No Silver Lining at Silver Brooke

Most of my golf scores have been in the 80s this year, so when I climb into the 90s it's a bit of a letdown. One such round took place earlier in the season at Silver Brooke, where I shot 93. I returned looking to improve on that score, but ended up shooting 96 on a very frustrating day.

Weary of my driver, I opted for the 4-iron on the first tee. It wasn't a great shot, but a subsequent 6-iron and gap wedge carried me near the green on this par-5. A chip and two putts earned bogey. The next two holes are par-3 designs, so driver wasn't in play. I made par on hole 2, which is the shorter one at 126 yards. I took a double-bogey on hole 3, which is 169 yards, thanks to a fat 6-iron shot, followed by a fat wedge shot.

The next two holes are short par-4 designs, so driver remained in the bag. On hole 4, I hit an absolutely perfect 3-iron to the left fairway, followed by sand wedge into the green. Two putts completed the par. On hole 5, I hit 6-iron to the left edge of the fairway, followed by sand wedge that I pushed right of the green. I made a good pitch, but missed a makeable par putt and settled for bogey.

Hole 6 was the first where I used driver. A low fade settled about one yard into the right rough. I was concerned about overhead branches when I swung 8-iron, but they were high enough to have no effect. Instead, I clipped some branches further ahead, as my shot was pushed right of target. A 40-yard pitch found the green safely, and then I 2-putt for bogey.

Holes 7 and 8 produced disappointing double-bogeys. Hole 7 is a par-5 lined on both sides by thick woods. I chose 3-iron off the tee for safety, but pushed it enough to trickle into the woods on the right. Worse than taking the penalty was the fact that I had to lay up twice from that position – the first time due to a slight bend in the fairway, and the second time due to a creek in front of the green. I hit a great 5-wood off the tee on hole 8, but my 8-iron approach was a hair left. It hit an embankment and rolled backwards to the edge of a pond. A great effort from a bad lie stopped in the rough, two feet short of the green. Then I duffed a chip that went nowhere.

Hole 9 produced bogey, but was disappointing because I felt I should have made par. After a great drive to the left fairway, I missed the green short and right with my gap wedge. I was close to the pin and able to putt from that position. I played too little break on my first putt, but the weight was perfect. This left a straight uphill putt of about 4 feet for par. I was not pleased when I missed it. My score at the turn was 46.

Pace of play on the course was not good. Beginning with hole 5, we were waiting for a long time on every tee. For about nine holes, it didn't bother me, as I was playing well enough. I opened the back nine with four consecutive bogeys, but my play was up and down. A good drive on hole 10 was followed by a pushed approach shot. A sculled chip was followed by a nice up and down. Two weak shots on hole 11 were followed by a good one, then a nice pitch on this par-5. A hooked 6-iron on hole 12 was followed by a solid pitch that gave me a decent par chance. A severely pushed drive on hole 13 was followed by a perfect 7-iron to just in front of a well protected green.

On holes 14 and 15, my driver went to hell, leading to blowup holes that produced a quadruple and triple-bogey. A smothered pull did the trick on hole 14, sending my ball into some bushes. After a penalty and drop, I hit a good 3-wood from a side hill lie. Unfortunately, a pitch from 30 yards then rolled off the other side of the green. My fifth shot found the green, only to be followed by a 3-putt. I reacted poorly, because I knew the round was slipping away from me. Had there been more pars before this incident, I might have reacted differently. However, I had been on the bogey train for a long stretch. When that happens, you're looking for an eventual par to tilt you in the right direction. For the opposite to happen in such dramatic fashion is extremely frustrating.

Having suffered through a blowup hole, I could no longer tolerate the pace of play. In fact, I was livid. Of course, this never helps. I pulled my drive on hole 15 into the woods, taking another penalty. The drive was so bad, I could only pitch my third shot toward the 100-yard stick. After a long wait for the green to clear, I sculled a pitching wedge short and right. My fifth shot was a pitch that I thinned over the green. A chip and a putt finished off the triple-bogey and I stormed off the green toward the next tee.

I used the wait on 16 tee to release all the remaining anger that had built up over the previous two holes. I was not going to break 90 at this point, so my goal was just to complete the round and be done with it. I went on to bogey the last three holes, once again playing that up and down style that seemed to characterize much of this round. A fantastic drive on hole 17 was followed by a topped fairway wood when I tried to drive the green of this par-5 in two shots. I smothered a 5-wood terribly on hole 18, but also made a nice up and down from 40 yards.

Bogey golf feels fine when a par or two are achieved; replace those pars with a couple of triple-bogeys and it's a different story entirely.

Score: 96
Putts: 33
Fairways: 6
Greens: 2
Penalties: 3

Familiar Place, Familiar Result

I've only played Kedron Dells four times in the past decade, but it still feels like a familiar place; I played there frequently when I started getting serious about the game, and routinely shot scores well over 100. While the last handful of scores have been in the 90s, they still felt like failure. This is especially true of my latest visit, since I've routinely been scoring in the 80s this year.

The front nine at Kedron Dells is usually the problem, especially the first few holes. The opening par-5 is nothing fancy – just long and straight. Invariably, I mess up either my tee shot or second shot, drifting into the trees on either side. It was my tee shot this time, and it didn't help that I duffed one after pitching back to the fairway. After reaching the green, I blew my first putt well past the hole, ultimately 3-putting for a triple-bogey.

Aside from a textbook par on hole 3, it didn't get any better over the next few holes. A 3-iron off the tee on hole 2 was pushed close enough to the trees that I couldn't attack the green. An imprecise pitch and a missed putt added up to double-bogey. On the beastly hole 4, I popped up my drive near the tree line on the right. After pitching to the fairway, I hit a great 3-wood. Unfortunately, I sculled a pitch across the green en route to triple-bogey. Hole 5 is a 195-yard par-3. I hit 4-iron flag high, but 15 yards left of the green. A fabulous flop shot carried a bunker, but hit a downslope and kicked off the other side of the green into another bunker. Double-bogey was the result.

The remainder of the front nine included a couple of pars, but also a couple more triples. On hole 6, a par-5, I got lucky when my sliced drive hit a tree and bounced back to the middle of the fairway. I took advantage, hitting a perfect 3-iron and lob wedge to set up par. A perfect 3-iron off the tee started hole 7, but I then pushed an 8-iron, smacking a large tree and dropping into a penalty area. I got near the green with my next shot, but 3-putt from the fringe for triple-bogey. Hole 8 is a 149-yard par-3 wedged between woods on both sides. A good 8-iron gave me a chance at birdie, but par it was. The triple on hole 9 was due to a duffed drive that dove into a penalty area ahead of the teeing ground.

The back nine at Kedron Dells was much better, but with a score of 52 at the turn, my fate was already sealed. I went bogey, bogey, par, par, bogey over holes 10 through 14. A 3-iron off the tee on hole 10 drifted close enough to a tree to cause trouble. A great punch shot and pitch gave me a chance to save par, but I just missed. I was all over the place on hole 11, a long par-5. I actually visited parts of holes 12 and 13 en route to a bogey there. Hole 12 is a par-3 that was playing about 195 yards. A beautiful 4-iron carried me near the back hole location, followed by an easy 2-putt. I saved par on hole 13 by getting up and down from about 50 yards. Hole 14 is a 222-yard par-3 that I played by laying up to about 40 yards in front of the green, then pitching on.

Over the last four holes, I went par, par, quadruple-bogey, par. As you can see, there was only one blemish on this back nine. I'll get to that in a minute; first, let's talk about the pars. Hole 15 is a par-4 with a huge dogleg to the right. I hit 6-iron to the left side, followed by a fantastic 8-iron that settled on the green. Hole 16 is a par-4 with a drop in elevation that occurs halfway down the fairway. A deep drive allowed me to attack the green with a lob wedge, but I didn't really get close enough to birdie range. Hole 18 is the only easy par-3 on the course, at just 144 yards. I hit a nice 9-iron flag high to set up the par.

Hole 17, a tough par-5, is the one that produced a quad. I pulled and popped up a horrible drive into a penalty area well left of the fairway. My third shot clipped the top of a tall tree as I was trying to get back to the fairway. The ball ended up against a root between two bushes. I was able to punch through the bushes, but the root prevented my ball from going very far. My fifth shot was an attempt to reach the green from 160 yards, on a downslope. The uneven lie caused me to hit it fat, sending the ball into another penalty area. My seventh shot bounced off the right edge of the green. Finally, I pitched on and made a putt to end the horror show.

That hole aside, I was happy with the back nine. Overall, it was typical Kedron disappointment.

Score: 94
Putts: 35
Fairways: 5
Greens: 6
Penalties: 4

Disappointing Greens at King's Forest

What a difference a change of scenery makes. My previous round was at Osprey Valley, where the greens were the fastest I've played this year. Two days later, I went to King's Forest, where the greens were the slowest I've played this year. They were healthy and smooth, but slow as molasses in January.

Driver, 8-iron carried me to the opening green, only to 3-putt for bogey. Driver and 5-wood left me in the woods off the tee on holes 2 and 3, respectively. In both cases, I punched out, then missed the green. A chip and two putts earned double-bogey on both holes.

I was in the trees and punching out again on hole 4, a par-5. This time, I nailed the green with my third shot – a towering 5-wood. Par was the result. A 4-iron reached the green off the tee on hole 5, a par-3. I was far from the cup, however, and 3-putt for bogey. Two consecutive 3-irons and a lob wedge carried me just off the back of the green on hole 6, another par-5. A chip and a tap-in finished the hole off for par.

I completed the front nine going bogey, par, par. My tee shot found a bunker on hole 7, a short par-3. I overshot the green with my bunker shot, trickling into a penalty area. My fourth shot was a nice pitch, followed by a short putt. Hole 8 was a textbook par, as I hit the fairway, then the green, followed by a 2-putt. My approach on hole 9 was from the right rough, and I needed an up and down from just off the green to convert the par.

I hit the fairway, then found the edge of the green on hole 10. I had a legitimate birdie chance, but the slow green killed that fairly quickly. The birdie putt was well short and I finished with par. I had the same result on hole 11, where the course really starts to get tough. After a green in regulation, I 2-putt well from distance. I was in a greenside bunker after two shots on hole 12, a tight dogleg. Like a bonehead, I picked the ball clean out of the bunker, sending it into the woods 30 yards behind the green. I was livid at the resulting triple-bogey.

Hole 13, a par-4, is among the hardest on the course. I hit the fairway with 3-iron, then pushed a 4-iron to the edge of the woods right of the green. I was short sided, with a massive bunker between me and the green. Oh yeah, overhead branches blocked the aerial route and I had a nasty lie. I pitched one sideways to the fairway in front of the green – that was all I could do. I was ten yards off the green, but lagged a putt to within 3 feet. It was a great recovery for bogey.

After par on a short par-3, I took double-bogey on a par-5. My drive was in the right rough, but the ball took a bad bounce off the hard ground and kicked into some bushes. I did hit a great cutting 5-wood after taking a penalty, but my short game let me down near the green. Hole 16 is a short par-4 that also produced double-bogey. I usually hit iron off the tee, but was feeling confident with driver. Unfortunately, I pushed one right into the woods. It didn't help that the slow green sabotaged my bogey attempt.

I finished the round reasonably strong with a bogey and birdie – the former coming on a par-3 and the latter on a par-5. My drive on the last hole was right of the fairway, but I hit a nice 8-iron over some small trees to get back in position, then followed up with a precise lob wedge from 75 yards. The ball released to very near the cup at the back of the green, leaving a virtual tap-in for the bird.

Score: 88
Putts: 31
Fairways: 7
Greens: 7
Penalties: 3

Slick Greens at Osprey Valley Hoot

It was a beautiful late summer day on the Hoot course at Osprey Valley. The course was in excellent condition and the greens were fast. I got my first crack at the greens by making a one putt on the opening par-5 to save bogey. It followed a stubbed chip and a fat shot out of a fairway bunker.

Despite hitting the first two fairways, my driver was not really working well. I was pulling the ball left and low. On hole 2, I hit 7-iron from the left edge of the fairway, coming up short of the green. I chipped on and 2-putt nicely for bogey. On hole 3, a terribly pulled drive smacked a tree trunk and bounced back to the left rough. A lovely 7-iron carried just right of the green. Once again, I pitched on and 2-putt for bogey. Hole 4 is a par-3 that resulted in another bogey. After missing the green short and left, I pitched well past the hole. It took an excellent lag and tap-in to hole out.

On hole 5, the hardest on the course, my weakly pulled drive put me in a tough situation. The hole is already a long par-4 and this shot effectively transformed it into a par-5. My second shot was pulled slightly toward a bunker. With a downhill stance and 100 yards to the green, I only managed to reach some thick fescue short and right. I did well from there to pitch on and 2-putt for double-bogey. Hole 6 is ten yards shorter than number 5, but a par-5. After a good drive to the left fairway, I thinned a 5-wood into a fairway bunker. My third shot hit the bunker lip, while my fourth safely found the green. A 2-putt converted the bogey.

My driving trouble caught up with me again on hole 7, as I smothered one into the trees left of the fairway. There were no trees in front of my ball, but overhead branches impeded my backswing. My second shot travelled a whole 2 yards. Worse than that, I was on the border of a bunker and didn't anticipate the lie being so sandy. My third shot barely got back to the fairway. A nice 8-iron left me on the green above the hole. I did really well to 2-putt from there for double-bogey.

The best putt of the day came on hole 8, a 166-yard par-3. My 8-iron finished on the front edge of the green, as I got no help from a tailwind. No worries, as I lined up the 16-foot putt and promptly drained it for birdie! The good vibes carried to hole 9, a par-4 that cuts through a pine forest. I drove the ball to the centre of the fairway, then found the front of the green from 150 yards. A long uphill lag putt was followed by a nice 5-footer for par. My score at the turn was 44.

I started the back nine as well as I had finished the front. Hole 10 is a 173-yard par-3. I hit 7-iron just right of the green, then managed to get up and down for par. Hole 11 is a 500-yard par-5. Driver, 4-iron carried me to some fescue bordering a bunker on the right side. I punched one out to in front of the green, with enough momentum to trickle onto the putting surface, three feet from the hole. There was some break to contend with, but I made the birdie!

I hit a great drive on hole 12, but this is a dogleg right and my ball travelled through the fairway and into a bunker. I clipped some overhead tree branches en route to the green, finishing just short. After a pitch well past the hole, I lagged my first putt close enough to finish with bogey. My drive on hole 13, a par-5, was a slight push to the right side. Unfortunately, I also pushed my second shot very close to the edge of some water. The lie was horrible, so I declared the ball unplayable. After taking my penalty and drop, I hit a wedge to the green and 2-putt for bogey.

My drive on hole 14 was among my worst of the day – a smothered shot that travelled very little distance into the left rough. I hit 5-wood next, but could not reach the green on this par-4. After a pitch and two putts, I took a bogey. Hole 15 is a 137-yard par-3 that is all carry over a massive waste bunker. With a stiff headwind, I hit 8-iron to find the fat part of the green. This left a very tricky putt, which I didn't navigate very well. I ended up with three putts to finish, and another bogey.

Hole 16 is a par-4 that I completed with four shots from tee to cup. Unfortunately, the tee shot was preceded by an earlier one that I smother pulled into the trees, costing me two strokes and ultimately, double-bogey. I finished the day with two consecutive bogeys. 5-wood and a thinned wedge got me greenside on hole 17, but I couldn't quite get up and down for the par. A pushed drive left me behind some tall trees on hole 18, so I couldn't attack the green with my second shot. I did get on with my third and closed with a good 2-putt.

Score: 87
Putts: 33
Fairways: 5
Greens: 4
Penalties: 2

Scenic Woods More Like Misty Meadows

I drove through some fog to reach Scenic Woods Golf Club, and it was thickest near the course, atop the Niagara escarpment. Through the green, the course was ravaged; in fact, it was difficult to differentiate the fairways from the rough. By comparison, the greens were an absolute oasis: lush, receptive, and smooth.

My driver didn't work very well to start the round. I pulled my tee shot on the opening par-5, forcing a sideways pitch back to the fairway. Bogey was the result. I pulled another one on hole 2, a par-4. My ball came to rest against the tree line, inches away from being out of bounds. With no back swing available, I managed to punch a shot to the edge of the green. A nice up and down preserved par. I pulled my third drive of the day on hole 3, a dogleg left. This one bounced into the woods, leading to a penalty and another bogey.

I didn't use the driver again until hole 8, a short par-4. It worked well enough that time to produce par. On holes 4 through 7, my club of choice off the tee was 7-iron, 5-wood, 8-iron, and gap wedge, respectively. All of these are par-4 designs, except for the last, which is a par-3. I actually duffed the 7-iron on hole 4, but recovered well for bogey. A fantastic 5-iron into the green on hole 5 set up a par. Hole 6 produced par as well, thanks to an up and down from just off the green. Hole 7 resulted in bogey, as I thinned the gap wedge through the back of the green.

The front nine ends with a 168-yard par-3. After missing the green left with a 6-iron, I got up and down for par. My score at the turn was 39 (4 over).

There are three par-5 holes on the back nine at Scenic Woods, beginning with hole 10. I smothered my drive attempt there, with my ball ending up behind a spruce tree. My only option then was to hit a lob wedge over the tree. It ended up being the smart choice, as I managed to save bogey on the hole. I wasn't as lucky on holes 12 and 18, the other par-5 designs. I pulled my drive slightly on the former, and sliced one on the latter. In both cases, I was forced to take a penalty. I tried a heroic third shot on hole 12, which only lead to another penalty and triple-bogey. I recovered better on hole 18, but 3-putt from distance to take double-bogey.

Aside from the par-5 holes, my back nine was quite nice. Two nice shots, including a lovely 5-iron off the tee, got me to the green safely on hole 11. Unfortunately, I then 3-putt for bogey. I made par on hole 13, a par 3 with a green wedged between woods and an angled creek. A pure 8-iron off the tee paved the way to bogey on hole 14. My approach to the green was not so pure, forcing a chip and two putts to finish.

Holes 15 and 17 are very similar par-4 designs. Measuring 384 and 394 yards, respectively, both feature a slight dogleg left. The second shot on each hole is a forced carry over a wide creek in front of the greens. My best drive of the day came on hole 15, leaving just a 100-yard shot into the green from the middle of the fairway. I hit an easy sand wedge to below the hole, then 2-putt for par. My drive on hole 17 ran through the dogleg a bit, finishing under a spruce tree. I had only 125 yards to the green, but overhead branches eliminated any possibility of going for the green. I punched to just in front of the creek, then nailed the green with my third. I gave the par putt a good chance, but had to settle for bogey.

Hole 16 is the only one I haven't described yet. It's a 194-yard par-3. I pushed a 4-iron off the tee, dropping down beside a cluster of small trees in front and right of the green. After pitching over a bunker, I 2-putt nicely for bogey. I would say that despite having a couple of 3-putts, my putting was very good all day.

Score: 86
Putts: 31
Fairways: 4
Greens: 4
Penalties: 4

Braeben with a Buddy

I got to play with a buddy for the first time in a while, and we headed out to Braeben. Weather was perfect, but as always, the wind was a factor there. I played Braeben earlier this year and put on a driving clinic, finishing with a score of 87. My driving was nowhere near as good this time, but I finished with a score of 84. Does this mean that driving accuracy and distance is not important? I wouldn't go that far, but there's a lot more to the game, for sure.

I had two penalties on the day, both coming off tee shots early in the round. My drive on hole 1, a par-4, looked like a good one to the left fairway, but I couldn't find the ball. It must have hit some mounds and kicked left into the penalty area. After a drop, I hit my third left of the green. From this position, the green was severely elevated. I made a good pitch to within 6 feet, but missed the par putt and took bogey.

After an up and down for par on hole 2, a short par-3, I tried 3-iron off the tee on hole 3. It was a horrible shot that found the fescue left. After a drop, it took two decent shots to get near the green. My fifth shot was a chip, followed by two putts for an unnecessary triple-bogey. A three-putt bogey followed on hole 4, a par-3. It wasn't a bad three-putt, as I started a healthy distance from the cup.

Holes 5 through 7 are the ones that gave me trouble last time I played the course. This time, I handled them much better, going par, bogey, bogey. I definitely learned from the previous experience. My approach on hole 5 was more conservative, finishing off the front right side of the green. From there, I played a lovely up and down.

My approach on hole 6 was even more conservative than the last time. Instead of lofting one up in the air, where the wind can take it a mile away, I bumped a low 8-iron from 90 yards to the area in front and left of the green. A pitch and two putts sealed the bogey.

On hole 7, the dramatic par-3 from an elevated tee, I hit gap wedge instead of 9-iron, which sailed over the green and into the woods on the last occasion. This time, I finished in front and left of the green. I did mess up a pitch shot, but after a second try got up and down for bogey.

I was 7 over par through seven holes, which isn't bad, but also not great. I went 5 over par for the last eleven holes. The stretch included the final two holes of the front nine, both resulting in par. On hole 8, a par-5, I hit driver, 5-wood through the back of the green. A solid chip gave me a chance at birdie, but par it was. On hole 9, a par-4, a weak drive put me behind the proverbial 8-ball. My third shot was an 8-iron that I bumped along the ground from 75 yards to stop within 6 feet of the cup. I drained the putt for a score of 43 at the turn.

The back nine began with birdie on a par-3. I hit a fabulous 5-iron into the wind, finishing inside 8 feet. My approach shots over the next three holes weren't nearly as precise, as I failed to hit the greens in regulation. In each case, an extra shot was required to find the putting surface. One of those shots was a successful splash out of a greenside bunker. Another was a pitch from 40 yards. The final one was a much more delicate pitch from five yards off the green. In each case, two putts ensued for bogey.

I got another par on hole 14, a par-4 with a dogleg left. Driver, sand wedge carried me 10 feet left of the flag, but a solid birdie attempt just missed. I bogeyed hole 15, thanks to a 3-putt, before my next par on hole 16. This is a par-5 with a dogleg right very near the green. My drive was a short pop up, left of the fairway. A pure 8-iron, followed by a 70-yard pitch with the lob wedge carried me flag high on the left edge of the green. After a good lag putt, I tapped in for the par.

Hole 17 is a short par-4. I got away with a bad drive, managing to finish just two yards off the back of the green after my second shot. At worst, this should have been a bogey. Unfortunately, I left my chip shot well short of the hole, then blasted my first putt well past. Two more putts were required to hole out for double-bogey. It was no problem, however, as I went on to par the last hole of the day, a par-5. I hit driver, 4-iron into the wind, before finding the green with the lob wedge from 70 yards. My first putt up a steep section of green was a bit short, but I calmly drained a 5-footer to finish with a back nine score of 41.

Score: 84
Putts: 33
Fairways: 5
Greens:6
Penalties: 2

First Ever Visit to Trafalgar

Trafalgar Golf & Country Club was a private facility for 60 years. After being sold a couple of years ago, operation of the golf course was turned over to GolfNorth and public tee times were made available. I made my first visit to the club on the last day in August. The weather couldn't have been any better.

I got paired with two guys who were playing the blue tees (6557 yards), while I opted for the white (6211 yards). I pulled my drive on the opening par-5 into a fairway bunker. After hitting pitching wedge to safely clear the lip, I hit a fantastic approach with 7-iron. I left the uphill birdie putt short, but followed up with a good putt for par.

Hole 2 is a par-4 that was playing 410 yards from the blue tees and 400 yards from the white. My fellow competitors hit their tee shots first, one pushing his drive well into the right rough and the other finding the centre of the fairway. I went next, pummeling a laser down the right side of the fairway. I had a 10 yard advantage on the tee, but converted that into a much greater advantage with my 300-yard drive. My partner joked that I would absolutely have to drop back to the blue tees. I misjudged the wind with my sand wedge approach, coming up a couple yards short of the green, but made a lengthy 2-putt to convert the par.

After bombing a 300-yard drive, a 130-yard tee shot shouldn't be too difficult, right? On hole 3, that tee shot came up short of the green, as I greatly underestimated the headwind. I had to pitch over a bunker to get near the pin, but duffed one directly into the sand. My third shot was a good out, though the ball flew well past the hole. I severely underestimated the break on my first putt, leading to two more and a triple-bogey. Wow!

I got back on track quickly, making another par on hole 4, a 350-yard par-4. This prompted my playing partners to join me on the white tees, beginning with hole 5. Speaking of hole 5, I hit 5-wood to just right of the fairway on this dogleg left. I was far from the green, with a forced carry over a creek. Because my lie was mediocre, I lofted up, knowing I wouldn't reach the green. My third shot was a pitch from 40 yards that rolled off the back of the green. No worries, as I got up and down for bogey.

The rest of the front nine went bogey, par, par, double-bogey. The bogey came on a 200-yard par-3, while the pars came on a par-4 and par-5 that were playing directly into the wind. The wind prevented my drive from carrying a fairway bunker on hole 7. I needed pitching wedge to clear the lip, which left me well short of the green. Fortunately, I hit a wonderful pitch from 50 yards, then sunk a 5-footer for the par. I used driver, 3-iron, and lob wedge to get one close on hole 8. Unfortunately, the downhill breaking birdie putt just missed.

Hole 9 is another long par-3. It was playing 190 yards directly into the wind. I made great contact with the 4-iron, but the ball drew and finished 10 yards left of the green. A subsequent pitch and chip shot both overshot the target. I did well to close with a 2-putt, but carded a double-bogey. My score at the turn was 42.

I started the back nine with a bogey on hole 10, a par-4. My drive was too far left and my ball finished at the base of a tree, forcing me to chip back to the fairway. Next up were a pair of par-5 holes that finished with par and bogey. Driver, 3-iron carried me just off the front edge of the green on hole 11, but I messed up my pitch shot, negating a good chance at birdie. After a good drive on hole 12, I hit a poor second shot, finishing behind a massive tree on the right side. For some reason, I had opened the club face drastically. I hit a high pitching wedge over the tree, then chipped an 8-iron onto the green.

The next three holes resulted in par, double-bogey, and par. Hole 13 is a 169-yard par-3 with a forced carry that I navigated in textbook style. Hole 14 is a quirky par-4, at just 314 yards. 5-wood off the tee landed in a fairway bunker right. Next came a terrible shot with the pitching wedge. I think I hit the edge of the club face, near the toe. The ball came out low and well to the right, finishing in some deep fescue. I hacked the ball out, then pitched  onto the green. My long bogey putt looked like it was in, but it hit the flag stick and stayed out. I think the device in the bottom of the cup (used for COVID-19 reasons) prevented the ball from dropping, but I counted the result as a double nevertheless. The misadventure didn't bother me, as I made par on hole 15, thanks largely to a fantastic 4-iron into the wind on my second shot.

Hole 16 is perhaps the most interesting hole on the course. The 334-yard par-4 begins with a carry over an angled creek. The angle is such that if you go too far left, you risk running through the fairway, into some long fescue. The further right you go, the longer the carry becomes. My drive faded right of my intended target. While it cleared the creek, it did not carry over a steep incline to the fairway level. I hit a good second shot from an impossibly steep stance, ending in the fairway some 40 yards from the flag. From there, I pitched on and 2-putt for bogey.

I earned double bogey on hole 17, a 164-yard par 3 over water from an elevated tee. My 6-iron into the wind finished flag high, but about 15 yards left of the green. I had to pitch over a bunker and ended up rolling off the other side of the green. My chip back was no better, rolling well past the hole. Two putts finished the hole.

The final hole at Trafalgar is a 418-yard par-4. I began by pummeling a drive – this one even better than the one on hole 2. Straight as an arow, with a low, penetrating flight, this one travelled 309 yards to finish just behind the 100-yard stick. Next, I hit a precise lob wedge to finish below the hole at the front of the green. There was little break in this putt and I could be aggressive putting uphill. From about 13 feet, I lined it up and drained the birdie putt. Great way to finish!

With this result, my handicap factor dipped to 11.9 – the first time it's ever been below 12.

Score: 84
Putts: 33
Fairways: 5
Greens:8
Penalties: 0

Just a Few Mistakes at Oliver's Nest

I found a good deal at Oliver's Nest, so I decided to make the trek. It's a long drive, but it takes you through some lovely bucolic scenery. The front nine began well, as I went bogey, par, par, bogey. My drive on the opening par-4 was a miss hit off the heel of the club. Two good iron shots gave me a chance to save par, but my putt just missed. My drive on hole 2 was awesome, allowing me to attack the back pin with lob wedge. I pulled the ball slightly left, finishing on the edge of a naturalized area. I made a fantastic up and down from there. Hole 3 was a textbook par-3. I hit the green, lagged one close, then tapped in. Another poor drive put me in some trouble on hole 4. My approach was with 4-iron and finished short of the green. After a great pitch shot, I missed a short par putt, settling for the bogey.

The remainder of the front featured some costly mistakes. Hole 5 is a long par-3 with a forced carry over a naturalized area. I hit my tee shot fat, landing in the junk. My third from the tee was a high 4-iron that found the green. Two putts earned a double-bogey. After making par on hole 6, I had more tee trouble on hole 7. This is a short par-4, so I opted for 5-wood. I hit this one fat as well, losing another ball in the junk just ahead of the teeing ground. Hitting my third from the tee, I finished the hole with another double-bogey. Both of those doubles could easily have been pars. Hole 8 was a fairly typical bogey, but I followed up with another double-bogey on hole 9. After a weak drive, I hit my 8-iron fat, barely advancing the ball. My score at the turn was 45.

Fortunately, I turned things around and played well for the entire back nine. I split the fairway on hole 10, before nailing the green with pitching wedge, en route to par. My third shot on hole 11, a par-5, was woefully short, requiring another pitch shot to get on the green. There was no par saving putt, so I took bogey. A threesome let me play through on hole 12, a short par-4. As they watched closely, I pummeled a drive down the left side of the fairway. Pulling off those drives with an audience is becoming a regular thing. My approach from 60 yards failed to clear a front left bunker, but I got up and down for par. My drive on the next hole split the fairway, but my 9-iron approach was fat, taking a huge divot out of the soft, damp fairway. I proceeded to hit one within makeable range, but burned the edge and took bogey. I recovered from that with another textbook par on a par-3.

The last four holes went bogey, par, par, bogey. The bogey on hole 15 was well earned, considering I started the hole by pushing a drive into the woods on the right. A deft chip into the green that had to be kept under a small tree was a big reason for that. Hole 16 was yet another textbook par-3. Though I hit the green in regulation, I was pretty far from the hole, so I did well to 2-putt from that position. Hole 17 was an absolutely perfect par 4. I split the fairway with my drive, which travelled 265 yards. I found my ball at the 100-yard marker in some casual water. After getting relief, I nailed the green with lob wedge. Another tricky 2-putt finished the hole off. Hole 18 began wth another weak drive. I seemed to alternate between bad and good on the day. The bad ones were weak pulls, as I swung from outside-in. I pitched back to the fairway and attacked the green with 9-iron. I came up short, requiring a chip and putt to close things out.

My score on the back nine was a respectable 40, which gave me 85 overall.

Score: 85
Putts: 33
Fairways: 7
Greens:6
Penalties: 3

Putting for 79 at Knollwood

The search for value took me to Knollwood's New Course, where I've only played on one other occasion. Fairways and greens were in pretty rough shape, but you get what you pay for, I suppose. On a positive note, the people were great! I played as a single and six groups let me play through, without any prompting whatsoever.

The sixth group let me through on hole 11 and it was wide open the rest of the way. I finished the round in 2 hours, 50 minutes. This was much appreciated, as a storm system was forecast to pass through in the late afternoon. I got in my car and drove away before any bad weather reached the area.

Hole 1 – Par  4 (275 yards)

I hit 5-wood to the centre of the fairway, followed by lob wedge to the front of the elevated green. The ball had too much backspin and rolled off the front of the green. I chipped one just past the back pin location, barely missing a 10-footer for par. Bogey it was.

Hole 2 – Par 5 (459 yards)

A mediocre drive still found the left side of the fairway. I pushed a 4-iron into a cluster of trees right. The ball was unplayable, so I took a penalty and drop. Sand wedge then carried me to the left edge of the green, flag high. After a lengthy lag, I tapped in for another bogey.

Hole 3 – Par 4 (410 yards)

The hardest hole on the course began with a perfect 5-wood to the centre of the fairway. From a downhill lie, it's not possible to clear a tall tree that protects the front of the green. I tried to punch a low shot to in front of the green, but missed badly. My next attempt was no better. My fourth shot rolled well past the hole. A lag and tap-in earned a double-bogey.

Hole 4 – Par 3 (123 yards)

After long waits on the first few holes, the first group of the day let me through. With no more waiting for the rest of the day, my performance improved dramatically. I hit gap wedge to the front left portion of the green on this hole. I lagged a putt through a chewed up section of green, then tapped in for par.

Hole 5 – Par 5 (453 yards)

Waited briefly at the rear tees until a foursome waved me through from the fairway. You must tee off through a chute on this hole, which can be challenging at the best of times. With a group of people watching, it gets more complicated. No problem, I drilled a drive over their heads toward the top of the hill. Followed up with a lovely 4-iron that finished in the left rough, 30 yards from the flag. A good pitch gave me a chance at birdie, but I just missed it, settling for another par.

Hole 6 – Par 4 (250 yards)

It's short, but this hole is tough if you haven't played it much before. Trees pinch the area leading up to the green, so it's important to pick the correct layup spot. I pulled a 7-iron slightly off the tee, finishing under some trees on the left. My only play was a sideways pitch to the end of the fairway. From 80 yards, my low pitch attempt was fat. I followed up with a beauty to inside 5 feet of the cup, then drained a putt for bogey.

Hole 7 – Par 4 (395 yards)

Three senior gents let me through at the tee, cracking some jokes about how I could learn by watching them, instead of moving ahead. I chuckled, then drilled a 270-yard drive to the left centre of the fairway. From 125 yards, my gap wedge released off the back of the green. I chipped back past the hole, then made an uphill putt to save par.

Hole 8 – Par 4 (320 yards)

Three ladies let me through on this tee, and I heard some “wows” after I hit a drive just off the right side of the fairway. That felt good, even though it wasn't my best drive, either in length or accuracy. From that position, I had a perfect angle into the green, allowing me to attack with sand wedge. I missed the putting surface slightly right, but chipped just past the hole and drained a 6-footer for another up-and-down par.

Hole 9 – Par 3 (169 yards)

This hole is all carry over water, with out of bounds also coming into play on the left. I hit a pure 7-iron off the tee that hit the green and released to flag-high, just left of the target. This left an uphill putt with just a hint of break. I lined it up and confidently stroked in the birdie, which helped me shoot 40 (4-over) on the front nine.

Hole 10 – Par 4 (340 yards)

Four guys let me through on this tee, and they were all standing 10 feet away from me as I teed up my ball. The fairway drops, before rising back up to the green. Boom! I pounded one straight down the pipe. “That's what I want to do,” exclaimed one of the onlookers. I bet you do, buddy! It was a great shot, but only went 240 yards, as the ball was slowed by the hill and by some rough that pinches in on the right side. From 100 yards, I hit lob wedge to the front of the green. A nicely judged lag putt left easy work for par.

Hole 11 – Par 3 (130 yards)

I hit gap wedge to the left edge of the green, while yet another group of friendly golfers looked on. The hole was on the opposite side of the green, so this was potential 3-putt territory. After a spectacular lag putt to within two feet, any chance of a 3-putt was eradicated. I tapped in for another par.

Hole 12 – Par 4 (399 yards)

This fairway bends to the right. I remember picking the wrong line the first time I played this hole, finishing in a tricky spot left of the fairway. This time, I blasted one to the centre of the fairway, leaving 140 yards to the green. I hit pitching wedge just left of the green and was a little short sided. My chip went 8 feet past the hole. I had an uphill putt with a small break, but I just missed. Bogey was the result.

Hole 13 – Par 4 (398 yards)

I pulled my drive on this hole and it didn't go very far at all. From the left rough, not only was the ball above my feet, but some woods up ahead blocked my path to the green. I hit 6-iron to an open area well right of the green. A 40-yard pitch gave me a decent look at par, but a good looking roll didn't drop. I recorded another bogey.

Hole 14 – Par 4 (375 yards)

I drove the ball 270 yards, missing the fairway left by about two yards. Despite a tree nearby, I had an unobstructed path to the green. I played sand wedge well right of the flag to avoid bushes left of the green. Though I got on in regulation, I was very far from the hole. I lagged my first putt down a large hump and cozied it to within a couple feet of the hole. An easy tap-in finished the par.

Hole 15 – Par 3 (177 yards)

A longer par-3 that once again must carry water. I made good contact with 5-iron,but tugged the ball ever so slightly left. I was in some long grass, fairly close to the rear flag location. To be safe, I chipped well past the hole. From there, I curled a long breaking putt to within a few feet. It was another excellent lag, but this time for bogey.

Hole 16 – Par 5 (466 yards)

I hit a pulled drive, which made the hole play longer than it is. As on hole 13, I was in the rough, with the ball above my feet and trees ahead blocking my path. I hit 7-iron to the right, but it carried too far and settled under a spruce tree right of the fairway. All I could do was punch back to the fairway. From 100 yards and with the ball well above my feet, I hit a good sand wedge to the back of the green. Two putts finished the hole for a bogey.

Hole 17 – Par 5 (547 yards)

A long par-5 that began with a perfect drive to the left centre of the fairway. This was followed by a lovely piercing 4-iron straight down the pipe. From 125 yards, I hit gap wedge to the back of this large tiered green. A lengthy birdie attempt didn't miss by much, leading to a stress-free par.

Hole 18 – Par 4 (343 yards)

There's a lot of room on this par-4, but it doesn't appear that way from the teeing ground. Especially from the back tees, nearby trees make it feel much more narrow. I pulled my drive slightly, actually clipping a branch ever so slightly. The ball deflected back to the right and a bit down, but then bounced off the cart path, which evened things out. I ended up in the centre of the fairway, 113 yards from the green.

A beautiful gap wedge flew very near the rear pin location and spun backward a bit, leaving a 10-foot putt for birdie. I knew if I drained the putt it would be for a score of 79 – just one off my personal best of 78. It was an uphill putt with just a hint of break, exactly as I had faced on a couple of occasions earlier in the round. I put a nice stroke on it, just burning the left edge before curling in behind the hole.

So I “settled” for a score of 80. I can think of worse things.

Score: 80
Putts: 32
Fairways: 8
Greens:8
Penalties: 1

Birdie Finish at Doon Valley

A day after my visit to Braeben, I drove out to Doon Valley. The weather was once again perfect. My drive on the opening hole was just left of the fairway. I was in the same position last time I played there and made a mess of things. It was a case of trying to do too much. This time, I pitched out to the fairway, then pitched to the green for a look at par. It didn't drop, but a tap in bogey was a decent result.

I faced a short breaking putt for birdie on hole 2, a 164-yard par-3. This followed a lovely 8-iron off the tee. I didn't make the birdie and had to settle for par. I played bogey golf for the rest of the front nine, with five bogeys accompanied by one more par and a double-bogey.

I hit a beautiful 5-wood off the tee on hole 3, a short par-4. Unfortunately, my wedge into the green missed by a couple of yards to the right. A chip and two putts earned bogey. I hit a beautiful 5-iron off the tee on hole 8 to lay up before a nasty penalty area. I stuck a lovely 9-iron close to the pin, setting up another short breaker for birdie. I missed that one too, settling for par.

I used driver on the rest of the front nine holes, but I wasn't as crisp as I had been the day before. Besides missing slightly left on hole 1, I pushed one a bit right on hole 5, and sliced a few right on holes 6, 7, and 9. On hole 5, I followed up with an unobstructed 6-iron just right of the green. On hole 6, a par-5, I punched a 3-iron under some trees and well down the fairway. On hole 7, I took the aerial route, flying over some trees with an 8-iron to find the back of the green. There was no such recovery on hole 9, as the sliced drive went into a penalty area. Despite taking a penalty stroke, I still made bogey for a score of 44 at the turn.

The back nine began with a triple-bogey, my worst result of the day. This is a medium length par-4 with woods on the left and a penalty area to the right, from tee to green. I opened the club face of my 3-iron off the tee, sending the ball into the penalty area. After taking a drop, I was still far from the green and tugged a 4-iron left to the edge of the woods. I did well to pitch on from there, but finished with a 3-putt.

Over the remaining eight holes, I played good golf, going just 3 over par. On holes 11 through 14, I went bogey, par, bogey, par. I burned the edge of the cup on hole 11, a par-3. A fantastic 5-iron, sand wedge combo found the green in regulation on hole 12. Another burned edge produced the bogey on hole 13. A beautiful pitch from 30 yards finished within 2 feet on hole 14, setting up the tap-in par.

On holes 15 through 18, I went bogey, bogey, par, birdie. A greenside bunker gave me the usual trouble on hole 15, but I then chipped one to tap-in range to preserve the bogey. An untimely 3-putt was responsible for the bogey on hole 16. Hole 17 is a 172-yard par-3 that played out in pretty textbook fashion for the par.

Hole 18 is a 476-yard par-5 that plays alongside the river. The hole bends to the right, especially near the green, which is cut into the side of a hill and severely elevated. I hit a straight drive to the centre of the fairway, though it wasn't particularly long. From there, I hit an 8-iron to the 100-yard marker. From 105 yards, I clubbed up to gap wedge to account for the elevation change. It was the perfect choice, as my ball finished 8 feet below the hole. I drained the birdie putt for a final score of 86.

Score: 86
Putts: 36
Fairways: 6
Greens:7
Penalties: 3