My last round of golf was a struggle, but I put it behind me and looked forward to the next. The previous round was played at Sparrow Lakes Heron, a course that was new to me. I refrained from offering up a review of the course in my post-round writeup because I felt it wouldn't be fair; I felt so drained during the round and played so poorly that any type of review would likely be biased. A week later, I can say that the course was reasonably good, but certainly not among my favourite designs.
Heron has plenty of length overall, and holes of varying length ensure almost all of your clubs will be used. However, the course lacks mature trees, relying far too heavily on small ponds as the main obstacle. I prefer layouts where one can recover from a bad shot. That's hard to do with dinky ponds that pile up the penalty strokes. I also found the topography at Sparrow Lakes a bit boring; there are no elevation changes to speak of, nor is there much mounding to add visual interest.
For my money, I would rather play at Willodell Golf Club, which is roughly in the same vicinity. On my first ever trip to the Niagara Falls area club, I found the course to be more pleasant visually. The terrain is a little more rolling than Sparrow Lakes, but the big difference are the mature trees that give shape to the fairways and force you to play different kinds of shots. Sometimes it's a full wedge shot to clear a large canopy, while other times it's a punched 4 or 5-iron to get back to a fairway. There is also some water here and there, but it's just one of the different obstacles employed. In contrast, I found Sparrow Lakes to be a one-trick pony.
I teed off at 8:20 in the morning on hole #10, a par-5 that plays 482 yards from the blue tees. My tee shot found the left rough, which was rather lush. I hacked one back to the fairway, but was still faced with a 200-yard shot to the green. I proceeded to flush one to the front of the green, leaving an uphill putt for birdie. I missed, but tapped in for a satisfying par.
The remainder of the back nine continued much the same way. I hit only one fairway with the driver during that stretch, but I made good contact and got good distance every time. Hitting often from the rough, I failed to hit any more greens in regulation. However, I almost always made decent contact with the ball and avoided trouble areas. Like I said in my last post, golf is a fun game when you can get the ball airborne and have it travel roughly in the intended direction. Near the greens, I was able to chip adequately and my putting was excellent. I made four 1-putts, including a long bomb on hole #18, all of which produced a score of 45 at the turn.
On the front nine, I was a little more inconsistent, but still managed to maintain bogey pace. I pull-hooked my drive into a hazard on hole #2, then 3-putt on the green for a triple-bogey. It was my only poor drive of the day and my only 3-putt. In between, I hit a good 4-iron and absolutely flushed a 6-iron to get near the green. My first putt, a lengthy downhill attempt almost dropped to save bogey. Unfortunately, I pulled the uphill comebacker from 4 feet, which was my only bad putt of the day.
I made par on holes #4, #5, and #7. The first of these is a par-4, while the other two are par-3 holes. On #4, it was a lengthy putt that did the trick. When the flat stick is working, it covers up flaws in other parts of the game. On #5, I went up and down from a bunker. I've struggled with bunkers at times, so that felt good. On #7, I hit a laser 8-iron that was all over the flag. I gave the breaking birdie putt too much respect, missing on the high side.
I was shooting 80 with two holes to play, both of which were par-4 holes. A wayward drive to an opposite fairway started things off on hole #8. I hit a mid-iron back to the fairway, leaving 130 yards to the flag. I struck a good shot, but pulled the ball slightly, finishing just left of the green. A mediocre chip and two putts led to double-bogey.
My drive on hole #9 also went right, but not as badly. I was in the trees, but had an opening back to the fairway. From 150 yards, I hit an easy 5-iron through the chute, trying to cut the ball back to the green. On impact, I thought it would be perfect. The ball flew through the chute and started its bend to the right. Unfortunately, it just clipped a tree branch and dropped 120 yards from the green. I pulled the third shot into a bunker, then barely got out. A chip and two putts were needed to hole out with triple-bogey.
A bit of a disappointment on the last hole or two, but overall, I was very pleased with a score of 93. More importantly, it was fun to hit the ball semi-clean around a course.
Score: 93
Putts: 30
Fairways: 2
Greens: 2
Penalties: 1
June 19, 2013
June 13, 2013
No Fun at Sparrow Lakes
When you can make regular contact with the golf ball, sending it airborne and roughly the expected distance, golf is a wonderful game. With decent contact, players are challenged by obstacles that have been chosen by the course designer – a forced carry over a naturalized area, a water hazard protecting a dogleg, bunkers framing a green, etc. Thus, the game becomes a competition between golfers and the landscape itself. Sports that take place on standardized fields, or any other standardized environment, lack this relationship completely.
Unfortunately, when you cannot make regular contact with the golf ball, the carefully designed features of the golf course become completely meaningless. With poor contact, players are not actually challenged by the course itself; instead, they are challenged just to hit the ball. When the challenge degrades to one of simply hitting the ball, it may as well take place on a flat, open field. Players may as well hit balls on the practice range, since they won't experience additional fun by moving to the course.
For this reason, I'm not even sure if I enjoy the game any more. Over the last two seasons and in the early part of 2013, I've seen my scores balloon, along with my handicap factor. Worse than that is the fact that I've hit a greater percentage of terrible shots. These are not merely poor shots, they're frankly horrific. In short, they're the kind of shots that take course features totally out of play, and in the process, sap the fun from the game. With very few exceptions, it has been a chore to complete rounds. The fun is gone.
Such was the experience of my most recent round at Sparrow Lakes Golf Club, located in Welland, Ontario. It was my first ever visit to the club, where I played the championship length Heron course. It was a hot day, and the course provides almost no shade from the sun, as mature trees are few and far between. There had been rain in the days prior to my round, which left most of the rough and a couple of fairway sections very soggy. Combined with the lengthy drive to reach the course, it all resulted in a tiring round. Mid way through, I was just looking for a way to make it to the end. That was about all I managed to accomplish.
I hit the fairway with a good drive on the opening par-5, only to follow up with a weak 7-iron that travelled half of my regular distance. I stuck the ensuing 3-iron into the turf, jamming my left wrist in the process. I played the remainder of the round nursing the wrist to avoid further damage. I found myself almost releasing the left grip before impact on every shot. As a result, I hit a lot of push shots to the right side. I also hit a lot of shots off the toe, taking a huge amount of distance off what I would normally expect.
The only par I made was on hole #2, a par-3 playing 148 yards. I hit a 9-iron over the flag, 10 feet from the hole. I made a decent attempt at birdie, but lipped out and settled for a tap-in par. After that, it was double bogeys or worse for much of the round. Sparrow Lakes features a tonne of small ponds, and they come into play on almost every hole. Every time I hit a ball near a pond, it went in. Most of the time, the ball was directed toward the water by embankments, but even when there was no embankment, my ball manged to get wet. This added up to 11 penalty strokes on the day.
My short game was not bad at all, and I managed to putt the ball very well once again. However, that is little consolation when your ball striking is so atrocious. More alarming though, was the realization that the fun has disappeared from the game.
Score: 110
Putts: 34
Fairways: 3
Greens: 1
Penalties: 11
Unfortunately, when you cannot make regular contact with the golf ball, the carefully designed features of the golf course become completely meaningless. With poor contact, players are not actually challenged by the course itself; instead, they are challenged just to hit the ball. When the challenge degrades to one of simply hitting the ball, it may as well take place on a flat, open field. Players may as well hit balls on the practice range, since they won't experience additional fun by moving to the course.
For this reason, I'm not even sure if I enjoy the game any more. Over the last two seasons and in the early part of 2013, I've seen my scores balloon, along with my handicap factor. Worse than that is the fact that I've hit a greater percentage of terrible shots. These are not merely poor shots, they're frankly horrific. In short, they're the kind of shots that take course features totally out of play, and in the process, sap the fun from the game. With very few exceptions, it has been a chore to complete rounds. The fun is gone.
Such was the experience of my most recent round at Sparrow Lakes Golf Club, located in Welland, Ontario. It was my first ever visit to the club, where I played the championship length Heron course. It was a hot day, and the course provides almost no shade from the sun, as mature trees are few and far between. There had been rain in the days prior to my round, which left most of the rough and a couple of fairway sections very soggy. Combined with the lengthy drive to reach the course, it all resulted in a tiring round. Mid way through, I was just looking for a way to make it to the end. That was about all I managed to accomplish.
I hit the fairway with a good drive on the opening par-5, only to follow up with a weak 7-iron that travelled half of my regular distance. I stuck the ensuing 3-iron into the turf, jamming my left wrist in the process. I played the remainder of the round nursing the wrist to avoid further damage. I found myself almost releasing the left grip before impact on every shot. As a result, I hit a lot of push shots to the right side. I also hit a lot of shots off the toe, taking a huge amount of distance off what I would normally expect.
The only par I made was on hole #2, a par-3 playing 148 yards. I hit a 9-iron over the flag, 10 feet from the hole. I made a decent attempt at birdie, but lipped out and settled for a tap-in par. After that, it was double bogeys or worse for much of the round. Sparrow Lakes features a tonne of small ponds, and they come into play on almost every hole. Every time I hit a ball near a pond, it went in. Most of the time, the ball was directed toward the water by embankments, but even when there was no embankment, my ball manged to get wet. This added up to 11 penalty strokes on the day.
My short game was not bad at all, and I managed to putt the ball very well once again. However, that is little consolation when your ball striking is so atrocious. More alarming though, was the realization that the fun has disappeared from the game.
Score: 110
Putts: 34
Fairways: 3
Greens: 1
Penalties: 11
June 04, 2013
The Lowdown on Lowville
A week since my last round of golf, I ventured to Lowville Golf Club on a sunny afternoon. Playing the first six holes alone, I managed four bogeys, one double-bogey, and a birdie. I didn't make many good shots, but I avoided danger and managed to advance the ball consistently. A good drive on the opening hole trickled just left of the fairway, leaving the ball in the rough and well below my feet on the second shot. I pitched back to the fairway, setting up an approach into the par-5 hole. My approach ended up short and right. I duffed a pitch to the green, before hitting a good one stiff. A single putt salvaged bogey.
Thus went much of my round. On hole #3, a par-3 measuring 201 yards, I came up short and right of target once again. I hit a good pitch to the green and 2-putt for bogey. On hole #4, a straightaway par-5, my approach from 120 yards came up short. I hit another chip shot stiff, leaving an easy putt for bogey. On the next hole, a 190-yard par-3, I hit the ball with the toe of the club, leaving it short and well right of the green. I made a 30-yard pitch shot and 2-putt for bogey. The stretch of solo golf ended with a birdie on hole #6, a short par-4. I hit a 5-iron right of the fairway, but followed up with a perfect gap wedge, leaving an uphill putt for the birdie.
I joined the twosome ahead of me on hole #7, a par-5 that plays 466 yards uphill. I cranked a beautiful drive to the left edge of the fairway, leaving 180 yards to the green. I went for the green with a 4-iron and hit it perfectly. Unfortunately, the ball died in the embankment fronting the green. I should have made no worse than par from there, but chipped on and 3-putt for bogey. My short game was better on the next hole, a short par-3. After hitting my tee shot fat, I was faced with a 30 yard pitch shot to a shallow green fronted by a bunker and with a steep dropoff behind. I hit a great pitch and 2-putt to make bogey. At the turn I was shooting a respectable score of 45.
I bogeyed hole #10, then found my first real trouble of the day on hole #11. My 3-iron off the tee was struck well, but I started it too far right and clipped a tree protecting that side of the fairway. The ball dropped in the rough nearby, but I had a brutal side hill lie. I tried to get back to the fairway, but shanked the ball into a hazard further up the right side. After a penalty, I hit some bad pitch shots, ultimately finishing with a quadruple-bogey.
On hole #12, I was back in the groove. I busted a wicked drive off the tee, carrying the valley up ahead and coming to rest in perfect position. I had 200 yards remaining to the green on this par-5, but opted to lay up to about 120 yards. Going for the green in that position brings another valley into play, not to mention a bunker and other dangers beside the green. Unfortunately, I pulled my approach, then came up short with a pitch shot. I chipped on and saved bogey with a long breaking putt. Another great putt, albeit shorter and with less break, saved bogey on hole #13.
With two holes to play, my score stood at 83. Two bogeys would give me a final score of 93, which is not too shabby these days. Unfortunately, I blew up massively on those holes. I pulled a drive into a hazard on hole #17. Hitting my third shot from the tee, I sliced the ball to a massive hillside right of the fairway. The ball was in the rough and well below my feet, resulting in a shank. Now, the ball was on a mound, well above my feet. I sculled the ball behind the green. Next, I duffed a chip shot, before chipping again to get on the green and 2-putting for a score of 9 on the hole. Terrible!
It didn't get much better on the next hole. The tee shot is a forced carry over a ravine. I plunked one in the bushes, before getting over safely. Just like that, two more strokes were given away. A couple more shots put me behind the green, where I hit a decent chip shot. A long uphill putt would have salvaged triple-bogey and a final score of 99, but it didn't drop. Hello century mark, my familiar friend!
Overall, there were a lot of positives in this round. I didn't hit the ball especially well, but I managed to keep it moving forward by avoiding duffs and topped balls. Every now and then, I did manage to hit a nice shot. Though I duffed a couple of pitches and chips, I compensated by hitting others very near the pin. My putting was good, as I registered only 31 putts over the round. More importantly, I drained a few tricky ones to save bogey or make birdie.
Score: 100
Putts: 31
Fairways: 3
Greens: 2
Penalties: 4
Thus went much of my round. On hole #3, a par-3 measuring 201 yards, I came up short and right of target once again. I hit a good pitch to the green and 2-putt for bogey. On hole #4, a straightaway par-5, my approach from 120 yards came up short. I hit another chip shot stiff, leaving an easy putt for bogey. On the next hole, a 190-yard par-3, I hit the ball with the toe of the club, leaving it short and well right of the green. I made a 30-yard pitch shot and 2-putt for bogey. The stretch of solo golf ended with a birdie on hole #6, a short par-4. I hit a 5-iron right of the fairway, but followed up with a perfect gap wedge, leaving an uphill putt for the birdie.
I joined the twosome ahead of me on hole #7, a par-5 that plays 466 yards uphill. I cranked a beautiful drive to the left edge of the fairway, leaving 180 yards to the green. I went for the green with a 4-iron and hit it perfectly. Unfortunately, the ball died in the embankment fronting the green. I should have made no worse than par from there, but chipped on and 3-putt for bogey. My short game was better on the next hole, a short par-3. After hitting my tee shot fat, I was faced with a 30 yard pitch shot to a shallow green fronted by a bunker and with a steep dropoff behind. I hit a great pitch and 2-putt to make bogey. At the turn I was shooting a respectable score of 45.
I bogeyed hole #10, then found my first real trouble of the day on hole #11. My 3-iron off the tee was struck well, but I started it too far right and clipped a tree protecting that side of the fairway. The ball dropped in the rough nearby, but I had a brutal side hill lie. I tried to get back to the fairway, but shanked the ball into a hazard further up the right side. After a penalty, I hit some bad pitch shots, ultimately finishing with a quadruple-bogey.
On hole #12, I was back in the groove. I busted a wicked drive off the tee, carrying the valley up ahead and coming to rest in perfect position. I had 200 yards remaining to the green on this par-5, but opted to lay up to about 120 yards. Going for the green in that position brings another valley into play, not to mention a bunker and other dangers beside the green. Unfortunately, I pulled my approach, then came up short with a pitch shot. I chipped on and saved bogey with a long breaking putt. Another great putt, albeit shorter and with less break, saved bogey on hole #13.
With two holes to play, my score stood at 83. Two bogeys would give me a final score of 93, which is not too shabby these days. Unfortunately, I blew up massively on those holes. I pulled a drive into a hazard on hole #17. Hitting my third shot from the tee, I sliced the ball to a massive hillside right of the fairway. The ball was in the rough and well below my feet, resulting in a shank. Now, the ball was on a mound, well above my feet. I sculled the ball behind the green. Next, I duffed a chip shot, before chipping again to get on the green and 2-putting for a score of 9 on the hole. Terrible!
It didn't get much better on the next hole. The tee shot is a forced carry over a ravine. I plunked one in the bushes, before getting over safely. Just like that, two more strokes were given away. A couple more shots put me behind the green, where I hit a decent chip shot. A long uphill putt would have salvaged triple-bogey and a final score of 99, but it didn't drop. Hello century mark, my familiar friend!
Overall, there were a lot of positives in this round. I didn't hit the ball especially well, but I managed to keep it moving forward by avoiding duffs and topped balls. Every now and then, I did manage to hit a nice shot. Though I duffed a couple of pitches and chips, I compensated by hitting others very near the pin. My putting was good, as I registered only 31 putts over the round. More importantly, I drained a few tricky ones to save bogey or make birdie.
Score: 100
Putts: 31
Fairways: 3
Greens: 2
Penalties: 4
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