Club Match Play Championship - play along with TripleH
08-29-2014
, 12:37 AM
Match 1
I am up against a regular league player. He gets two strokes, #5 and #17 though I hope we don't get to #17.
I have not met this guy and while I am warming up for the round they tell me he is really a 4 handicap, he is a sandbagger, etc. etc. As I expected they were goofing around with me lol.
The weather is perfect. A light breeze with partly sunny sky, temperatures in the 70s.
#1 he hits a short ball in the fairway. I blast a solid drive over a stand of trees on the right. My drive is about 260 and leave me only 115 yards in downhill to an easily accessible hole. He leaves his approach in the apron.
I elect to play a knock down 9-iron. This was one of my best shots of the round. It lands 10 feet short of the putting surface, takes one big hop and stops about 11 feet. My opponent hits a poor pitch and two putts for bogey. I lag up and tap in for par. +1
#2 I make a terrible drive swing and save it on the way down. It is a short pull that goes about 215 yards into the left rough. He blasts it left rough well past me. A friend of mine is playing along in our group and runs over my ball in the rough embedding it.
My partner grants me relief and I hit a terrible 7-iron short siding myself right of the green. It was another wound up garbage swing.
My opponent hits an even worse shot with a wedge way right and short. His pitch is deep and runs over the green into the rough practically handing me the hole. I flipped a 60 degree to 8 feet which he concedes to me after fouling up his chip badly. +2
#3 Par 5 and I pull my drive left almost into the trees. My opponent hits his best drive of the day, clobbers it 275. I check my yardage at 290 and play a beautiful 4-iron that runs along the contour of the fairway and leaves me 75 yards to the flag. My opponent is in a bad spot because he has 235 in downhill so he tries to hit a fairway metal. Bad pull into the rough well left of the green.
I choked my sand wedge shot. The truth is I can stick SW from 40 yards to 65 yards, when we are talking 75 yards+ tucked over the bunker I get nervous. Grabbed the club hard and skulled it over the back. My opponent pitches his shot onto the green.
I have a tough shot here. A poor lie but only ten feet of carry onto a green running away from me the whole way, a ridge running close to the hole. I take an 8-iron and decide to get it rolling like a putt. I focused on the landing spot and not decelerating and magic, I landed it very well and the ball rolls 60 feet down to inside 3 feet. Opponent two putts and we halve. +2
On this green he asked if we were giving putts. I said no that I would rather not. I feel it makes me uncomfortable later in the round when I make the guy putt a 2 1/2 footer that I may have given him earlier. Thoughts?
#4 Short par-4 that I often manage to screw up somehow. Today I relaxed and smoothed a driver about 245 yards avoiding the bunker on the right. My opponent hit it about 20 yards past me leaving a wedge.
I got worried about the bunker left of the green and made a scared swing. I am known to pull my short irons and just did not want to hit it in the bunkers short-sided. I end up in the rough right of the green in a weird little downhill lie. My opponent hits the green leaving about 30 feet for birdie.
I took a sand wedge (my higher bounce wedge) and with very light hands just dropped it on the ball. Voila. A soft landing shot that rolled out about 15 feet to tap in range. Opponent two putts. Halve. +2
#5 is a short, tricked up par-4 with a difficult green. I played the safe route with my tee ball out to the right leaving 100 yards in over a bunker. Getting a shot my opponent takes an aggressive line down the left side leaving a sweet 50 yard shot clear to the flagstick. Looks like I am giving him this hole?
I did. Dropped it into the facing of the bunker trying to get cute with my trouble distance. He hits a nice shot and that is that. +1
#6 Finally a par-3. This hole has a deep bunker on the right. The flag is front today which means the effective green is very small. Hitting it deep to the fatter part of the green is a nearly certain 3 putt.
My opponent drops his short into the apron for a reasonable up and down. I drilled an 8-iron, uphill from 148 yards to about six feet. It looked much closer, but you know how they grow when you get closer. He hit a decent pitch to four feet and marked. My putt was uphill and inside right and I drilled it smoothly into the center of the cup! Birdie! +2 Huge bounce back.
#7 Short par-5 with little trouble, but into the breeze today. I hit the fairway with a short drive, then played 4-iron down into the layup spot 80 yards out. My opponent hit a longer drive into the right rough, then layed up to about 50 yards.
The flag was tucked behind a bunker...here we go again... I made a smooth SW swing, had to talk to it a little but just carried the bunker and spun back onto the fringe. About 20 feet. My opponent hit his too strongly and carried past the flag over a hump leaving a treacherous 40 footer. He hit an amazing putt to gimmie range - it would have been so easy to run it 8 feet past.
On to my birdie putt. There was a bad green damage right in my line about six feet away from me and my opponent offered me relief. I refused as I know this is not ground for relief. My putt bounced through the rough patch and stopped two turns shy going right in the jaws. Being one who looks on the bright side this putt was turning downhill and I would take a tap in there for par any day. +2
#8 Island green par-3. The good news is only a 9-iron. The bad news is I bladed it (nerves again) and it bounced over the green. At this point we are not sure if it is in the drink? My opponent short arms his iron badly and his ball finds a watery grave. The local rule is one shot and drop off the green in the rough. This is not much of a bargain today because the drop leaves you a pitch that goes over a ridge, then runs away badly.
My ball is dry and in deep, tangled rough. My opponent hits an amazing shot that barely carries over the ridge, then trickles down inside two feet. Bogey. All of a sudden my little shot looks tougher. There is water behind the flag and I only need to carry this ball about 15 feet. I took the lob wedge opened it up wide and slid it through a little dippy. It left me with a 10 footer I could not convert. Halved. +2
#9 375 yard par-4 with a bunker right in the middle of the fairway. I hit one of my better drives of the day about 265 down the left side. My opponent is in the fairway on the right. I made a little mistake here of not watching my opponent's shot. He groaned a little afterwards. I had a 9-iron from 120 to a flag back left guarded by deep bunkers left. I should have played it safe to the middle of the green, but I pulled it dead left into the bunker.
When I get there I see my opponent is also in the bunker. Whoops. My shot is longer. About 12 yards of carry to an elevated green that runs away. No fear. I open up the SW and take a good solid rip. The ball carries just onto the green and trickles down to about four feet. My opponent tries a similar shot and comes up short, rolling back down the bank into the sand. This short game wizard is now +3 at the turn!
I am up against a regular league player. He gets two strokes, #5 and #17 though I hope we don't get to #17.
I have not met this guy and while I am warming up for the round they tell me he is really a 4 handicap, he is a sandbagger, etc. etc. As I expected they were goofing around with me lol.
The weather is perfect. A light breeze with partly sunny sky, temperatures in the 70s.
#1 he hits a short ball in the fairway. I blast a solid drive over a stand of trees on the right. My drive is about 260 and leave me only 115 yards in downhill to an easily accessible hole. He leaves his approach in the apron.
I elect to play a knock down 9-iron. This was one of my best shots of the round. It lands 10 feet short of the putting surface, takes one big hop and stops about 11 feet. My opponent hits a poor pitch and two putts for bogey. I lag up and tap in for par. +1
#2 I make a terrible drive swing and save it on the way down. It is a short pull that goes about 215 yards into the left rough. He blasts it left rough well past me. A friend of mine is playing along in our group and runs over my ball in the rough embedding it.
My partner grants me relief and I hit a terrible 7-iron short siding myself right of the green. It was another wound up garbage swing.My opponent hits an even worse shot with a wedge way right and short. His pitch is deep and runs over the green into the rough practically handing me the hole. I flipped a 60 degree to 8 feet which he concedes to me after fouling up his chip badly. +2
#3 Par 5 and I pull my drive left almost into the trees. My opponent hits his best drive of the day, clobbers it 275. I check my yardage at 290 and play a beautiful 4-iron that runs along the contour of the fairway and leaves me 75 yards to the flag. My opponent is in a bad spot because he has 235 in downhill so he tries to hit a fairway metal. Bad pull into the rough well left of the green.
I choked my sand wedge shot. The truth is I can stick SW from 40 yards to 65 yards, when we are talking 75 yards+ tucked over the bunker I get nervous. Grabbed the club hard and skulled it over the back. My opponent pitches his shot onto the green.
I have a tough shot here. A poor lie but only ten feet of carry onto a green running away from me the whole way, a ridge running close to the hole. I take an 8-iron and decide to get it rolling like a putt. I focused on the landing spot and not decelerating and magic, I landed it very well and the ball rolls 60 feet down to inside 3 feet. Opponent two putts and we halve. +2
On this green he asked if we were giving putts. I said no that I would rather not. I feel it makes me uncomfortable later in the round when I make the guy putt a 2 1/2 footer that I may have given him earlier. Thoughts?
#4 Short par-4 that I often manage to screw up somehow. Today I relaxed and smoothed a driver about 245 yards avoiding the bunker on the right. My opponent hit it about 20 yards past me leaving a wedge.
I got worried about the bunker left of the green and made a scared swing. I am known to pull my short irons and just did not want to hit it in the bunkers short-sided. I end up in the rough right of the green in a weird little downhill lie. My opponent hits the green leaving about 30 feet for birdie.
I took a sand wedge (my higher bounce wedge) and with very light hands just dropped it on the ball. Voila. A soft landing shot that rolled out about 15 feet to tap in range. Opponent two putts. Halve. +2
#5 is a short, tricked up par-4 with a difficult green. I played the safe route with my tee ball out to the right leaving 100 yards in over a bunker. Getting a shot my opponent takes an aggressive line down the left side leaving a sweet 50 yard shot clear to the flagstick. Looks like I am giving him this hole?
I did. Dropped it into the facing of the bunker trying to get cute with my trouble distance. He hits a nice shot and that is that. +1
#6 Finally a par-3. This hole has a deep bunker on the right. The flag is front today which means the effective green is very small. Hitting it deep to the fatter part of the green is a nearly certain 3 putt.
My opponent drops his short into the apron for a reasonable up and down. I drilled an 8-iron, uphill from 148 yards to about six feet. It looked much closer, but you know how they grow when you get closer. He hit a decent pitch to four feet and marked. My putt was uphill and inside right and I drilled it smoothly into the center of the cup! Birdie! +2 Huge bounce back.
#7 Short par-5 with little trouble, but into the breeze today. I hit the fairway with a short drive, then played 4-iron down into the layup spot 80 yards out. My opponent hit a longer drive into the right rough, then layed up to about 50 yards.
The flag was tucked behind a bunker...here we go again... I made a smooth SW swing, had to talk to it a little but just carried the bunker and spun back onto the fringe. About 20 feet. My opponent hit his too strongly and carried past the flag over a hump leaving a treacherous 40 footer. He hit an amazing putt to gimmie range - it would have been so easy to run it 8 feet past.
On to my birdie putt. There was a bad green damage right in my line about six feet away from me and my opponent offered me relief. I refused as I know this is not ground for relief. My putt bounced through the rough patch and stopped two turns shy going right in the jaws. Being one who looks on the bright side this putt was turning downhill and I would take a tap in there for par any day. +2
#8 Island green par-3. The good news is only a 9-iron. The bad news is I bladed it (nerves again) and it bounced over the green. At this point we are not sure if it is in the drink? My opponent short arms his iron badly and his ball finds a watery grave. The local rule is one shot and drop off the green in the rough. This is not much of a bargain today because the drop leaves you a pitch that goes over a ridge, then runs away badly.
My ball is dry and in deep, tangled rough. My opponent hits an amazing shot that barely carries over the ridge, then trickles down inside two feet. Bogey. All of a sudden my little shot looks tougher. There is water behind the flag and I only need to carry this ball about 15 feet. I took the lob wedge opened it up wide and slid it through a little dippy. It left me with a 10 footer I could not convert. Halved. +2
#9 375 yard par-4 with a bunker right in the middle of the fairway. I hit one of my better drives of the day about 265 down the left side. My opponent is in the fairway on the right. I made a little mistake here of not watching my opponent's shot. He groaned a little afterwards. I had a 9-iron from 120 to a flag back left guarded by deep bunkers left. I should have played it safe to the middle of the green, but I pulled it dead left into the bunker.
When I get there I see my opponent is also in the bunker. Whoops. My shot is longer. About 12 yards of carry to an elevated green that runs away. No fear. I open up the SW and take a good solid rip. The ball carries just onto the green and trickles down to about four feet. My opponent tries a similar shot and comes up short, rolling back down the bank into the sand. This short game wizard is now +3 at the turn!
08-29-2014
, 01:22 AM
#10 is a cape hole that turns left around a pond. The green is reachable, though most players lay up with less than driver. I hit driver with a smooth swing to inside 50 yards. My opponent hit 5-wood laying back to 100 yards.
He then stick his approach to 8 feet and I feel pressure, launching my SW over the green. Yuck. Hit lob wedge that trickles by too far and I lose the hole. Gross. I can't allow him the momentum swing. +2
#11 Par 5 playing long today. I hit a worm burner on my second ball, then an overhanging tree with my third and wind up 50 yards out laying three. I hit a nice pitch that releases and runs 12 feet past. My opponent has me in trouble until he hits his approach long and it scoots into the back rough. He botches his up and down, I roll par putt over the edge and we halve. +2
You know those putts that you know are straight, but you just play a hint of break because it looks like it has to go left. That was the deal here. I was not happy.
#12 Tough hole I always seem to play well. My opponent hit a long drive leaving 120. I hit another save it down the left side 215 drive (will post video later). This leaves me 160 in to a narrow, elevated green with deep bunkers right. The left side has a steep drop off. I played a tight 7-iron that I had to beg onto the front edge, but it is safe. My opponent again missed his wedge hitting it fat and short on the apron.
When he failed to hit a good chip shot I won another hole with par. He was taking it easy on me. +3
#13 Par 3 playing 185 into the wind today. I hit a really good, smooth 4-iron that came up short in the apron resting against the cut of rough. Just a little 50 foot shot though. My opponent dumped a little hook into the front bunker.
When his sand shot sailed 30 feet past I had a simple up and down for the win. Took the 52 degree gap wedge for this back in my stance and got all ball with a downward stroke. It came out like a putt and rolled to four feet. Par ftw. +4 with 5 to play.
#14 is an easy par 5, though there is water all down the left side. Boring here. I drove it down the middle, hit a soft layup 5-iron which left me wedge to the middle of the green. Two putts par was good as my opponent again missed the green and hit his chip shot too aggressively. Win 5 & 4!
Next match next week.
I have yet to break par at this course though I was -2 with 2 to play early in the summer and shot +1. I refuse to tell that story.
He then stick his approach to 8 feet and I feel pressure, launching my SW over the green. Yuck. Hit lob wedge that trickles by too far and I lose the hole. Gross. I can't allow him the momentum swing. +2
#11 Par 5 playing long today. I hit a worm burner on my second ball, then an overhanging tree with my third and wind up 50 yards out laying three. I hit a nice pitch that releases and runs 12 feet past. My opponent has me in trouble until he hits his approach long and it scoots into the back rough. He botches his up and down, I roll par putt over the edge and we halve. +2
You know those putts that you know are straight, but you just play a hint of break because it looks like it has to go left. That was the deal here. I was not happy.
#12 Tough hole I always seem to play well. My opponent hit a long drive leaving 120. I hit another save it down the left side 215 drive (will post video later). This leaves me 160 in to a narrow, elevated green with deep bunkers right. The left side has a steep drop off. I played a tight 7-iron that I had to beg onto the front edge, but it is safe. My opponent again missed his wedge hitting it fat and short on the apron.
When he failed to hit a good chip shot I won another hole with par. He was taking it easy on me. +3
#13 Par 3 playing 185 into the wind today. I hit a really good, smooth 4-iron that came up short in the apron resting against the cut of rough. Just a little 50 foot shot though. My opponent dumped a little hook into the front bunker.
When his sand shot sailed 30 feet past I had a simple up and down for the win. Took the 52 degree gap wedge for this back in my stance and got all ball with a downward stroke. It came out like a putt and rolled to four feet. Par ftw. +4 with 5 to play.
#14 is an easy par 5, though there is water all down the left side. Boring here. I drove it down the middle, hit a soft layup 5-iron which left me wedge to the middle of the green. Two putts par was good as my opponent again missed the green and hit his chip shot too aggressively. Win 5 & 4!
Next match next week.
I have yet to break par at this course though I was -2 with 2 to play early in the summer and shot +1. I refuse to tell that story.
08-29-2014
, 02:54 PM
Same here, love all the tournament play by play going on lately.
As far as the "If you ever felt like what you have to add is boring" part, I'm with ya. Don't know how many posts I've typed and the deleted.
Next time I play I'm going to write it up.
Nice course too. I need to expand my horizons, so many nice tracks within an hour and I play the same ole same ole.
As far as the "If you ever felt like what you have to add is boring" part, I'm with ya. Don't know how many posts I've typed and the deleted.
Next time I play I'm going to write it up.Nice course too. I need to expand my horizons, so many nice tracks within an hour and I play the same ole same ole.
08-30-2014
, 04:41 AM
Thanks.
Playing the same course is a blessing and a curse. In my case the home course has a good deal of variety, which is great. It is not very demanding off the tee though, pretty open and that suits my game well.
Of course once you pay one fee for the season it is tough to go elsewhere and pay up the $$. Nice weather is coming up. Let's get some rounds in before the leaves begin to fall!
Quote:
Same here, love all the tournament play by play going on lately.
As far as the "If you ever felt like what you have to add is boring" part, I'm with ya. Don't know how many posts I've typed and the deleted. Next time I play I'm going to write it up.
Nice course too. I need to expand my horizons, so many nice tracks within an hour and I play the same ole same ole.
As far as the "If you ever felt like what you have to add is boring" part, I'm with ya. Don't know how many posts I've typed and the deleted.
Next time I play I'm going to write it up.Nice course too. I need to expand my horizons, so many nice tracks within an hour and I play the same ole same ole.
Of course once you pay one fee for the season it is tough to go elsewhere and pay up the $$. Nice weather is coming up. Let's get some rounds in before the leaves begin to fall!
09-09-2014
, 12:50 AM
Match 2
We had to schedule a 7:30am time on Sunday morning. Sleep deprivation. Even at 46 years old I will not give up Saturday night fun ... bed at 3:00am and up at 6:30am.
This time I have been told by reliable sources that my opponent is a beast. He is a 4 handicap so I am getting two shots. My thoughts heading into the round are to make those two shots count. The first of which comes on the fifth hole. I need to get through the first four at least all square.
I warm up well and villain shows up at the last minute. Early 30s maybe and on the first tee he drops a hint about not getting to play as much this summer, etc. Now I know I have to get the jump early.
#1 villain comes off his drive and hits it into the facing of a fairway bunker. I smooth one down the middle. Villain has terrible lie and goes for too much, the ball barely gets out and he misses the green with his 3rd.
I do the unthinkable and drop my 9-iron approach into the deep rough left. I was trying to make a nice easy swing and didn't get a full turn. This is a routine miss for me. Villain pitches to six feet. I pitch over the hole to 20. Two putts and he is grinding over a bogey putt to halve the hole. He pulls it and never threatens the hole.
I say "I thought I let you off the hook." He does not appreciate that. I know he won his first match giving a lot of strokes so I am so lucky he missed the up and down. +1
#2 I drove into the right rough for a good angle at the flagstick. Villain drives it about 275 uphill. We both hit the green and make par. Me with a 9-iron, he with a SW. +1
#3 Par 5 I smooth one in the fairway about 235. He rips this one close to 300 but so far right it goes into a fairway bunker on a different hole. I play a six iron second to set up a full wedge into the green. Villain hits a poor sand shot and gets to play his approach first but from the rough.
Villain hits it to 30 feet below the hole. I choked down on a wedge from 108 and stuck it to about four feet! Not the best swing ever, but the shorter swing knock down shot works for me. He makes a nice roll at it, but my birdie wins the hole! +2
#4 This hole is a short par 4 about 350 today that doglegs left around a stand of trees. I just ease a drive out about 230 in the middle of the fairway. Villain gets the draw to work on this one and lands in the left rough about 45 yards past me.
This is the drill from here on in. Fairways and greens and pars. Keep the pressure on. Here comes the bad swing from #1 again and I dump it bunker left. Villain hits SW to 20 feet or so and has life.
The good news for me is that my ball is laying flat in the bunker, easy clear of the lip and the hole is in a relatively flat spot. The shot is about 20 yards. I have a wicked short game and getting up and down is my game. Deep breath. I am getting a shot on #5. I slid the SW perfectly under the ball and if flies about 12 yards, takes one hop and then rolls out to inside a foot!
I glance at villain out of the corner of my eye and he is looking down at his shoes. I cannot recall him complimenting my shot here. He misses the birdie effort with a tentative stroke and we halve it. Yes! +2
#5 is a short, tricked up par-4 with a difficult green. I again elect to play it super safe and lay up to 100 yards. This requires a 160 yard carry over junk that must stay short of 220 yards in the bunker. I plop it right to about 95 yards out. Villain tries to drive the green as it is about 285 to the front. His drive turns over and comes to rest down in a grassy bunker type area.
The hole is back right so I just play to the middle of the green for an uphill putt. I leave myself about 35 feet. Villain's up and down is not an easy one as the green is a good eight feet above his ball making this a blind pitch over mounding. He leave a treacherous downhiller from 15 feet.
My birdie attempt has no chance to go in but lags up inside 3 feet below the hole. Villain pulls his birdie attempt, never high enough and my par-net-birdie beats his par. +3
#6 par 3 with the flagstick right in the center of the green today. Should be simple enough but I power pull my 7-iron and it bounces way long and into a terrible lie in a hole in the rough. Villain steps up pushes his tee shot way right into a rotten spot pitching to a green that slopes away from him. Could it really be this easy?
Villain hits a great pitch shot but there is no stopping it and it rolls to the fringe leaving about 25 feet back up the hill. I was dreaming of a 60 pitch of beauty and instead chunked it halfway to the green. NO. My next pitch almost landed in the hole and ran past 20 feet.
Villain hits his par putt too firmly and it rolls six feet past. What is going on here? I two putt for double-bogey and villain is again grinding on a six footer, this time to win a poorly played hole. He missed it and proceeded to throw his ball at the cart. Wow. +3
#7 Short par-5 with little trouble. I hit a good drive down the left edge of the fairway which is perfect position. This was a power pull also as there is a cornfield left that is OB. Villain hits his about 290. A little anger there?
So I have 255 in and decide to just put a good swing on my 3 metal. I hit it well I thought, but it skipped off the mounding about ten yards ahead of me. When I look up it is clear this gave the ball overspin. It misses a complex of bunker and looks like it may be close to the green?
Villain has about 200 in and hits some iron a little fat. It comes up ten yards short, but he has a straight uphill chip and a good lie on the apron. There is some pressure on me to get up and down here. My ball is in the moguls rough on a tight lie with grass laying towards my ball. I figure to stop it near the hole I am going to need to carry the ball just onto the green. This means carry SW about 15 yards and let it roll out about 25 feet.
I picked it all ball first and from feel I thought it might be just short. I looked up to see the ball land on the fringe, take one nice hop and roll right down inside two feet for a gimmie birdie. The heat was on and villain again failed to get up and down. +4 thru 7!
#8 Island green par-3. Today the flag is left which is a treacherous spot. I aimed to the middle of the green and lost it a touch right. This leaves me a 35-40 footer over a ridge and down to the cup. I had to play this shot safe though and put the pressure on villain.
He hits a gorgeous shot to about 8 feet. I took a run at birdie and run it did, about 12 feet past. After missing my come backer for par and I conceded birdie. I thought it was cool he didn't get to putt what should have been an easy birdie putt. And he did not practice putt or anything. +3
#9 375 yard par-4 simple hole. Villain blasted another drive close to 300. I grooved it down the fairway. My shot in was just a 9-iron to a back flag and I had it tracking right at the stick. Came up 30 feet short. Villain sticks a wedge to about four feet. Oh balls! I miss, he make. +2
As villain was striding off the green to his cart I decided it was time for a little gamesmanship and regrouping. It is a pretty long walk to the clubhouse and 10th tee. I stopped in and washed up and these were my thoughts...
1) I have never been good at playing with the lead. I tend to lollygag and let me opponent back in it. Answer: let's play to win the back nine.
2) My opponent has the momentum. Answer: there is no such thing.
3) If you had offered me two up at the turn before the round started I would have taken it. Answer: I just shot 38 on the front. All is well.
On to the back nine...
We had to schedule a 7:30am time on Sunday morning. Sleep deprivation. Even at 46 years old I will not give up Saturday night fun ... bed at 3:00am and up at 6:30am.
This time I have been told by reliable sources that my opponent is a beast. He is a 4 handicap so I am getting two shots. My thoughts heading into the round are to make those two shots count. The first of which comes on the fifth hole. I need to get through the first four at least all square.
I warm up well and villain shows up at the last minute. Early 30s maybe and on the first tee he drops a hint about not getting to play as much this summer, etc. Now I know I have to get the jump early.
#1 villain comes off his drive and hits it into the facing of a fairway bunker. I smooth one down the middle. Villain has terrible lie and goes for too much, the ball barely gets out and he misses the green with his 3rd.
I do the unthinkable and drop my 9-iron approach into the deep rough left. I was trying to make a nice easy swing and didn't get a full turn. This is a routine miss for me. Villain pitches to six feet. I pitch over the hole to 20. Two putts and he is grinding over a bogey putt to halve the hole. He pulls it and never threatens the hole.
I say "I thought I let you off the hook." He does not appreciate that. I know he won his first match giving a lot of strokes so I am so lucky he missed the up and down. +1
#2 I drove into the right rough for a good angle at the flagstick. Villain drives it about 275 uphill. We both hit the green and make par. Me with a 9-iron, he with a SW. +1
#3 Par 5 I smooth one in the fairway about 235. He rips this one close to 300 but so far right it goes into a fairway bunker on a different hole. I play a six iron second to set up a full wedge into the green. Villain hits a poor sand shot and gets to play his approach first but from the rough.
Villain hits it to 30 feet below the hole. I choked down on a wedge from 108 and stuck it to about four feet! Not the best swing ever, but the shorter swing knock down shot works for me. He makes a nice roll at it, but my birdie wins the hole! +2
#4 This hole is a short par 4 about 350 today that doglegs left around a stand of trees. I just ease a drive out about 230 in the middle of the fairway. Villain gets the draw to work on this one and lands in the left rough about 45 yards past me.
This is the drill from here on in. Fairways and greens and pars. Keep the pressure on. Here comes the bad swing from #1 again and I dump it bunker left. Villain hits SW to 20 feet or so and has life.
The good news for me is that my ball is laying flat in the bunker, easy clear of the lip and the hole is in a relatively flat spot. The shot is about 20 yards. I have a wicked short game and getting up and down is my game. Deep breath. I am getting a shot on #5. I slid the SW perfectly under the ball and if flies about 12 yards, takes one hop and then rolls out to inside a foot!
I glance at villain out of the corner of my eye and he is looking down at his shoes.
I cannot recall him complimenting my shot here. He misses the birdie effort with a tentative stroke and we halve it. Yes! +2#5 is a short, tricked up par-4 with a difficult green. I again elect to play it super safe and lay up to 100 yards. This requires a 160 yard carry over junk that must stay short of 220 yards in the bunker. I plop it right to about 95 yards out. Villain tries to drive the green as it is about 285 to the front. His drive turns over and comes to rest down in a grassy bunker type area.
The hole is back right so I just play to the middle of the green for an uphill putt. I leave myself about 35 feet. Villain's up and down is not an easy one as the green is a good eight feet above his ball making this a blind pitch over mounding. He leave a treacherous downhiller from 15 feet.
My birdie attempt has no chance to go in but lags up inside 3 feet below the hole. Villain pulls his birdie attempt, never high enough and my par-net-birdie beats his par. +3
#6 par 3 with the flagstick right in the center of the green today. Should be simple enough but I power pull my 7-iron and it bounces way long and into a terrible lie in a hole in the rough. Villain steps up pushes his tee shot way right into a rotten spot pitching to a green that slopes away from him. Could it really be this easy?
Villain hits a great pitch shot but there is no stopping it and it rolls to the fringe leaving about 25 feet back up the hill. I was dreaming of a 60 pitch of beauty and instead chunked it halfway to the green. NO. My next pitch almost landed in the hole and ran past 20 feet.
Villain hits his par putt too firmly and it rolls six feet past. What is going on here? I two putt for double-bogey and villain is again grinding on a six footer, this time to win a poorly played hole. He missed it and proceeded to throw his ball at the cart. Wow. +3
#7 Short par-5 with little trouble. I hit a good drive down the left edge of the fairway which is perfect position. This was a power pull also as there is a cornfield left that is OB. Villain hits his about 290. A little anger there?
So I have 255 in and decide to just put a good swing on my 3 metal. I hit it well I thought, but it skipped off the mounding about ten yards ahead of me. When I look up it is clear this gave the ball overspin. It misses a complex of bunker and looks like it may be close to the green?
Villain has about 200 in and hits some iron a little fat. It comes up ten yards short, but he has a straight uphill chip and a good lie on the apron. There is some pressure on me to get up and down here. My ball is in the moguls rough on a tight lie with grass laying towards my ball. I figure to stop it near the hole I am going to need to carry the ball just onto the green. This means carry SW about 15 yards and let it roll out about 25 feet.
I picked it all ball first and from feel I thought it might be just short. I looked up to see the ball land on the fringe, take one nice hop and roll right down inside two feet for a gimmie birdie. The heat was on and villain again failed to get up and down. +4 thru 7!
#8 Island green par-3. Today the flag is left which is a treacherous spot. I aimed to the middle of the green and lost it a touch right. This leaves me a 35-40 footer over a ridge and down to the cup. I had to play this shot safe though and put the pressure on villain.
He hits a gorgeous shot to about 8 feet. I took a run at birdie and run it did, about 12 feet past. After missing my come backer for par and I conceded birdie. I thought it was cool he didn't get to putt what should have been an easy birdie putt. And he did not practice putt or anything. +3
#9 375 yard par-4 simple hole. Villain blasted another drive close to 300. I grooved it down the fairway. My shot in was just a 9-iron to a back flag and I had it tracking right at the stick. Came up 30 feet short. Villain sticks a wedge to about four feet. Oh balls! I miss, he make. +2
As villain was striding off the green to his cart I decided it was time for a little gamesmanship and regrouping. It is a pretty long walk to the clubhouse and 10th tee. I stopped in and washed up and these were my thoughts...
1) I have never been good at playing with the lead. I tend to lollygag and let me opponent back in it. Answer: let's play to win the back nine.
2) My opponent has the momentum. Answer: there is no such thing.
3) If you had offered me two up at the turn before the round started I would have taken it. Answer: I just shot 38 on the front. All is well.
On to the back nine...
09-09-2014
, 01:42 AM
#10 is a cape hole that turns left around a pond. The green is reachable, though most players lay up with less than driver. Villain is going for the green and blocks his drive right. It carries the fairway bunkers and may be in tall rough. I have driver in my hands and have hit it well today, but now I have to reconsider. I mean I could hit 5-iron/PW...
I decide to stay with driver and I hit my most powerful drive of the day, but this one is turning over in a good way. It is low, long and drawing around the pond. It may roll up to the edge of the green after missing the pond by about 15 feet and that is when . . . the ball hits a stake in the fairway, bounces high and the air and appears to go into the water!!! The stakes were about 35 yards short of the green and only there to keep carts from driving near the pond up to the green. I thought of bad beats in poker and just said "oh well that's just the rub of the green."
Villain's ball is playable and he hits a pitch to the back edge leaving a wicked downhill putt/chip of about 20 feet. My ball has somehow stopped about 18 inches from the water . . . so I did it! Took off my shoes and socks and climbed into the disgusting muck. The ball was so far above my feet I was gripping SW on the steel with both hands. Flipped her up to about 8 feet, though a wicked, wicked putt.
Villain hit a great little chip that only rolled five feet past (this was a near miracle from where he was). I putted my ball to go about a foot and it ran four feet past. I elected to go ahead and finish. We both make. +2
Walking off the green one of the guys playing in our group said "that was a really bad break." And I said "quickly followed by a really good break. It didn't go in the water!"
#11 Par 5 Villain drove it long but in the fairway bunker. This cost him his length advantage. In the end I had a 15 foot birdie putt to win the hole. Stroked it tentatively and we halve. +2
#12 Tough hole I always seem to play well. Villain bombs a drive through the fairway and into heavy rough. I hit the same line really well for me which is about 255 yards, leaving me 120 in from the fairway to an elevated, well bunkered green. I hit 9-iron and was begging it right from the start. I could feel me elbows come apart through the ball, but I made solid contact. This thing carries the front right bunker by about two feet. One big hop off the fringe and I am looking at a 10 foot birdie putt.
Villain hits another wedge to about 30 feet. He two putts. I feel nervous again and my birdie putt never has a chance. Halved with pars and clock is running out. +2
#13 Par 3 playing 195 into a breeze this is just coming up. Villain is on the tee with 6-iron, then goes back to the bag for a 5-iron. Good choice. He hits a beautiful, towering shot right into the center of the green. It was one of those shots that is a little intimidating to a not so long hitter like me.
I took 3-iron and just could not get myself to stay smooth with it. I jumped at it and pulled it left into a huge greenside tree. The ball got through it and left me a ridiculously tough short side pitch. Like 20 yard carry with 15 feet of green to work with. I blew it way deep and lost to villain's par. +1
#14 is an easy par 5, though there is water all down the left side and OB right. Villain took iron off the tee. We were both about 100 yards out after two shots. Villain hits his to 20 feet, uphill makeable putt. I feel the pressure of possibly losing a four hole lead and dump it terribly short right to 50 feet.
I am really mad at myself and it carries to the putt. I moved out of it so badly and left it about 12 feet short. Great. Villain lags up and I need to make this to halve. I think it breaks left only about a ball. I know this putt. It seems like it should go like crazy to the water, but it doesn't turn. It just slides. I play it inside right, stay down and it goes into the hole inside left. Yeah baby. I can't tell you the feeling of jubilation that I got away with one. +1
#15 at 420 yards is the longest par 4 on the course. Villain absolutely destroys his drive down the left side of the fairway. A good drive for me here gets close to the 150 and I stay down and make really solid contact, but push it right. There is a grouping of six smallish trees and my ball hits a limb and drops into the middle of them. Time for some luck.
At my ball and I have a swing, though the last of the trees is about 9 yards ahead of me. I will need to keep this shot down under a limb, hook it a little and get it to run onto the green from about 180. I choked down slightly on a 4-iron, assumed the hook stance and ripped it. By the time I saw the ball it had landed in the fairway and rolled the last 40 yards across the green and into the edge of the rough.
Villains has 118 to the flag and fats his wedge leaving it about 12 yards short. A little club abuse and we are on to the green. It is determined that I am away and I know this is one of the fastest greens on the course. I putted it from the edge of the rough to go about 15 feet and this green takes over. It tracked all the way down inside two feet and he gave it to me. One of those you would swear was going to stop ten feet away and it just keeps rolling out.
Villain's pitch scared the hole and ran 4 1/2 feet past. He went into grind mode and choked it, lipping it out on the left side. Normally I don't root for my opponent to miss, but I did that time. +2
#16 par 3 protected from the breeze back in the trees. I took extra club (6-iron) wanting to end it right there. The shot looked great, like maybe it was 10 feet. Villain hit a towering shot that landed on the front edge of the green leaving him an uphill birdie putt. This green has a bunker of death front and right, then a ridge that runs front to back making this front hole location treacherous.
Unfortunately my putt grew and his shrunk on the way to the green. His ball was 15 feet. I was 35 feet past and to make matters worse a putt that ran right along the ridge. I have seen so many people overplay the break on this putt, not me. It was tracking right at the hole and stopped 3 feet short. Villain two putted never scaring the hole. As I was grinding over a little mind bending 3 footer all I was thinking was "hold the putter so loosely that it will almost fall from your hands." It worked and I eeked it in for par. Halve. +2 with 2 to play!
and I am getting a shot on #17 Par 4 dogleg right around a pond. One of those "bite off as much you like" holes, but I am getting a stroke so all I really need to do is keep it out of the water right? I did that. I pulled this shot so far left of my aiming point it hit trees and came to rest in the rough, 198 yards to the flag. Villain took the longest possible path over the water which requires a 250 yards carry. He made it leaving <100 yards from the fairway.
Meanwhile I have a blind shot from behind some mounding with a 175 yard carry over a bunker. Water right. No bargain left. So I consider just hitting a wedge up to where his ball is since all I need is a tie right? Nah screw that. I had a juicy lie in the rough and I hit my best iron shot of the entire day. 4-iron that never left my target line the whole way. I heard no response from the group, not sure they saw it.
Villain hits a nice SW to about 15 feet but directly behind the hole/downhill putt. As I am walking up I started to get anxious. I couldn't see my ball anywhere and was worried it fell short into the grassy facing of the bunker. Finally I spotted it behind a little swale on the left side of the green about 25 feet! Yes baby! Lagged it down for par and villain's birdie putt did not matter. For the books I won 2 & 1! His slow start cost him...I know he is a better player than I am.
"More matches are lost through carelessness at the beginning than any other cause."
-Harry Vardon
Thanks for the read. Those who have never played competitive golf I urge you to give it a try. This match play format is so much fun.
On to the final 8. Next match I will be giving 3 strokes. Stay tuned...
I decide to stay with driver and I hit my most powerful drive of the day, but this one is turning over in a good way. It is low, long and drawing around the pond. It may roll up to the edge of the green after missing the pond by about 15 feet and that is when . . . the ball hits a stake in the fairway, bounces high and the air and appears to go into the water!!! The stakes were about 35 yards short of the green and only there to keep carts from driving near the pond up to the green. I thought of bad beats in poker and just said "oh well that's just the rub of the green."
Villain's ball is playable and he hits a pitch to the back edge leaving a wicked downhill putt/chip of about 20 feet. My ball has somehow stopped about 18 inches from the water . . . so I did it! Took off my shoes and socks and climbed into the disgusting muck. The ball was so far above my feet I was gripping SW on the steel with both hands. Flipped her up to about 8 feet, though a wicked, wicked putt.
Villain hit a great little chip that only rolled five feet past (this was a near miracle from where he was). I putted my ball to go about a foot and it ran four feet past. I elected to go ahead and finish. We both make. +2
Walking off the green one of the guys playing in our group said "that was a really bad break." And I said "quickly followed by a really good break. It didn't go in the water!"
#11 Par 5 Villain drove it long but in the fairway bunker. This cost him his length advantage. In the end I had a 15 foot birdie putt to win the hole. Stroked it tentatively and we halve. +2
#12 Tough hole I always seem to play well. Villain bombs a drive through the fairway and into heavy rough. I hit the same line really well for me which is about 255 yards, leaving me 120 in from the fairway to an elevated, well bunkered green. I hit 9-iron and was begging it right from the start. I could feel me elbows come apart through the ball, but I made solid contact. This thing carries the front right bunker by about two feet. One big hop off the fringe and I am looking at a 10 foot birdie putt.
Villain hits another wedge to about 30 feet. He two putts. I feel nervous again and my birdie putt never has a chance. Halved with pars and clock is running out. +2
#13 Par 3 playing 195 into a breeze this is just coming up. Villain is on the tee with 6-iron, then goes back to the bag for a 5-iron. Good choice. He hits a beautiful, towering shot right into the center of the green. It was one of those shots that is a little intimidating to a not so long hitter like me.
I took 3-iron and just could not get myself to stay smooth with it. I jumped at it and pulled it left into a huge greenside tree. The ball got through it and left me a ridiculously tough short side pitch. Like 20 yard carry with 15 feet of green to work with. I blew it way deep and lost to villain's par. +1
#14 is an easy par 5, though there is water all down the left side and OB right. Villain took iron off the tee. We were both about 100 yards out after two shots. Villain hits his to 20 feet, uphill makeable putt. I feel the pressure of possibly losing a four hole lead and dump it terribly short right to 50 feet.
I am really mad at myself and it carries to the putt. I moved out of it so badly and left it about 12 feet short. Great. Villain lags up and I need to make this to halve. I think it breaks left only about a ball. I know this putt. It seems like it should go like crazy to the water, but it doesn't turn. It just slides. I play it inside right, stay down and it goes into the hole inside left. Yeah baby. I can't tell you the feeling of jubilation that I got away with one. +1
#15 at 420 yards is the longest par 4 on the course. Villain absolutely destroys his drive down the left side of the fairway. A good drive for me here gets close to the 150 and I stay down and make really solid contact, but push it right. There is a grouping of six smallish trees and my ball hits a limb and drops into the middle of them. Time for some luck.
At my ball and I have a swing, though the last of the trees is about 9 yards ahead of me. I will need to keep this shot down under a limb, hook it a little and get it to run onto the green from about 180. I choked down slightly on a 4-iron, assumed the hook stance and ripped it. By the time I saw the ball it had landed in the fairway and rolled the last 40 yards across the green and into the edge of the rough.
Villains has 118 to the flag and fats his wedge leaving it about 12 yards short. A little club abuse and we are on to the green. It is determined that I am away and I know this is one of the fastest greens on the course. I putted it from the edge of the rough to go about 15 feet and this green takes over. It tracked all the way down inside two feet and he gave it to me. One of those you would swear was going to stop ten feet away and it just keeps rolling out.
Villain's pitch scared the hole and ran 4 1/2 feet past. He went into grind mode and choked it, lipping it out on the left side. Normally I don't root for my opponent to miss, but I did that time. +2
#16 par 3 protected from the breeze back in the trees. I took extra club (6-iron) wanting to end it right there. The shot looked great, like maybe it was 10 feet. Villain hit a towering shot that landed on the front edge of the green leaving him an uphill birdie putt. This green has a bunker of death front and right, then a ridge that runs front to back making this front hole location treacherous.
Unfortunately my putt grew and his shrunk on the way to the green. His ball was 15 feet. I was 35 feet past and to make matters worse a putt that ran right along the ridge. I have seen so many people overplay the break on this putt, not me. It was tracking right at the hole and stopped 3 feet short. Villain two putted never scaring the hole. As I was grinding over a little mind bending 3 footer all I was thinking was "hold the putter so loosely that it will almost fall from your hands." It worked and I eeked it in for par. Halve. +2 with 2 to play!
and I am getting a shot on #17 Par 4 dogleg right around a pond. One of those "bite off as much you like" holes, but I am getting a stroke so all I really need to do is keep it out of the water right? I did that. I pulled this shot so far left of my aiming point it hit trees and came to rest in the rough, 198 yards to the flag. Villain took the longest possible path over the water which requires a 250 yards carry. He made it leaving <100 yards from the fairway.
Meanwhile I have a blind shot from behind some mounding with a 175 yard carry over a bunker. Water right. No bargain left. So I consider just hitting a wedge up to where his ball is since all I need is a tie right? Nah screw that. I had a juicy lie in the rough and I hit my best iron shot of the entire day. 4-iron that never left my target line the whole way. I heard no response from the group, not sure they saw it.
Villain hits a nice SW to about 15 feet but directly behind the hole/downhill putt. As I am walking up I started to get anxious. I couldn't see my ball anywhere and was worried it fell short into the grassy facing of the bunker. Finally I spotted it behind a little swale on the left side of the green about 25 feet! Yes baby! Lagged it down for par and villain's birdie putt did not matter. For the books I won 2 & 1! His slow start cost him...I know he is a better player than I am.
"More matches are lost through carelessness at the beginning than any other cause."
-Harry Vardon
Thanks for the read. Those who have never played competitive golf I urge you to give it a try. This match play format is so much fun.
On to the final 8. Next match I will be giving 3 strokes. Stay tuned...
Last edited by TripleH68; 09-09-2014 at 02:01 AM.
09-09-2014
, 08:59 PM
09-09-2014
, 10:43 PM
09-11-2014
, 10:48 PM
Quote:
The focus I have felt on each shot in match play is incredible compared to my usual leisurely round. For me at least it makes me better.
Thanks. I am still pissed about cart paths and stakes/curbs on golf courses btw. I played yesterday morning and had to walk past that stake on #10 that may have cost me last match and I got irritated. ha.
Thanks. I am still pissed about cart paths and stakes/curbs on golf courses btw. I played yesterday morning and had to walk past that stake on #10 that may have cost me last match and I got irritated. ha.
09-13-2014
, 05:48 PM
Next match Monday morning giving shots this time.
Here are a few pics of the course...
#4 Draw off the tee preferred (except for this guy standing on the wrong side of the ball).
#5 is the typical Arthur Hills short par-4. Aim left over the junk and you have an easy wedge into the green. Aim right to play safe and you have an awkward angle into the green over a bunker sloping away.
#7 Wide open tee shot on easy par-5.
#9 Water does not really come into play here, just for show.
#10 How much do you gain by teasing the water. About 275 to the green from this tee. Second picture includes the infamous stake.
#13 Well done long par-3 with elevated green.
#14 Par-5 is always a three shot hole for me.
#15 Longest par-4 on the course. Second shot plays a little downhill to an open green.
#16 Is a beautiful par-3 can play anywhere from 150 yards to 190 yards pending the mood of the superintendent.
#17 Water on the right.
#18 This is the tee shot. 200 yard carry over a pond with a reachable pond deep right that fronts the green. There is nowhere to bail here. When the wind is whipping in from the east ugh.
Here are a few pics of the course...
#4 Draw off the tee preferred (except for this guy standing on the wrong side of the ball).
#5 is the typical Arthur Hills short par-4. Aim left over the junk and you have an easy wedge into the green. Aim right to play safe and you have an awkward angle into the green over a bunker sloping away.
#7 Wide open tee shot on easy par-5.
#9 Water does not really come into play here, just for show.
#10 How much do you gain by teasing the water. About 275 to the green from this tee. Second picture includes the infamous stake.
#13 Well done long par-3 with elevated green.
#14 Par-5 is always a three shot hole for me.
#15 Longest par-4 on the course. Second shot plays a little downhill to an open green.
#16 Is a beautiful par-3 can play anywhere from 150 yards to 190 yards pending the mood of the superintendent.
#17 Water on the right.
#18 This is the tee shot. 200 yard carry over a pond with a reachable pond deep right that fronts the green. There is nowhere to bail here. When the wind is whipping in from the east ugh.
09-15-2014
, 07:22 PM
Match 3
Tee time was 9:00 this morning. I arrived at 8:15am and was able to have a nice warm up on the range. I was hitting the ball pretty smoothly. My head is killing me (hayfever). If you don't have hayfever be thankful.
My opponent comes up to me on the range. He is retired, close to 60 years old and will be playing the white tees. His handicap is based off his average scores in league play and he is getting 2 shots/one each side which means #5 and #17. I offer him a few balls and he tells me he usually does not warm up, plays league, doesn't take it seriously, etc. etc. I ask if he will keep the score since he is driving and he agrees.
Warning: by the end of this round you will either love me or hate me...bear with me now.
#1 Par 4 Villain hits it right into the trees. I hit it past the trees. When I arrive (he is driving a cart, I am walking) he has a decent swing at it from 160 or so. He knocks it down close to the green in the rough. I have 130 in from a downhill lie in the rough and dump it short. Ugh. We both fail to get up and down. AS
At some point on the first hole he tells me that "they" roll the ball and he encourages me to do so. I tell him I play the ball down. He says well a few fairways are areated so I hope you move it out of those marks. I said "you can do what you want but I am playing the ball down." He then remarks again how this is just for fun/casual thing etc.
I made a decision right there that I was going to let him do what he wanted and just play my ball.
#2 Par 4 Villain hits a poor drive short right in the rough. I hit it long and just into the left rough. His approach comes up short of the green by about 25 feet in the apron. I hit a beauty of a 9-iron from 117 yards uphill. It lands on the green and rolls back onto the fringe for an uphill 20 foot birdie putt.
This part I remember well. Villain putts onto the green and comes up well short. A marker playing with us putts from the back of the green while I tend the flagstick. I remember being careful not to stand in villain's line.
Villain then putts it up to about 2 1/2 feet and I give it to him. My putt I somehow jammed about five feet past. I wanted to make birdie and the ball just jumped off the fringe. I am thinking "damn he gave me this hole and now I have to make this filthy five footer to win it." I pushed it a little and it sneaks in the right side. Phew. +1
#3 Par 5 Villain is on the front fringe in the three with a 60 footer for birdie. I played smooth drive, solid 4-iron that left me 117 yards to the flag. I hit wedge to about 8 feet straight up the hill.
Villain lags it up to four feet and marks. I hit a solid putt and buried it right center! +2
#4 This hole is a short par 4 about 350 today that doglegs left around a stand of trees. I pulled it right along the tree line and there is question as to whether I have a clear shot in. Villain pushes one out safely into the right rough.
My ball is safe in the rough. Villain hits a beauty from about 160 yards into about 20 feet. I don't catch it clean and dump it into the front bunker. My blast is too far into the rough just over the green. Villain two putts for par. +1
#5 is a short, tricked up par-4 with a difficult green. Villain hit his shot safely to the right. I hit a solid drive down the middle leaving just 55 yards to the flagstick.
Villain came up short, carrying the bunker but dropping into the deep rough. My shot was right on the flag and came up 15 feet short, which is okay because I am under the hole and giving a shot. Villain fails to get up and down and I have a birdie putt to win the hole. Poor effort but I will take the halve. +1
#6 Par 3 with deep scary bunker right. Villain hits it into the bunker. I pull a 6-iron left but my pitch has plenty of green to work with. He blasts out to difficult two putt range and I have an up and down to win the hole. My ball is on a bare ground lie and I am not feeling sharp so I decide to hit PW and get it rolling to the hole. My ball carries just onto the fringe and takes a horrible bounce left. Pretty good distance but I am left with 15 feet.
Villain putts and runs it 5 feet past. I lag it up and he makes a knee-knocker for a bogey and halve. +1
#7 Short par-5 with little trouble. I hit a good drive down the left edge of the fairway which is perfect position. Then hit a lay up shot to 50 yards. Villain has first shot in from 100 yards and sticks it to about 15 feet. The flag is in the very back and I want to ensure par so...I leave it about 40 feet short. My putt is right up a ridge and it takes off left, leaving me about 7 feet uphill. Rotten putt!
Villain two putts for par. I focus on not drilling this putt. I need to have touch for it to drop. And it does drop in the side door. I hit it about one turn far enough. Sweet make. +1
#8 Island green par-3. Today the flag is left which is a treacherous spot. I aimed to the middle of the green and hit a pull. It lands on the mounding left of the green and kicks left into the water.
Villain hits a great shot (only a wedge for him) to about 12 feet. I can't drop the pitch and his par wins the hole. AS
As we are walking off the green I say "so we are back to all square eh." He says "oh no I am one up. You only won one hole and I have won two." Wait a minute. Let me see the card.
He shows it to me and he is not keeping scores. He has just been putting a "+" or a "-" on each hole and he has the second hole as a halve. I said "wait a minute I won the second hole with a par." He claims he made a par also. Alright I show my inexperience in match play here because I guess we should have been confirming the score after each hole out. It is too late for that now.
We go back and forth. I tell him my memory of the hole. I remember thinking when I blew my birdie putt past "he is giving me this hole and now I have to drain a 5 footer to save the win." He says "oh it was a big putt for you but it was to halve the hole." He is being as friendly as he can be but this stinks. The guy playing with us says he can't recall. Great.
What do we do? We played on.
#9 375 yard par-4 simple hole. Villain hits it in the right rough. I hit a long drive down the left leaving a solid 9-iron in. His shot from about 150 is low and takes a favorable bounce off mounding short and rolls up to about 5 feet. Great. I made my most free swing of the day and catch it great. The ball sticks and sits about 6 feet!
We both make and it is off to the clubhouse. AS or -1?
We discuss again and he is ready to swear on a stack of bibles. He said "I only putted once and then I didn't putt again because you gave me the putt." I said "come on if you had putted from that far off the green and got the ball into gimmie range I would remember such a great shot." There is just no way. Finally I just decided to give up. I know how eye witnesses feel when grilled with questions. I began to doubt my own recollection of events. What can I do?
So I go in and wash up. When I return to the tee villain says "Ah you will beat my by three this nine and it won't matter anyway." Now I am charged up. Don't play friendly friendly with me like you don't care if you win or lose. I hate that. I just wanted another fun match and I get this nonsense.
So I calm down and just say to myself this is just for fun. Let's go out on the back nine and crush a good score. I like a challenge. It will be fun to suffer through this and win anyway.
Tee time was 9:00 this morning. I arrived at 8:15am and was able to have a nice warm up on the range. I was hitting the ball pretty smoothly. My head is killing me (hayfever). If you don't have hayfever be thankful.
My opponent comes up to me on the range. He is retired, close to 60 years old and will be playing the white tees. His handicap is based off his average scores in league play and he is getting 2 shots/one each side which means #5 and #17. I offer him a few balls and he tells me he usually does not warm up, plays league, doesn't take it seriously, etc. etc. I ask if he will keep the score since he is driving and he agrees.
Warning: by the end of this round you will either love me or hate me...bear with me now.
#1 Par 4 Villain hits it right into the trees. I hit it past the trees. When I arrive (he is driving a cart, I am walking) he has a decent swing at it from 160 or so. He knocks it down close to the green in the rough. I have 130 in from a downhill lie in the rough and dump it short. Ugh. We both fail to get up and down. AS
At some point on the first hole he tells me that "they" roll the ball and he encourages me to do so. I tell him I play the ball down. He says well a few fairways are areated so I hope you move it out of those marks. I said "you can do what you want but I am playing the ball down." He then remarks again how this is just for fun/casual thing etc.
I made a decision right there that I was going to let him do what he wanted and just play my ball.
#2 Par 4 Villain hits a poor drive short right in the rough. I hit it long and just into the left rough. His approach comes up short of the green by about 25 feet in the apron. I hit a beauty of a 9-iron from 117 yards uphill. It lands on the green and rolls back onto the fringe for an uphill 20 foot birdie putt.
This part I remember well. Villain putts onto the green and comes up well short. A marker playing with us putts from the back of the green while I tend the flagstick. I remember being careful not to stand in villain's line.
Villain then putts it up to about 2 1/2 feet and I give it to him. My putt I somehow jammed about five feet past. I wanted to make birdie and the ball just jumped off the fringe. I am thinking "damn he gave me this hole and now I have to make this filthy five footer to win it." I pushed it a little and it sneaks in the right side. Phew. +1
#3 Par 5 Villain is on the front fringe in the three with a 60 footer for birdie. I played smooth drive, solid 4-iron that left me 117 yards to the flag. I hit wedge to about 8 feet straight up the hill.
Villain lags it up to four feet and marks. I hit a solid putt and buried it right center! +2
#4 This hole is a short par 4 about 350 today that doglegs left around a stand of trees. I pulled it right along the tree line and there is question as to whether I have a clear shot in. Villain pushes one out safely into the right rough.
My ball is safe in the rough. Villain hits a beauty from about 160 yards into about 20 feet. I don't catch it clean and dump it into the front bunker. My blast is too far into the rough just over the green. Villain two putts for par. +1
#5 is a short, tricked up par-4 with a difficult green. Villain hit his shot safely to the right. I hit a solid drive down the middle leaving just 55 yards to the flagstick.
Villain came up short, carrying the bunker but dropping into the deep rough. My shot was right on the flag and came up 15 feet short, which is okay because I am under the hole and giving a shot. Villain fails to get up and down and I have a birdie putt to win the hole. Poor effort but I will take the halve. +1
#6 Par 3 with deep scary bunker right. Villain hits it into the bunker. I pull a 6-iron left but my pitch has plenty of green to work with. He blasts out to difficult two putt range and I have an up and down to win the hole. My ball is on a bare ground lie and I am not feeling sharp so I decide to hit PW and get it rolling to the hole. My ball carries just onto the fringe and takes a horrible bounce left. Pretty good distance but I am left with 15 feet.
Villain putts and runs it 5 feet past. I lag it up and he makes a knee-knocker for a bogey and halve. +1
#7 Short par-5 with little trouble. I hit a good drive down the left edge of the fairway which is perfect position. Then hit a lay up shot to 50 yards. Villain has first shot in from 100 yards and sticks it to about 15 feet. The flag is in the very back and I want to ensure par so...I leave it about 40 feet short. My putt is right up a ridge and it takes off left, leaving me about 7 feet uphill. Rotten putt!
Villain two putts for par. I focus on not drilling this putt. I need to have touch for it to drop. And it does drop in the side door. I hit it about one turn far enough. Sweet make. +1
#8 Island green par-3. Today the flag is left which is a treacherous spot. I aimed to the middle of the green and hit a pull. It lands on the mounding left of the green and kicks left into the water.
Villain hits a great shot (only a wedge for him) to about 12 feet. I can't drop the pitch and his par wins the hole. AS
As we are walking off the green I say "so we are back to all square eh." He says "oh no I am one up. You only won one hole and I have won two." Wait a minute. Let me see the card.
He shows it to me and he is not keeping scores. He has just been putting a "+" or a "-" on each hole and he has the second hole as a halve. I said "wait a minute I won the second hole with a par." He claims he made a par also. Alright I show my inexperience in match play here because I guess we should have been confirming the score after each hole out. It is too late for that now.
We go back and forth. I tell him my memory of the hole. I remember thinking when I blew my birdie putt past "he is giving me this hole and now I have to drain a 5 footer to save the win." He says "oh it was a big putt for you but it was to halve the hole." He is being as friendly as he can be but this stinks. The guy playing with us says he can't recall. Great.
What do we do? We played on.
#9 375 yard par-4 simple hole. Villain hits it in the right rough. I hit a long drive down the left leaving a solid 9-iron in. His shot from about 150 is low and takes a favorable bounce off mounding short and rolls up to about 5 feet. Great. I made my most free swing of the day and catch it great. The ball sticks and sits about 6 feet!
We both make and it is off to the clubhouse. AS or -1?
We discuss again and he is ready to swear on a stack of bibles. He said "I only putted once and then I didn't putt again because you gave me the putt." I said "come on if you had putted from that far off the green and got the ball into gimmie range I would remember such a great shot." There is just no way. Finally I just decided to give up. I know how eye witnesses feel when grilled with questions. I began to doubt my own recollection of events. What can I do?
So I go in and wash up. When I return to the tee villain says "Ah you will beat my by three this nine and it won't matter anyway." Now I am charged up. Don't play friendly friendly with me like you don't care if you win or lose. I hate that. I just wanted another fun match and I get this nonsense.
So I calm down and just say to myself this is just for fun. Let's go out on the back nine and crush a good score. I like a challenge. It will be fun to suffer through this and win anyway.
09-15-2014
, 07:40 PM
09-15-2014
, 08:16 PM
#10 is a cape hole that turns left around a pond. Villain leaves himself 100 yards in playing safe off the tee. I hit driver and leave only 45 yards. The flag is front left, close to the water with the green sloping to the water.
Villain hits a really nice shot in to ten feet below the hole, teasing the water. I have just a short flip in but choke it right and leave above the hole. I have to trickle it down. He misses and we halve. -1
#11 Par 5 Villain got in trouble in the trees left. He is eventually putting from 12 feet for bogey. I stick a 9-iron in tight for birdie. AS
#12 Tough hole I always seem to play well, except today. A breeze has picked up and I push my drive right into the rough. Villain hits his on the same line.
He hits a great fairway metal from about 180 yards to the elevated green, leaving about 30 feet. I have 175 in and my shot falls short into the bunker. I fail to up and down and he two putts for par. Back to -1
#13 Par 3 playing 145 for villain. He chunks it half way to the green. I have 180 and hit 4-iron...another pull left but I luck out into a safe spot missing the bunker and the trees!
He grooves and wedge in to 30 feet for an easy two putt. My ball is on some of that fall, most bare ground and I hit a sand wedge. It bounced pretty big and the ball runs 8 feet past. He two putts and I can't convert. Sigh. -1
#14 is an easy par 5, though there is water all down the left side and OB right. Villain drives it into the bunker off the tee. I drive it down the left and hit a solid 4-iron close to the 100 yard marker. There is water in the bunker and he sets up his lie in a dry part, his shot leaves him 160 yards in. From there he pulls it left, teasing the water and leaving a tough pitch. I hit another beauty 9-iron a little choked down and leave it 10 feet under the hole. Another birdie! AS
#15 at 420 yards is the longest par 4 on the course. Villain plays it from 375 and dumps it right into the little stand of trees. I lost my drive a little right and it appears I may have a tree issue also.
Here we go. Villain drives up there and finds his ball. While he is still 75 yards ahead of me I see him roll the ball over towards himself - maybe 6" or possibly as far as a foot. He hits it toward the green with a full swing and leaves it maybe 10 yards short. Sigh. Did he just roll it out from behind the tree? My ball is in deeper rough, blocked by the tree. Great.
I go for too much and shank it seriously. Holy ****. Now I have 160 yards in from a flier lie, take a 7-iron and hit a great shot. It lands about 10 feet left of the flag and rolls out onto the fringe. Villain fails to get up and down for par. I two putt from 30 feet and we halve with bogeys. AS
#16 par 3 playing 182 for me. I hit a solid 4-iron but protecting against trouble left I push it right, carry the bunker and short side myself. Villain hits the green with a nice iron shot and leaves 30 feet for birdie.
I open a 60 degree wedge and hit a beauty of a flop shot. Perfect line up and over the mound and I am thinking tap in par! The ball however comes up about two feet short of the putting surface and kicks from the rough to 15 feet past. Villain two putts. I hit a terrible putt to blow the halve. Pulled it when my last thought was "don't leave it short." -1
#17 Par 4 giving a shot. We both drive it in play safely left of the water. Mine goes through the fairway and he has to play first. He lays it right and it is close to the tree line/water hazard. He hit a really poor shot and I have a chance!
The flag is in the back and I need a good one here. 6-iron from 168 yards. I felt pumped up and I was going to give this one a good strong swing. I pulled it a touch and wound up short sided again but in good shape. Villain's ball was just into thick rough partially under a tree/shrub. He tried to hit it from there and the ball struck the tree and only went ten feet but into play. From there he hits it up to 20 feet or so. Here is my chance with him laying four for three!
I focused on relaxing my hands with a SW. Only 20 feet of carry and less than that to the hole. I hit a really nice feeling little shot and I look up to see it almost bounce into the hole and run 8 feet past. Sigh. Villain two putts and I have a par putt to win the hole. Right edge putt. I pull it and it has no chance. So disappointed in myself. Sigh. -1
The ball almost hit him on his third shot. I would have call the loss of hole penalty if that happened.
#18 Par 4 The white tee is much forward so I just go ahead and hit first. Nice drive carries the pond easily and into the fairway leaving an 8 or 9-iron in. Villain's tee is forward and off to the right. He hits and big fade and is begging for it to stay out of the water right. Lucky for him the ground has been softened up by recent rains and it stops 10 feet shy of the drink.
I hit a nice 8-iron into the green. I aimed a little left with water right and left myself about 25 feet for birdie. Villain has to carry some water if he goes straight at the flag, but only has about 95 yards. He elects to aim a little left and leaves it off the front of the green about 45 feet.
His lag putt comes up about five feet short. When he marks I notice he puts the marker in front of the ball.
A couple times previously he rolled the ball aside and put down the mark. What is it with these people?
Now I can't afford to run this too far past downhill toward the water. I end up babying it a little and it can't hold the line. Tap in par. Villain replaces his ball ahead of the mark. Sigh. And rolls in the par putt to win +1.
This is where I could carry on about how irritating it was to hear him talk about how it was fun and blah blah blah, but I decided something early in the round, at the turn and after the round. I was not going to make a big deal out of anything. It is just for fun. I would just smile and move along. No complaining in the pro shop.
Of course then I remembered this thread. I wasn't going to write this up. I was going to write a "fake" but I couldn't do it. I thought maybe this write up would inspire discussion about the rules of golf, casual play, the future of the game, etc.
I do know one this for certain. I will not play in these "informal" events again. I mean what am I supposed to do? It all just sort of snowballed from a seemingly innocent beginning. I did not play my best that's for sure. Que sera sera.
Villain hits a really nice shot in to ten feet below the hole, teasing the water. I have just a short flip in but choke it right and leave above the hole. I have to trickle it down. He misses and we halve. -1
#11 Par 5 Villain got in trouble in the trees left. He is eventually putting from 12 feet for bogey. I stick a 9-iron in tight for birdie. AS
#12 Tough hole I always seem to play well, except today. A breeze has picked up and I push my drive right into the rough. Villain hits his on the same line.
He hits a great fairway metal from about 180 yards to the elevated green, leaving about 30 feet. I have 175 in and my shot falls short into the bunker. I fail to up and down and he two putts for par. Back to -1
#13 Par 3 playing 145 for villain. He chunks it half way to the green. I have 180 and hit 4-iron...another pull left but I luck out into a safe spot missing the bunker and the trees!
He grooves and wedge in to 30 feet for an easy two putt. My ball is on some of that fall, most bare ground and I hit a sand wedge. It bounced pretty big and the ball runs 8 feet past. He two putts and I can't convert. Sigh. -1
#14 is an easy par 5, though there is water all down the left side and OB right. Villain drives it into the bunker off the tee. I drive it down the left and hit a solid 4-iron close to the 100 yard marker. There is water in the bunker and he sets up his lie in a dry part, his shot leaves him 160 yards in. From there he pulls it left, teasing the water and leaving a tough pitch. I hit another beauty 9-iron a little choked down and leave it 10 feet under the hole. Another birdie! AS
#15 at 420 yards is the longest par 4 on the course. Villain plays it from 375 and dumps it right into the little stand of trees. I lost my drive a little right and it appears I may have a tree issue also.
Here we go. Villain drives up there and finds his ball. While he is still 75 yards ahead of me I see him roll the ball over towards himself - maybe 6" or possibly as far as a foot. He hits it toward the green with a full swing and leaves it maybe 10 yards short. Sigh. Did he just roll it out from behind the tree? My ball is in deeper rough, blocked by the tree. Great.
I go for too much and shank it seriously. Holy ****. Now I have 160 yards in from a flier lie, take a 7-iron and hit a great shot. It lands about 10 feet left of the flag and rolls out onto the fringe. Villain fails to get up and down for par. I two putt from 30 feet and we halve with bogeys. AS
#16 par 3 playing 182 for me. I hit a solid 4-iron but protecting against trouble left I push it right, carry the bunker and short side myself. Villain hits the green with a nice iron shot and leaves 30 feet for birdie.
I open a 60 degree wedge and hit a beauty of a flop shot. Perfect line up and over the mound and I am thinking tap in par! The ball however comes up about two feet short of the putting surface and kicks from the rough to 15 feet past. Villain two putts. I hit a terrible putt to blow the halve. Pulled it when my last thought was "don't leave it short." -1
#17 Par 4 giving a shot. We both drive it in play safely left of the water. Mine goes through the fairway and he has to play first. He lays it right and it is close to the tree line/water hazard. He hit a really poor shot and I have a chance!
The flag is in the back and I need a good one here. 6-iron from 168 yards. I felt pumped up and I was going to give this one a good strong swing. I pulled it a touch and wound up short sided again but in good shape. Villain's ball was just into thick rough partially under a tree/shrub. He tried to hit it from there and the ball struck the tree and only went ten feet but into play. From there he hits it up to 20 feet or so. Here is my chance with him laying four for three!
I focused on relaxing my hands with a SW. Only 20 feet of carry and less than that to the hole. I hit a really nice feeling little shot and I look up to see it almost bounce into the hole and run 8 feet past. Sigh. Villain two putts and I have a par putt to win the hole. Right edge putt. I pull it and it has no chance. So disappointed in myself. Sigh. -1
The ball almost hit him on his third shot. I would have call the loss of hole penalty if that happened.
#18 Par 4 The white tee is much forward so I just go ahead and hit first. Nice drive carries the pond easily and into the fairway leaving an 8 or 9-iron in. Villain's tee is forward and off to the right. He hits and big fade and is begging for it to stay out of the water right. Lucky for him the ground has been softened up by recent rains and it stops 10 feet shy of the drink.
I hit a nice 8-iron into the green. I aimed a little left with water right and left myself about 25 feet for birdie. Villain has to carry some water if he goes straight at the flag, but only has about 95 yards. He elects to aim a little left and leaves it off the front of the green about 45 feet.
His lag putt comes up about five feet short. When he marks I notice he puts the marker in front of the ball.
A couple times previously he rolled the ball aside and put down the mark. What is it with these people?Now I can't afford to run this too far past downhill toward the water. I end up babying it a little and it can't hold the line. Tap in par. Villain replaces his ball ahead of the mark. Sigh. And rolls in the par putt to win +1.
This is where I could carry on about how irritating it was to hear him talk about how it was fun and blah blah blah, but I decided something early in the round, at the turn and after the round. I was not going to make a big deal out of anything. It is just for fun. I would just smile and move along. No complaining in the pro shop.
Of course then I remembered this thread. I wasn't going to write this up. I was going to write a "fake" but I couldn't do it. I thought maybe this write up would inspire discussion about the rules of golf, casual play, the future of the game, etc.
I do know one this for certain. I will not play in these "informal" events again. I mean what am I supposed to do? It all just sort of snowballed from a seemingly innocent beginning. I did not play my best that's for sure. Que sera sera.
Last edited by TripleH68; 09-15-2014 at 08:30 PM.
09-15-2014
, 08:20 PM
Quote:
There was a third guy playing with you and he couldn't offer any clarification? That sucks. Do you think he just didn't feel like getting in the middle?
You should definitely both be keeping score and confirming after every hole, but I understand how you figured it wouldn't be an issue. Just a crappy situation.
You should definitely both be keeping score and confirming after every hole, but I understand how you figured it wouldn't be an issue. Just a crappy situation.
But I can also see how he might not be "100%" sure since villain was so adamant he was correct.I totally screwed up not announcing/checking the score after each hole. Thing is I remember clearly him announcing his score on every hole except the second one. Hmmmm.
09-15-2014
, 08:28 PM
Quote:
Guy sounds like people I play with. The play "winter rules" fluff their lies, forget to count strokes, take any and all putts within a putter length, etc. Whatever I don't care, but sure as **** don't brag or talk smack while you're doing it. Kinda pissed just reading the front 9. Put this joker away on the back plz!!
