Where do you play on a windy Saturday when you've been struggling with your golf game? How about the toughest course in the country? What tees do you play from once you get there? Not the tips, where the slope rating is 150 - that would be plain foolish. Instead, dial it back a set, where the slope is a mere 148. Such was the case on my visit to the Legends course at Lionhead Golf & Country Club.
On the front nine holes I drove the ball well, hitting five of seven fairways. Unfortunately, I did not follow the drives up with good iron play, hitting just one of nine greens in regulation. On the second hole, a mis-hit approach with an 8-iron left me 20 yards short of the green. On a number of occasions my approach shots drifted off line just enough to find a greenside bunker. That was my fate on holes 1, 3, 5, 6, and 9. In every case, I managed to get out of the bunker with a single shot, but required a subsequent chip to get on the green. My sand play has simply been poor all season. My putting was hot and cold, as I collected three 1-putts to go along with four 3-putts. I was penalty free on the front nine, which is no small feat at Legends.
On the back nine my driving faltered, forcing me to play harder second shots. My irons were still not great, leading to a few encounters with the many water hazards at Legends. I wasn't in the sand as often as I was on the front nine, but the result was the same on the couple of occasions when I found myself standing on silica. The one aspect of the game that worked well on the back nine was putting. I avoided any 3-putts, while collecting three 1-putts. One of those came on hole #18, which I played wonderfully for just the second par of the day.
Score: 111
Par: 72
Putts: 34
Fairways: 7
Greens: 1
May 30, 2009
May 29, 2009
GTA Amateur Tour Visits Coppinwood
My second stop on the GTA Amateur Tour was at Coppinwood, a Tom Fazio design featuring ribbons of lush fairway and white sand bunkers against rolling terrain and dramatic fescue. Unhappy with my chipping and putting at the previous stop on the tour, I arrived at the club early to practice my short game.
The practice worked wonders and I must say, I was very happy with the way I chipped during the entire round. Unfortunately, I was simply no match for the slick greens at Coppinwood. Time after time, I executed chip shots exactly as I envisioned, only to have the ball travel well past the hole and almost off the green. In almost every case, I bounced the ball barely on the green or even in the fringe, but it didn't matter. Up and down at Coppinwood is tough, especially when you find yourself on the high side of the green. I actually made a few up and downs when my putting was good, but these were offset by a bunch of 3-putts when my putting was off.
The first five holes were a mix of bogeys and double-bogeys, the latter coming thanks to the tricky greens. On the sixth hole, a par-5 measuring 484 yards from the blue tees, a pair of fairway bunkers between 80 and 100 yards from the green spelled disaster. When I finally got to the green, a 4-putt resulted in a score of 10 for that hole alone. On the eighth hole, a fairway bunker with a massive lip once again got the best of me. In retrospect, I should have played a sideways shot to take the high lip out of play. I tried a more heroic shot and the result was a triple-bogey.
And so it continued pretty much through hole #14. Lacking confidence, I mis-hit a few iron shots here and there, including a couple that resulted in penalty strokes on holes ten and eleven. It was only on hole #15 that I settled back into something resembling my usual game. A great drive, followed by a good second shot and a medium range pitch shot set me up for a bogey on the par-5 test. Two more bogeys and a par (the only one of the day) rounded out the day. The best shot of the day may have been my approach shot on hole #18, a picturesque 7-iron that was hit flag-high from the fescue well right of the fairway. The guys on the patio overlooking the 18th green must have thought I could really play. Little did they know how terrible the previous 17 holes had been.
Needless to say, I was disappointed with my overall score. I tried to stay positive by convincing myself it was just another learning experience.
Score: 112
Par: 72
Putts: 42
Fairways: 4
Greens: 2
The practice worked wonders and I must say, I was very happy with the way I chipped during the entire round. Unfortunately, I was simply no match for the slick greens at Coppinwood. Time after time, I executed chip shots exactly as I envisioned, only to have the ball travel well past the hole and almost off the green. In almost every case, I bounced the ball barely on the green or even in the fringe, but it didn't matter. Up and down at Coppinwood is tough, especially when you find yourself on the high side of the green. I actually made a few up and downs when my putting was good, but these were offset by a bunch of 3-putts when my putting was off.
The first five holes were a mix of bogeys and double-bogeys, the latter coming thanks to the tricky greens. On the sixth hole, a par-5 measuring 484 yards from the blue tees, a pair of fairway bunkers between 80 and 100 yards from the green spelled disaster. When I finally got to the green, a 4-putt resulted in a score of 10 for that hole alone. On the eighth hole, a fairway bunker with a massive lip once again got the best of me. In retrospect, I should have played a sideways shot to take the high lip out of play. I tried a more heroic shot and the result was a triple-bogey.
And so it continued pretty much through hole #14. Lacking confidence, I mis-hit a few iron shots here and there, including a couple that resulted in penalty strokes on holes ten and eleven. It was only on hole #15 that I settled back into something resembling my usual game. A great drive, followed by a good second shot and a medium range pitch shot set me up for a bogey on the par-5 test. Two more bogeys and a par (the only one of the day) rounded out the day. The best shot of the day may have been my approach shot on hole #18, a picturesque 7-iron that was hit flag-high from the fescue well right of the fairway. The guys on the patio overlooking the 18th green must have thought I could really play. Little did they know how terrible the previous 17 holes had been.
Needless to say, I was disappointed with my overall score. I tried to stay positive by convincing myself it was just another learning experience.
Score: 112
Par: 72
Putts: 42
Fairways: 4
Greens: 2
May 09, 2009
GTA Amateur Tour at Devil's Pulpit
My first GTA Amateur Tour event took place on a beautiful Monday afternoon at Devil's Pulpit, a Michael Hurdzan design that has received plenty of acclaim since opening in 1990. Situated in Caledon Village, northwest of Toronto, the course is nestled against the Niagara Escarpment, making for complex topography and spectacular views.
I struggled with the greens on the first three holes, amassing three, four and three putts respectively. My putting on the first hole was decent, but a bad chip put me in definite 3-putt territory. A hot chip on the second hole also left me with a long first putt. The slope of the green fooled me, as the ball broke opposite to the direction I had anticipated. A careless third putt missed the mark from within two feet. On the third hole, my second putt from a makeable distance just burned the edge. Nerves may have been a factor.
Hole #5, a par-4 measuring 371 yards from the white tees, proved to be very difficult. I duffed my tee shot, but followed it up with a good 8-iron, recovering to the middle of the fairway. With a downhill lie, I faced the green 115 yards away. To reach the green, I needed to carry a water hazard and avoid a massive bunker that wraps around three sides of the putting surface. My ball flew just over the bunker in the back and came to rest about a foot past the margin of a lateral hazard. With no backswing available, all I could do was punch the ball into the bunker. Three bunker shots followed, the first two being simply terrible. After two putts, I walked away with a disappointing 9 on my scorecard.
Hole #7, a tricky little par-3 with its green nestled atop a mound, also posed some trouble, resulting in triple-bogey. However, I played some fine shots on holes 6, 8 and 9, resulting in a couple of bogeys and a par. The par on hole #9 was textbook, as I hit fairway, then green, followed by a long breaking lag putt and a tap-in. Sometimes the game seems so easy, I wonder how all the trouble surfaces.
On the back nine, I played wonderful, steady golf, with the exception of hole #13, a par-5 measuring 493 yards that features a large pond stretching from the mid-point of the fairway to the green. My drive was perfect, but my second shot was a pull hook into the pond. After taking a drop, I failed to carry the pond with my next shot. I dropped once again and this time was able to carry the pond, but my ball came to rest in some fescue left of the green. Two shots were required to dislodge the ball from the nasty fescue, and after two putts I marked a 10 on my scorecard.
Aside from the adventures on #13, the back nine produced good results, namely a double-bogey, six bogeys, and a birdie. The birdie came on hole #16, a par-3 that was being used for the closest to the pin competition. The hole was playing about 160 yards long, all carry over a large pond. I hit an easy 6-iron to the right edge of the green, where some slope directed the ball closer to the pin. I missed closest to the pin by about eight inches, but made the birdie putt, which felt relly good.
Overall, I was disappointed with my score. I could have easily broken 100, but did not. My chipping and putting left a lot to be desired. I really have to get my chipping feel back, after the long winter layoff. However, I was satisfied with my driving and iron play. I hit 10 of 15 fairways, which is quite good. I also hit some nice, pure iron shots. Let's see what the next round brings.
Score: 102
Par: 71
Putts: 42
Fairways: 10
Greens: 3
I struggled with the greens on the first three holes, amassing three, four and three putts respectively. My putting on the first hole was decent, but a bad chip put me in definite 3-putt territory. A hot chip on the second hole also left me with a long first putt. The slope of the green fooled me, as the ball broke opposite to the direction I had anticipated. A careless third putt missed the mark from within two feet. On the third hole, my second putt from a makeable distance just burned the edge. Nerves may have been a factor.
Hole #5, a par-4 measuring 371 yards from the white tees, proved to be very difficult. I duffed my tee shot, but followed it up with a good 8-iron, recovering to the middle of the fairway. With a downhill lie, I faced the green 115 yards away. To reach the green, I needed to carry a water hazard and avoid a massive bunker that wraps around three sides of the putting surface. My ball flew just over the bunker in the back and came to rest about a foot past the margin of a lateral hazard. With no backswing available, all I could do was punch the ball into the bunker. Three bunker shots followed, the first two being simply terrible. After two putts, I walked away with a disappointing 9 on my scorecard.
Hole #7, a tricky little par-3 with its green nestled atop a mound, also posed some trouble, resulting in triple-bogey. However, I played some fine shots on holes 6, 8 and 9, resulting in a couple of bogeys and a par. The par on hole #9 was textbook, as I hit fairway, then green, followed by a long breaking lag putt and a tap-in. Sometimes the game seems so easy, I wonder how all the trouble surfaces.
On the back nine, I played wonderful, steady golf, with the exception of hole #13, a par-5 measuring 493 yards that features a large pond stretching from the mid-point of the fairway to the green. My drive was perfect, but my second shot was a pull hook into the pond. After taking a drop, I failed to carry the pond with my next shot. I dropped once again and this time was able to carry the pond, but my ball came to rest in some fescue left of the green. Two shots were required to dislodge the ball from the nasty fescue, and after two putts I marked a 10 on my scorecard.
Aside from the adventures on #13, the back nine produced good results, namely a double-bogey, six bogeys, and a birdie. The birdie came on hole #16, a par-3 that was being used for the closest to the pin competition. The hole was playing about 160 yards long, all carry over a large pond. I hit an easy 6-iron to the right edge of the green, where some slope directed the ball closer to the pin. I missed closest to the pin by about eight inches, but made the birdie putt, which felt relly good.
Overall, I was disappointed with my score. I could have easily broken 100, but did not. My chipping and putting left a lot to be desired. I really have to get my chipping feel back, after the long winter layoff. However, I was satisfied with my driving and iron play. I hit 10 of 15 fairways, which is quite good. I also hit some nice, pure iron shots. Let's see what the next round brings.
Score: 102
Par: 71
Putts: 42
Fairways: 10
Greens: 3
May 03, 2009
Testing the Knee at Piper's Heath
I rarely go an entire weekend without golf, but it happened recently. I took the time off to rest my chronically injured knee, which flared up due to a street crossing incident. Yes, I injured my knee crossing the street. Pathetic, I know. After two weeks off, the knee was still sketchy, but I wanted to test it out before my first event on the GTA Amateur Tour, which was fast approaching. I headed over to Piper's Heath Golf Club on a Saturday afternoon.
Starting on the back nine, I bogeyed three of the first four holes played. My tee shot on the 11th hole, a par-3 measuring 187 yards, found a bunker left of the green. An awkward stance made it difficult to get the ball out of the trap. On the second attempt from a better lie, I carried the ball over the green. A chip and two-putt produced a triple bogey. Clearly, the short game needs work.
The 14th hole, a par-4 that usually plays 415 yards, should have been a breeze, but circumstances conspired to produce a score of 6 over par. The tees were playing up, shortening the hole significantly. I hit a perfect 3-wood off the tee, leaving 130 yards to the pin. A water hazard crosses the fairway about 60 yards in front of the green. Sure enough, I skulled my shot into the hazard. After taking a drop, I chunked a wedge only half way to the green. From that position, I chunked another one to a bunker guarding the front of the green. From the bunker, I carried the ball over the green. My chip back to the green went way too long, from whence I proceeded to 3-putt. When it rains, it pours. Did I mention the short game needs work?
Speaking of the dreaded 3-putt, another one occurred on hole #15, resulting in double-bogey. I managed to two-putt the 16th hole, a short par-3, but the first of those putts was inside two feet, so my putting was still terrible. On a positive note, I made a fantastic second shot out of the bunker. The result was bogey, but it really should have been par. On the 17th hole, I went from tee to fairway bunker, to greenside bunker, to over the green, en route to another triple bogey. Yikes! After the first nine holes, I was sitting at 56 strokes.
I'm happy to say I played a bit more consistently on holes 1 thru 9. That stretch included five bogeys and three double-bogeys. While I would certainly prefer to see some pars thrown in there, there is a certain amount of satisfaction in limiting the blowup holes (those that produce triple-bogey or worse). I did shoot an 8 on hole #5, a par-4 measuring 353 yards. My tee shot found a water hazard right of the fairway. After taking a drop, I skulled the next shot into the same hazard. When you string together mistakes like that, the result is never good.
Overall, I hit a few fairways and some decent mid-iron shots. My play with the wedges was terrible and my play out of the bunkers left a lot to be desired. I stumbled on some putts, but on the whole, putting was average. Most importantly, my knee did not explode and I was able to walk off the course on my own power. At this point, that was the most important thing. I can now go to my first GTA Amateur Tour event knowing that it's possible for me to walk 18 holes and swing the golf club. Still, I have to be careful not to get careless. I know from experience that one bad move - like crossing the street incorrectly - can have dire consequences.
Score: 107
Par: 72
Putts: 37
Fairways: 5
Greens: 0
Starting on the back nine, I bogeyed three of the first four holes played. My tee shot on the 11th hole, a par-3 measuring 187 yards, found a bunker left of the green. An awkward stance made it difficult to get the ball out of the trap. On the second attempt from a better lie, I carried the ball over the green. A chip and two-putt produced a triple bogey. Clearly, the short game needs work.
The 14th hole, a par-4 that usually plays 415 yards, should have been a breeze, but circumstances conspired to produce a score of 6 over par. The tees were playing up, shortening the hole significantly. I hit a perfect 3-wood off the tee, leaving 130 yards to the pin. A water hazard crosses the fairway about 60 yards in front of the green. Sure enough, I skulled my shot into the hazard. After taking a drop, I chunked a wedge only half way to the green. From that position, I chunked another one to a bunker guarding the front of the green. From the bunker, I carried the ball over the green. My chip back to the green went way too long, from whence I proceeded to 3-putt. When it rains, it pours. Did I mention the short game needs work?
Speaking of the dreaded 3-putt, another one occurred on hole #15, resulting in double-bogey. I managed to two-putt the 16th hole, a short par-3, but the first of those putts was inside two feet, so my putting was still terrible. On a positive note, I made a fantastic second shot out of the bunker. The result was bogey, but it really should have been par. On the 17th hole, I went from tee to fairway bunker, to greenside bunker, to over the green, en route to another triple bogey. Yikes! After the first nine holes, I was sitting at 56 strokes.
I'm happy to say I played a bit more consistently on holes 1 thru 9. That stretch included five bogeys and three double-bogeys. While I would certainly prefer to see some pars thrown in there, there is a certain amount of satisfaction in limiting the blowup holes (those that produce triple-bogey or worse). I did shoot an 8 on hole #5, a par-4 measuring 353 yards. My tee shot found a water hazard right of the fairway. After taking a drop, I skulled the next shot into the same hazard. When you string together mistakes like that, the result is never good.
Overall, I hit a few fairways and some decent mid-iron shots. My play with the wedges was terrible and my play out of the bunkers left a lot to be desired. I stumbled on some putts, but on the whole, putting was average. Most importantly, my knee did not explode and I was able to walk off the course on my own power. At this point, that was the most important thing. I can now go to my first GTA Amateur Tour event knowing that it's possible for me to walk 18 holes and swing the golf club. Still, I have to be careful not to get careless. I know from experience that one bad move - like crossing the street incorrectly - can have dire consequences.
Score: 107
Par: 72
Putts: 37
Fairways: 5
Greens: 0
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