing, but this swing was so easy and fluid. My playing partner even commented how good the practice swing looked. It's hard to explain therefore, what happened next. I think I threw the club head at the ball, rather than making a committed swing. The club face was open and the ball went waaay to the right, only a short distance. This shot really damaged my concentration. I calculated the distance on my next shot as 100 yards, but then proceeded to hit a full pitching wedge, which for me is 120 yards. I ended up taking a quadruple bogey. I played the eighteenth hole well, but bogey was only good enough to score 100.
Disappointing score for sure, but if I disregard hole #15 and hole #17, I quite like how I played.
Score: 100
Par: 72
Putts: 38
Fairways: 5
Greens: 4
August 09, 2008
Carrying Place Round Cut Short by Rain
A record amount of rain has fallen in Toronto and many parts of southern Ontario this summer. Despite the heavier than usual rainfall, I have managed to complete all of my golf rounds, with only one significant delay. That was not the case today, as thunderstorms blanketed the entire GTA. I was able to squeeze only eight holes in at Carrying Place Golf & Country Club before thunder and lightning put an end to the soggy outing.
Before the round began at Carrying Place, I spent an hour on the driving range at Cardinal Golf Club, just up the road. It was time well spent, as I got a chance to work on all my clubs, from pitching wedge to driver. The scoring irons (PW to 7-iron) were working very well. I focused almost exclusively on tempo, trying to keep a nice fluid rhythm to my swing. The low irons (6-iron to 3-iron) were not bad, but I was pulling a higher percentage of shots with them, which seems to be my current tendency. Whenever I got the tempo just right with these clubs, the shots straightened out nicely. This is encouraging, because it confirms that a tempo adjustment is all I really need to drastically improve my shot-making. The same observation was made with the fairway woods. I finished up hitting about twenty shots with the driver, but I just could not find the groove with it.
By the time I teed off on the first hole at Carrying Place, the rain was coming down and grey skies loomed all around, so the round was clearly in jeopardy. I hit a poor drive short and to the left rough. The first hole was recently rebuilt, and with all the rain this year, the new rough is extremely lush. I had a hard time getting out of it, and when I finally did, I was in the large bunker that borders the right side of the green. I also had a hard time getting out of the bunker, but when I finally did, I stuck the ball within a couple feet of the hole. I one-putted for a quadruple bogey. Momentum was down.
On the second hole, a 340-yard dogleg right, I hit a good 3-iron off the tee. The ball rolled through the end of the fairway at the dogleg, about three feet into the rough. Thankfully, this rough was not as lush as on the first hole, so I was in good shape. From 150 yards out, I hit a 7-iron to a good distance, but just right of the green, into a bunker. I made a very nice out and two-putted for bogey. Momentum was up.
On the third hole, a 383-yard par-4, I pulled my drive slightly, but got a nice bounce off a mound on the left side of the fairway. The ball came to rest in the middle of the fairway, 157 yards away from the green. I hit a 7-iron to a good distance, but pulled it just into a hazard. After taking a drop, I found myself facing a tricky chip shot, since I was short-sided and had little green to work with. My chip came up about three feet short and got hung up near the green collar. I was forced to chip again, then two-putted for a triple-bogey. Momentum was back down.
On the fourth hole, a 321-yard par-4, I opted for 3-wood off the tee. I hit it low and to the right side of the fairway. It could have ended in the rough, but it caught a bit of a slope and came to rest in the middle of the fairway, 135 yards away from the green. The pin was in the back, so I attacked with an 8-iron. Once again, distance was good, but the ball travelled just right of target, ending in yet another bunker. I hit a good out to the back of the green and finished with a solid two-putt for bogey. Momentum was back up.
On the fifth hole, also Carrying Place's most difficult, things got very interesting. Players must hit their tee shots 190 yards to this par-3 almost entirely over water. I went with a 5-wood and the distance was good. Unfortunately, I pulled it slightly left of the green and was in danger of being out of bounds. When I found my ball, it was still in bounds, but directly beneath a pine tree. The next shot was the shot of the day. Using a 3-wood, because it has a longer shaft that could help me reach the ball under the pine tree, I punched a low shot in the direction of the flag. I couldn't see anything because of the pine branches, but my playing partner told me the ball rolled an inch by the edge of the hole. It stopped at a point three or four feet past the hole, from which I calmly drained the par putt. Momentum was still up.
On the sixth hole, I pulled my drive left of the fairway and was once again at the base of a pine tree. I had less success punching out with the 3-wood this time. After punching out, I played a baby pitch shot back to the fairway, about 150 yards away from the green. Since the approach was uphill, I added an extra club than I would normally play with, going with a 6-iron. Distance was again good, but again I pulled it slightly into a bunker. I barely had enough room in the bunker to take a stance, but I established my footing and hit a good out. My first putt lipped out, so I needed another to complete the triple-bogey. Momentum was down again.
On the seventh hole, a par-3 measuring 164 yards, I hit a 7-iron from the elevated tee. The distance was good, but the shot was pulled slightly. That's OK on this hole, since right of the green is all water. I made a delicate chip shot, then a long uphill putt to save par. Momentum was up again.
On the eighth hole, a par-5, the rain came down harder than it had on the previous holes. My drive found the rough just left of the fairway. Next, I hit a 6-iron in the direction of the 150-yard marker. Of course, it veered further left than I wanted and I was still a few feet into the left rough. I payed the penalty on my next shot, as the lush rough made it difficult to reach the green. I was only able to get the ball back in the fairway. From 95 yards out, I caught the ball too fat and it only travelled half the desired distance. My next chip shot was exactly as I planned it, but the ball died on the first bounce in front of the green. I had a very long putt and made a nice job of it. Unfortunately, with the thunder beginning, I required two more to hole out for a triple bogey. Momentum was down yet again.
It may sound like an up and down round, but I was playing with an even keel all the way through. The holes with the big scores weren't really bothering me, since I was making some good shots at the same time. I had the feeling that I could get better as the round progressed, but the rain and thunderstorm took away that chance.
If I put the score aside, I like the way I was playing. My approach shots were always the right distance, just a fraction off line. I made three or four nice sand shots. I one-putted four of eight holes. My driver was not good, but it wasn't killing me. This is one to build on, for sure.
Score: 46
Par: 31
Putts: 13
Fairways: 3
Greens: 0
NOTE: stats are for holes 1-8 only
Before the round began at Carrying Place, I spent an hour on the driving range at Cardinal Golf Club, just up the road. It was time well spent, as I got a chance to work on all my clubs, from pitching wedge to driver. The scoring irons (PW to 7-iron) were working very well. I focused almost exclusively on tempo, trying to keep a nice fluid rhythm to my swing. The low irons (6-iron to 3-iron) were not bad, but I was pulling a higher percentage of shots with them, which seems to be my current tendency. Whenever I got the tempo just right with these clubs, the shots straightened out nicely. This is encouraging, because it confirms that a tempo adjustment is all I really need to drastically improve my shot-making. The same observation was made with the fairway woods. I finished up hitting about twenty shots with the driver, but I just could not find the groove with it.
By the time I teed off on the first hole at Carrying Place, the rain was coming down and grey skies loomed all around, so the round was clearly in jeopardy. I hit a poor drive short and to the left rough. The first hole was recently rebuilt, and with all the rain this year, the new rough is extremely lush. I had a hard time getting out of it, and when I finally did, I was in the large bunker that borders the right side of the green. I also had a hard time getting out of the bunker, but when I finally did, I stuck the ball within a couple feet of the hole. I one-putted for a quadruple bogey. Momentum was down.
On the second hole, a 340-yard dogleg right, I hit a good 3-iron off the tee. The ball rolled through the end of the fairway at the dogleg, about three feet into the rough. Thankfully, this rough was not as lush as on the first hole, so I was in good shape. From 150 yards out, I hit a 7-iron to a good distance, but just right of the green, into a bunker. I made a very nice out and two-putted for bogey. Momentum was up.
On the third hole, a 383-yard par-4, I pulled my drive slightly, but got a nice bounce off a mound on the left side of the fairway. The ball came to rest in the middle of the fairway, 157 yards away from the green. I hit a 7-iron to a good distance, but pulled it just into a hazard. After taking a drop, I found myself facing a tricky chip shot, since I was short-sided and had little green to work with. My chip came up about three feet short and got hung up near the green collar. I was forced to chip again, then two-putted for a triple-bogey. Momentum was back down.
On the fourth hole, a 321-yard par-4, I opted for 3-wood off the tee. I hit it low and to the right side of the fairway. It could have ended in the rough, but it caught a bit of a slope and came to rest in the middle of the fairway, 135 yards away from the green. The pin was in the back, so I attacked with an 8-iron. Once again, distance was good, but the ball travelled just right of target, ending in yet another bunker. I hit a good out to the back of the green and finished with a solid two-putt for bogey. Momentum was back up.
On the fifth hole, also Carrying Place's most difficult, things got very interesting. Players must hit their tee shots 190 yards to this par-3 almost entirely over water. I went with a 5-wood and the distance was good. Unfortunately, I pulled it slightly left of the green and was in danger of being out of bounds. When I found my ball, it was still in bounds, but directly beneath a pine tree. The next shot was the shot of the day. Using a 3-wood, because it has a longer shaft that could help me reach the ball under the pine tree, I punched a low shot in the direction of the flag. I couldn't see anything because of the pine branches, but my playing partner told me the ball rolled an inch by the edge of the hole. It stopped at a point three or four feet past the hole, from which I calmly drained the par putt. Momentum was still up.
On the sixth hole, I pulled my drive left of the fairway and was once again at the base of a pine tree. I had less success punching out with the 3-wood this time. After punching out, I played a baby pitch shot back to the fairway, about 150 yards away from the green. Since the approach was uphill, I added an extra club than I would normally play with, going with a 6-iron. Distance was again good, but again I pulled it slightly into a bunker. I barely had enough room in the bunker to take a stance, but I established my footing and hit a good out. My first putt lipped out, so I needed another to complete the triple-bogey. Momentum was down again.
On the seventh hole, a par-3 measuring 164 yards, I hit a 7-iron from the elevated tee. The distance was good, but the shot was pulled slightly. That's OK on this hole, since right of the green is all water. I made a delicate chip shot, then a long uphill putt to save par. Momentum was up again.
On the eighth hole, a par-5, the rain came down harder than it had on the previous holes. My drive found the rough just left of the fairway. Next, I hit a 6-iron in the direction of the 150-yard marker. Of course, it veered further left than I wanted and I was still a few feet into the left rough. I payed the penalty on my next shot, as the lush rough made it difficult to reach the green. I was only able to get the ball back in the fairway. From 95 yards out, I caught the ball too fat and it only travelled half the desired distance. My next chip shot was exactly as I planned it, but the ball died on the first bounce in front of the green. I had a very long putt and made a nice job of it. Unfortunately, with the thunder beginning, I required two more to hole out for a triple bogey. Momentum was down yet again.
It may sound like an up and down round, but I was playing with an even keel all the way through. The holes with the big scores weren't really bothering me, since I was making some good shots at the same time. I had the feeling that I could get better as the round progressed, but the rain and thunderstorm took away that chance.
If I put the score aside, I like the way I was playing. My approach shots were always the right distance, just a fraction off line. I made three or four nice sand shots. I one-putted four of eight holes. My driver was not good, but it wasn't killing me. This is one to build on, for sure.
Score: 46
Par: 31
Putts: 13
Fairways: 3
Greens: 0
NOTE: stats are for holes 1-8 only
August 04, 2008
Gutting it Out at Deer Creek
For the second consecutive day, I had to grind hard to break one hundred. This time, it was on the South Course at Deer Creek. I got off to an abysmal start that lasted for six long holes. Fortunately, I got on track after that.
On the first hole, I duffed my tee shot and plunked the ball in the pond immediately in front of the tee box. My approach to the green with a sand wedge drifted under a pine tree. Those were the two worst shots en route to a quadruple-bogey. On hole #2, my tee shot went way right, into the hazard. A disastrous triple-bogey ensued. Double-bogey was the result on hole #4, a 137-yard par-3 to a green surrounded by water on three sides. I hit an 8-iron the correct distance, but pulled it left of the green, into the water. On hole #5, a simple par-4 with little danger, I could not hit any clubs correctly. I tallied yet another quad there.
Despite the horrific start, I was still in the game mentally. Usually, that kind of start is enough to send me off the deep end for the rest of a round. On the seventh hole, a 502-yard par-5, the turnaround began. I hit a straight drive into the middle of the fairway, followed by a mediocre 3-wood to the first cut on the left side of the fairway. A pitching wedge from 100 yards put me reasonably close to the hole. I missed the birdie putt, but tapped in for par. On the eighth hole, a par-3 that was playing about 160 yards, I hit my tee shot to within 10 feet of the cup. I proceeded to drain the putt for a rare birdie. I closed out the front nine with another par, leaving me with a score of 51 at the turn.
The back nine was much more consistent, as I completed it with no worse than double-bogey on any hole. One of those, which happened to come on the fourteenth hole, was particularly painful. Measuring 545 yards, this par-5 is quite a good test. I found the fairway with my drive, hit a 3-iron to the fairway, and nailed the green with a 9-iron. I had a very long putt and hit it with the perfect weight, but was about 7 feet right of the target. My next putt was decent, but it burned the edge and travelled a little too far past the hole. Sure enough, I missed the next one! I was on the green in regulation, but 4-putted for the dreaded double-bogey. This could have been a momentum killer, but I just put it out of my mind. I moved on to the next hole and closed out the round going bogey, par, bogey, bogey. The last hole should have been a par, as I missed a straight two-footer.
Overall, the round was not great. However, I was pleased with my mental fortitude and the fact that I did not let a bad start destroy the whole round.
Score: 97
Par: 71
Putts: 37
Fairways: 5
Greens: 6
On the first hole, I duffed my tee shot and plunked the ball in the pond immediately in front of the tee box. My approach to the green with a sand wedge drifted under a pine tree. Those were the two worst shots en route to a quadruple-bogey. On hole #2, my tee shot went way right, into the hazard. A disastrous triple-bogey ensued. Double-bogey was the result on hole #4, a 137-yard par-3 to a green surrounded by water on three sides. I hit an 8-iron the correct distance, but pulled it left of the green, into the water. On hole #5, a simple par-4 with little danger, I could not hit any clubs correctly. I tallied yet another quad there.
Despite the horrific start, I was still in the game mentally. Usually, that kind of start is enough to send me off the deep end for the rest of a round. On the seventh hole, a 502-yard par-5, the turnaround began. I hit a straight drive into the middle of the fairway, followed by a mediocre 3-wood to the first cut on the left side of the fairway. A pitching wedge from 100 yards put me reasonably close to the hole. I missed the birdie putt, but tapped in for par. On the eighth hole, a par-3 that was playing about 160 yards, I hit my tee shot to within 10 feet of the cup. I proceeded to drain the putt for a rare birdie. I closed out the front nine with another par, leaving me with a score of 51 at the turn.
The back nine was much more consistent, as I completed it with no worse than double-bogey on any hole. One of those, which happened to come on the fourteenth hole, was particularly painful. Measuring 545 yards, this par-5 is quite a good test. I found the fairway with my drive, hit a 3-iron to the fairway, and nailed the green with a 9-iron. I had a very long putt and hit it with the perfect weight, but was about 7 feet right of the target. My next putt was decent, but it burned the edge and travelled a little too far past the hole. Sure enough, I missed the next one! I was on the green in regulation, but 4-putted for the dreaded double-bogey. This could have been a momentum killer, but I just put it out of my mind. I moved on to the next hole and closed out the round going bogey, par, bogey, bogey. The last hole should have been a par, as I missed a straight two-footer.
Overall, the round was not great. However, I was pleased with my mental fortitude and the fact that I did not let a bad start destroy the whole round.
Score: 97
Par: 71
Putts: 37
Fairways: 5
Greens: 6
August 03, 2008
Barely Holding on at Hornby Glen
It was Sunday of the long weekend and a great day for golf. Playing at Hornby Glen, I enjoyed the outing quite a bit, even though my game was far from spectacular.
I hit the first two greens in regulation, but 3-putted the first hole and 4-putted the second. I also 3-putted the fourth and fifth holes. The greens were absolutely eating me up! I played Hornby Glen quite a few times over the past few years, but the greens had never been this fast. Lacking any major impediments other than the occasional long rough, maybe the staff decided slicker greens was the way to go.
The speed of the greens came into play on a number of my chip attempts. I found myself short-sided quite a few times, with two options. The first option was to land the chip shot in the rough or fringe just before the green. If executed perfectly, the ball would take one bounce in the rough or fringe and decelerate just enough to finish somewhere near the hole. The second option was to fly the ball safely to the green, accepting the fact that it would probably finish somewhere past the hole. I chose the second option every time, which I still think was the right decision. I was amazed however at how far the ball rolled on the greens after landing. It was unbelievable. In some cases, I rolled right off the other side.
I did manage a couple of pars on holes six and eight, a par-5 and par-3 respectively. The drive on #6 was particularly satisfying, as it travelled about 285 yards downwind. After nine holes, I was shooting 50.
My putting got a little better on the back nine, but I still amassed a couple of 3-putts on holes twelve and eighteen. The first putt on #12 was a downhill one that kept going, and going, and going. The first one on #18 was an uphill one that was struck a tad too firm.
I played more controlled golf on the back nine, but the result was almost the same. A triple bogey thanks to a lost tee shot on hole #15 was the only real wild moment. Unfortunately, there were also no pars to be had.
I needed three consecutive bogeys to break 100, so at least I managed to salvage that. Had I added just a single more stroke, it would have been devastating.
Score: 99
Par: 72
Putts: 42
Fairways: 2
Greens: 5
I hit the first two greens in regulation, but 3-putted the first hole and 4-putted the second. I also 3-putted the fourth and fifth holes. The greens were absolutely eating me up! I played Hornby Glen quite a few times over the past few years, but the greens had never been this fast. Lacking any major impediments other than the occasional long rough, maybe the staff decided slicker greens was the way to go.
The speed of the greens came into play on a number of my chip attempts. I found myself short-sided quite a few times, with two options. The first option was to land the chip shot in the rough or fringe just before the green. If executed perfectly, the ball would take one bounce in the rough or fringe and decelerate just enough to finish somewhere near the hole. The second option was to fly the ball safely to the green, accepting the fact that it would probably finish somewhere past the hole. I chose the second option every time, which I still think was the right decision. I was amazed however at how far the ball rolled on the greens after landing. It was unbelievable. In some cases, I rolled right off the other side.
I did manage a couple of pars on holes six and eight, a par-5 and par-3 respectively. The drive on #6 was particularly satisfying, as it travelled about 285 yards downwind. After nine holes, I was shooting 50.
My putting got a little better on the back nine, but I still amassed a couple of 3-putts on holes twelve and eighteen. The first putt on #12 was a downhill one that kept going, and going, and going. The first one on #18 was an uphill one that was struck a tad too firm.
I played more controlled golf on the back nine, but the result was almost the same. A triple bogey thanks to a lost tee shot on hole #15 was the only real wild moment. Unfortunately, there were also no pars to be had.
I needed three consecutive bogeys to break 100, so at least I managed to salvage that. Had I added just a single more stroke, it would have been devastating.
Score: 99
Par: 72
Putts: 42
Fairways: 2
Greens: 5
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