Tried a couple new things with both my full swings and my putter today. Hadn't played in almost 4 weeks, played pretty crummy.
55-53-108
1 birdie (par 3)
1 par
4 bogeys
6 doubles
4 triples
1 quad
1 quint (ESC - gave up)
6/14 FIR
1/18 GIR
32 putts (0 3-putts, 4 1-putts)
9 penalty strokes (!)
7 sand strokes out of only 3 bunkers (!)
Ball-striking was bad for me. Putting was best in a long time, by far. Made a couple adjustments with the putter and tried it out and loved the results. Usually I'm a horrifically bad putter.
Normally pretty good at getting out of any bunker in 1 stroke but was awful today for some reason. Came up just short on a par 3 where I chose the 9I over the 8I and hit the top of a bunker and rolled back down in. Sand was really soggy and I kept popping it up but couldn't clear the bunker. Hit this three times then picked up, raked, and moved on giving myself an 8 (2 solos were playing with me so didn't want to waste too much time). I have no idea how to hit out of the soggy sand... ?? I suppose close my body more, close the clubface and that's it? I should have tried that.
In general a bad round but my putting was very good and that was the worst part of my game so I'm happy about what the future brings.
I also hit the
best shot of my life today on a par 3 late in the round and here's that tale:
par 3 15th. Hole says 137 but guy with GPS said 150 as the tees were back a bit. This hole usually kills me as I always seem to come up short. I figured for a 2-3 club wind in our face with about a 10 degree left-to-right action. Older guy hits first and rips it straight and keeps it below the wind but you can tell the wind just chews it up and he lands just short of the green. I get up assuming the hole is playing 170-180 which is between a tee'd 6I and 5I for me. Knowing I almost always still manage to come up short I opt for the stronger 5I and figure it will stay lower ball flight and won't kick off the elevated, well-tilted green anyway. The strong wind in my face is giving a slight left-to-right so I aim about 5 yards left of the pin and take a whack. Ball stays low and doesn't get chewed up by the wind, it looks like it's a great shot right off the tee. Two partners are chirping back there watching this sick ball flight and my ball hits the green which is tilted a bit left to right and kicks over toward the hole. It settles what looks like a couple feet left of the hole but I have no idea if it's pin high, short, or long but am super pleased any time I hit a green with a 5I anyway. Third guy hits pulls it way over to the left of the green and we're off. I get up there and the ball is about 2 inches north of pin-high, exactly 18 inches left of the pin. Holy ****. I assumed it wasn't going to be dead pin-high from the tee as I couldn't tell really. I figured I'd be left with a 10-footer for bird or so. Guy who pulled it way to the left told me to pull the flag and finish out my birdie so I do so and hit it center of cup for sickest and easiest birdie I've ever made. 18 inches from an ace with a 5 iron and a 2-3 club wind in my face.
Made the rest of my round much better!!! This hole usually gives me fits, too. Was nice to make it my bitch for a change!
It's shots like these that keep a 29 handicapper coming back! What are you gonna do....
Two Plus Two
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