Tournament Review - 9/19/2015 - Palisades Country Club (Charlotte, NC)

Over the last 5 weeks, I've played more golf than in any 5 week period over the last few years.  It's given me an opportunity to figure some things out about my swing, and I had hopes that it was going to translate to lower scores on the course.  I came into this tournament, which is the next-to-last tournament on the Golfweek Amateur Tour Charlotte schedule for the 2015 season, knowing I needed to place fairly high in those last 2 tournaments to secure a spot in the National Championship at Hilton Head in October.  I got out for a practice round on this course a few weeks prior with some mixed results, so... although I was feeling okay, I wasn't sure what to expect.  


My goal was to shoot between and 86 and an 88, figuring that'd allow me to finish 'in the money'... but I wasn't really sure where the scores would be since they kind of varied from year to year at this track.
Anyway... my results, hole-by-hole, are below.

Game Golf Link

Scorecard

Hole #16 - Par 4 - 390 Yards

When I had played this course for my practice round, I started on the 1st hole... but because this was a shotgun tournament, I knew I'd be starting somewhere in the last 5 or 6 holes.  I got to start on 16, which was not the easiest hole to start on, but also not the most difficult.  My tee shot was absolutely smashed, but left of my intended target.  It caught the hill on the left side and kicked it a little further left, but it was open on that side, and I finished up in the rough on the other side of the cart path.  Luckily, it left me at least some kind of a shot to the green and I was able to sneak an 8 iron from about 145 yards onto the front portion of the green.  It left me a long putt of about 36 feet, which I left almost 9 feet short... and I three-putted to open with a bogey.

Hole #17 - Par 4 - 360 Yards

Too often, I let comments from playing competitors get in my head.  I did that on this hole.  One of my playing competitors mentioned on this tee that the fairway ran out at about 250 yards, plus it was playing downhill... and even though I hit driver when I played here during my practice round, it made me second guess myself.  I still hit driver (primarily because I have zero faith in my 3 wood off the tee)... but I took an easy swing.  Typically when I do that, I tend to push and/or fade the ball.  On this one, I did both and the ball clicked around in the trees.  My provisional split the fairway, but we found my original up in the woods, and I had a shot to punch out.  I thought I hit a good shot, but it got caught up in the rough on a bank up the right side.  This left me an awkward stance, and I hit a very fat approach wedge.  From there, I pitched up, but the ball got caught in the fringe... leaving me a putter onto the green and a tap in from 3 feet for a double bogey.

Hole #18 - Par 4 - 422 Yards

I had EVERY intention of playing this hole as a par 5 because there was trouble short of the green, and I knew that unless I bombed my drive, I'd have a long iron or hybrid into the green.  My drive here started right and faded a little bit, finding the primary rough up the right side.  It left me with somewhere around 207 yards to the pin.  My stance wasn't horrible, and I was feeling confident, so I decided to try and hit my hybrid up there onto the green.  I made a poor choice, and an even poorer swing.  Luckily, it didn't hurt me as my ball stayed short of the hazard fronting the green.  It was a bit of a thin lie, but I was able to pitch onto the green to about 12 feet.  My par attempt nipped the edge, but didn't fall... so I tapped in for a bogey.

Hole #1 - Par 4 - 362 Yards

Up to this point, I hadn't found a fairway yet.  As I stood on this tee, I tried to focus on my spot in the fairway and I hit what I felt was a great drive.  I thought I had crushed it, but when we got up to the balls... mine was the shortest.  Game Golf measured it at 237 yards, so it wasn't short, but... it wasn't as solid as I had thought it was when I hit it.  Still... I was in the fairway, and I only had about 130 or so to go... but the wind was in my face a bit, so I decided an easy 8 iron would get me there.  I hit the ball well, but this time, my arms got out ahead of me and I pulled it... badly.  Luckily, I got a kick off the trees into the middle of the fairway just short of the green.  I pitched up to 5 feet, but I couldn't capitalize on my luck as I pulled the putt, so I settled for a bogey.

Hole #2 - Par 4 - 408 Yards

When I got to this tee, I could have sworn it was the 3rd hole, and it was a par 5.  As it turns out, I hit a really good drive that split the fairway, but when we got to the ball... I realized it was only the 2nd hole and it was a par 4.  I was left with about 145 to the pin, so I again decided on the 8 iron.  I smoked this one and watched as it hit all the way at the back of the green, leaving me 39 feet for my birdie attempt.  I somehow managed to leave that 6 feet short, even coming down the hill, but I was able to make the 6 footer for my par.

Hole #3 - Par 5 - 531 Yards

I have a horrible habit of stepping up to tees on par 5 holes and wanting to kill the ball.  I took a big swing at the ball here and pulled it left.  I thought I saw it come down, but I wasn't sure, so I hit a provisional, and it went in the same direction, a little further, and hit a house.  Luckily, as we went to my cart partners ball, the other guy in our group spotted my ball just on the outside of the trees.  I didn't have a full swing, but I was able to punch a 4 iron a good distance down the fairway, leaving me about 185 to the hole.  My 5 iron leaked badly to the right on me, but stayed in play.  My pitch from the rough left me about 24 feet for my par attempt, which I wasn't able to sink, so I tapped in from 4 feet for a bogey.

Hole #4 - Par 3 - 164 Yards

The pin on this hole was on a tiny tier in the back-right corner of the green, tucked behind a bunker and not far off from the woods along the right side of the hole.  It was, in no way, a 'green light' pin.  My target was the fan at the back of the green.  I hit it just left of where I was aiming, and a little deep.  I should have putted from where I was, but because of the amount of fringe I was going to need to go through, I figured a chip was a better option.  It wasn't.  I bladed that and watched it run over the green into the rough.  The chip back was a tough one, but I managed to get it to about 5 feet.... and yanked another one from that distance, settling for a double bogey.

Hole #5 - Par 4 - 322 Yards

I really like this hole.  In the middle of the fairway, right at the landing zone, is a little bunker.  If you hit to the right of it, you'll kick into the rough.  If you hit to the left of it and/or carry it directly over the bunker, you'll get a good deal of run-out towards the green.  I hit a good drive that carried over the bunker, just to the left and ran down to about 50 yards short of the pin.  I then chunked my pitch from there (which is typically my wheelhouse).  It left me about 15 yards or so from the pin, and I elected to putt because my last 2 attempts with my wedge weren't so hot.  I got it to a foot and tapped in for par.

Hole #6 - Par 5 - 496 Yards

My problems from the tee really started to show here.  Another par 5, another 'swing out of my shoes' mistake.  I pulled this one left and into the hazard running down the left side of the hole.  I dropped and punched a 4 iron back into the fairway, leaving me about 105 yards to the hole.  I hit what I thought was going to be a perfect wedge from there, but it clipped a branch on an overhanging tree and knocked it down, landing just on the front of the green.  It left me 34 feet for my par attempt, which never got close, but I made the 3 footer for bogey.

Hole #7 - Par 4 - 346 Yards

The number 1 handicap hole here... and I didn't even get to play it.  My drive was right and stayed there.  My provisional was an overcompensating swing that I pulled horribly left into a hazard.  When we got to my original tee shot, we found it behind the white stakes, out of bounds.  I picked up on the hole, taking the triple bogey maximum score.  I watched my playing competitors also make a mess of the hole, carding a double and a triple of their own.  So... this hole lived up to its billing as the toughest on the course.

Hole #8 - Par 3 - 167 Yards

When we arrived at this tee, the group ahead of us was still waiting to tee off, so we easily had a 20 minute wait here.  By the time I finally put my tee in the ground, it had been 30 minutes or more since I had swung a club.  I made it look easy though, hitting a 6 iron pin-high and 12 feet left.  My putt broke slightly more than I thought, but I was able to tap in from 2 feet for my par.  

Hole #9 - Par 4 - 385 Yards

Another hole with a bunker in the landing area, but this hole is a little tighter.  I tried to give it something extra to carry that trap, but... as per usual, I yanked it directly into the trees.  I had no clue if it was going to be in play or not, so I hit a provisional that went further left and hit another house.  That was my 2nd house of the day, for those of you keeping count.  Again, one of my playing competitors found the ball, but I had no chance to really advance it.  My only play was to try and punch it out in front of that bunker in the middle of the fairway.  I managed to get it just beyond that, but then I watched it run down the hill into the bunker just off the right side of the fairway.  With the ball well below my feet and about 130 yards to the pin at the back of the green... I decided to take the extra club (8 iron instead of 9 iron) and hit a low, running shot at the left greenside bunker.  I executed it perfectly and watched the ball run to about 6 feet of the hole.  I was able to salvage a par from what appeared to be an almost certain triple bogey off the tee.

  ** NOTE - Despite the triple bogey on the 7th hole, I had posted a 44 for the front side.  I knew I had some tough holes remaining, but I was feeling pretty good about things as we headed to the last 6 holes of the round.

Hole #10 - Par 3 - 164 Yards

I hit an extremely poor 7 iron from the tee here.  It finished pin-high, but in the rough heading down into the bunker at the side of the green.  I had a very awkward stance where my feet were in the bunker and the ball was about mid-thigh.  I held almost down to the metal on the shaft and popped the ball onto the fringe and watched it run 15 feet beyond the hole.  I drained the putt coming back for another unlikely par, and I felt really good at that point.

Hole #11 - Par 4 - 346 Yards

I split the fairway here and left myself about 110 up the hill to the hole.  My pitching wedge was tugged left, because I bailed out from the bunker the pin was behind.  It also went a little deep.  My putt from the fringe ran long, about 13 feet from the hole, and I wasn't able to continue my par streak, but I tapped in from 2 feet for a bogey.

Hole #12 - Par 5 - 502 Yards

I finally made a good swing off the tee on a par 5.  The ball went right where I had aimed and found the fairway.  I had almost 260 yards to the flag, and there was a hazard crossing in front of the green, so trying to get it all the way up there wasn't a good play.  I hit a low, punched 5 iron that left me 85 yards to the pin.  I debated between a flighted gap wedge or a hard sand wedge, and I decided on the sand wedge.  It was the wrong call.  I got very steep and hit it extremely fat... so fat, in fact, that it didn't even reach the hazard.  My pitch from there landed on the green and ran over... and my attempt to chip in for par came up 5 feet short, but I finally made a 5 footer... this time for bogey.

Hole #13 - Par 3 - 183 Yards

Listed at 183... but only playing 157.  The pin was ALL the way at the front and ALL the way to the left.  For me, there was no way to get it really close because my fade would hit the trees.  My play was to start it at the flag and let it work to the right of the hole.  There was a big hill behind the pin that, if the ball landed above, it would make for an impossible putt... so, I decided on the 7 iron (my club from about 155) instead of the 6 iron (my club from 165 to 170) because I didn't want to be long.  Again... wrong choice.  My 7 iron started at the pin and faded... but it faded too much and found the hazard that ran in front of and along the right side of the green.  Luckily, it had crossed the margin in a spot up front where I could drop close to the green, but... still, it was a killer penalty stroke there.  My pitch ran to the left side of the green and I needed 2 putts from 20 feet for a double bogey.

Hole #14 - Par 4 - 414 Yards

Standing on this tee, I knew I needed to finish par - par to shoot an 88.  I figured that was going to be on the high end of the money spots, so I really tried to make pars on my last 2 holes.  Again, because it was a slightly longer hole, I tried to give it some extra off the tee and it didn't work out for me.  I hit a low duck-hook that ran into the trees.  My provisional found the fairway, but we found my original ball deep in the trees.  I had almost nowhere to play this shot.  I had an opening about the size of a small iPad to punch the ball through on the ONLY line I had any kind of a swing on.  I asked my playing competitor to keep an eye on the ball for me, and I punched it out and watched it sail directly through that opening, back into the fairway.  It was pretty miraculous, to be honest.  This left me 185 to the pin... and I hit what I thought was a good 5 iron, but because it was late in the evening and the air was cooling down... it just didn't get there.  My pitch from the fairway fronting the green left me about 12 feet for a bogey.  I then threw away any and all chances (in my mind) of placing in the money by three-putting from there for a crushing triple bogey.

Hole #15 - Par 5 - 483 Yards

If you've been following along, you'll know by now that I try to kill the ball off the tee on a par 5.  I did the same thing here, figuring it was short enough that I MIGHT have a shot at getting on in 2 if I put a good swing on my tee shot, but I blocked it right and into a hazard.  My drop left me 280 or so yards to the middle of the green, and I was in kind of a ticked off mood, so I decided that since my ball kind of sat up in the rough a bit, I'd try and hit my driver off the deck.  I hit probably my best driver of the day, a low, running bullet that finished in the fairway about 50 yards shy of the hole.  My pitch checked up very quickly and from 36 feet, I three-putted again to close out my round with a double bogey.

  ** NOTE - When we added up the scores, I had posted a 93... which was one more than one of my playing competitors (who finished in a tie for 3rd place).  We got back to the scoring area and I realized that if I hadn't three-putted those last 2 greens, I would have finished in 3rd place.  Instead, I finished in 5th place, 4 back of the winner who posted an 89.  I killed my chances by being too aggressive on the last 3 holes.  

Round Stats

• Score - 94 (Club Adjusted to 93)

• Penalty Strokes - 5

• Putts - 34

• Fairways - 5 of 14

• Greens in Regulation - 5 of 18

• nGreens in Regulation - 8 of 18

• Up and Downs - 3 of 9

• Sand Saves - 1 of 1

Tournament Review - 9/10/2015 - Rock Barn Golf & Spa Jackson Course (Conover, NC)

Last week, I played with the ClickIt Golf group and managed to win $35 in the team portion of the contest.  Because of that, I decided that I wanted to play with them again... so I made the 90 minute trek up to Conover, NC to play at the Rock Barn Golf & Spa club.  There are 36 holes there... one 18 hole layout designed by Tom Jackson and the other 18 hole layout designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

We were going to be playing the Jackson course, which is the easier of the 2 layouts.  With a rating/slope of 71.3/133, it was not an overly difficult layout, but... at 6419 yards, it was one of the longer layouts I've played this season.  It meant that my game from the tee was going to need to be on point to be able to post a decent score.

After a brief warmup session on the range and practice green, we headed to the first tee for our 10:30am tee time.

Game Golf Link

Scorecard 

Hole #1 - Par 5 - 550 Yards

This isn't necessarily the easiest of starting holes.  A long par 5 with a decent forced carry of about 200 yards off the tee and then uphill and turning to the left.  My tee shot was straight, but not very long.  From the fairway, I topped my hybrid and it rolled into the rough up the left side.  With the green way uphill and a tree in my way, I had no shot at the green, so I punched a 6 iron out of the very thick rough into the fairway and left myself about 110 to the flag.  My approach wedge looked really good from where I was, but it ended up just over the green.  I chipped on to about 3 feet and tapped in to open with a bogey.

Hole #2 - Par 4 - 343 Yards

After that opening hole, this one looked nice and simple.  My drive was solid, but it was slightly pulled and ended up in the rough along the left side.  My 9 iron from about 120 was nearly perfect and left me a 9 footer for birdie.  It died at the low side of the cup, so I tapped in for a par.

Hole #3 - Par 3 - 207 Yards

A lot of the distance on the scorecard was on par 3 holes.  This one, luckily, was moved up quite a bit.  It was at about 175 and playing downhill.  My 6 iron wasn't hit well and faded off, but cleared the greenside bunker and nestled into the rough.  My chip from there was a little sticky and the ball was well short.  From about 23 feet, I needed 2 putts for a bogey.

Hole #4 - Par 4 - 361 Yards

I hit an okay shot from the tee here, but again, it was slightly pulled, so it ended up in the rough.  If it had caught the fairway, it would have rolled quite a bit, but, still... it left me just about 115 to the flag.  Being in the rough, I didn't get a lot on it, but my pitching wedge had enough to reach the green.  2 putts from 39 feet and I had another par.

Hole #5 - Par 4 - 424 Yards

This was a beautiful hole... but I made it ugly.  My drive was WAY right, but it was open over that way, so my ball stayed in play.  I didn't have a shot at the green, so I decided to hit a 6 iron up over the trees and back into the fairway... but it faded on me and ended up in the rough.  It took us a few minutes to find the ball, but when we did... the lie was ugly.  I only saw the ball because I was right on top of it.  I tried to hack a wedge out of there onto the green from only about 70 yards away, but it didn't come close.  I left myself short-sided with a trap between the hole and my ball.  I ended up in that trap, blasted out to about 11 feet and needed 2 putts from there for a triple bogey.

Hole #6 - Par 3 - 200 Yards

I don't even want to recap this hole.  I hit a 6 iron from the tee and watched the ball slice and land in the water.  I asked if there was a drop area up there, and one of my playing competitors said no... so I hit another 6 iron.  This time, it was fat and came up about 10 yards short of clearing the water.  I got down to the area where the ball went in and dropped, which is what I should have done to begin with.  The thick rough kept my ball short... but it landed on the green.  I then three-putted from 36 feet for a snowman... on a par 3.  Just ugly.  

Hole #7 - Par 4 - 327 Yards

I was kinda angry at this point and I hit a really good drive that landed right where I was looking.  I was left with about 75 yards to the flag, and then I sh*nked a sand wedge from the fairway into the bunker short and right of the green.  I BARELY got the ball out of there and was left with a tricky downhill pitch from the rough.  I managed to sneak that to about 5 feet, and then I pulled the putt, so I tapped in for a double bogey... from the middle of the fairway... only 75 yards away.  

Hole #8 - Par 5 - 504 Yards

I typically use TaylorMade Project (a) balls... but because I had none left, I was alternating between Srixon Tri-Speed Tour and Titleist Pro-V1 balls.  I have never liked the Pro-V1... but because I had received a dozen awhile back, I use them when I'm out of the TaylorMade balls.  Anyway, this hole showed me why I dislike those balls... they're too soft.  From the tee, I took a line over the fairway bunker up the right side.  It should have been a 225 yard carry, and I figured that I had been pulling a lot of my tee shots, so... if I aimed there and hit it well and it went straight, it should clear the bunker with no issues.  If I pulled it, the ball would find the fairway anyway.  Well... I smashed my drive, right at the bunker.  When we got up there, my ball landed at the lip of the trap and rolled back in.  With the TaylorMade balls, I wouldn't have had an issue clearing that trap with how I hit the ball... but, something about the Pro-V1 and my swing don't mesh.  

Anyway... I hit a 5 iron out of the trap and left myself about 140 from the rough just off the right side of the fairway.  My 8 iron was weak, but stayed short of the trap and left me about 23 yards to the hole.  My pitch from there peeked in the hole from the left lip, but didn't drop... so I tapped in for a par.

Hole #9 - Par 3 - 219 Yards

This was a very long, WAY downhill par 3.  I hit a very good hybrid from the tee, and the wind pushed it just right of the pin.  It was a little long and left me a downhill chip that I managed to leave about 7 feet short.  My par putt stopped on the lip but would not drop, so I tapped in to close that side with a bogey.

** NOTE - Other than the stretch through holes 5, 6 and 7... I had played pretty well.  I posted a 48, including an 8 on a par 3.  I was hoping for similar success on the back nine.

Hole #10 - Par 5 - 516 Yards

On this tee, I made one of my way-too-quick swings and pulled it out of bounds.  My provisional was perfect and left me about 235 to the hole.  There was a pond that I had to carry from there to the green (about 215 carry), but having already blown a ball OB off the tee, I played it smart and punched a 5 iron into the fairway, leaving about 95 yards to the hole.  It started to thunder at this point and clouds were rolling in, but I didn't let that bother me.  I tried to hit a low approach wedge, but I didn't get enough of it and my ball landed on the slope in the middle of the green.  I watched my ball zip back about 20 feet.  My 45 foot bogey attempt missed by less than a foot, so I tapped in for a 'second ball par'... otherwise known as a double bogey.

Hole #11 - Par 4 - 357 Yards

I made a very poor swing from this tee, but luckily it didn't hurt me.  My drive was very weak and found the rough up the left side.  I only had about 152 to the hole, but because of the rough, I hit a 6 iron, which was a good choice.  My ball found the back of the green.  My birdie attempt from 25 feet ran a few feet past the hole, and I made the 5 footer coming back for my par.  It started to rain as we were leaving this green.

Hole #12 - Par 4 - 403 Yards

By the time I got to the tee here, it was raining pretty hard.  It was a refreshing rain, though.  Still... it messed with my grip a little bit and I snap-hooked my tee shot off a house and out of bounds.  My provisional was my best drive of the day and split the fairway.  I had around 120 from there to the pin.  It was an absolute downpour by the time I got to my ball.  My pitching wedge looked good, but ended up on the front of the green, almost 20 feet away.  My putt from there just missed and sat off the right lip, so I tapped in for another 'second ball par'... which means another double bogey.

Hole #13 - Par 3 - 180 Yards

My playing competitors, both older gentlemen, decided they didn't want to play through the rain, even though the radar showed it was going to be ending momentarily.  I waited out the rain beneath some trees.  When it stopped (about 5 minutes later), I joined up with the threesome behind me to finish out the round.  

Once I was on the tee, my hybrid was horribly topped and I watched it roll into the hazard.  I dropped behind the hazard and hit a 9 iron very heavy.  It bounced off the rock wall around the hazard and kicked up onto the bank.  I got a break there.  I then pitched to about 4 feet and made that putt for a double bogey.

Hole #14 - Par 4 - 387 Yards

I did not hit an overly good tee shot here.  I hit it well, but the ball leaked a little right on me.  From that rough, I had almost no shot at the green.  Still... I tried to muscle a 6 iron out of there.  It went well right and short of the green.  I had about 65 yards to the hole from there.  I hit a good wedge out of the rough, but I left it above the hole.  My par putt from about 18 feet barely missed and I tapped in for a bogey.

Hole #15 - Par 4 - 392 Yards

This was one of my best played holes of the year so far.  I hit a solid drive right where I was looking.  It cleared the slope and settled on a somewhat flat part of the fairway.  I had about 170 to the hole and I hit an absolutely pure 6 iron.  It got way up in the air, started on line and stayed there.  I thought it was going to wind up right next to the hole, but it was just a big long, catching the back of the green.  My birdie attempt from 32 feet curled right up to the cup, but didn't drop... so I tapped in for a par.

Hole #16 - Par 3 - 145 Yards

This hole played uphill the entire way, and the tees were back a bit... so it was playing a little longer than the card stated.  My 6 iron was weak and right the entire time.  It ended up just off the cart path, so I took relief and dropped into the rough about 25 yards from the pin.  I hit an okay pitch from there that left me about 15 feet for my par.  Again, I hit a good putt, but it didn't drop... so I tapped in for bogey.

By the time we reached the green here, the skies were blue again... and it was HUMID!

Hole #17 - Par 5 - 503 Yards

I had hopes of getting home in 2 on this hole, but my tee shot wasn't hit very well.  It left me about 263 yards to the pin, so I decided to hit a 4 iron into the fairway and leave myself a wedge to the pin.  The first part was executed perfectly... but, from 75 yards, I chunked a gap wedge that I tried to flight the ball with and I ended up in the trap fronting the green.  My shot out of there got caught up in the fringe.  I elected to putt from there, but the ball never had the right line.  I tapped in from 2 feet for a bogey.

Hole #18 - Par 4 - 401 Yards

Downhill from the tee... uphill from the fairway.  I hit a decent drive which left me 157 to the pin.  Because it was uphill, I went with my 6 iron.  I kept the ball low and watched it fade perfectly to the back-right pin position.  I only had about 12 feet... but, as had been the case all day, I just didn't have the right speed.  My birdie putt ended up 2 feet short.  I tapped in for a closing par.

** NOTE - So, despite 2 balls out of bounds and 1 ball in the hazard on this side, I managed to post a 45 for a total of 93.  I wasn't overly thrilled with my score because I felt like I had played much better, but... it also could have been much worse.  Heading into my last 2 tournaments with the Golfweek Amateur Tour, I feel pretty confident.  

Round Stats

• Score - 93
• Penalty Strokes - 5
• Putts - 33
• Fairways - 4 of 13
• Greens in Regulation - 5 of 18
• nGreens in Regulation - 10 of 18
• Up and Downs - 1 of 5
• Sand Saves - 0 of 3

Tournament Review - 9/3/2015 - Regent Park Golf Club (Fort Mill, SC)

I was sitting around early in the week and I noticed that another club that I played with a few times last year was going to be playing at a local course, so I rearranged my work schedule and took the day off so that I could join them.  I had only played this course one time, and that was the first course I blogged about here... Regent Park Golf Club in Fort Mill, SC.  

I left feeling impressed last year when I was there, so I looked forward to getting back.  Unfortunately, it looks like the course is having some problems.  The practice range was a mess.  The balls were in horrible condition.  The practice green was chewed up... and this was all before getting out on the course and seeing the condition of the bunkers and greens, which were abysmal.

Still... it was golf, and I needed the practice.  I had played here last year and shot 110.  My goal was to shoot better than 95... and possibly win a skin or two.  The details of my round are below.

Game Golf Link

Scorecard 

Hole #10 - Par 5 - 499 Yards

My day didn't start great.  My tee shot appeared to be good, landing up the right side... but when we got to where the ball should have been, we couldn't find a thing.  To save time, I didn't go back to the tee... but I dropped where my ball was seen landing instead.  I hit a 4 iron from there that landed just shy of the green, and then I pitched on to about 12 feet.  My putt didn't curl as much as I anticipated, and I tapped in for a double bogey.  Because I hadn't hit a provisional, I had to take the max score of a triple bogey for the club score.

Hole #11 - Par 4 - 344 Yards

I remembered this hole and had fond memories, but... they quickly faded.  I hit a decent tee shot that ended up about 2 yards shy of the fairway bunker up the left side.  I had around 90 yards to the pin, but I wanted to stay below the hole... so I chose to hit a sand wedge and get it to the front of the green.  I bladed and pretty much sh*nked that one, and watched as it rolled into the greenside trap.  As I mentioned in my opening, the traps were in horrible shape.  They hadn't been raked, and some areas were super fluffy while others were bare.  I ended up in a footprint in one of the fluffy areas, and it took me 2 shots to get out.  My ball ended up just off the back of the green, and I putted from there off the side of the green because the only way to get the ball close to the hole was to make the putt.  I putted from there to about 4 feet and I made that for another triple bogey.

Hole #12 - Par 4 - 423 Yards

A great tee shot here left me in the middle of the fairway with about 150 to the hole.  I topped my 7 iron into the pond directly in front of me, so I dropped and hit the same shot... this one ending up just off the front of the green.  I putted from the fringe to about 3 feet and tapped in for a double.  

Hole #13 - Par 3 - 189 Yards

Although listed at 189, the tees were up and it was playing just about 165.  I hit a very good 6 iron that hit the green, spun right and settled about 7 feet from the hole.  I didn't play enough break on my birdie attempt and it slipped by on the low side, so I tapped in for my par.

Hole #14 - Par 4 - 327 Yards

I watched one of my playing competitors hit his drive right up to just shy of the green and, despite it being risky, I also decided to hit my driver.  I hit a good one and my ball ended up about 3 yards shy of the front of the green.  I chipped on and watched as the ball rolled about 6 feet past the hole.  My birdie putt stayed high this time and I tapped in for another par.

Hole #15 - Par 5 - 526 Yards

I pulled and topped my drive here, but it didn't hurt me.  It left me in the rough up the left side, and I hit a low 4 iron up over the crest of the hill.  It caught the ridge and ran all the way down to the woods on the right side, but stayed out, leaving me about 135 to the pin... but it was way uphill.  I hit my 7 iron and watched it leak, but it caught the rough just right of the green.  My chip rolled beyond the hole about 14 feet and I finally made a putt, getting up and down for my third straight par.

Hole #16 - Par 4 - 379 Yards

It seems like every time I start to get on a roll, reeling off a few pars in a row, I'll make a horrible swing to disrupt the rhythm.  That happened here.  On a very easy hole, I pulled my drive WAY left and out of bounds.  My provisional was perfect, splitting the fairway.  My 9 iron came up a little short of the green.  My chip settled about 8 feet above the hole, and I couldn't make that, so I tapped in for a very disappointing triple bogey.

Hole #17 - Par 3 - 160 Yards

I like this hole, but it's a little intimidating with the forced carry over the water, and knowing that you can't go right because the water is over there too.  I hit a good 5 iron into the wind but it didn't come back to the right enough, and I ended up on the hill to the left of the green.  It left me a very difficult chip because there was no way to get the ball close to the hole.  I managed to get it to within 18 feet, but the putt back was a tough one that I couldn't make.  I managed to make the 4 footer coming back for bogey.

Hole #18 - Par 4 - 398 Yards

I hit another good tee shot here, splitting the fairway.  My 8 iron was a little weak and ended up just off the right side of the green.  I made an absolutely abysmal attempt at chipping the ball and it moved about 2 yards to the right.  I putted from there to about 3 feet and tapped in for a bogey to close out the first nine holes.

** NOTE - Because this was a net scoring tournament, I was receiving 22 strokes... meaning 11 per side.  I had posted a 49 gross, netting me down to a 38, which was 2 over par.  I wasn't happy with the score, but I wasn't disappointed either.  I knew it came down to a few bad swings being the difference between the 49 and a 45.

Hole #1 - Par 4 - 388 Yards

Chalk this one up to not paying attention.  I was convinced that this was a par 5, and I watched my playing competitors hit 3 woods off the tee, well to the right of the dogleg.  Still... I decided to hit my driver over that corner, and watched as it turned to the left and went into the woods.  My provisional was right and through the fairway.  I couldn't locate my original, so I had to play my provisional.  I punched it below some trees and watched it trundle up into the creek short of the green.  I dropped, pitched up just to the fringe, putted from there and tapped in from about 5 feet.  This was an 8, but this club also has a triple bogey maximum score, so it was adjusted down to a 7.

Hole #2 - Par 3 - 159 Yards

On this tee, I knew that left was bad.  Of course, the pin was on the left side of the green.  My goal was to start it at the pin, and if it leaked right on me... that would be fine.  I hit a very solid shot and the ball never left the pin.  It ended up about 10 feet long of the hole, but the downhill putt was faster than I anticipated, and I missed on the high side.  I left myself a 5 footer for par, but I made that with no problem.

Hole #3 - Par 5 - 508 Yards

I hit a good drive that caught a branch on the lone tree just off the left side of the fairway and kicked it a little left.  Still, it settled just off the fairway, leaving me about 195 to the hole.  I was blocked out by some trees, but because of the slope I was on, I was able to play it out right and have the ball draw back around.  My 2 hybrid was low, and hooked around those trees, running just through the green.  I chipped up to about 5 feet and made that for my first and only birdie of the day.

Hole #4 - Par 3 - 169 Yards

I was between clubs on this hole, ultimately, I chose to go with the 6 iron because of the breeze into us.  I didn't hit it well, but it ended up on the green and under the hole.  My 17 foot attempt for birdie didn't get overly close, leaving me a testy 2-3 footer for par, which I made.

Hole #5 - Par 4 - 380 Yards

As I mentioned above, whenever I start to play well... it's usually abruptly ended with a poor swing off a tee.  It happened again here.  We were waiting on the group in front of us off every tee.  On this tee, it seemed like there was a lot of room to clear the corner on the dogleg up the right side.  I set up to hit a fade, and then I made the worst swing of the day for me.  It started right and went WAY right into a hazard.  I dropped and tried to punch a 5 iron back into the fairway, but it hit a mound and stayed in the trees.  My next shot got out to the fairway, leaving me about 80 yards to the hole.  I hit a low, spinning sand wedge from there that stopped about 21 feet from the hole.  I needed 2 putts from there for a momentum-halting triple bogey.

Hole #6 - Par 5 - 531 Yards

I literally hit a house off this tee.  My tee shot immediately shot right and just stayed out there, stopping when it hit the roof of a house.  My provisional was up the left side, but rolled down into the rough, leaving me about 235 to the hole.  I tried to get a 3 wood from there to the green, but I hit it very fat.  Luckily, it stayed right of the hazard.  My 9 iron from there settled onto the fringe of the green.  I putted from there to about 5 feet and made that for a double bogey.  

Hole #7 - Par 3 - 149 Yards

I was beginning to run out of energy here.  It was very hot by this point, and I had run out of water on the 3rd hole.  For whatever reason, the course did not have any water stations on the front side, so I was beginning to get weak.  This hole was playing to about 140 yards, which would typically be an 8 iron for me... but because of how I was feeling, I decided to go with a soft 7 iron instead.  It ended up short and right.  I chipped on to about 8 feet, and my par putt lipped out, so I tapped in for a bogey.

Hole #8 - Par 4 - 457 Yards

This is far-and-away the most difficult hole on the course.  I hit an okay drive, but it went through the fairway on the left, leaving me a long shot into the green from about 204.  I had some tree trouble up the left, but I figured with a hybrid, it was going to stay below the limbs.  I hit my hybrid on the screws, but it got up very quickly and smashed into one of the thicker branches, knocking it down and into the rough on the right.  My pitching wedge from there was short and right.  We spent a few minutes walking around looking for a ball from one of my playing competitors, and I started to get very weak.  Someone offered me a water they had in their bag, and I gratefully accepted.  I downed half the bottle, which was a bad idea, and when we got towards the green... I started to feel a little nauseated.  I took about 90 seconds to breathe and it finally subsided, but I was still feeling weak.  I had a little pitch from the rough that ended up about 9 feet short, and my putt wouldn't drop, so I tapped in for a double bogey.

Hole #9 - Par 4 - 351 Yards

On this tee, I really just wanted to get the ball SOMEWHERE towards the fairway.  I was feeling exceptionally weak, and I contemplated driving straight to the clubhouse at this point, but... with only 1 hole left, I decided to stick it out.  My drive was good, but short.  I was in the middle of the fairway with about 130 to the hole.  My 8 iron looked good, but came up just short.  I chipped to about 5 feet and made that to close out my round with a par.  

** NOTE - I managed to post a 45 on this side for a total of 94, which netted down to a 72.  More importantly, however, I learned a lesson.  That lesson is to never pass up an opportunity to fill up my water bottles, and always have enough on a hot day.  I had never come that close to passing out before.  Staying properly hydrated will be a key goal of mine going forward.  Not having the energy to properly swing the club for the last 3-4 holes was bad... but the feeling I had on the 8th hole was really bad, and I never want to feel that again.  Despite all that, I was pleased with my 94.  I know that it could have been an 88 with a couple of better swings.  

Round Stats

• Score - 94
• Penalty Strokes - 7
• Putts - 28
• Fairways - 4 of 13
• Greens in Regulation - 5 of 18
• nGreens in Regulation - 11 of 18
• Up and Downs - 2 of 4
• Sand Saves - 0 of 1