Decent Vibes at Granite Ridge
Sixteen good holes. Two bad ones. A score just over 90. That summarizes my typical round this season. Shooting in the low nineties is not bad, but I want to take my game to the next level, and that means shooting in the eighties regularly. Right now, two or three bad holes are preventing me from getting there. It amazes me how I can play bogey or better golf, even without hitting the ball particularly crisp. Over the last couple of years, I have gotten better at putting the ball in play, advancing it with each shot, missing to the safe side, and more. Despite this maturing process, I still have a couple of blowup holes (triple bogey or worse) every single round. My mechanics simply have to improve, in order to help remedy the situation. Game management can only go so far.
Score: 91
Putts: 38
Fairways: 6
Greens: 8
Penalties: 2
Pattern Repeats at Twenty Valley
I have a habit of playing fifteen or sixteen solid holes of golf, accompanied by two or three holes that are just plain terrible. The pattern continued at my latest round on the GTA Amateur Tour. I was eight over par through the first eight holes, then went six over par for the ninth hole alone! It's hard to understand. For eight holes, I made good contact with the ball and managed my game well. Then all of a sudden, I mis-hit two balls off the tee, sending them into a hazard. On the back nine, I was five over par for seven of the holes. That's pretty good. Problem was, the two remaining holes resulted in triple bogeys. A pesky tree between me and the tenth green, as well as some fierce wind on the seventeenth tee were to blame. I really wish I could avoid the two or three bad holes I seem to have per round. Without them, I would be scoring in the eighties much more regularly.
Score: 97
Putts: 37
Fairways: 3
Greens: 4
Penalties: 4
Heartbreak at Deepwoods Final
I was the leader going into the final Deepwoods event of the year, and I could almost taste victory. I was the champion in 2008, so I know what it takes to close the deal in the season finale. One player was a point behind me and two others were behind by two points. If I could outplay them, the championship was mine. A pair of other players were four points behind, but I felt they would have to play perfectly just to force a playoff.
My opponents struggled over the first few holes, helping me pad my lead. On hole #5, I trickled into some lush fescue and could not hack the ball out. I also struggled a bit on hole #9, thanks to more fescue near the green. With my opponents recovering nicely, it was once again anybody's game. Over the next four holes, among the hardest at Willow Valley, I started to pull away once again. I made two pars and two bogeys, while the others struggled. Down the stretch, I knew I had them beat. I just had to make sure that I left no room for the longshot contenders in the other group. Unfortunately, I missed some critical putts. On hole #17, I stuck my approach three feet from the pin. I then missed two putts of three feet or less. I had the feeling that I had just given the championship away. Indeed, one of the longshots had a perfect game, registering a maximum of 40 points. The two putts I missed on hole #17 were the margin of victory.
I played well overall, but it wasn't enough. I was the runner-up for the second time in four years. Fortunately, I have one championship in that same time span to ease some of the pain.
Score: 93
Putts: 40
Fairways: 5
Greens: 6
Penalties: 1
Grand Garbage at Niagara
A day after the debacle at Piper's Heath, I was looking for retribution. Those plans were destroyed on the very first hole at Grand Niagara. My approach shot found a bunker and as it turned out, I could not hit a bunker shot to save my life! I hit some fat, picked others clean, all leading to a score of 12, or eight over par. On one hole! I could have given up at that point, but I had already done that the day before, so I decided to soldier on. I thought perhaps I could recover, as I did not long ago at Carlisle. Well, it didn't happen. I was not driving the ball straight and I continued to struggle from bunkers, which gave me fits. On hole #12, a par-3, I picked two balls clean from a bunker, losing them in weeds 40 yards past the green. It was laughable. I had a few good moments during the day, but this was easily my worst round of the year - the kind you just erase from memory.
Score: 120
Putts: 37
Fairways: 3
Greens: 0
Penalties: 9
Piper's Curse Continues
Aside from the opening round of the year, a balmy Easter Sunday, I have had no luck whatsoever at Piper's Heath Golf Club. Every time I go there, it seems to rain. It rained again this time, but the real problem was 60 km/hr gusts of wind. Quite simply, it was impossible to play in those conditions. Somehow, I managed to play the front nine in a score of 52. Given the wind, that was actually pretty good. It would have been better too, if not for an approach on hole #9 that sailed over the green. On a couple of occasions this year, I have launched approach shots with my 60 degree wedge that sail 30 yards more than expected. I seem to hit the ball a little thin with that club from a tight fairway lie. Next time, I will take the ground route with a less lofted club. On hole #10, the wind was ridiculous, and I struggled to even make contact. I did not finish the hole and while I played the rest of the round, I treated it as practice and didn't bother to keep score.
Score: 52 (9 holes)
Putts: 20
Fairways: 1
Greens: 1
Penalties: 1
Damage Control at Carlisle
I played most of this round as a single, breezing past a couple of groups who were nice enough to let me play through. Playing alone, I caught myself rushing a bit on the front nine, which was bizarre. I played reasonably well on the North nine, including a beautiful birdie on hole #8, thanks to a spectacular 50-foot putt. However, I blew up for a ridiculous score of 12 on hole #6. My first tee shot hit a cart path and bounced out of bounds. From 135 yards out, I also pulled two balls out of bounds. After nine holes, my score was unimpressive at 53. On the back (East) nine, I slowed down and started to make some pars. In fact, I made five pars on my way to a score of 43. I was glad that I salvaged a respectable score after the disaster on hole #6. I must avoid those blowup holes to score well!
Score: 96
Putts: 31
Fairways: 3
Greens: 3
Penalties: 5
The Big Choke at Cedar Brae
This was a GTA Amateur Tour event and boy, did I get off to a great start! I pulled my first tee shot, but found my ball and managed to save par with a great up and down from 40 yards. Through the first five holes I was even par, thanks in part to a magnificent approach and birdie putt on hole #5. After a trio of bogeys and another par, I was shooting 38 at the turn. I knew I was likely leading my flight through the first nine holes, which I confirmed after the round. Things started to go bad on hole #11, a par-3. I shanked an iron off the tee en route to a triple bogey. An equally poor tee shot produced another triple on hole #13, a par-5. Double bogeys were the result on a few of the back nine holes, as the nerves of leading clearly got to me. I shot a terrible 55 on the back nine, ruining a great start.
Score: 93
Putts: 36
Fairways: 2
Greens: 4
Penalties: 3
Good Focus at Oakridge
After some questionable performances, I finally had a round I can be proud of, and it came during a Deepwoods event. It would have been even better, if not for one horrific hole that marred an otherwise solid scorecard. I opened with a pair of double bogeys, followed by a hole where I was six over par. Hole #3 is the number one handicap at Oakridge, for good reason. I put the terrible hole behind me and managed eight over par for the remaining 15 holes. It was a fantastic stretch, including one birdie, five pars, and nine bogeys. I was very satisfied with my mental fortitude. This round proved to me that I can shoot in the 80's consistently if I find a way to avoid one or two holes that plague many of my outings.
Score: 89
Putts: 34
Fairways: 7
Greens: 5
Penalties: 2
September 13, 2010
August 28, 2010
Rain and Rain at Piper's Heath
I was in a scramble tournament at Piper's Heath, but played only eight holes, as the event was cut short by rain and lightning. Prior to teeing off, I spent some time on the driving range, attempting to fix the problems I've been having with my driver. I straightened my left elbow on setup, which seemed to improve my takeaway. In turn, this improved my swing path, whch had been terribly outside-in. I made solid contact on the course, though I was still pulling the ball slightly.
Making use of a rain check, I returned to Piper's Heath after a weekend with no golf. Once again, the weather did not cooperate. I managed nine holes this time and took home yet another rain check. The driver was good at times, bad at others. In fact, the same was true of my irons. A poor 5-iron from a par-3 teeing ground put me in trouble, leading to a quadruple-bogey. I launched the ball from one patch of fescue to another, resulting in a lost ball. It's just not possible to score well with penalty strokes.
Another problem was holding the greens when pitching the ball from inside 100 yards. I hit some high pitch shots with my most lofted club directly on target, only to watch the ball release forward and roll right off the green. It was frustrating to say the least. It's one thing to take your medicine after making bad shots, but being forced to take that medicine after seemingly good shots is pretty cruel. Alas, such is the game of golf at times.
Score: 51 (9 holes)
Putts: 18
Fairways: 2
Greens: 0
Penalties: 1
Making use of a rain check, I returned to Piper's Heath after a weekend with no golf. Once again, the weather did not cooperate. I managed nine holes this time and took home yet another rain check. The driver was good at times, bad at others. In fact, the same was true of my irons. A poor 5-iron from a par-3 teeing ground put me in trouble, leading to a quadruple-bogey. I launched the ball from one patch of fescue to another, resulting in a lost ball. It's just not possible to score well with penalty strokes.
Another problem was holding the greens when pitching the ball from inside 100 yards. I hit some high pitch shots with my most lofted club directly on target, only to watch the ball release forward and roll right off the green. It was frustrating to say the least. It's one thing to take your medicine after making bad shots, but being forced to take that medicine after seemingly good shots is pretty cruel. Alas, such is the game of golf at times.
Score: 51 (9 holes)
Putts: 18
Fairways: 2
Greens: 0
Penalties: 1
August 14, 2010
Familiar Story at The Highlands
My latest round at The Highlands had the same rotten stench of previous visits gone bad.
Every time I play this course, I have three or four disastrous holes that ruin my score. Aside from those holes however, I seem to play quite well. It was no different this time. I played fourteen holes in a score of thirteen over par. Better than bogey golf is fantastic, if only I could do it over all eighteen holes. On this occasion, the remaining four holes resulted in two triple-bogeys, a quadruple-bogey, and one hole where I was an embarassing six over par.
Three of the bad holes came on the front nine. On one hole, my tee shot with the 3-iron was lost in the fescue right of the fairway. On another, my bunker shot from beside the green sailed twenty yards over the putting surface. On the last of the terrible holes, a mis-hit tee shot with the driver rolled into a pond. On the same hole, I also duffed a couple of pitch shots from in front of the green. As you can see, trouble came in all forms.
I didn't hit a single green in regulation on the front nine. On the back nine, I suddenly got hot, hitting five of the first six greens in regulation. The only problem was that I finished with a 3-putt on four of those greens. It was frustrating to remedy one part of my game, only to have another break down at precisely the same time.
In the end, I felt good about my game despite the score. I felt like I corrected a flaw that had plagued my driver for a number of rounds, and I'm confident that my putting will get better again.
Score: 101
Putts: 38
Fairways: 4
Greens: 5
Penalties: 4
Every time I play this course, I have three or four disastrous holes that ruin my score. Aside from those holes however, I seem to play quite well. It was no different this time. I played fourteen holes in a score of thirteen over par. Better than bogey golf is fantastic, if only I could do it over all eighteen holes. On this occasion, the remaining four holes resulted in two triple-bogeys, a quadruple-bogey, and one hole where I was an embarassing six over par.
Three of the bad holes came on the front nine. On one hole, my tee shot with the 3-iron was lost in the fescue right of the fairway. On another, my bunker shot from beside the green sailed twenty yards over the putting surface. On the last of the terrible holes, a mis-hit tee shot with the driver rolled into a pond. On the same hole, I also duffed a couple of pitch shots from in front of the green. As you can see, trouble came in all forms.
I didn't hit a single green in regulation on the front nine. On the back nine, I suddenly got hot, hitting five of the first six greens in regulation. The only problem was that I finished with a 3-putt on four of those greens. It was frustrating to remedy one part of my game, only to have another break down at precisely the same time.
In the end, I felt good about my game despite the score. I felt like I corrected a flaw that had plagued my driver for a number of rounds, and I'm confident that my putting will get better again.
Score: 101
Putts: 38
Fairways: 4
Greens: 5
Penalties: 4
August 06, 2010
Catching Up
Blogging about golf has been impossible lately. To make up for it, I hereby present a stream of concise updates. Rounds are listed in reverse chronological order. The format is:
Course (Score, Putts, Fairways, Greens, Penalties) Description
Cardinal West (94, 29, 2, 1, 5) First round of the year with The Unreliables. Nervous start, then settled down. Driver still erratic, but short game was best it's been all year. Par on all five par-3 holes, without hitting any of the greens in regulation. Chipping and putting saved my bacon.
Century Pines (97, 37, 2, 5, 3) Terrible with the driver. Wicked pulls off the tee or a big slice. Nothing in between. Can't stop swinging from the outside-in. Irons not so bad. Bogey golf, except for two blowup holes. Putting not bad, but stats say otherwise. Every green in regulation followed by a 3-putt.
Dragon's Fire (98, 39, 8, 6, 5) Round 3 of Deepwoods Tour. Solid front nine, marred only by a duffed tee shot on hole #8. Shot 45 at the turn, which was good for 18 points. Wayward iron shots on holes #10 and #12 cost me some points and had me pressing the rest of the way. Played better than the score reflects.
Lionhead Masters (100, 43, 10, 6, 3) Five over par through the first six holes, followed by three double-bogeys for a score of 47 going out. Hit every fairway on the front nine, but only three greens in regulation. Bogey golf on the back nine until a blowup on hole #16 ruined everything. Putting numbers brutal.
Whitevale (101, 35, 5, 4, 1) GTA Amateur Tour major. Four over par through the first five holes, followed by a disastrous quadruple bogey. Duffed a 3-iron off the tee, then struggled with chipping near the green. Driver let me down a few times on the back nine. Straight pull or big slice the only options.
Century Pines (93, 33, 5, 6, 3) Course better than I remembered. Great start with five pars on the front nine. Short par-4 holes #11 and #12 killed me. Went out of bounds from a bunker on the former, and failed to clear a forced carry on the latter. If not for those holes, would have scored in the eighties.
Riverstone (87, 32, 6, 5, 3) Something different, as I don't usually play this kind of course. Short and tight, with small greens and water often in play. Must plot your way around, which I did well. Rarely used driver and erred to the side of caution often. Eight pars, but an admitted easy course.
Lionhead Legends (101, 38, 5, 4, 5) Playing consistently, I felt ready to tackle the beast. Bunker trouble on hole #5 led to a triple-bogey. Why the trouble with sand? Pulled iron on hole #7 went out of bounds. Same on hole #16. Played well overall, but just enough mistakes to reach the dreaded century mark.
Peninsula Lakes (91, 29, 3, 2, 2) Round 2 of Deepwoods Tour. In the water on Quarry #1, and shenanigans on #8. Otherwise a good front nine. Excellent play on the back nine, including a birdie on Hillside #3. Putting got hot on the back nine. A couple fewer mistakes and score would have been in the eighties.
North Halton (91, 32, 8, 4, 2) GTA Amateur Tour event. Amazing start, just two over par through the first six holes, including a birdie on hole #3. Score of 42 at the turn still very strong. Then the rain came and shot everything to hell. Did well to finish with a 91 in the torrential downpour.
Glen Eagle (92, 34, 9, 5, 2) First visit here in a long time. Started and ended the front (Blue) nine with a par, but the rest was not so great. Gave strokes away by duffing from the fairway with the 60-degree wedge. Made up for it with a 42 on the back (Yellow) nine, including a birdie on the last hole.
Osprey Valley Heathlands (85, 34, 8, 3, 0) Day 2 of the GTA Amateur Tour major. Easily my best round of the season. Practically flawless front nine, with five bogeys and four pars. A few double-bogeys on the back nine, but also a birdie on hole #16. In control with all parts of the game. Nice feeling.
Osprey Valley Heathlands (96, 35, 8, 5, 3) Day 1 of a 2-day GTA Amateur Tour major. Would have been a great round, if not for a buried ball in the greenside bunker of hole #12. It was a freak incident, so I have to put it aside. Six pars on the day was nice. Felt like I managed my game very well.
Lionhead Masters (91, 35, 8, 5, 3) Best result ever for this course. Shot 42 on the front nine, including four pars, four bogeys, and one double-bogey. Faltered a little on the back nine after losing a ball inexplicably on hole #13, but held it together for a satisfying final tally of 91. Could have been in the eighties.
Course (Score, Putts, Fairways, Greens, Penalties) Description
Cardinal West (94, 29, 2, 1, 5) First round of the year with The Unreliables. Nervous start, then settled down. Driver still erratic, but short game was best it's been all year. Par on all five par-3 holes, without hitting any of the greens in regulation. Chipping and putting saved my bacon.
Century Pines (97, 37, 2, 5, 3) Terrible with the driver. Wicked pulls off the tee or a big slice. Nothing in between. Can't stop swinging from the outside-in. Irons not so bad. Bogey golf, except for two blowup holes. Putting not bad, but stats say otherwise. Every green in regulation followed by a 3-putt.
Dragon's Fire (98, 39, 8, 6, 5) Round 3 of Deepwoods Tour. Solid front nine, marred only by a duffed tee shot on hole #8. Shot 45 at the turn, which was good for 18 points. Wayward iron shots on holes #10 and #12 cost me some points and had me pressing the rest of the way. Played better than the score reflects.
Lionhead Masters (100, 43, 10, 6, 3) Five over par through the first six holes, followed by three double-bogeys for a score of 47 going out. Hit every fairway on the front nine, but only three greens in regulation. Bogey golf on the back nine until a blowup on hole #16 ruined everything. Putting numbers brutal.
Whitevale (101, 35, 5, 4, 1) GTA Amateur Tour major. Four over par through the first five holes, followed by a disastrous quadruple bogey. Duffed a 3-iron off the tee, then struggled with chipping near the green. Driver let me down a few times on the back nine. Straight pull or big slice the only options.
Century Pines (93, 33, 5, 6, 3) Course better than I remembered. Great start with five pars on the front nine. Short par-4 holes #11 and #12 killed me. Went out of bounds from a bunker on the former, and failed to clear a forced carry on the latter. If not for those holes, would have scored in the eighties.
Riverstone (87, 32, 6, 5, 3) Something different, as I don't usually play this kind of course. Short and tight, with small greens and water often in play. Must plot your way around, which I did well. Rarely used driver and erred to the side of caution often. Eight pars, but an admitted easy course.
Lionhead Legends (101, 38, 5, 4, 5) Playing consistently, I felt ready to tackle the beast. Bunker trouble on hole #5 led to a triple-bogey. Why the trouble with sand? Pulled iron on hole #7 went out of bounds. Same on hole #16. Played well overall, but just enough mistakes to reach the dreaded century mark.
Peninsula Lakes (91, 29, 3, 2, 2) Round 2 of Deepwoods Tour. In the water on Quarry #1, and shenanigans on #8. Otherwise a good front nine. Excellent play on the back nine, including a birdie on Hillside #3. Putting got hot on the back nine. A couple fewer mistakes and score would have been in the eighties.
North Halton (91, 32, 8, 4, 2) GTA Amateur Tour event. Amazing start, just two over par through the first six holes, including a birdie on hole #3. Score of 42 at the turn still very strong. Then the rain came and shot everything to hell. Did well to finish with a 91 in the torrential downpour.
Glen Eagle (92, 34, 9, 5, 2) First visit here in a long time. Started and ended the front (Blue) nine with a par, but the rest was not so great. Gave strokes away by duffing from the fairway with the 60-degree wedge. Made up for it with a 42 on the back (Yellow) nine, including a birdie on the last hole.
Osprey Valley Heathlands (85, 34, 8, 3, 0) Day 2 of the GTA Amateur Tour major. Easily my best round of the season. Practically flawless front nine, with five bogeys and four pars. A few double-bogeys on the back nine, but also a birdie on hole #16. In control with all parts of the game. Nice feeling.
Osprey Valley Heathlands (96, 35, 8, 5, 3) Day 1 of a 2-day GTA Amateur Tour major. Would have been a great round, if not for a buried ball in the greenside bunker of hole #12. It was a freak incident, so I have to put it aside. Six pars on the day was nice. Felt like I managed my game very well.
Lionhead Masters (91, 35, 8, 5, 3) Best result ever for this course. Shot 42 on the front nine, including four pars, four bogeys, and one double-bogey. Faltered a little on the back nine after losing a ball inexplicably on hole #13, but held it together for a satisfying final tally of 91. Could have been in the eighties.
June 16, 2010
Strong Finish Saves Round at Copetown Woods
Mother Nature turned up the heat for the opening round of the Deepwoods 2010 Tour at Copetown Woods. After a solid opening drive, I fumbled my way to a regretable triple bogey on hole #10, a short par-5.
A good drive was also wasted on hole #14, a par-5 measuring 469 yards. With just 195 yards to the flag on my second shot, I pulled my trusty 4-iron from the bag. Unfortunately, it was no match for the rough where my ball lay, a mere yard from the edge of the fairway. The ball bounced into a waste bunker and settled in a nasty crater. When all was said and done, I registered another triple-bogey.
Thankfully, it wasn't all bad. On hole #12, a dog-leg par-4 measuring 294 yards, I drove the ball to the centre of the fairway, leaving just 50 yards to the flag. After a well-executed bump and run, I drained a 10-foot putt for only my second birdie of the season. I closed out the first nine holes with a trio of bogeys and a satisfying par on a short par-3.
To salvage a good round, I needed to play well over the last nine holes. I did exactly that, piling up five pars, two bogeys and two double-bogeys. On hole #1, a par-5, I was at the front of the green after two shots. An excellent chip left a legitimate chance at birdie, but my attempt burned the edge of the cup. The double-bogeys came back-to-back on the next two holes.
A streak of steady golf over the last six holes really saved my bacon. I was not driving the ball particularly well, but I maintained control and took up the slack with good iron play and strong putting. If not for a 3-putt on hole #5 and a burned edge putt on hole #18, I would have finished the round with six consecutive pars.
Score: 89
Putts: 37
Fairways: 4
Greens: 6
Penalties: 1
A good drive was also wasted on hole #14, a par-5 measuring 469 yards. With just 195 yards to the flag on my second shot, I pulled my trusty 4-iron from the bag. Unfortunately, it was no match for the rough where my ball lay, a mere yard from the edge of the fairway. The ball bounced into a waste bunker and settled in a nasty crater. When all was said and done, I registered another triple-bogey.
Thankfully, it wasn't all bad. On hole #12, a dog-leg par-4 measuring 294 yards, I drove the ball to the centre of the fairway, leaving just 50 yards to the flag. After a well-executed bump and run, I drained a 10-foot putt for only my second birdie of the season. I closed out the first nine holes with a trio of bogeys and a satisfying par on a short par-3.
To salvage a good round, I needed to play well over the last nine holes. I did exactly that, piling up five pars, two bogeys and two double-bogeys. On hole #1, a par-5, I was at the front of the green after two shots. An excellent chip left a legitimate chance at birdie, but my attempt burned the edge of the cup. The double-bogeys came back-to-back on the next two holes.
A streak of steady golf over the last six holes really saved my bacon. I was not driving the ball particularly well, but I maintained control and took up the slack with good iron play and strong putting. If not for a 3-putt on hole #5 and a burned edge putt on hole #18, I would have finished the round with six consecutive pars.
Score: 89
Putts: 37
Fairways: 4
Greens: 6
Penalties: 1
Delightful Day at Woodington Lake Legacy
I played the Legacy Course at Woodington Lake and it ended up being a fantastic day. It's a course I enjoyed the first time I played it and it seems to grow on me with each return visit. Conditions were quite windy, but that only added to the challenge.
To say my driver was hit and miss would be an understatement. I hit a number of sliced drives that found the fairway, but which were extremely short. I can control those "baby slices" rather well, but that's not at all the shot shape I want. It tends to be the result when I get tentative off the tee. When I got more aggressive, I actually hit some pretty straight drives. The key is to do this consistently. It's tough because every once in a while I'll connect with a straight pull that goes well left of target.
Unlike my driver, my irons were consistent all day. A few years ago, I rarely played my low irons, as I found it difficult to get the ball launched in the air. Nowadays, I have no reservations when hitting a 4-iron or 3-iron. In fact, I often have more confidence with the low irons because I feel like I can control the ball better with a lower trajectory.
My short game was also pretty good this day. I made decent pitch and chip shots when necessary, getting up and down on a couple of occasions. My putting was solid, though not spectacular. I had five 3-putts, but made up for them with an equal number of 1-putts.
Overall, it was a solid result on a really great day.
Score: 92
Putts: 36
Fairways: 6
Greens: 4
Penalties: 4
To say my driver was hit and miss would be an understatement. I hit a number of sliced drives that found the fairway, but which were extremely short. I can control those "baby slices" rather well, but that's not at all the shot shape I want. It tends to be the result when I get tentative off the tee. When I got more aggressive, I actually hit some pretty straight drives. The key is to do this consistently. It's tough because every once in a while I'll connect with a straight pull that goes well left of target.
Unlike my driver, my irons were consistent all day. A few years ago, I rarely played my low irons, as I found it difficult to get the ball launched in the air. Nowadays, I have no reservations when hitting a 4-iron or 3-iron. In fact, I often have more confidence with the low irons because I feel like I can control the ball better with a lower trajectory.
My short game was also pretty good this day. I made decent pitch and chip shots when necessary, getting up and down on a couple of occasions. My putting was solid, though not spectacular. I had five 3-putts, but made up for them with an equal number of 1-putts.
Overall, it was a solid result on a really great day.
Score: 92
Putts: 36
Fairways: 6
Greens: 4
Penalties: 4
Hot and Cold at Devil's Pulpit
I played the back nine first and got shellacked right off the bat. A 3-iron pulled into the woods, a topped punch shot, a successful punch that ended up lost and a 3-putt were some of the misadventures that led to a score of 10 on hole #10. Brutal.
I followed this up with a beautiful par, first hitting the fairway, then hitting a spectacular 4-iron 190 yards to the flag. A good lag and great finishing putt completed the feat.
The rest of the round was as hot and cold as the first two holes played. I was able to control the driver, as shown by the fact that I hit ten fairways. My long irons were also very good. However, my short game left a lot to be desired. I shanked wedge shots from 80 yards out, duffed or blasted some greenside chips, and left some putts way short of the hole.
On the front nine, I shot a respectable 44, including four pars and three bogeys. These holes were played very well. Sand saves on holes #2 and #5 were especially satisfying. Unfortunately, the front nine was marred by a pair of triple bogeys, both on par-3 holes. Hole #7 was particularly bedevilling.
Score: 101
Putts: 40
Fairways: 10
Greens: 4
Penalties: 2
I followed this up with a beautiful par, first hitting the fairway, then hitting a spectacular 4-iron 190 yards to the flag. A good lag and great finishing putt completed the feat.
The rest of the round was as hot and cold as the first two holes played. I was able to control the driver, as shown by the fact that I hit ten fairways. My long irons were also very good. However, my short game left a lot to be desired. I shanked wedge shots from 80 yards out, duffed or blasted some greenside chips, and left some putts way short of the hole.
On the front nine, I shot a respectable 44, including four pars and three bogeys. These holes were played very well. Sand saves on holes #2 and #5 were especially satisfying. Unfortunately, the front nine was marred by a pair of triple bogeys, both on par-3 holes. Hole #7 was particularly bedevilling.
Score: 101
Putts: 40
Fairways: 10
Greens: 4
Penalties: 2
Bad Company at Ussher's Creek
Last year I made my first visit to Legends on the Niagara, playing the Battlefield course designed by Doug Carrick. On a recent return to Legends, I made my debut on the Ussher's Creek course designed by Tom McBroom. This isn't going to be a course comparison, but from my perspective, there's little to differentiate one from the other.
Ponds feature a little more prominently on Battlefield, while the creek that gives Ussher's its name is that course's dominant water feature. Otherwise, the courses traverse very similar terrain. Both tracks feature wide fairways, often bounded by strands of thick woods. Flip a coin when deciding which course to play and you won't really go wrong.
The problem this day was that I ventured out as a solo. To be more accurate, the problem was the people I happened to get paired up with. One was a solo player herself, while the other two were a couple of long-time buddies. As a group, they were slow as molasses. I was practically dragging them behind me at every hole. It was simply impossible to get into any kind of rhythm.
Worse than the pace of play was one particular guy's personality. He talked too much, boasted even more, and was an all-around clown. In a previous post, I wrote about the dos and don'ts of playing with strangers. This guy was basically a poster-child for the don'ts.
If you're preoccupied with the personality of your playing partners, chances are you're not concentrating as you should on your golf game. This was certainly the case on this occasion. I hit plenty of good shots, but golf is a game that demands your full attention on every shot. I just didn't have the focus this time. I was more concerned with finishing the round and getting out of the heat than I was with my shots.
In the end, I suffered a double whammy; I didn't have fun, and I produced a terrible score. My next visit to Legends will have to be with friends.
Score: 110
Putts: 40
Fairways: 4
Greens: 3
Penalties: 6
Ponds feature a little more prominently on Battlefield, while the creek that gives Ussher's its name is that course's dominant water feature. Otherwise, the courses traverse very similar terrain. Both tracks feature wide fairways, often bounded by strands of thick woods. Flip a coin when deciding which course to play and you won't really go wrong.
The problem this day was that I ventured out as a solo. To be more accurate, the problem was the people I happened to get paired up with. One was a solo player herself, while the other two were a couple of long-time buddies. As a group, they were slow as molasses. I was practically dragging them behind me at every hole. It was simply impossible to get into any kind of rhythm.
Worse than the pace of play was one particular guy's personality. He talked too much, boasted even more, and was an all-around clown. In a previous post, I wrote about the dos and don'ts of playing with strangers. This guy was basically a poster-child for the don'ts.
If you're preoccupied with the personality of your playing partners, chances are you're not concentrating as you should on your golf game. This was certainly the case on this occasion. I hit plenty of good shots, but golf is a game that demands your full attention on every shot. I just didn't have the focus this time. I was more concerned with finishing the round and getting out of the heat than I was with my shots.
In the end, I suffered a double whammy; I didn't have fun, and I produced a terrible score. My next visit to Legends will have to be with friends.
Score: 110
Putts: 40
Fairways: 4
Greens: 3
Penalties: 6
Nauseous in Willow Valley Heat
I've had golf rounds cut short due to rain, but never due to illness. I've felt terrible during a few rounds, but always found a way to finish eighteen holes. I can't say the same for my recent round at Willow Valley Golf Club.
The day was not particularly hot, but it was extremely humid. I teed off late in the afternoon, joining up with with a very nice lady and two gentlemen. The company was fine, but I only managed 11 holes before calling it quits.
My tee shot on hole #1 was a complete mis-hit. I have been struggling badly with my fairway woods, whether hitting off the tee or otherwise. This was a 5-wood that I topped left of the teeing area into a fescue-covered hillside. It took a few hacks to get out, leading to a triple-bogey.
It was too early to get upset over a bad hole, so I focused on each hole as I played it and on each individual shot. On hole #2, I hit a great approach shot, but it trickled off the back of the green, setting up a tricky downhill chip. The approach on hole # 3 was better, setting up a par. I struck another great approach on the ensuing par-3, but followed with a 3-putt for bogey.
On hole #5, I employed a different strategy than I normally do. This par-4, which measures 360 yards, is a sharp dogleg, with out of bounds along the entire left side and a pond along the entire right side. I usually try to hit a straight, low-iron about 190-200 yards, setting up a 150-160 yard approach to the green. This time, I decided to cut the corner with my driver, which involves carrying the water. The shot came off perfectly, leaving just 100 yards to the green. I placed the approach shot on the green and 2-putt for par. Nice!
The round continued this way until about the ninth hole. I made a sand save for par on hole #8, so I was feeling good, even if the humidity was already getting to me. I had trouble with my approach from 100 yards, finding a large bunker in front of the green. I struggled getting out, leading to a triple bogey. Still, my score at the turn was 47, which isn't bad.
At this point, I was really battling the heat and humidity. I made a pit-stop at the clubhouse, where I doused myself with cool water and replenished the water I had for drinking. I also got started eating a granola bar that I had brought with me. By the time I reached the tenth green, I was hurting bad. I quickly putted out, then walked to the side of the green because I was suddenly feeling nauseous. I threw up almost immediately, but it was a painful, dry heave.
I decided to try playing on, just to see if I would begin feeling better. I had another dry heaving incident on the side of the eleventh fairway. After hitting a tee shot on hole #12, I still wasn't feeling better. The prospect of another hour and a half in the heat and humidity wasn't very appealing, so I called it quits and walked off the course.
Score: 47 (9 holes)
Putts: 21
Fairways: 3
Greens: 3
Penalties: 3
The day was not particularly hot, but it was extremely humid. I teed off late in the afternoon, joining up with with a very nice lady and two gentlemen. The company was fine, but I only managed 11 holes before calling it quits.
My tee shot on hole #1 was a complete mis-hit. I have been struggling badly with my fairway woods, whether hitting off the tee or otherwise. This was a 5-wood that I topped left of the teeing area into a fescue-covered hillside. It took a few hacks to get out, leading to a triple-bogey.
It was too early to get upset over a bad hole, so I focused on each hole as I played it and on each individual shot. On hole #2, I hit a great approach shot, but it trickled off the back of the green, setting up a tricky downhill chip. The approach on hole # 3 was better, setting up a par. I struck another great approach on the ensuing par-3, but followed with a 3-putt for bogey.
On hole #5, I employed a different strategy than I normally do. This par-4, which measures 360 yards, is a sharp dogleg, with out of bounds along the entire left side and a pond along the entire right side. I usually try to hit a straight, low-iron about 190-200 yards, setting up a 150-160 yard approach to the green. This time, I decided to cut the corner with my driver, which involves carrying the water. The shot came off perfectly, leaving just 100 yards to the green. I placed the approach shot on the green and 2-putt for par. Nice!
The round continued this way until about the ninth hole. I made a sand save for par on hole #8, so I was feeling good, even if the humidity was already getting to me. I had trouble with my approach from 100 yards, finding a large bunker in front of the green. I struggled getting out, leading to a triple bogey. Still, my score at the turn was 47, which isn't bad.
At this point, I was really battling the heat and humidity. I made a pit-stop at the clubhouse, where I doused myself with cool water and replenished the water I had for drinking. I also got started eating a granola bar that I had brought with me. By the time I reached the tenth green, I was hurting bad. I quickly putted out, then walked to the side of the green because I was suddenly feeling nauseous. I threw up almost immediately, but it was a painful, dry heave.
I decided to try playing on, just to see if I would begin feeling better. I had another dry heaving incident on the side of the eleventh fairway. After hitting a tee shot on hole #12, I still wasn't feeling better. The prospect of another hour and a half in the heat and humidity wasn't very appealing, so I called it quits and walked off the course.
Score: 47 (9 holes)
Putts: 21
Fairways: 3
Greens: 3
Penalties: 3
Good Improvement at Coppinwood
This is another summary that I'm writing well after the round was played, so it may lack some of the more vivid details. A year after playing Coppinwood for the first time ever, I returned to play my second event of the season on the GTA Amateur Tour.
Overall, I am extremely pleased with my performance. I improved my score by twenty strokes over the previous visit to Coppinwood. What was the difference? In one word: experience.
I've said this before and I'll say it again: knowledge of a course goes an extremely long way in helping a golfer score well. Golf is a game of decisions. Do I hit driver or 3-iron off the tee? Do I go for the par-5 green in two, or do I lay up? Can I get out of the rough with a 4-iron, or do I need more loft? Do I give this putt 2 feet or 4 feet of break? How firmly do I have to hit it? Knowledge of a course helps immensely with all of these questions.
At Coppinwood, even a single round played there previously helped me make good choices. I knew what line to take off the tee to avoid hazards and other danger zones. I knew how the greens were tilted and hence, how to approach them. I knew the importance of keeping the ball below the hole. I also knew which holes called for conservative play and which ones I could get aggressive on.
The round was a little bit like my previous round at Hidden Lake. I had a few double-bogeys on the front nine, but I kept my head in the game and avoided any disaster holes. With a score of 49 at the turn, I started to play better, producing bogeys and pars. A couple of those pars were very nearly birdies, but the putts lipped out for me. Once again, I finished with a 43 on the back nine, and 92 overall.
I'll take it. That's three decent results in a row!
Score: 92
Putts: 38
Fairways: 10
Greens: 4
Penalties: 0
Overall, I am extremely pleased with my performance. I improved my score by twenty strokes over the previous visit to Coppinwood. What was the difference? In one word: experience.
I've said this before and I'll say it again: knowledge of a course goes an extremely long way in helping a golfer score well. Golf is a game of decisions. Do I hit driver or 3-iron off the tee? Do I go for the par-5 green in two, or do I lay up? Can I get out of the rough with a 4-iron, or do I need more loft? Do I give this putt 2 feet or 4 feet of break? How firmly do I have to hit it? Knowledge of a course helps immensely with all of these questions.
At Coppinwood, even a single round played there previously helped me make good choices. I knew what line to take off the tee to avoid hazards and other danger zones. I knew how the greens were tilted and hence, how to approach them. I knew the importance of keeping the ball below the hole. I also knew which holes called for conservative play and which ones I could get aggressive on.
The round was a little bit like my previous round at Hidden Lake. I had a few double-bogeys on the front nine, but I kept my head in the game and avoided any disaster holes. With a score of 49 at the turn, I started to play better, producing bogeys and pars. A couple of those pars were very nearly birdies, but the putts lipped out for me. Once again, I finished with a 43 on the back nine, and 92 overall.
I'll take it. That's three decent results in a row!
Score: 92
Putts: 38
Fairways: 10
Greens: 4
Penalties: 0
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