Ever wonder what you might score on a golf course if you had the chance to play it a second time, immediately after the first? I got that chance recently at Westview Golf Club and the result was encouraging. My first time through the Middle and Lakeland nines produced a score of 107. My second time through the very same holes resulted in a score of 92. I would say a fifteen stroke improvement is pretty good, no? Okay, the first score may have been an aberration, but still. Westview is a good challenge and 92 is not too shabby.
I hit three consecutive fairways to start things off, but only hit the green in regulation on Middle #2. Two putts finished that hole for par. On Middle #1, I got up and down from just off the green for par. That was well earned. On Middle #3, I failed to get up and down from green side, settling for a 2-putt bogey. Middle #4 is a long par-5 that also finished with a 2-putt bogey. I needed an extra shot to reach the green, thanks to a mediocre drive. A large tree protects the left side and for right handed players who do not draw the ball, it always comes into play.
Going 2-over through four holes is pretty sweet, but the rest of the Middle nine wasn't as generous. On holes #5 and #6, I sculled pitch attempts from one side of the green to the other. In both cases, it added an unnecessary stroke and I finished with double-bogey. I got back on track with a par on hole #7. I also made par on this par-3 earlier in the day. A 3-putt resulted in another double-bogey on hole #8, but I finished well with a bogey on hole #9. My score at the turn was 45, or 9-over.
On to the Lakeland nine and it began with a par! As I did on Middle #1, I got up and down from just off the green. To make par on those two holes is very good. Lakeland #2 and #5 were my blowup holes for the round. I registered triple-bogey on both. A wayward drive led to a penalty stroke on both holes. They were my only penalty strokes of the round. Fortunately, I sandwiched a couple of decent bogeys in between these two debacles.
The last portion of Lakeland was solid, with a pair of pars, a double-bogey and bogey. Holes #6 and #7 were played in textbook fashion – hit the fairway, hit the green, try a putt for birdie and then tap in for par. Boring golf is the best golf! Lakeland #8 burned me for the second time of the day. Both times, I hit the absolute perfect drive, only to mess up with a wedge attempt into the green. This time, I caught the ball a little thin and it rolled into a creek bed behind the green. On the last hole of the day, I almost chipped in for par, but the ball rattled off the flag stick, leading to bogey.
I shot 47 on the Lakeland nine and 92 overall. That felt pretty good – certainly better than 107 did a few hours earlier.
Score: 92
Putts: 36
Fairways: 7
Greens: 4
Penalties: 2
August 25, 2017
August 21, 2017
Westview Warmup
I headed out to Westview early in the morning, hoping to complete two rounds of play. I teed off by myself at 7:15 am, making my way through the Middle and Lakeland nines. Middle #1 is a 402-yard par-4 that plays straight uphill. That makes the hole hard enough, but it also faces east, so the early morning sun shines right in your eyes. I hit my tee shot and didn't see the ball at all. I had a feeling that I sliced it right, so I headed out in that direction. Sure enough, I found my ball in the middle of an adjacent fairway. I tried to pitch back to the proper fairway, but duffed a shot, then sculled one to the other side. I was still blocked by trees, but finally pitched safely back to the fairway. My approach was short and my chip was long, followed by a 3-putt for a score of 9. Great!
I was immediately in a bad frame of mind and it would take me a while to get over it. I spent the next three holes cursing the low hanging sun, as I repeatedly failed to see where my ball even went. Remarkably, I managed to find it every time, but certainly not in the fairways. The grounds crew was also out in full force, cutting grass and getting bunkers ready for the day. Every time I stood over a shot, it seemed a tractor would pay me a friendly visit. To say that I struggled to keep my focus is an understatement. When you're thinking about the sun and lawn mowers, you're not going to make good golf shots. I rattled off three double-bogeys in a row.
The remainder of the Middle nine was more normal. I made par on #5, a 201-yard par-3, and that seemed to get me back on track. My 3-iron off the tee was low and straight, settling in the correct portion of the green, very near the hole. Though I didn't make the birdie putt, I still felt good. I made bogey on hole #6, before making par on #7, another par-3. That one was playing 170 yards and a lovely 6-iron from the tee was just right. Another bogey followed on hole #8, setting up the final hole of the front nine. I hit a 235-yard laser of a 3-iron off the tee, splitting the fairway of this par-4. Yes, the teeing ground is elevated, which accounted for the healthy distance. Unfortunately, I ruined the hole with my wedge play and short game, finishing with a double-bogey.
The Lakeland nine started like the Middle nine – with a blowup hole! This time it was a score of 8 on the uphill par-4. Playing as a single, I breezed through the front nine, so the sun was still an issue. Once again, I had trouble pitching back to the fairway. However, most of the added strokes came after I sculled one out of a greenside bunker and through a hedge that sits behind the green. From that position, I had to play around the hedge to get back to the green. There was simply no chance to go over, under, or through it.
Nothing really good happened on the remainder of Lakeland. My best two holes were #6 and #7 – and those only produced bogey. When your best holes consist of a couple of bogeys, you know things aren't going well. Errors came in all facets of the game. Sometimes it was a bad drive, while other times it was an inability to hit the green or chip it anywhere close. I made a mess on the final hole, an easy par-3, finishing with a triple bogey and an overall score of 107. Okay, next!
Score: 107
Putts: 37
Fairways: 5
Greens: 3
Penalties: 3
I was immediately in a bad frame of mind and it would take me a while to get over it. I spent the next three holes cursing the low hanging sun, as I repeatedly failed to see where my ball even went. Remarkably, I managed to find it every time, but certainly not in the fairways. The grounds crew was also out in full force, cutting grass and getting bunkers ready for the day. Every time I stood over a shot, it seemed a tractor would pay me a friendly visit. To say that I struggled to keep my focus is an understatement. When you're thinking about the sun and lawn mowers, you're not going to make good golf shots. I rattled off three double-bogeys in a row.
The remainder of the Middle nine was more normal. I made par on #5, a 201-yard par-3, and that seemed to get me back on track. My 3-iron off the tee was low and straight, settling in the correct portion of the green, very near the hole. Though I didn't make the birdie putt, I still felt good. I made bogey on hole #6, before making par on #7, another par-3. That one was playing 170 yards and a lovely 6-iron from the tee was just right. Another bogey followed on hole #8, setting up the final hole of the front nine. I hit a 235-yard laser of a 3-iron off the tee, splitting the fairway of this par-4. Yes, the teeing ground is elevated, which accounted for the healthy distance. Unfortunately, I ruined the hole with my wedge play and short game, finishing with a double-bogey.
The Lakeland nine started like the Middle nine – with a blowup hole! This time it was a score of 8 on the uphill par-4. Playing as a single, I breezed through the front nine, so the sun was still an issue. Once again, I had trouble pitching back to the fairway. However, most of the added strokes came after I sculled one out of a greenside bunker and through a hedge that sits behind the green. From that position, I had to play around the hedge to get back to the green. There was simply no chance to go over, under, or through it.
Nothing really good happened on the remainder of Lakeland. My best two holes were #6 and #7 – and those only produced bogey. When your best holes consist of a couple of bogeys, you know things aren't going well. Errors came in all facets of the game. Sometimes it was a bad drive, while other times it was an inability to hit the green or chip it anywhere close. I made a mess on the final hole, an easy par-3, finishing with a triple bogey and an overall score of 107. Okay, next!
Score: 107
Putts: 37
Fairways: 5
Greens: 3
Penalties: 3
August 06, 2017
Nobody Gives a Hoot
Having completed the other two courses at Osprey Valley, we headed to the Hoot to complete the tripartite. My last visit to Hoot was in 2009 on the GTA Amateur Tour; it was a 2-day major where I shot rounds of 90 and 89. It's hard to believe that was eight years ago, but the numbers don't lie.
I hit driver, 3-iron, lob wedge into the opening par-5 and then drained an 8-footer for birdie. Boom! Then I hit the second green in regulation, but 3-putt for bogey. What's the opposite of boom? A group of young lads let us through on the third tee and I proceeded to duff my drive just 60 yards ahead. That was embarrassing, but I followed up with a nice deep 5-wood. I had more trouble near the green and finished with a double-bogey.
I made the turn with a 10-over score of 46. That's not bad, but it certainly wasn't very good, either. I was hitting some good shots, but I was also sprinkling in some not so good ones. A giant pull hook off the tee on hole #4 comes to mind. Shots like that are just inexplicable; they seem to come out of nowhere. On hole #8, which is another par-3, albeit shorter, my tee shot was excellent, setting up a routine par. Sometimes the game just doesn't make much sense.
On the back nine, I started thinking about whether or not we would finish the round before sunset. I was pretty confident we would, so it didn't really affect my play. Holes #10 through #15 produced pretty good results, with the exception of #13. I recorded four bogeys over the stretch, plus a par on hole #11, a fun par-5. Unlucky #13 started out with a great drive, but the hole was ruined when my second shot layup was pulled into some woods. I also struggled near the green and finished with a triple-bogey.
Dusk started to affect my play beginning with hole #16. From the fairway, I spotted a group of players making their way to hole #17. In front of us had been clear, but this group jumped in, no doubt to start making their way to the clubhouse. It really wasn't an issue, but I wasn't focused on the right thing. I pulled my approach into a water hazard and finished with a double-bogey.
I was in rushing mode over the last two holes, which is never a good thing. Not surprisingly, I collected a pair of triple-bogeys. An approach shot over a water hazard was pulled on hole #17, resulting in a penalty stroke. On hole #18, the sun was right in our face as we teed off. Without another person watching your ball, there would be no way to track it. I took an aggressive line over a pond and just failed to carry the water. Hitting three from the tee, I completed the hole just fine, but the damage to the score was already done.
In the end, my score was nothing to write home about. However, the round on Hoot wrapped up an epic golf outing that I will remember for some time.
Score: 97
Putts: 36
Fairways: 6
Greens: 4
Penalties: 8
I hit driver, 3-iron, lob wedge into the opening par-5 and then drained an 8-footer for birdie. Boom! Then I hit the second green in regulation, but 3-putt for bogey. What's the opposite of boom? A group of young lads let us through on the third tee and I proceeded to duff my drive just 60 yards ahead. That was embarrassing, but I followed up with a nice deep 5-wood. I had more trouble near the green and finished with a double-bogey.
I made the turn with a 10-over score of 46. That's not bad, but it certainly wasn't very good, either. I was hitting some good shots, but I was also sprinkling in some not so good ones. A giant pull hook off the tee on hole #4 comes to mind. Shots like that are just inexplicable; they seem to come out of nowhere. On hole #8, which is another par-3, albeit shorter, my tee shot was excellent, setting up a routine par. Sometimes the game just doesn't make much sense.
On the back nine, I started thinking about whether or not we would finish the round before sunset. I was pretty confident we would, so it didn't really affect my play. Holes #10 through #15 produced pretty good results, with the exception of #13. I recorded four bogeys over the stretch, plus a par on hole #11, a fun par-5. Unlucky #13 started out with a great drive, but the hole was ruined when my second shot layup was pulled into some woods. I also struggled near the green and finished with a triple-bogey.
Dusk started to affect my play beginning with hole #16. From the fairway, I spotted a group of players making their way to hole #17. In front of us had been clear, but this group jumped in, no doubt to start making their way to the clubhouse. It really wasn't an issue, but I wasn't focused on the right thing. I pulled my approach into a water hazard and finished with a double-bogey.
I was in rushing mode over the last two holes, which is never a good thing. Not surprisingly, I collected a pair of triple-bogeys. An approach shot over a water hazard was pulled on hole #17, resulting in a penalty stroke. On hole #18, the sun was right in our face as we teed off. Without another person watching your ball, there would be no way to track it. I took an aggressive line over a pond and just failed to carry the water. Hitting three from the tee, I completed the hole just fine, but the damage to the score was already done.
In the end, my score was nothing to write home about. However, the round on Hoot wrapped up an epic golf outing that I will remember for some time.
Score: 97
Putts: 36
Fairways: 6
Greens: 4
Penalties: 8
August 05, 2017
Tooting My Own Horn
Fresh off a round at Osprey Valley Heathlands, it was time to challenge the Toot course. This is the only course at Osprey Valley that I hadn't played before, so I was looking forward to it. My first impression of the course was that it was big – as in big fairways, big bunkers, big greens. It definitely encourages you to bomb away.
Driver, 5-wood, lob wedge got me to the green on the opening par-5, but I 3-putt for bogey. The greens were as slick as Heathlands, so 3-putts were possible if starting out far from the hole. My drive on hole #2 found a fairway bunker and my second shot was fat. My third into this par-4 was short, requiring a chip and two putts for double-bogey. It got worse on hole #3, another par-4. I pulled my second shot into a fescue covered hillside, with no chance to find the ball. Yes, there is some fescue on Toot as well. I finished the hole with a triple-bogey.
Holes #4 through #6 were the start of a turnaround, but I was still victimized by the greens. On #4, a par-3, my tee shot was just short of the green on a severe up-slope. I chipped on , but wasn't really near the cup. Three putts ensued for a double. On holes #5 and #6, I nailed the fairways with some good drives and made bogeys. On the latter, I hit the green in regulation, but once again ruined it with a 3-putt. Despite the putting woes, I was feeling good about the round.
On holes #7 through #9, the turnaround kicked into high gear. On #7, a par-3, my tee shot missed the green to the left. I was flag high, but impeded by a tree. Nevertheless, I chipped right beside the cup and followed up with a successful par putt. On hole #8, a 494-yard par-5, I hit driver, 3-wood to about 5 yards short of the green. My drive was only about 250 yards and my 3-wood went almost the same distance. It was only the feeling of “room” that enabled me to go for it with 3-wood. I have not tried that in a long time and it felt great. After the 3-wood bomb, I pitched on and made the birdie putt! On hole #9, I hit the fairway, but my approach was just right of the green. I played a deft little chip and drained the putt for par. Three holes, three putts. You gotta love that!
A 9-over score of 45 at the turn was pretty respectable and I thought perhaps I could actually score well here. Four pars in a row to start the back nine only boosted my confidence. Driver, pitching wedge worked like a charm on hole #10, followed by two putts. A pretty 8-iron off the tee set up a 2-putt par on hole #11. Driver, sand wedge set up the 2-putt routine on hole #12. On hole #13, I busted out the driver, 3-wood combo once again in an attempt to reach the par-5 in two. This one was playing 514 yards, so I didn't come as close as the last time. Nevertheless, I had a short pitch to hit the green in regulation and followed up with two solid putts.
The first hiccup on the back nine came on hole #14, a par-3. My tee shot was pulled into a massive greenside bunker – my current nemesis. Conscious of avoiding the clean pick, my first bunker shot was a tiny bit fat. My second bunker shot was also fat, only emerging to the rough. Fortunately, I got up and down from there to limit the damage to double-bogey.
After that it was solid play once again – not like the par streak I had earlier, but four consecutive bogeys. Hey, I don't mind the bogey train at all. I'll ride that train all day long and take my chances at sneaking in a par or two. My drive on hole #15 was too far right, leaving the green blocked out by some trees. I hit a wedge back to the fairway and attacked the hole from there. I had a chance at a par save, but just missed. On holes #16 and #17, my drives finished in great places – it was my approach shots that were less precise. Still, a chip and two putts to finish off a par-4 ain't bad. Hole #18 is a par-5 that I reached in regulation with three great shots. Alas, I was above the hole and a long way from it, so I succumbed to a 3-putt.
When I tallied it all up, I scored 42 on the back nine and 87 in total. That is my second best score of the year. I don't like to “toot” my own horn, but that's pretty decent.
Score: 87
Putts: 34
Fairways: 10
Greens: 6
Penalties: 1
Driver, 5-wood, lob wedge got me to the green on the opening par-5, but I 3-putt for bogey. The greens were as slick as Heathlands, so 3-putts were possible if starting out far from the hole. My drive on hole #2 found a fairway bunker and my second shot was fat. My third into this par-4 was short, requiring a chip and two putts for double-bogey. It got worse on hole #3, another par-4. I pulled my second shot into a fescue covered hillside, with no chance to find the ball. Yes, there is some fescue on Toot as well. I finished the hole with a triple-bogey.
Holes #4 through #6 were the start of a turnaround, but I was still victimized by the greens. On #4, a par-3, my tee shot was just short of the green on a severe up-slope. I chipped on , but wasn't really near the cup. Three putts ensued for a double. On holes #5 and #6, I nailed the fairways with some good drives and made bogeys. On the latter, I hit the green in regulation, but once again ruined it with a 3-putt. Despite the putting woes, I was feeling good about the round.
On holes #7 through #9, the turnaround kicked into high gear. On #7, a par-3, my tee shot missed the green to the left. I was flag high, but impeded by a tree. Nevertheless, I chipped right beside the cup and followed up with a successful par putt. On hole #8, a 494-yard par-5, I hit driver, 3-wood to about 5 yards short of the green. My drive was only about 250 yards and my 3-wood went almost the same distance. It was only the feeling of “room” that enabled me to go for it with 3-wood. I have not tried that in a long time and it felt great. After the 3-wood bomb, I pitched on and made the birdie putt! On hole #9, I hit the fairway, but my approach was just right of the green. I played a deft little chip and drained the putt for par. Three holes, three putts. You gotta love that!
A 9-over score of 45 at the turn was pretty respectable and I thought perhaps I could actually score well here. Four pars in a row to start the back nine only boosted my confidence. Driver, pitching wedge worked like a charm on hole #10, followed by two putts. A pretty 8-iron off the tee set up a 2-putt par on hole #11. Driver, sand wedge set up the 2-putt routine on hole #12. On hole #13, I busted out the driver, 3-wood combo once again in an attempt to reach the par-5 in two. This one was playing 514 yards, so I didn't come as close as the last time. Nevertheless, I had a short pitch to hit the green in regulation and followed up with two solid putts.
The first hiccup on the back nine came on hole #14, a par-3. My tee shot was pulled into a massive greenside bunker – my current nemesis. Conscious of avoiding the clean pick, my first bunker shot was a tiny bit fat. My second bunker shot was also fat, only emerging to the rough. Fortunately, I got up and down from there to limit the damage to double-bogey.
After that it was solid play once again – not like the par streak I had earlier, but four consecutive bogeys. Hey, I don't mind the bogey train at all. I'll ride that train all day long and take my chances at sneaking in a par or two. My drive on hole #15 was too far right, leaving the green blocked out by some trees. I hit a wedge back to the fairway and attacked the hole from there. I had a chance at a par save, but just missed. On holes #16 and #17, my drives finished in great places – it was my approach shots that were less precise. Still, a chip and two putts to finish off a par-4 ain't bad. Hole #18 is a par-5 that I reached in regulation with three great shots. Alas, I was above the hole and a long way from it, so I succumbed to a 3-putt.
When I tallied it all up, I scored 42 on the back nine and 87 in total. That is my second best score of the year. I don't like to “toot” my own horn, but that's pretty decent.
Score: 87
Putts: 34
Fairways: 10
Greens: 6
Penalties: 1
August 04, 2017
Another Crack at Heathlands
My last round convinced me it had been too long since my previous visit to Osprey Valley, so I decided to play all three courses there in an epic golf outing. First up was another crack at the classic Heathlands. This time, I played the current day routing, which begins on the original hole #11.
The start on the par-5 was good, with three controlled shots navigating the fairway and reaching the edge of the green. I was a long way from the hole and 3-putt for bogey, despite a couple of pretty good efforts. I also made bogey on hole #2, a 168-yard par-3. To do so required a fabulous up and down from the opposite side of the green to where the hole was cut.
The next two holes produced a pair of triple-bogeys. On #3, a par-4, my second shot landed in a greenside bunker. The dreaded clean pick soared past the entire green, while the comebacker was a bit short, setting up another 3-putt. On #4, a par-5, my second shot hit the lone tree on the hole, leading to a lost ball in the fescue. By the way, when I say fescue at Heathlands, I'm talking about knee to waist high stuff. It's no joke!
The remainder of the front nine included a pair of bogeys and three doubles. I hit a horrific 7-iron into the fescue on hole #6, a 173-yard par-3. I butchered the hole last time as well. On hole #7, my problem was a drive that landed in the fescue. On #8, it was a drive that sliced into the forest. I pumped a beautiful drive down the fairway on hole #9, but visited the fescue after trying to reach this par-5 in two.
I was shooting 53 at the turn, which is what I shot the last time around. To break 100, I would have to finish a lot stronger. Holes #10 through #15 produced three bogeys and three doubles. Sometimes, I found the fescue with my drives. When I actually found the fairway, it was my approach shots that dove into the long grass. When I avoided the fescue altogether, it seemed I would 3-putt.
Finally, I caught a break on hole #16, a 131-yard par-3 over water. I hit the green last time I played the hole, but 3-putt from above the hole for bogey. This time, my pitching wedge carried the ball five feet past the hole. The ball spun back and left, finishing about 8 feet below the hole. Alleluia! It was a straight putt, so I stepped up and drained it for birdie!
I ended up shooting 45 on the back nine and 98 overall. Not great, but at least I kept it under 100.
Score: 98
Putts: 37
Fairways: 5
Greens: 3
Penalties: 6
The start on the par-5 was good, with three controlled shots navigating the fairway and reaching the edge of the green. I was a long way from the hole and 3-putt for bogey, despite a couple of pretty good efforts. I also made bogey on hole #2, a 168-yard par-3. To do so required a fabulous up and down from the opposite side of the green to where the hole was cut.
The next two holes produced a pair of triple-bogeys. On #3, a par-4, my second shot landed in a greenside bunker. The dreaded clean pick soared past the entire green, while the comebacker was a bit short, setting up another 3-putt. On #4, a par-5, my second shot hit the lone tree on the hole, leading to a lost ball in the fescue. By the way, when I say fescue at Heathlands, I'm talking about knee to waist high stuff. It's no joke!
The remainder of the front nine included a pair of bogeys and three doubles. I hit a horrific 7-iron into the fescue on hole #6, a 173-yard par-3. I butchered the hole last time as well. On hole #7, my problem was a drive that landed in the fescue. On #8, it was a drive that sliced into the forest. I pumped a beautiful drive down the fairway on hole #9, but visited the fescue after trying to reach this par-5 in two.
I was shooting 53 at the turn, which is what I shot the last time around. To break 100, I would have to finish a lot stronger. Holes #10 through #15 produced three bogeys and three doubles. Sometimes, I found the fescue with my drives. When I actually found the fairway, it was my approach shots that dove into the long grass. When I avoided the fescue altogether, it seemed I would 3-putt.
Finally, I caught a break on hole #16, a 131-yard par-3 over water. I hit the green last time I played the hole, but 3-putt from above the hole for bogey. This time, my pitching wedge carried the ball five feet past the hole. The ball spun back and left, finishing about 8 feet below the hole. Alleluia! It was a straight putt, so I stepped up and drained it for birdie!
I ended up shooting 45 on the back nine and 98 overall. Not great, but at least I kept it under 100.
Score: 98
Putts: 37
Fairways: 5
Greens: 3
Penalties: 6
August 03, 2017
Heathlands 25th Anniversary
Osprey Valley Heathlands celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special promotion on the 25th of July. The event sold out in about 15 minutes and the best I could do was take a spot well down on the waiting list. Fortunately, I hooked up with someone who managed to snag a tee time – and it was the first of the day to boot!
As our foursome prepared to tee off on the first hole of the original routing, a piper perched atop a nearby mound played the bagpipes for the small crowd that was on hand. Shortly thereafter, the course architect, Doug Carrick, was introduced. He took the ceremonial tee shot before our group followed suit.
The last time I played Heathlands was in 2010, as part of the GTA Amateur Tour. It was a 2-day major, in which I managed to collect rounds of 96 and 85. If I could replicate that sort of form, especially that of the second day, I would have been very happy. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. Though I had a fantastic time on a great course, I blew up for a massive score on hole #9. I also struggled over the last four holes with some more big numbers.
The first eight holes were decent enough. I got up and down for bogey from a tough bunker on hole #1, before making a textbook par on #2. My only penalty stroke during this stretch came on hole #3, when I pulled my approach shot into a water hazard. That led to double-bogey, which was the same score I hand on hole #4. My approach from 140 yards found a deep bunker and though I splashed out well, I was above the hole and 3-putt.
A bogey on hole #5 was followed by a double on #6. I made my first excursion into the long fescue on this hole and wasted a shot completely trying to hit it out of there. I went on to bogey the next two holes, mostly by staying out of trouble. The last one was a bit disappointing, as it came on a par-3 after I hit the green in regulation. Once again, I was above the hole, with little chance to stop the ball near the cup.
On hole #9, a long par-5, I sliced my tee shot into a water hazard. Despite the penalty stroke, I managed to get beside the green with my fourth shot. Unfortunately, I was in a bunker. The rest of the hole played out like this. My fifth shot released off the back of the green into a water hazard. After another penalty, I sculled one back into the bunker I had already been in. I hit one fat, then rammed two more into the lip. My 11th shot found the green and I 2-putt for a score of 13. The round was ruined right there.
I averaged bogey golf on the first five holes of the back nine. This included a par on hole #11 and a double-bogey on hole #14. The others were bogeys, obviously. I needed to play bogey golf the rest of the way just to break 100. Instead, I collected a couple of quadruple-bogeys and a triple. On hole #15, my drive went into the fescue. I hacked it out to the fairway, but then found the fescue again near the green. This time, the ball was lost. On hole #16, a par-3, I pulled an iron into the thick fescue again. Another lost ball. On hole #17, my drive wasn't terrible but dove into the fescue. I found that one, but it took three hacks just to get out to the fairway. You get the picture.
To score well at Heathlands you MUST avoid the fescue. On a few occasions, I wasn't able to do that and that's what killed me. You also have to putt from below the hole. I was often putting from the high side with no chance of stopping the ball near the cup. Oh well, maybe next time.
Score: 107
Putts: 41
Fairways: 6
Greens: 4
Penalties: 5
As our foursome prepared to tee off on the first hole of the original routing, a piper perched atop a nearby mound played the bagpipes for the small crowd that was on hand. Shortly thereafter, the course architect, Doug Carrick, was introduced. He took the ceremonial tee shot before our group followed suit.
The last time I played Heathlands was in 2010, as part of the GTA Amateur Tour. It was a 2-day major, in which I managed to collect rounds of 96 and 85. If I could replicate that sort of form, especially that of the second day, I would have been very happy. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. Though I had a fantastic time on a great course, I blew up for a massive score on hole #9. I also struggled over the last four holes with some more big numbers.
The first eight holes were decent enough. I got up and down for bogey from a tough bunker on hole #1, before making a textbook par on #2. My only penalty stroke during this stretch came on hole #3, when I pulled my approach shot into a water hazard. That led to double-bogey, which was the same score I hand on hole #4. My approach from 140 yards found a deep bunker and though I splashed out well, I was above the hole and 3-putt.
A bogey on hole #5 was followed by a double on #6. I made my first excursion into the long fescue on this hole and wasted a shot completely trying to hit it out of there. I went on to bogey the next two holes, mostly by staying out of trouble. The last one was a bit disappointing, as it came on a par-3 after I hit the green in regulation. Once again, I was above the hole, with little chance to stop the ball near the cup.
On hole #9, a long par-5, I sliced my tee shot into a water hazard. Despite the penalty stroke, I managed to get beside the green with my fourth shot. Unfortunately, I was in a bunker. The rest of the hole played out like this. My fifth shot released off the back of the green into a water hazard. After another penalty, I sculled one back into the bunker I had already been in. I hit one fat, then rammed two more into the lip. My 11th shot found the green and I 2-putt for a score of 13. The round was ruined right there.
I averaged bogey golf on the first five holes of the back nine. This included a par on hole #11 and a double-bogey on hole #14. The others were bogeys, obviously. I needed to play bogey golf the rest of the way just to break 100. Instead, I collected a couple of quadruple-bogeys and a triple. On hole #15, my drive went into the fescue. I hacked it out to the fairway, but then found the fescue again near the green. This time, the ball was lost. On hole #16, a par-3, I pulled an iron into the thick fescue again. Another lost ball. On hole #17, my drive wasn't terrible but dove into the fescue. I found that one, but it took three hacks just to get out to the fairway. You get the picture.
To score well at Heathlands you MUST avoid the fescue. On a few occasions, I wasn't able to do that and that's what killed me. You also have to putt from below the hole. I was often putting from the high side with no chance of stopping the ball near the cup. Oh well, maybe next time.
Score: 107
Putts: 41
Fairways: 6
Greens: 4
Penalties: 5
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