Round Review - 3/11/2015 - Tega Cay Golf Club - Cove Course (Fort Mill, SC)

Despite calling for rain earlier in the week, yesterday turned out to be an amazing day.  It was somehwere about 82 degrees and no rain until later in the afternoon.  Of course, I had to run out to play at least nine holes... so I went to my local favorite, Tega Cay and played the nine hole Cove Course.  

I put together a vlog, but I ran out of camera space by the 7th hole... so, I only got part of it.  But, if you prefer to watch that... it's below.

Game Golf Round Review

Scorecard

Hole #1 - Par 3 - 186 Yards

There was a little bit of a breeze into me and from the right, but the pin was up front, so I hit a 5 iron.  It started out on a good line and ended up just about pin-high and 7 feet from the hole.  Best shot I've played to this hole so far.  I missed the birdie putt on the low side and cleaned up from 2 feet for an opening par.  

Hole #2 - Par 5 - 448 Yards

I've mentioned in the past that this hole eats me alive.  I know that anything more than a hybrid is going into a back yard out of bounds... and if I catch the hybrid correctly, that's going to be long, too.  So... I hit a 4 iron that I sliced a little bit, but it cleared the corner and found the left side of the fairway.  I still had about 255 to the hole, and no shot of getting there, so I laid back with my 6 iron.  It wasn't the greatest shot and ended up about 110 or so from the hole.  A bad pitching wedge from the fairway floated well right and into a trap.  I got out of there, but spun the ball back off the green.  I putted up to about 7 feet, missed that and settled for a tap-in double bogey.

Hole #3 - Par 4 - 428 Yards

I had been hitting a straight ball with my driver when I played on Saturday, so I set up for the same thing... but I sliced it.  Luckily, it hit up on a hill and stayed in play.  I had about 185 or so to go, but the ball was above my feet.  I hit a 4 iron that cut around some trees... and I lost sight of it.  I thought it was going to be in the right rough.  Luckily, when I got up there, my ball was in the fairway just short of the bunker in front of the green.  I hit a very poor, very thin pitch that scooted through the bunker and onto the green.  2 putts from 12 feet for my bogey.

Hole #4 - Par 4 - 376 Yards

I despise this hole.  For such a short hole, it gives me fits.  Off the tee, I hit a hybrid that found the right side of the fairway.  I then cut a 4 iron around the trees in front of me, but it didn't reach the green.  I pitched on to about 11 feet above the hole.  My putt burned the edge, almost stopped there... and then ran all the way off the front of the green.  I putted from the fairway back to about 2 feet and then tapped in for my double bogey.

Hole #5 - Par 4 - 310 Yards

I tend to find the left side of this fairway a lot... so I aimed down the right side... and promptly hit a fade 4 iron into the fairway bunker.  My 9 iron out of there from about 120 was fat... and then my sand wedge from just about 60 yards was thin and over the green.  The first mistake helped to create the second mistake.  I chipped on, very short of the hole, about 16 feet away.  The bogey putt was low the entire time, but another 2 foot putt gave me a second consecutive double bogey.

Hole #6 - Par 4 - 312 Yards

I got a great break on this hole.  I pulled my tee shot left and it hammered a tree.  I never saw it come down, so I hit a provisional.  It was a BAD provisional.  It ended up in the right rough below a tree, just behind a bunker.  Luckily my original tee shot had kicked directly into the fairway and I had about 68 yards up the hill to the pin.  I pulled it way left... it hit the cart path and ended up on some mud in front of a tree.  My chip was thin and ran off the green.  My next chip got to about 9 feet away, but I missed the putt and ended up making a THIRD straight double bogey.

Hole #7 - Par 3 - 195 Yards

I love playing this hole because it's probably the prettiest on the Cove Course.  The tee is elevated well above the green, so even though it's fairly long... it doesn't play that long.  My 5 iron was pushed right and settled into the rough to the right of the green.  I hit another poor chip shot that ended up 10 feet from the hole and I FINALLY made a putt, giving me another par.

Hole #8 - Par 3 - 149 Yards

The last time I played this hole, the pin was in the same exact spot.  It didn't bode well for me.  I hit a poor 9 iron that got caught in the wind and bounced off the hill to the right of the green and kicked towards a hazard.  It stayed out, but I didn't have a good swing.  I kind of hacked the ball out of there and it stuck on the green, but 25 feet from the hole... downhill all the way.  If I went even an inch long, it was going off the green.  Of course, I did... and the ball just rolled and rolled.  I chipped back on to about 8 feet... missed the putt and then tapped in from less than a foot for another triple bogey.  4 of the last 5 holes had been triples... mostly due to poor chipping and putting.

Hole #9 - Par 5 - 488 Yards

I hit what felt like one of the purest drives of the year for me.  I didn't feel the ball leave the club.  It was on a line to the right side of the fairway.  I had about 220 up the hill to the green.  My 3 wood was tugged a little left and clipped a tree branch.  That kept it short, but left me with an easy, uphill pitch.  I hit that up to about 13 feet from the hole and burned the edge on my birdie try.  I tapped in to end my round with a par.  

It wasn't bad... but it should have been 3 - 5 shots better.  I like playing this course because it lets me hit a lot of different shots and really isn't as easy as the scorecard would indicate.  I hate playing this course because it messes with my head.  I'll keep playing here every chance I get.  It keeps me ready for the tournaments.

Round Stats

• Score - 47
• Penalty Strokes - 0
• Putts - 19
• Fairways - 4 of 6
• Greens in Regulation - 2 of 9
• Up and Downs - 1 of 4
• Sand Saves - 0 of 1

Tournament Review - 3/7/2015 - Edgewater Golf Club (Lancaster, SC)

I don't have much to say about the round.  It was better than I have been playing, but nowhere near where I was when I last played in tournaments.  I finished a full 13 strokes off the winner... posting a T9 out of 17 in C Flight.  I know what I need to work on... and I'll be focusing on it over the new few weeks.  Until I can get back to playing bogey golf, though... I won't have a shot.

Also... this was an even 6 hour round.  Cart path only.  There was not a single shot the entire round that we didn't wait on.  The group in front of us came back no less than 3 times throughout the round.  One guy in particular had to have shot 110 or worse but STILL lined up every putt (including the 2 footers) like his life depended on it.  It was frustrating, to say the least.

The details are all below.

Game Golf Round Review

Scorecard

Hole #16 - Par 4 - 370 Yards

Before I got to the course, I had every intention of teeing off with a 4 iron or my hybrid on every par 4 and par 5 except for 2 holes.  When I got there, I hit the range and I was hitting my driver well... so I switched my gameplan.  On this hole, however, I decided to stick with my hybrid off the tee and it didn't work out so well for me.  My tendency when I mishit my hybrid is to top it or pull it.  I did both off the tee here.  It dribbled out to the left about 80 yards.  I then had tough lie in the rough with the ball WAY below my feet.  My 5 iron sliced wildly to the right rough.  My 8 iron was short (which you will see became a common theme throughout my day)... and then I hacked up the turf in front of the green with 3 horrible chips before settling for an opening 8 on my scorecard (which was cut down to a 7 because of a triple-bogey maximum club rule).

Hole #17 - Par 5 - 429 Yards

On the scorecard, this hole looks like a dream.  429 yards... par 5?  I was licking my chops.  Unfortunately, the wind was directly into our faces and I tried to cut the corner of the dogleg and paid for it, landing in the fairway bunker.  I hit my 6 iron out of there very fat, leaving me about 120 away.  This is a 9 iron for me... but, I came up short.  A chip to 10 feet and I sank the putt for par to calm myself down a bit.

Hole #18 - Par 4 - 378 Yards

This was another hole where the wind played into us, but slightly from the right.  On the tee, I aimed at the fairway bunker on the left, figuring I'd be able to fade the ball off of that... but with the wind, it didn't fade as much as I'd hoped, and my drive found a fairway bunker for the second straight hole.  I needed 2 swings from there to escape as my first attempt was just ugly and I hit very far behind the ball.  I had about 110 into the green, and again... I came up short, into a greenside trap.  I blasted out of there to about 9 feet, but missed the putt and settled for a triple bogey.

Hole #1 - Par 4 - 315 Yards

This hole was pretty much straight downhill from tee to green.  I initially pulled a 4 iron from my bag, but when I saw how wide open the hole was... I decided on using my driver.  I hit the ball well and it found the fairway... and was my best drive of the season so far at 267 yards.  This left me a little pitch to the green that checked up quickly on me.  2 putts from 22 feet for my par.

Hole #2 - Par 5 - 509 Yards

I got my driver up in the air a little too high, so my drive didn't get out there very far (219 yards).  I tried to get my 5 iron up to about 120 yards, but hit it a little heavy and left myself about 135 to the hole.  My 8 iron was pin high, but left.  I chipped from there to about 7 feet and sank the par putt.

Hole #3 - Par 4 - 353 Yards

I put myself in a bad position off the tee.  I hit the ball well, but I pulled it left.  This put me beneath some trees.  From where I was, there wasn't very much I could do with the ball.  I had to keep it low, but I had to carry the water directly between the green and myself.  Long would have put it into the water behind the green.  I only had about 115 to the pin... so I punched an 8 iron out of an extremely wet lie.  Luckily, it carried the water, but it scooted right on me, leaving me a 20 yard chip from the fairway.  My chip settled a foot behind the cup and I tapped in for a third consecutive par.

Hole #4 - Par 3 - 173 Yards

That was to be my last par for the entire round, unfortunately.  I hit a fat 6 iron that JUST cleared the hazard.  I found my ball with a huge clump of mud on it.  I was probably 20 feet below the green where I was, and I bumped my shot from there into the hill, but it still carried over the back of the green on me.  I was in the fringe and I putted from there to about 3 feet and dropped that for a bogey.  Not bad considering how poorly I hit my tee shot.

Hole #5 - Par 4 - 381 Yards

I reached this tee feeling pretty confident.  I had been playing pretty well with the exception of a few holes.  This was my 8th hole of the round and I was ready to keep it going.  This hole is a slight dogleg right, and because I hadn't been fading my driver most of the day, I decided to tee off with my 3 wood.  My intended fade became an outright 60 yard slice DEEP into the woods.  My next shot was a snap hook to the left.  Luckily, it hit a tree and dropped down.  Unfortunately, it settled directly against a tree trunk, so I had to take an unplayable drop.  I then punched a 4 iron into the fairway and hit a sand wedge onto the green.  I was flustered and I recorded a three-putt from 23 feet for a 9 (which was again adjusted to a triple bogey 7 based on club rules).  Ugly hole that shouldn't have been so ugly.

Hole #6 - Par 5 - 550 Yards

I didn't hit the worst drive in the world, but it was in the left rough.  I was trying to lay up to about 120 again, but I hit my 4 iron heavy from the rough and ended up in a decent lie short of a fairway bunker.  I had probably 130 to the pin and I hit what I thought was going to be a good shot, but it hit a tree branch and dropped straight down, netting a 30 yard shot.  My gap wedge from there came up just short of the green.  I putted from the fringe to about 4 feet and made that for a bogey.  Better than the last hole, but still disappointing.

Hole #7 - Par 4 - 355 Yards

This hole reminded me of a hole I used to play all the time in New Jersey.  A sharp dogleg left around a water hazard.  I laid back with a 4 iron off the tee to the fairway.  My 6 iron from about 165 was heavy and short (I told you it was a theme for the day).  I putted from there to about 5 feet, but I missed the par putt and settled for a bogey.  

Hole #8 - Par 3 - 144 Yards

This is a downhill par 3 that was playing well short of the 144 listed on the card.  Unfortunately, I hit my 9 iron off the tee VERY fat and well short.  My sand wedge from the rough was tugged a little left.  I chipped to 5 feet and missed ANOTHER short putt and tapped in for a double bogey 5 on what was probably the easiest hole on the entire course.  

Hole #9 - Par 4 - 281 Yards

Looking at the card, this seemed like it could be driveable with a well struck tee shot.  Then I got to the hole and realized it was uphill all the way.  My tee shot squirted a little right on me, but I was in a good position.  My sand wedge stuck on the fringe of the green.  I putted from there, but I ran about 7 feet by the hole.  I missed that putt for par and made the 2 footer coming back for a bogey.  That let me finish the front side with a 47  which was adjusted to a 45.  I was hoping to finish the remaining 6 holes playing bogey golf, which would have allowed me to post at least a semi-decent score.

Hole #10 - Par 4 - 389 Yards

I hadn't hit a proper fade with my driver all day.  This hole called for a draw... so I set up with a closed stance, and I promptly faded the ball off of that target line.  It ended up in an environmental area to the right.  My drop left me about 180 to the hole.  I hit what FELT like a perfect fade 4 iron from there.  It cleared the trees, turned to the right... but hit the lip of the greenside trap and fell in.  It was 2 feet from being perfect.  A heavy shot out of there barely escaped the bunker.  I hacked my chip shot onto the green, but 48 feet away.  I two-putted from there for a triple bogey 7.  Crap!

Hole #11 - Par 3 - 178 Yards

This was another downhill par 3, but not a significant drop.  The wind was straight into our faces here.  I hit a good 4 iron that started to fade, but the wind stopped it.  It ended up on the fringe, a long way away from the hole.  I putted from there to about 7 feet.  I ran the par putt by the hole about 3 feet and made that for bogey.  Another missed up and down opportunity.

Hole #12 - Par 4 - 317 Yards

I was frustrated when I got up to the tee... the wind was into our faces again... so I teed the ball low and took a hard swing at it, trying to drive it through the wind.  I ended up topping it 52 yards into the left rough... with a group behind us watching.  I pushed a hybrid to the right rough from there... hit my sand wedge short (again)... and then finally chipped on to about 18 feet.  2 putts from there for a double bogey on another simple hole.

Hole #13 - Par 5 - 506 Yards

The wind was still in our faces... and I hit what FELT like my best drive all day.  It was low... it was pure... but it was short (217 yards).  I had a long way to go, so I just wanted to put myself in a good spot.  My 4 iron was pushed right and hit a tree and dropped straight down.  It was on a bed of mud and pebbles.  I punched that beneath the trees up into the fairway.  I hit a low gap wedge from about 70 yards that finished up about 18 feet away.  My putt from there burned the edge but settled 1 foot behind the hole... so I tapped in for a bogey.

Hole #14 - Par 4 - 348 Yards

Another drive that I thought I crushed that just didn't go anywhere.  I don't know if it was the wet fairways or if I just wasn't hitting the ball as well as I thought I was, but everything seemed shorter than I thought it was going to be or should have been.  This one went 224 yards, but I was in a perfect position.  I had about 119 to the pin... a perfect pitching wedge distance.  The wind was also helping us.  My wedge, when I hit it, looked like it was going to go into the hole... but I ended up 10 yards short, off the front of the green.  My chip was long, leaving me a 9 foot downhill putt.  I DIDN'T leave that one short... and it resulted in a 3 putt for a double bogey.  I was in perfect position in the fairway with 120 to go... and I carded a triple bogey.  

Hole #15 - Par 3 - 211 Yards

Last hole.  Downhill.  I just wanted to hit a par 3 in regulation.  But I pull-hooked my 4 iron from the tee.  I got a 'members bounce' off the trees back in play.  It wasn't a good lie and I just wanted to get it over the greenside trap.  I did... then putted from the fringe to 1 foot and tapped in for a bogey to close my round.  I posted a back nine score of 53, adjusted down to a 52.

I wasn't pleased with my score because I felt like it could have and SHOULD have been much better... but, it wasn't as bad as I had been playing so... at least there was some improvement.

Round Stats

• Score - 100 (Club Adjusted to 97)
• Penalty Strokes - 3
• Putts - 32
• Fairways - 5 of 14
• Greens in Regulation - 1 of 18
• Up and Downs - 3 of 10
• Sand Saves - 0 of 2

Round Review - 3/4/2015 - Tega Cay Golf Club - Cove Course (Fort Mill, SC)

I haven't touched a club since the last round I posted.  First... the weather hasn't played nice.  Second... I'm battling some pretty bad joint issues in my shoulders and right wrist, so I haven't felt good swinging a club.  I figured with the next stop on the Golfweek Amateur Tour in Charlotte coming up this Saturday, I should at least swing a club.  My initial plan was to just go hit some balls at a driving range somewhere... but when I finished up my training event this morning, it had started to clear up and it was exceptionally warm... so I decided to hit up Tega Cay and play 9 holes.  

Perhaps it wasn't the best of ideas.  The rust was extremely evident, and I didn't swing the club pain-free until the last 2 holes.  Anyway... below are all the gory details.

Game Golf Round Review

Scorecard

Hole #1 - Par 3 - 186 Yards

There was a decent breeze into my face, and the pin was all the way back... so I decided to take more club.  I chunked my 4 iron all of about 60 yards and then I bladed my wedge well over the green.  Another chunk, this time chipping with a wedge, left me short.  I was finally able to tap it onto the green and needed 2 putts from 18 feet for a triple bogey.

Hole #2 - Par 5 - 448 Yards

I hate this hole.  I don't think I've ever played it well.  This time was no exception.  I flat out topped my hybrid from the tee and it rolled out to about 35 yards.  I was so worried about hurting my wrist that the next few shots were either thin or topped as well.  My 6 iron from the rough in front of the tee was thin and sliced well right... luckily, it was around the dogleg.  Still... I had no shot other than to lay up.  I tried to punch a 6 iron under a tree, but again... I chickened out because of my wrist... so I topped it up the right side a little bit.  My hybrid was topped and pulled across the fairway.  I finally hit a shot that WASN'T thin... but I pushed it well right with my gap wedge onto the green.  From there, 3 putts from 47 feet for another triple bogey.

Hole #3 - Par 4 - 428 Yards

My driver was sliced, badly.  It hit the cart path and bounced up the hill... but the ball ended up rolling back down that hill into the fairway.  Lucky break.  Chunky, ugly 5 iron that rolled out down the left side into a bad lie.  A thin wedge over the green and a chip onto the green were followed by ANOTHER three-putt... this time from 15 feet for my third consecutive triple bogey.  I was getting discouraged...

Hole #4 - Par 4 - 376 Yards

... and then it got worse.  This hole is in my head.  There isn't enough room to hit anything far enough up for me to have a shot at the green because the tee shot would require a draw, which I can't hit purposely right now.  This forces me to play to the right side of the fairway and hope I don't slice the ball or run through.  Well... all that said, there is also a pond that requires MAYBE a 75 yard carry or so.  It shouldn't even be an issue... but I tend to drop balls in there like it's a wishing well.  Today, I made 3 wishes... topped shots that just dropped straight into the hazard.  I finally got out to the right rough, then I hooked a hybrid into the trees.  My wedge from there went long.  My chip ran like it was in a marathon, all the way off the green.  A putt from off the green to 9 feet and I made that for a solid 12.  Not a triple bogey... a triple par.  

Hole #5 - Par 4 - 310 Yards

Like I said on the last hole... I can't purposely hit a draw... but I can accidentally do it!  I did that with a 4 iron off the tee here.  It splattered into a muddy mess off the left side of the fairway.  I dropped the ball into a normal lie, but the ball was well above my feet... so, naturally, my 7 iron was fat and short.  Another bladed pitch shot over the green, and 3 shots from there JUST to get on the green.  I tapped in from a foot for ANOTHER triple bogey.

Hole #6 - Par 4 - 312 Yards

Although I didn't hit a GOOD tee shot... I didn't hit a BAD tee shot here either.  My 3 wood was tugged a little left, but it faded back into the fairway.  It was short (only 223 yards)... but it was safe.  I then decided to video my swing from the fairway with a wedge.  I wish I didn't.  I came down on TOP of the ball, drove it into the ground which then popped it up a few yards up the fairway.  My next swing was a little heavy, but it found the green.  That left me 47 feet for par... but I needed 3 putts and posted a double bogey.  Successful sarcasm!

Hole #7 - Par 3 - 195 Yards

The wind was fairly strong behind me, and this plays downhill... so I took a 6 iron.  It was an ugly slice, but it carried the lake and left me an uphill pitch from a lie in the leaves just outside of the hazard.  It didn't get close to the green.  My chip from the hill got on, but again... a three putt from 27 feet to get back on the triple bogey train.

Hole #8 - Par 3 - 149 Yards

I don't know what happened on this hole.  I hit what I THOUGHT was a good tee shot with an 8 iron... but it just kept floating right.  It hit the bank to the right of the green and funneled down below the green.  The pin was in a bad spot... and my chip hit the green and rolled off.  I then attempted to putt and leave the ball below the hole, but it got below the hole and just continued to run off the green.  2 chips got to within 7 feet of the pin, and then rolled back to my feet.  I putted from there to about 4 feet and made that for a quadruple bogey.  At least it wasn't a triple... right?

Hole #9 - Par 5 - 488 Yards

Another hole that requires a draw.  My tee shot, which I TRIED to draw, started out at my target... and stayed there.  It landed in the fairway bunker.  I had a good lie and I was able to hit my 6 iron out to a decent spot in the fairway.  I had about 130 to the green with the wind at my back... but I had a wet lie and my 9 iron just wasn't enough and I barely caught it fat, but it was fat enough to not get there.  My chip ended up about 18 feet away and I needed 2 putts for a bogey.  My best hole of the day was a bogey.  That about sums it up.

Anyway... it was ugly, but I got some swings in.  I'll try to get to the range on Friday at some point, and then I'll arrive early Saturday for some (much needed) practice time.

Round Stats

• Score - 65
• Penalty Strokes - 3
• Putts - 19
• Fairways - 2 of 6
• Greens in Regulation - 0 of 9
• Up and Downs - 0 of 2
• Sand Saves - 0 of 0

Tournament Review - 2/7/2015 - Carolina Lakes Golf Club (Indian Land, SC)

So... I forgot about the 'competitive' part of my return to competitive golf.  I showed up to the course WAY early to spend some time on the range and practice green.  I felt good heading to my first hole, which was the 15th on this course.  I started out okay.  Then I fell apart.  

Along the way... I at least had fun, but... it was ugly.  I finished in a tie for 20th out of 21 spots in the C Flight... a full 18 strokes behind the winner.  

I was NOT prepared for a 6 hour round... but that's what it took.  The details, as ugly as they may be, are listed below.

Game Golf Round Review

Scorecard

Hole #15 - Par 4 - 373 Yards

I actually didn't start too poorly.  I hit a good hybrid up the left side, but nobody saw it come down... so I hit a provisional.  When we got up there, my ball was in the rough and I had about 120 left to the pin.  My 9 iron faded perfectly and ended up just off the green.  I two-putted from there to start with a par.  So... I was off and running, and feeling pretty good.

Hole #16 - Par 3 - 158 Yards

The wind was into us, so I decided to take a little more club than I normally would.  I went with a 7 iron that flew directly over the flag, but ended up on the fringe at the back of the green.  Starting on this hole, a common theme would be poor lag putts going well beyond the hole.  Here, I went 12 feet bye and ended up missing that for par... so I made a bogey.

Hole #17 - Par 5 - 472 Yards

Before the week, I 'mapped' out the course and decided what I wanted to hit off each tee and where the trouble was around each green.  I played this hole almost exactly as I had mapped it.  I hit a good hybrid off the tee... a 6 iron lay up (which was hit poorly)... then a gap wedge to about 15 feet.  I then took 2 putts for par.

Hole #18 - Par 4 - 387 Yards

My 3 wood off this tee went left, but we never heard it hit anything.  To be safe, I hit a provisional, which split the fairway.  When we got up there, the ball was resting on a sidewalk to the left of the trees.  I took relief from there and hit a 7 iron up over the trees to the green, leaving myself 16 feet from the hole.  I ran that a good 10 feet by the hole and needed 2 more putts to make a bogey.

Hole #1 - Par 4 - 370 Yards

Here is where my real trouble started.  When I was on the range, I had a nice little 3-5 yard fade with my driver.  I felt good with that shot.  Here... I aimed at a fairway bunker up the left side and it went straight to where I aimed.  It hit the back lip of the bunker and rolled back down to a flat area.  I didn't have far to the green, but I hit my 7 iron fat out of there.  My gap wedge was deep onto the green and I three-putted from 30 feet for a double bogey.

Hole #2 - Par 4 - 368 Yards

My tee shot here was hooked into the hazard up the left side... my provisional was hooked equally as bad.  We actually ended up finding my ball in the hazard, so I dropped way back where it crossed.  I kind of hacked a 5 iron down the left side beneath some trees and it ran up the right side of the fairway.  I hit my sand wedge from there to 16 feet and two-putted for another double.  

Hole #3 - Par 5 - 563 Yards

Here, I did the same exact thing as I did on the last hole and I hooked my drive well into a hazard.  I took a drop up where the ball crossed and tried to hit a 5 iron, but it clipped a tree on the left and dropped down into a rocky, muddy lie.  My 4 iron from there was about as ugly as it could be and ran at about a 45 degree angle across the fairway.  I flared my 8 iron way right... chipped to the opposite fringe... putted from there to about 3 feet and closed out with a triple bogey.

Hole #4 - Par 3 - 150 Yards

By the time we reached this hole, the wind was pretty strong, and directly into our face.  I hit a 6 iron about as hard as I could, and it still floated up in the air and well short.  An ugly pitch from there to 27 feet and 2 putts later, I made a bogey.

Hole #5 - Par 4 - 389 Yards

Another tee shot... another hook.  My ball stayed in play, but I had no real swing at it so I kind of had to wrist it out of the rocks and leaves... but it never got out of the mess.  It went from one bad position to another.  I had no shot at the green from where I was, and there was a creek running across the fairway that I didn't want to put my ball in... so I punched it out into the fairway.  My gap wedge from there was over the green and my chip shot from there settled 2 feet away.  I tapped in for another double.

Hole #6 - Par 5 - 512 Yards

When I had played a practice round here, my driver ran through the end of the fairway into a creek... so I had planned to hit my 3 wood.  Unfortunately, I did something that I haven't done in a LONG time... and I got WAY under the ball and popped it up.  I only tee the ball up so that it is just BARELY above the level of the ground... so to get under the ball like I did means I made a REALLY bad swing.  It ended up in the right rough with the ball well above my feet.  I did the same exact thing, popping the ball up and advancing it about 125 yards.  I hit a hybrid from there that got no higher than 2 feet off the ground and came up well short of my intended target.  A 6 iron to 12 feet and a two-putt for a bogey closed out that hole.

Hole #7 - Par 3 - 154 Yards

Another par 3 that was playing directly into the wind.  The worst part about this hole was that we had about a 15 minute wait on the tee.  The group ahead of us pulled out a ball retriever and went fishing in the hazard short of the green for a good 5 minutes.  We're not really sure why because they all then went and putted without a shot being played from off the green.  Anyway... by the time we got to play the hole, it was probably 145 yards from the tee to the flag, but the wind was really strong... so I hit a 4 iron.  I struck it solidly, but I pulled it.  The wind held it up and it finished well left of the green... but safe.  I chipped down from there to 10 feet and needed 2 putts from there for a bogey.

Hole #8 - Par 4 -363 Yards

After making back-to-back bogeys... I didn't feel too bad considering how badly I had messed up the tee shots over the few holes prior to that.  I FINALLY made a good swing with my driver and it carried over the fairway bunker up the right side... caught a hill and ran out to about 260 yards.  I was set up perfectly... and then I thinned a gap wedge well over the green.  We struggled to find my ball, but we did... in some leaves 25 yards behind the green.  I popped it out of there and it ran all the way to the front of the green.  My putting woes continued as I needed 4 putts from there to card a triple bogey.

Hole #9 - Par 4 - 392 Yards

Again, my tee shot put me in trouble.  I intended to hit a fade with my driver, but I instead pulled it left and straight.  It landed on a finger of a fairway bunker and left me an awkward stance.  My wedge from there was tugged left and landed in a greenside trap.  I hacked out of there to 23 feet and two-putted for a bogey.

Hole #10 - Par 4 - 396 Yards

By the time we reached the 10th tee... we were all feeling a little exhausted.  The first 14 holes had taken us 5 hours already and none of us were playing overly well.  My drive was hooked and we never found the ball.  My provisional, which I thought was perfect, somehow managed to find its way into deep a fairway bunker on the right.  My 7 iron from there felt good, but came up short.  My pitch was thin and over the green.  2 more shots from behind the green and 2 putts from 20 feet to card a 9 (which was dropped to a 7 due to club rules).

Hole #11 - Par 4 - 290 Yards

Again... we had a wait on the tee as the group ahead of us was poking around in the hazard on the right.  When we teed off... that's where my ball ended up.  I finally hit a fade... but it was unintentional... and with a hybrid, so it landed in that mess.  I dropped where it crossed and hit a decent wedge to 15 feet... but needed 3 putts from there for a double bogey.

Hole #12 - Par 3 - 145 Yards

More waiting.  An ugly... no... disgusting swing with an 8 iron that I topped into a hazard.  I then hit a 7 iron from the tee that was on line, but dropped into a bunker and gave me a bad lie.  I hit the ball from there... it hit the lip and clipped my club before falling back into the bunker... so, a penalty on top of that.  I then hit out and watched as the ball lipped out and settled at an inch away.  A tap in for a 7, which was again dropped to a 6 due to club rules.

Hole #13 - Par 5 - 498 Yards

I was done by this point.  Mentally... I was just angry at myself.  Physically... I could barely swing the club anymore.  I hadn't played 18 holes in quite awhile and it was obvious by how poorly I played over my last 9 holes.  My tee shot was how I envisioned it, but again... it kicked into a fairway bunker.  A 5 iron from there caught the lip and went about 10 yards.  Another 5 iron was thin and ugly leaving me a 9 iron to the green which I flared short and right.  My pitch from there was nice and settled to 5 feet.  I sank that for a bogey.

Hole #14 - Par 4 - 373 Yards

We finally reached our final hole.  I took an angry swing at the ball and hit my best drive of the day.  I then proceeded to waste it with an ugly wedge... 2 ugly chips and a three-putt from 18 feet for a closing triple bogey.

Round Stats

• Score - 105 (Club Adjusted to 102)
• Penalty Strokes - 7
• Putts - 37
• Fairways - 3 of 14
• Greens in Regulation - 2 of 18
• Up and Downs - 1 of 10
• Sand Saves - 0 of 2

Round Review - 2/4/2015 - Tega Cay Golf Club - Cove Course (Fort Mill, SC)

I got back out on the course today, after sneaking in a few minutes of range time.  Today was a much more relaxed day for me.  I have the day off, so I knew I'd be without distractions from my boss or any of the stores I visit.  It was supposed to be warmer today, but... because I got out early in the morning, it was still quite chilly.  Still... I got to play without a jacket, so... that felt nice.  

I went back to the Cove Course at Tega Cay, primarily because it's so close to me... but also because the course I wanted to play didn't have any availability until after 3pm... and that wouldn't have worked.  So... I packed my clubs up and headed out.  Once there, I made sure to hit a few balls before going to the first tee.  It was nice to have a warmup session... even if it was brief.  

I wanted to work on a few things today.  Number one on my mind was playing for my misses.  I tried to account for my misses on every approach shot by figuring out where the most trouble was around the greens.  For the most part, it worked well for me.  Below is a hole-by-hole recap.

Game Golf Round Review

Scorecard

Hole #1 - Par 3 - 186 Yards

As I mentioned, I tried to avoid 'big' trouble on shots to the green... and with this being a par 3... the trouble was short and right.  With that in mind, I aimed left and took what I thought was an extra club.  I pulled the ball a little and I ended up a little short... but, I wasn't in trouble.  I hit a good chip from the rough and left myself 2 feet for par.  I tapped in and I was off to a good start. 

Hole #2 - Par 5 - 448 Yards

This is a dogleg right, which usually plays to my favored shot shape, but it seems like EVERY time I stand on this tee... I hit a straight shot that ends up in a backyard.  I debated between my hybrid and a 4 iron... but I ultimately decided on the hybrid.  It was the wrong choice.  I again hit a straight shot... and it ended up lost in a back yard.  My next swing was a little better, but still not what I was hoping for.  I was rushing on this hole because there were workers on the course cleaning up leaves.  I made a back swing... a really bad swing, and my ball went way right and out of bounds.  I dropped and the next swing wasn't much better... but it stayed in bounds.  I had to punch the ball under some trees, and it rolled up into a greenside bunker.  My shot out ended up about 10 feet above the pin.  I pushed the putt a little and then tapped in for a 10.  So much for the good start.

Hole #3 - Par 4 - 428 Yards

This hole is always either a great hole for me... or a complete bust.  I don't like the way the tee shot sets up, so I'm always uncomfortable on the tee.  I didn't want to fly one out of bounds, so I took an easier swing, and the ball kind of floated on me as it got caught up in the breeze.  It was short (190 yards) but it was in the fairway.  Going back to avoiding trouble... there's a trap in front of the green on the right side.  I knew I'd rather be long and a little left, but I ended up pulling my hybrid further left than I planned and it left me in a spot behind the green, about 20 feet below the level of the green.  I punched a wedge into the bank, but it still ran a little off the green.  From there, I putted to about 9 feet and then made that for a bogey.

Hole #4 - Par 4 - 376 Yards

This is another hole that plays against my typical shot shape, but it's short enough that I could get away with playing an iron off the tee.  I did just that and hit a 4 iron that faded a little on me and landed in the right rough.  I had quite a bit to the green still (about 185 yards) and it was uphill, so I decided on my hybrid again, figuring long was better than short.  I hit an okay shot, but it didn't fade like I intended, so I ended up a little left and a little short.  My pitch from there was nothing to write home about, leaving me about 27 feet short.  My putt from there left me about 4 feet... and then I played ping pong and three-putted from there for a triple bogey.

Hole #5 - Par 4 - 310 Yards

Straight and short.  There is OB on both sides of the hole, and typically, I'll try to hit a 3 wood or a hybrid off the tee... and more often than not, I'll end up in trouble.  I decided on my 4 iron and I made a nice swing, putting me in the left side of the fairway with a perfect angle to the pin.  Unfortunately, I didn't trust my GPS.  It was telling me that I had about 110 to the middle of the green, but it LOOKED much shorter to me.  As it turns out, it was about 105.  I made a half-hearted swing with a pitching wedge that came up short and right.  My pitch from there hit and checked immediately and left me a 2 foot tap in for my par.

Hole #6 - Par 4 - 312 Yards

I like this hole a lot.  When I'm swinging well, I'll take my driver off the tee and I give myself a little pitch to the green.  Seeing as how I'm not swinging well at all... I decided on my hybrid.  I cut across the ball horribly and blew it way into the woods (never to be seen again) on the right side.  On the provisional (which I knew was going to be the ball I had to play), I put a really good swing on the ball and split the fairway.  I had about 60 yards to the pin and my sand wedge from the fairway looked perfect.  In fact, when I got up to the green, I didn't see the ball... so I peeked in the cup.  It was not there.  Somehow, it had ended up off the green on the right side.  I putted from that position to about 3 feet and then cleaned up for a double bogey.

Hole #7 - Par 3 - 195 Yards

This plays over a part of Lake Wylie and is downhill all the way.  There was a helping wind from the tee.  The trouble was short... so I played to the back of the green with a 5 iron.  It landed pretty much where I had aimed, but just on the collar of the green.  I used my putter from there and it settled about a foot from the hole, so I tapped in for par there.

Hole #8 - Par 3 - 149 Yards

They had the tees up a little on this hole and it was playing about 138 yards with a wind from behind me and the left.  This also plays over a pond and there is a trap immediately in front of the green.  I bailed right with my 8 iron and the wind pushed it further right.  It kicked off the hill on the side of the green and rolled down to the right, just short of the woods.  When I got up there, I barely had a swing... but my chip ran perfectly from there to about 4 feet.  It was a bit of a tricky downhill putt, but it found the bottom of the cup for another par.

Hole #9 - Par 5 - 488 Yards

This is another hole that is either feast or famine for me.  I've hooked too many shots OB on this hole, but I try to avoid the right side because there is a fairway bunker just shy of my landing area, so if I don't make good contact, I can end up in there.  Still... I bailed out right, but carried the trap and ended up in the rough on the right side.  I had no shot at the green from where I was because of the stance I had, so I just kind of punched a 6 iron from there into the fairway.  I had about 115 to the green with a trap short and right.  I tried to play long and left, but my pitching wedge was weak and faded right.  I ended up just to the right of the trap and pitched to about 9 feet.  I needed 3 putts from there because I ran the ball about 10 feet beyond the hole with my first putt, but I finished up with a double bogey.

Round Stats

• Score - 48
• Penalty Strokes - 6
• Putts - 15
• Fairways - 2 of 6
• Greens in Regulation - 0 of 9
• Up and Downs - 4 of 6
• Sand Saves - 0 of 1

Overall... I feel a lot better about how I played.  I still have a few days left to hit the practice range and green, and I have a few things to work out with tee shots... but if I can eliminate the penalty strokes from the tee... at least I'll be somewhere around where I want to be for the first tournament of the season.

Round Reviews - 1/27/2015 & 1/29/2015 - Tega Cay Golf Club - Cove Course (Fort Mill, SC)

So, as I mentioned in my initial post... I relocated for work from New Jersey to the Charlotte area.  One of the obvious perks is the ability to play golf almost year-round.  

My birthday is in January and I almost always get some kind of golf-related gift from my wife.  In previous years, this would obviously mean that I could not use those gifts until the beginning of April, and sometimes even later.  

This year, my wife, knowing how much of a stats geek I am, got me Game Golf for my birthday.  Of course, this meant that I HAD to get out as soon as possible to try it out.  Luckily, there was only a 5 day wait to be able to get out and use it.  I played on January 27th at the Cove Course at Tega Cay.  I enjoy this course because it's cheap, it's never crowded, it's not in overly bad shape (although it's not in overly good shape either), and it's inexpensive... plus it offers me a decent test from the black tees.  

Well... as nice as it is to be able to play golf in January... it's still January.  This means it's cold and windy and the courses aren't in the best of shape.  Specifically, the greens are like rocks and putting, which is already a weak part of my game, becomes even more difficult for me.  

I played okay, posting a 54 which included an 8th hole that saw me need 6 putts from 24 feet due to a pin position on a slope that meant that, if you didn't make the putt... it was rolling back off the front of the green.  I felt good about some of the shots I had hit and, really... it was just an excuse to get out and test out the Game Golf system.  

Game Golf Round Review

Scorecard

I wasn't dissatisfied with how I played... but I knew that, if I was going to be competitive come February 7th when I play my first tournament with the Golfweek Amateur Tour, I'd have to get out and practice.  A lot.

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This led me to sneak out after work today.  I went back to the Cove Course at Tega Cay to play 9 holes.  Unfortunately, things did not go well right from the start.  I got to the course and realized that I had only 2 balls in my bag.  I knew that this wasn't going to be a good thing since my swing was so off and I'd lost 2 balls in my previous round.  So... when I checked in at the pro shop, I purchased a sleeve of Srixon Z Star balls.  

As with the previous round... I was able to go right to the first tee and start when I was ready.  After a few warmup swings and stretches... I felt I was ready, so I grabbed my 4 iron, teed up a ball and hit a shot that went about 20 yards off the tee on an 80 degree angle to the right.  I had ALMOST completely whiffed... but the toe of the club clipped the ball and sent it off.  I knew then that it was going to be a long day.  I hadn't made a swing like that in probably 11 years.  

To cut down on the details (because there are a lot of them)... I had lost 4 of the 5 balls I had by the time I reached the 5th tee.  On the 6th tee, I flew another one into the woods.  Luckily while I was stomping around in there, I found a few others that would act as 'reserves' for the remainder of the round.  

To say I played bad golf would be an injustice to the game of golf.  I didn't play golf today.  I don't know what to call it, really.  I didn't hit a single shot that I can say made me feel even remotely like I was swinging the club well.  When all the strokes were added up... I shot a putrid 66.  Honestly, thinking back to when I first started playing golf back in 1994... I don't know if I've EVER shot a 66 on any course for 9 holes.

I sincerely considered leaving the course after the 4th hole because I felt that I was doing more harm than good at that point.  The only good thing that came from sticking around was that I was able to talk to the course about using their practice facilities over the coming months.  

Game Golf Round Review

Scorecard

I've got just over a week to get in some practice before February 7th.  I'd like to think that I'll be able to practice enough to at least help a little... but it's going to take a lot of work in the next 8 days.  Here's to hoping that the time I do get to practice is productive.