I never played Doon Valley before because it's a little far from home, but I recently gave it a try and was fairly satisfied. I was 5-over par through the first five holes, with three bogeys, a double and a par. The double was on hole 2, a par-3. After missing the green to the right, I slid a wedge under the ball, failing to find the putting surface. Another pitch was required, plus a couple of putts. The par was on hole 5, a 400-yard par-4. After splitting the fairway with a drive, an 8-iron reached the green safely, followed by two putts.
Disaster struck on hole 6, the first par-5 of the day. I pulled my drive unbelievably to the left, to an opposite fairway. I attempted to lift one over a wall of trees to get back to the proper fairway. I thinned the ball and failed to get over. A low punch got me back to the fairway, but then I topped a 5-wood. The next 5-wood shot got me to the right of the green, followed by a pitch and two putts for a triple-bogey. Thankfully, I made par on hole 9, which was the next par-5. It came despite taking a penalty stroke for depositing my drive into a hazard on the right side. At the turn, I was shooting 47.
Holes 8 through 15 at Doon Valley are played after crossing under Highway 401, and they seemed to be more exposed to the wind than the rest of the course. This produced a mix of good, great and bad. Good was a par on hole 11, a 150-yard par-3 featuring a carry over a naturalized area. I bailed to the open side, but made a long chip and putt for the par. Great was a birdie on hole 13, a short par-4. I hit 5-wood to the right rough, followed by a lovely 9-iron to 8 feet below the hole. Of course, I drained the birdie putt. Bad was a triple-bogey on 12, a par-4 measuring a mere 294 yards. I pushed an iron off the tee into the marsh land. After taking a penalty and drop, I pulled an iron that found marsh land to the left of the green. Another penalty, a pitch and two putts completed the ordeal.
I ended the round as I had started, going 5-over par through the last five holes, with three bogeys, a double and a par. The double was on hole 15, a par-4 with a dogleg left. Again, it was a wickedly pulled drive off the tee that was the culprit. The ball was lost in a naturalized area. The par came on hole 16, a par-5. I was on the green in three and nearly drained the long birdie attempt. My best drive of the day was on hole 18, the last par-5. With the Grand River on the right side, I bombed one over the right corner, travelling about 295 yards. I couldn't go for the green in two from 180 yards because of a massive tree on the right edge of the fairway. I punched one under its branches, finishing in the fairway, 50 yards from the severely elevated green. I botched my way to a bogey finish, which was a shame after two great shots to start.
Score: 91
Putts: 33
Fairways: 7
Greens: 4
Penalties: 5
July 21, 2018
July 12, 2018
Just a Few Miscues at Bond Head
Playing the South Course, it took me most of the front nine to get warmed up. I began with a perfectly placed 7-iron off the tee on hole 1, but the subsequent wedge shot was fat, barely crossing a hazard up ahead. Bogey was the result, as it was on holes 3, 5 and 7. The even numbered holes were more penal, as I registered a triple-bogey, double-bogey, triple and double on holes 2, 4, 6 and 8.
In the case of hole 2, I lost my first tee shot in the weeds, as I failed to get the ball airborne. I had to hit my third shot from the tee. In the case of hole 4, I hit a beautiful 6-iron approach shot that was headed straight at the flag. Unfortunately, I was a yard short and my ball rolled back on a steep slope above a bunker. The vegetation was weird in that area and it took two more shots just to get on the green. Hole 6 was just playing very tough with the wind, while I messed up greenside on hole 8.
I started an amazing streak on hole 9 that carried through hole 14. The results were par, birdie, par, par, par, bogey. Hole 9 is a par-5 that began with my first really good drive of the day. I only needed 8-iron to reach the green with my second shot, though I found a greenside bunker. A good out left a legit chance at birdie, but I just missed. A deep drive on hole 10 left just 50 yards to the green, albeit from the fescue. It wasn't thick in that spot, so I stuck one 9 feet from the cup and then drained it.
Holes 11 and 12 featured great shots into or near the green. On the former, I had to flop one over a large bunker, while preventing the ball from rolling off the other side. I executed it perfectly. On the latter, I once again had to flop over a bunker, though this one was from closer range and I could allow the ball to release a bit. It was a great up and down. On hole 13, a 290-yard drive could not have been placed any better. I hit a lob wedge to within 10 feet and barely missed the birdie.
The streak ended on hole 14 with a 3-putt. I then struggled a bit for three holes, taking two doubles and a triple-bogey. A bad 3-iron off the tee on a par-3 left me in fescue and stymied by some bushes. I wasted a great drive on a par-5 by flaring my second shot into the long weeds. On another par-3, I duffed two chips from very near the flag. Once again, a weird combination of grass and other vegetation made it difficult to contact the ball properly.
Score: 94
Putts: 36
Fairways: 3
Greens: 5
Penalties: 2
In the case of hole 2, I lost my first tee shot in the weeds, as I failed to get the ball airborne. I had to hit my third shot from the tee. In the case of hole 4, I hit a beautiful 6-iron approach shot that was headed straight at the flag. Unfortunately, I was a yard short and my ball rolled back on a steep slope above a bunker. The vegetation was weird in that area and it took two more shots just to get on the green. Hole 6 was just playing very tough with the wind, while I messed up greenside on hole 8.
I started an amazing streak on hole 9 that carried through hole 14. The results were par, birdie, par, par, par, bogey. Hole 9 is a par-5 that began with my first really good drive of the day. I only needed 8-iron to reach the green with my second shot, though I found a greenside bunker. A good out left a legit chance at birdie, but I just missed. A deep drive on hole 10 left just 50 yards to the green, albeit from the fescue. It wasn't thick in that spot, so I stuck one 9 feet from the cup and then drained it.
Holes 11 and 12 featured great shots into or near the green. On the former, I had to flop one over a large bunker, while preventing the ball from rolling off the other side. I executed it perfectly. On the latter, I once again had to flop over a bunker, though this one was from closer range and I could allow the ball to release a bit. It was a great up and down. On hole 13, a 290-yard drive could not have been placed any better. I hit a lob wedge to within 10 feet and barely missed the birdie.
The streak ended on hole 14 with a 3-putt. I then struggled a bit for three holes, taking two doubles and a triple-bogey. A bad 3-iron off the tee on a par-3 left me in fescue and stymied by some bushes. I wasted a great drive on a par-5 by flaring my second shot into the long weeds. On another par-3, I duffed two chips from very near the flag. Once again, a weird combination of grass and other vegetation made it difficult to contact the ball properly.
Score: 94
Putts: 36
Fairways: 3
Greens: 5
Penalties: 2
July 03, 2018
A Top 10 Performance at Victoria Park East
My Top 10 rounds of all time list has to be revised, thanks to my latest result at Victoria Park East. While my final score of 84 just squeaks into the Top 10, this round rivals many of those on the list. Considering that I had a pair of triple-bogeys, the result could have been even better. If just a couple of pitch shots held the greens, the final tally would have been 81. That's Top 3 material we're talking about.
Which of the following doesn't fit? Par, bogey, par, bogey, par, bogey, par, par, triple-bogey. That's how the front nine played out. Driver, 3-wood got me very near the green on the opening par-5. After a nice pitch, I missed a legit birdie chance. On hole 3, I nailed the green from the left rough with a lovely iron shot. Hole 5 featured a great second shot through some trees. I got up and down on that hole and on numbers 7 and 8. Two out of three bogeys only occurred because of 3-putts. On hole 2, I played too much break on my first attempt. On hole 6, I just started a long way from the hole.
My drive on hole 9 was a little loose, finishing in some trees right of the fairway. I attempted a low punch that didn't completely escape the trees. My third shot was a good one to an area left of the green. Unfortunately, my subsequent 40 yard pitch rolled off the green. I think I lost my focus a little, as I blasted my first putt way past the hole. Two more were required to close out the front nine with a score of 42.
Which of the following doesn't fit? Bogey, double-bogey, par, par, par, par, par, bogey, triple-bogey. That's how the back nine played out. That run of pars felt particularly good. Holes 12 and 13 featured birdie putts, but they were fairly lengthy. Hole 14 offered the best chance at birdie, after an approach with the 60-degree wedge hit the green and zipped back to within 6 feet of the cup. It was a straight birdie putt that I pulled ever so slightly. The pars on 15 and 16 came with the help of up and downs.
I hit a conservative drive on hole 18, which was the correct play. My ball trickled a foot into the left rough. From 185 yards away, I tried hitting 5-wood to the elevated green. I somehow hooked the ball, hitting some trees near a creek, 40 yards short of the green. A pitch and two putts was my goal, but my pitch shot rolled to a hill behind the green. I sculled my chip from the awkward lie, then went a little too far past the hole with my comebacker. Two putts finished up the dreaded triple. Still, I was happy with the overall outcome.
Score: 84
Putts: 33
Fairways: 6
Greens: 7
Penalties: 0
Which of the following doesn't fit? Par, bogey, par, bogey, par, bogey, par, par, triple-bogey. That's how the front nine played out. Driver, 3-wood got me very near the green on the opening par-5. After a nice pitch, I missed a legit birdie chance. On hole 3, I nailed the green from the left rough with a lovely iron shot. Hole 5 featured a great second shot through some trees. I got up and down on that hole and on numbers 7 and 8. Two out of three bogeys only occurred because of 3-putts. On hole 2, I played too much break on my first attempt. On hole 6, I just started a long way from the hole.
My drive on hole 9 was a little loose, finishing in some trees right of the fairway. I attempted a low punch that didn't completely escape the trees. My third shot was a good one to an area left of the green. Unfortunately, my subsequent 40 yard pitch rolled off the green. I think I lost my focus a little, as I blasted my first putt way past the hole. Two more were required to close out the front nine with a score of 42.
Which of the following doesn't fit? Bogey, double-bogey, par, par, par, par, par, bogey, triple-bogey. That's how the back nine played out. That run of pars felt particularly good. Holes 12 and 13 featured birdie putts, but they were fairly lengthy. Hole 14 offered the best chance at birdie, after an approach with the 60-degree wedge hit the green and zipped back to within 6 feet of the cup. It was a straight birdie putt that I pulled ever so slightly. The pars on 15 and 16 came with the help of up and downs.
I hit a conservative drive on hole 18, which was the correct play. My ball trickled a foot into the left rough. From 185 yards away, I tried hitting 5-wood to the elevated green. I somehow hooked the ball, hitting some trees near a creek, 40 yards short of the green. A pitch and two putts was my goal, but my pitch shot rolled to a hill behind the green. I sculled my chip from the awkward lie, then went a little too far past the hole with my comebacker. Two putts finished up the dreaded triple. Still, I was happy with the overall outcome.
Score: 84
Putts: 33
Fairways: 6
Greens: 7
Penalties: 0
June 23, 2018
First Visit to Hornby Glen in a Decade
Wow, the last time I played Hornby Glen was ten years ago! I headed there recently and got off to a good start, shooting 43 on the front nine. I made par on holes 2, 6 and 8. The first two of these are par-5 holes, while the latter is a par-3. The best result on the front nine was birdie on hole 3, a par-4. I drove the ball to the left side of the fairway, then stuck a gap wedge flag high. I judged the downhill putt perfectly.
Although the front nine was good, it wasn't perfect. I made a trio of double-bogeys, for various reasons. On hole 1, I drove my tee shot into some thick fescue. On hole 4, I pulled my tee shot and it rolled into a drainage ditch left of the green. On hole 9, I flared a wedge right of the flag, missing the green. A poor chip and three putts made a mess of what should have been an easy par.
On the back nine, the pars disappeared, while the double-bogeys persisted. The first double was on hole 11, a par-3. I hit a gorgeous 7-iron off the tee, but it was so pure that it bounced off the very back of the green into a bunker. I tried to pick a couple of shots clean out of the sand with disastrous results. Such is my fear of hitting a proper bunker shot. I had three doubles in a row on holes 13 through 15. A pulled 5-wood on the first of these found the thick fescue. A poor wedge shot and a duffed drive attempt were the culprits on the next two holes.
Fortunately, the back nine also featured another birdie. It was on hole 17, a 383-yard par-4. I hit a laser drive just past a fairway bunker on the right, with my ball finishing in the middle of the fairway, 90 yards from the green centre. I caught my next shot with the lob wedge a tad thin, finishing near the back of the green. No problem, as I calmly drained a downhill breaking putt, much to the amazement of my fellow competitors. It was nice to get two birds for the day.
A bogey on the final hole and my score was 90. Should have been sub-90 for sure. Next time!
Score: 90
Putts: 35
Fairways: 3
Greens: 5
Penalties: 4
Although the front nine was good, it wasn't perfect. I made a trio of double-bogeys, for various reasons. On hole 1, I drove my tee shot into some thick fescue. On hole 4, I pulled my tee shot and it rolled into a drainage ditch left of the green. On hole 9, I flared a wedge right of the flag, missing the green. A poor chip and three putts made a mess of what should have been an easy par.
On the back nine, the pars disappeared, while the double-bogeys persisted. The first double was on hole 11, a par-3. I hit a gorgeous 7-iron off the tee, but it was so pure that it bounced off the very back of the green into a bunker. I tried to pick a couple of shots clean out of the sand with disastrous results. Such is my fear of hitting a proper bunker shot. I had three doubles in a row on holes 13 through 15. A pulled 5-wood on the first of these found the thick fescue. A poor wedge shot and a duffed drive attempt were the culprits on the next two holes.
Fortunately, the back nine also featured another birdie. It was on hole 17, a 383-yard par-4. I hit a laser drive just past a fairway bunker on the right, with my ball finishing in the middle of the fairway, 90 yards from the green centre. I caught my next shot with the lob wedge a tad thin, finishing near the back of the green. No problem, as I calmly drained a downhill breaking putt, much to the amazement of my fellow competitors. It was nice to get two birds for the day.
A bogey on the final hole and my score was 90. Should have been sub-90 for sure. Next time!
Score: 90
Putts: 35
Fairways: 3
Greens: 5
Penalties: 4
June 22, 2018
Hot and Cold at Woodington Lake
I played the Legend course at Woodington Lake and the round was up and down, as exemplified by the first two holes. I pulled a 5-wood off the tee on hole 1, losing the ball in the long grass under some pine trees. A 7-iron approach into the green also found trees right, leading to a quadruple-bogey. On hole 2, a par-5, I found the fairway with my drive and the green with my second shot, thanks to the 5-wood. Two putts finished up the hole for a birdie!
On holes 5 and 9, I once again exploded for big numbers, earning a pair of triple-bogeys. Again, the problem was off the tee. On the first of these, I hit the very top of the driver face, sending the ball high and left. A couple of attempted recovery shots just didn't work. On the latter, I once again pulled the 5-wood off the tee. Funny enough, I lost the ball in the same grass and trees that got me on hole 1.
As I hinted at, not all was bad. I made solid bogeys on holes 3, 4 and 6, plus very nice pars on holes 7 and 8. This continued with a trio of bogeys to begin the back nine. Tee shots were working on these occasions, whether I used the driver, 5-wood, or an iron. I got up and down near the greens on a couple of occasions. Unfortunately, another quadruple-bogey came out of nowhere on hole 13. A tee shot that drifted right caught a severe slope that pushed the ball into an environmental area.
Had that been the last blowup, I may have salvaged a respectable score. Alas, I made another triple-bogey on hole 17, a par-5. After a perfect drive to the centre of the fairway, I tried to go for the green with the 5-wood. I topped the ball, sending it to the left and into the woods. As bad as that was, I was proud of the way I regrouped on hole 18. A seemingly perfect drive went through the dogleg of this par-4, nestling a foot behind the trunk of a pine tree. Forced to chip sideways, I followed up with a beautiful gap wedge into the green surrounded by water. I almost made the par putt, but needed a tap-in to register bogey.
Score: 97
Putts: 34
Fairways: 6
Greens: 3
Penalties: 5
On holes 5 and 9, I once again exploded for big numbers, earning a pair of triple-bogeys. Again, the problem was off the tee. On the first of these, I hit the very top of the driver face, sending the ball high and left. A couple of attempted recovery shots just didn't work. On the latter, I once again pulled the 5-wood off the tee. Funny enough, I lost the ball in the same grass and trees that got me on hole 1.
As I hinted at, not all was bad. I made solid bogeys on holes 3, 4 and 6, plus very nice pars on holes 7 and 8. This continued with a trio of bogeys to begin the back nine. Tee shots were working on these occasions, whether I used the driver, 5-wood, or an iron. I got up and down near the greens on a couple of occasions. Unfortunately, another quadruple-bogey came out of nowhere on hole 13. A tee shot that drifted right caught a severe slope that pushed the ball into an environmental area.
Had that been the last blowup, I may have salvaged a respectable score. Alas, I made another triple-bogey on hole 17, a par-5. After a perfect drive to the centre of the fairway, I tried to go for the green with the 5-wood. I topped the ball, sending it to the left and into the woods. As bad as that was, I was proud of the way I regrouped on hole 18. A seemingly perfect drive went through the dogleg of this par-4, nestling a foot behind the trunk of a pine tree. Forced to chip sideways, I followed up with a beautiful gap wedge into the green surrounded by water. I almost made the par putt, but needed a tap-in to register bogey.
Score: 97
Putts: 34
Fairways: 6
Greens: 3
Penalties: 5
June 12, 2018
Putter Goes Cold at Carlisle
I headed out to Carlisle to see if I could get my driver under control. On the East nine, I only hit one fairway in regulation, and that was with the 5-wood. Holes 1, 4 and 7 produced low pulls to the left, while holes 2, 5 and 6 produced high blocks to the right. I had more control than I did at Lowville, but nowhere near the accuracy I had to open the season at Granite Ridge. The pull on hole 4 was particularly bad, as my ball went out of bounds, leading to a double-bogey.
Fortunately, I hit some good iron shots. The best was a 7-iron from an opposite fairway on hole 5. I judged the distance well and nailed a high shot to the front of the green. A great lag putt and tap-in earned my first par of the day. An equally great 7-iron from a mound right of the fairway found the green on hole 6. Unfortunately, it came after a failed attempt from the same spot moments earlier. I pulled that ball into a tree just ahead and couldn't find it. The penalty stroke led to a double-bogey.
Two pars finished the East for a score of 44 and off I went to play the North nine. I continued to block my drives to the right. The only fairway I hit was on hole 8, a par-5 that finished with par. The 5-wood served me well on shorter holes, such as 3 and 5. Hole 3 resulted in par after a great approach with the sand wedge. My wedges were also great on anything less than 100 yards. It's nice to know you can pitch one close when necessary. I hit a beauty 4-iron into the green on hole 9 that rivalled the 7-iron from East 5.
Unfortunately, my putter was letting me down. I shot a decent score of 92, but 40 of those were putts! That's a bit misleading because I made many great lag putts from distance that were followed up with mere tap-ins. However, I didn't have a 1-putt on a single hole. There were really just three bad putting holes. I 3-putt hole 1 after my first attempt rolled 10 feet past. I 3-putt hole 7 after the opposite; my first attempt was woefully short. The worst was hole 6, which finished with 4 putts after reaching the green in regulation.
Score: 92
Putts: 40
Fairways: 2
Greens: 7
Penalties: 3
Fortunately, I hit some good iron shots. The best was a 7-iron from an opposite fairway on hole 5. I judged the distance well and nailed a high shot to the front of the green. A great lag putt and tap-in earned my first par of the day. An equally great 7-iron from a mound right of the fairway found the green on hole 6. Unfortunately, it came after a failed attempt from the same spot moments earlier. I pulled that ball into a tree just ahead and couldn't find it. The penalty stroke led to a double-bogey.
Two pars finished the East for a score of 44 and off I went to play the North nine. I continued to block my drives to the right. The only fairway I hit was on hole 8, a par-5 that finished with par. The 5-wood served me well on shorter holes, such as 3 and 5. Hole 3 resulted in par after a great approach with the sand wedge. My wedges were also great on anything less than 100 yards. It's nice to know you can pitch one close when necessary. I hit a beauty 4-iron into the green on hole 9 that rivalled the 7-iron from East 5.
Unfortunately, my putter was letting me down. I shot a decent score of 92, but 40 of those were putts! That's a bit misleading because I made many great lag putts from distance that were followed up with mere tap-ins. However, I didn't have a 1-putt on a single hole. There were really just three bad putting holes. I 3-putt hole 1 after my first attempt rolled 10 feet past. I 3-putt hole 7 after the opposite; my first attempt was woefully short. The worst was hole 6, which finished with 4 putts after reaching the green in regulation.
Score: 92
Putts: 40
Fairways: 2
Greens: 7
Penalties: 3
June 10, 2018
Fairways Shmairways at Lowville
The weather was cool and comfortable at Lowville Golf Club. I could not hit my driver to save my life. Some of my drives were low runners that worked out just fine, such as on holes #1 and #4, a pair of par-5 holes that resulted in bogey and par, respectively. Other drives were low pulls that barely went anywhere, such as on holes #2 and #9. The first of these left me on some massive mounds with terrible lies, en route to triple-bogey. The second required a follow-up with the 5-wood, just to save a double-bogey.
Aside from those two holes, the rest of my front nine was nice, with a pair of pars and five bogeys. I did it with serviceable iron shots, chips and putts. I got up and down for par on holes #4 and #5. I also got up and down on holes #7 and #8, but those were for bogeys. The new driver I acquired in the off season was causing me grief, while the new putter I acquired was bailing me out. I made the turn shooting a respectable 46.
The back nine was much the same as the front. A horrible drive attempt on hole #10 put me in trouble right off the bat. A weird shot from the rough, 150 yards from the green, went inexplicably sideways. Another bad drive on hole #11 came with the 5-wood. Each attempted recovery shot left me in a worse position. I finished both holes with triple-bogeys. I only figured out the driver on hole #18, and thankfully so. The drive is all carry over marsh land, with no tolerance for a miss hit.
Aside from the first two holes, the rest of the back nine was fine, producing a birdie, two pars and four bogeys. While the driver was failing, the 5-wood was a good recovery club. Iron shots were working well and the short game was excellent. Up and downs were the story again, resulting in bogey on hole #12 and par on #17. The birdie was on hole #14, after a drive to the left rough, followed by a 9-iron to within 6 feet. The downhill putt found the centre of the cup. My back nine score was 44.
Score: 90
Putts: 30
Fairways: 2
Greens: 2
Penalties: 0
Aside from those two holes, the rest of my front nine was nice, with a pair of pars and five bogeys. I did it with serviceable iron shots, chips and putts. I got up and down for par on holes #4 and #5. I also got up and down on holes #7 and #8, but those were for bogeys. The new driver I acquired in the off season was causing me grief, while the new putter I acquired was bailing me out. I made the turn shooting a respectable 46.
The back nine was much the same as the front. A horrible drive attempt on hole #10 put me in trouble right off the bat. A weird shot from the rough, 150 yards from the green, went inexplicably sideways. Another bad drive on hole #11 came with the 5-wood. Each attempted recovery shot left me in a worse position. I finished both holes with triple-bogeys. I only figured out the driver on hole #18, and thankfully so. The drive is all carry over marsh land, with no tolerance for a miss hit.
Aside from the first two holes, the rest of the back nine was fine, producing a birdie, two pars and four bogeys. While the driver was failing, the 5-wood was a good recovery club. Iron shots were working well and the short game was excellent. Up and downs were the story again, resulting in bogey on hole #12 and par on #17. The birdie was on hole #14, after a drive to the left rough, followed by a 9-iron to within 6 feet. The downhill putt found the centre of the cup. My back nine score was 44.
Score: 90
Putts: 30
Fairways: 2
Greens: 2
Penalties: 0
June 09, 2018
Tying My Copetown Woods Personal Best
I shot 84 in the Deepwoods Golf Association season opener at Copetown Woods, equalling my personal best at the course, which came in the same Deepwoods event in 2015. I shot 42 on the front nine, or 7 over par, thanks to 4 pars, 3 bogeys and 2 doubles. After a 280-yard drive on the opening par-5, I needed just 9-iron to reach the green in two. Sadly, I pulled the ball 10 yards left of the green. I needed a good pitch shot just to stay on the green and finished up with a solid 2-putt.
Not surprisingly, most of the other pars also came when I was able to hit greens in regulation. One of these was off the tee on a short par-3, while the other came from a downhill lie in the right rough of a par-4. The two doubles came about for different reasons. On the first, a 50-yard pitch shot from the fescue rolled off the back of the green and was followed by a duffed chip shot. On the other, I pulled my tee shot badly into a strand of pine trees. This inexplicably seems to be my pattern on hole #8 at Copetown Woods.
On the back nine, I also shot 42, but that's just 5 over par. The stretch included 5 pars, 3 bogeys and just 1 double. Hole #10 is a par-5 that began with a drive that split the fairway. Then I hit 5-wood over a massive waste bunker, settling in a greenside bunker. My eagle attempt from the bunker rolled one inch by the hole, setting up a 2-putt par. The other pars once again resulted from good approach shots. There was a 5-wood off the tee on a par-3, a pitching wedge and lob wedge from the right rough, and an 8-iron from the left rough that gave me my best look at birdie all day.
The only trouble on the back nine was on hole #14, which started with a weak drive pulled very near some trees along the OB line. With my backswing impeded, I only advanced the ball a few yards ahead into the fescue. It took two hacks to get back to the fairway. A good approach and two putts followed on the par-5 hole, but that was enough for the double-bogey. The last four holes were also tough due to the intense heat, but I survived.
Score: 84
Putts: 32
Fairways: 5
Greens: 7
Penalties: 0
Not surprisingly, most of the other pars also came when I was able to hit greens in regulation. One of these was off the tee on a short par-3, while the other came from a downhill lie in the right rough of a par-4. The two doubles came about for different reasons. On the first, a 50-yard pitch shot from the fescue rolled off the back of the green and was followed by a duffed chip shot. On the other, I pulled my tee shot badly into a strand of pine trees. This inexplicably seems to be my pattern on hole #8 at Copetown Woods.
On the back nine, I also shot 42, but that's just 5 over par. The stretch included 5 pars, 3 bogeys and just 1 double. Hole #10 is a par-5 that began with a drive that split the fairway. Then I hit 5-wood over a massive waste bunker, settling in a greenside bunker. My eagle attempt from the bunker rolled one inch by the hole, setting up a 2-putt par. The other pars once again resulted from good approach shots. There was a 5-wood off the tee on a par-3, a pitching wedge and lob wedge from the right rough, and an 8-iron from the left rough that gave me my best look at birdie all day.
The only trouble on the back nine was on hole #14, which started with a weak drive pulled very near some trees along the OB line. With my backswing impeded, I only advanced the ball a few yards ahead into the fescue. It took two hacks to get back to the fairway. A good approach and two putts followed on the par-5 hole, but that was enough for the double-bogey. The last four holes were also tough due to the intense heat, but I survived.
Score: 84
Putts: 32
Fairways: 5
Greens: 7
Penalties: 0
June 08, 2018
Misty Day at Tangle Creek
It was overcast and a slight mist fell all day as I headed up to Tangle Creek. It was never bad enough to cause any trouble and the course was mostly empty, so it wasn't really that bad. I started on the back nine and never really got any strong momentum going. I had a few trouble holes, but contained the damage to no worse than double-bogey. A couple of those were due to poor tee shots – one with driver, one with 5-wood. A couple more were due to poor approach shots – one that found some fescue behind a green and another that landed in a greenside bunker.
The remainder of the front nine was fine, with four bogeys and a par. I had slight miscues on the holes that resulted in bogey, but limiting those errors to one per hole was key. The par came on hole #18, a dogleg right par-5. I hit a laser drive to the centre of the fairway, reaching the dogleg easily. Next, a good 3-wood finished in the fairway, 20 yards in front of the green. A good chip set up a legit birdie chance, but I burned the edge and settled for par and a score of 48 at the turn.
My back nine is where I heated up, especially holes #1 through #5, which produced four pars and a bogey. My drive on #1 was pulled terribly to an opposite fairway, but a smashing 5-wood carried back over the dunes, leaving 80 yards to the flag. I was unlucky to put my third flag-high, but a foot into the rough. No worries as I made a perfect chip and 6-inch tap-in. In fact, great chips also contributed to pars on holes #4 and #5. Chips are only as good as the subsequent putts and I nailed them. I had 5 1-putts and 14 putts total over my back nine.
Two more great up-and-downs occurred on holes #6 and #7, albeit to save a double-bogey and bogey, respectively. Still, those felt good. It's very common to struggle on a hole, only to lip out at the end to rub salt in the wound. That didn't happen this time. A couple of bogeys finished the round for a second nine score of 42 and 90 overall. Tangle Creek is a good test, so I'm happy with that result.
Score: 90
Putts: 32
Fairways: 6
Greens: 3
Penalties: 1
The remainder of the front nine was fine, with four bogeys and a par. I had slight miscues on the holes that resulted in bogey, but limiting those errors to one per hole was key. The par came on hole #18, a dogleg right par-5. I hit a laser drive to the centre of the fairway, reaching the dogleg easily. Next, a good 3-wood finished in the fairway, 20 yards in front of the green. A good chip set up a legit birdie chance, but I burned the edge and settled for par and a score of 48 at the turn.
My back nine is where I heated up, especially holes #1 through #5, which produced four pars and a bogey. My drive on #1 was pulled terribly to an opposite fairway, but a smashing 5-wood carried back over the dunes, leaving 80 yards to the flag. I was unlucky to put my third flag-high, but a foot into the rough. No worries as I made a perfect chip and 6-inch tap-in. In fact, great chips also contributed to pars on holes #4 and #5. Chips are only as good as the subsequent putts and I nailed them. I had 5 1-putts and 14 putts total over my back nine.
Two more great up-and-downs occurred on holes #6 and #7, albeit to save a double-bogey and bogey, respectively. Still, those felt good. It's very common to struggle on a hole, only to lip out at the end to rub salt in the wound. That didn't happen this time. A couple of bogeys finished the round for a second nine score of 42 and 90 overall. Tangle Creek is a good test, so I'm happy with that result.
Score: 90
Putts: 32
Fairways: 6
Greens: 3
Penalties: 1
June 06, 2018
Scenic Woods Cures All Ills
I don't know what it is about Scenic Woods, but I usually score well there. I shot 85 each of my first four visits, before an uncharacteristic 103 and then 90. I dipped back into the eighties this time with a final tally of 87. I was on fire on the front nine, with 1 birdie, 5 pars, and 3 bogeys. The birdie was on hole #4, a short and deceptively tough par-4. I missed the fairway slightly right with my tee shot. No worries, as I stuck the pitching wedge within 8 feet from the cup, and then rolled in the putt.
I hit 5 of 7 fairways on the front nine and only missed one with the driver. The best drive may have been on hole #5, a dogleg left with a ditch that crosses the fairway at a dangerous place. I picked the correct line and finished past the ditch, with a clear shot to the green. Though I had good tee shots, it was my approach shots that really paid off. I hit six consecutive greens in regulation, ending with hole #8. I usually hit two or three GIR for an entire round, so this was unexpected.
The back nine at Scenic Woods is harder and I had my share of trouble, with a trio of triple-bogeys. A couple came on holes #10 and #11. A strong headwind messed up my tee shot on #10, then I topped a ball and hit a spruce tree just trying to get to the fairway. My approach on #11 failed to carry a creek and then I botched a pitch before 3-putting. The other triple was on hole #14. I pulled a 4-iron off the tee out of bounds. I played the hole well after re-teeing, but the damage was done.
The rest of the back nine was fine, as I played 3-over through 6 holes. This included pars on hole #13, which is a great par-3, and on hole #15, a par-4. The best result though, was a birdie on hole #18, a 451-yard par-5. My drive was a decent distance, but I was in the right rough, leaving a huge pond all the way between me and the green. I pounded a high 5-wood straight over the flag at the front of the green, ultimately releasing off the back of the deep green. I then duffed my pitch back, followed by what must have been a 60 foot putt. Amazing!
Score: 87
Putts: 34
Fairways: 7
Greens: 9
Penalties: 2
I hit 5 of 7 fairways on the front nine and only missed one with the driver. The best drive may have been on hole #5, a dogleg left with a ditch that crosses the fairway at a dangerous place. I picked the correct line and finished past the ditch, with a clear shot to the green. Though I had good tee shots, it was my approach shots that really paid off. I hit six consecutive greens in regulation, ending with hole #8. I usually hit two or three GIR for an entire round, so this was unexpected.
The back nine at Scenic Woods is harder and I had my share of trouble, with a trio of triple-bogeys. A couple came on holes #10 and #11. A strong headwind messed up my tee shot on #10, then I topped a ball and hit a spruce tree just trying to get to the fairway. My approach on #11 failed to carry a creek and then I botched a pitch before 3-putting. The other triple was on hole #14. I pulled a 4-iron off the tee out of bounds. I played the hole well after re-teeing, but the damage was done.
The rest of the back nine was fine, as I played 3-over through 6 holes. This included pars on hole #13, which is a great par-3, and on hole #15, a par-4. The best result though, was a birdie on hole #18, a 451-yard par-5. My drive was a decent distance, but I was in the right rough, leaving a huge pond all the way between me and the green. I pounded a high 5-wood straight over the flag at the front of the green, ultimately releasing off the back of the deep green. I then duffed my pitch back, followed by what must have been a 60 foot putt. Amazing!
Score: 87
Putts: 34
Fairways: 7
Greens: 9
Penalties: 2
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