If we give you one three putt, one birdie, 2-for-4 on up and downs from greenside, and allow you a double-bogey from 100 yards...

That is +4! Nice round.

83? Huh?

I think the word you're looking for is 'standard'.

Um, yeah, standard. Make that a bunch of 3 putts, zero birdies, zero-for-4 on up and downs (thanks in part to putter), a 3 putt double bogey from 100 yards. What is that, 42 putts? 43? Aaaargh.

It's just strange. Our greens are rolling *beautifully* - the poa annua dies out in October and the greens are just perfect until they close the course. You sometimes have to move leaves and stuff out of the way, no big deal. I couldn't get any of my lag putts close - mostly too hard - and a bunch of short putts came up a revolution or two short dead center.

It's 60 degrees today, I kinda want to ditch work this afternoon and get in one more round.

You are reminding me of this, which was funny.

bonds putting technique

I played yesterday at Sherrill Park in Richardson, TX. Course #1 from the tips. After 3-putting the first three holes and hitting two in the water I sort of remembered how to play and SHOT even for the last 15 holes in a 25-35mph gusty, cold north wind. I was pretty happy. 439 yard par 4 8th with the markers up probably 20 yards, I hit my drive 24 steps from the front edge of the green. 515 yard par 5 11th, I hit driver, 3wood, 9iron, and made the 8-foot birdie putt.

TripleH, Ottawa Park sounds like a lot of fun. It's not anywhere near me, but I took a look at the scorecard anyway. What do you usually do on the <300 yard par 4s? Hit driver and try to get it close to the green? Or lay up to a distance you like, i.e., 90 yards?

That is a really bizarre course. 5000 yards, par 71? Almost every par-4 is under 300 yards, the longest topping out at like 324. Plus it says it was designed by Arthur Hills, which is interesting. This course would have be narrow as hell to compensate for the lack of length. Indeed it was no doubt designed back in the days of the mashie niblick and stymies and balls with feathers sticking out of them.

Arthur hills did a redesign, which really involved repairing bunkers, etc. The bunkers are well placed and greens play with a lot of break, both evident and subtle. One of those places where local knowledge rules. There is a match play event there every summer.

Three of the seven short par-4s are reachable without much risk. Three are nearly impossible to hit because the fairway turns or elevation changes abruptly. Some examples:

2) 266 yards with deep bunker fronting a shallow green. About 40 feet downhill with OB fence behind the green. Plays into the prevailing wind. I usually hit an easy driver and go for the up and down.

3) 281 yards flat for 200 yards, then straight back up the hill. Woods down the left. I hit 4-iron.

6) 292 yards through a tunnel of trees with branches overhanging the fairway. The perfect tee shot is 210-yards down the left center.

8) 316 yards. Woods down the left, trees on the right. Fairway slopes right-to-left. Driver almost certainly runs into the woods.

9) 274 yards downhill. Let 'er rip.

etc.

This is the course everyone in town laughs about, but struggles with the course management required to shoot a good score. The greens are smaller so you need to be able to hit a soft flop shot and putt. The best parts of my game.

Back to Bears Best. 99 with approx 46 putts. Really disgusting since I had been putting real well. Still, broke 100 for the 2nd time last 3 rounds from the 6,600 yards, so that's still ok.

Had the 2nd tee time today at 8:08. There was a 5 minute frost delay (enough to send the 8:00 sucker group home).

Played a 2:40 minute 18 hole round.

Hadn't swung a club since October and had a hard time making contact first few holes. 53.

Came back with a 44 on the back 9 for a 97.

This might have been my most enjoyable round all year not having to wait for a bunch of slow fat [censored] driving around in their [censored] carts.

Haven't played in 3 weeks, shot 70 at Royal Colwood today, ship.

golf is an addiction and in the winter your cut off

77. I thought we were only going to play nine, and I was pleased to shoot a score (37) lower than the temperature (39) on the front. Especially considering that I was wearing enough layers to prevent getting the club back more than shoulder height.

Hey, maybe I should do that more often. Duh.

Only one three putt today (it was a stupid one, from inside 15 feet), two birdies. Good way to end the season if this is it.

Brag Post

Going to a country club tomorrow that's closed on Mondays, membership is 10K/year. I know they have hosted at least 1 ESPN televised event . My cousin (who works there) and I will most likely be the only ones on the course. High temp. is 71 tomorrow also. Will update and give my score afterwards, hopefully I can brake 100 before winter.

Low 50's and windy. Cold as all getout. Just stunk from the first hole and a late rally was far from spectacular.

46-49=95 at the University of Maryland (~6300 yards) on Wednesday, featuring a spectacular quad-triple finish. Inconsistency is driving me nuts. I feel like I should easily be breaking 90 nearly every time out, but I always manage to blow up on one or two holes. On 17 -- a 315 yard par 4 -- I hit my best drive of the day to like 70 yards out, then somehow hit my wedge like 75 degrees right. Lost my concentration and muffed a couple chips from there, and then made a terrible pitch and three putt on the long 18th hole.

I knew there was a reason I gave up this game.

-McGee

41. Didn't beat the temp (a balmy 40), but considering that it was the first time I'd walked in a while, not bad at all.

Required carts FTL.

Beat: Haven't touched a club during November
Brag: Just booked Bandon in February
Variance: Shoulder still sucks, and haven't gotten it looked at

Anyone got rain gear suggestions?

About 50, windy, and damp. Started off real good, but poor chipping crushed me today. Putting didn't help. Disappointing round.

bursitis FTL

I'll post in the NVG thread when I become totally addicted to Aleve.

I played 18 holes while vacationing in the Florida Keys last week. Anyone ever been to Key Colony Beach near Marathon?

Pretty tough par-3 9 holer there because of the tiny greens surrounded by thick grass. If you miss the green you have to perfect the 'bounce it on' shot through Zoysia grass - because the rental sets only come with wedge, 9 and 7 irons. No 60 degree!

It was lots of fun and kind of funny. Million dollar vacation homes surround this 9-holer with a greens fee of $9. Iguanas on the course, of course.

Shot 48 for a quick 9, puke, but when you don't practice what do you expect? Not a bad start, though considering a 6 & an 8 to start, both par 4s. I'm hooking the ball like hell.
Going out to Reno in 2 weeks for some very nice golfing, so I need to get some range balls in. I also have 2 lessons out at LPGA International in Daytona that I need to get in.

Played Bel-Air Country Club. Ranked around #100 on best American courses. Celeb hang out. I shot a rather pathetic 84. In the group behind me was Pete Sampras and Luke Wislon. Al Michaels and Digger Phelps were in the bar after the round. My caddie won the US Mid-Am and has played Augusta. Weather was perfect.

shot 70 today, par 72, best ive played in a long time

Haha, today we played Las Sendas in Mesa (course mentioned cuz some folks in this thread have played it before). Around six months ago they tore out the greens which were something of a bent/tiff mix and replaced them with something involving Bermuda. Much worse, they are like concrete. We were laughing as wedges would bounce off the back of the green. Oh well...

We had a 45 minute frost delay and between that and the cold weather I don't think I've ever hit more fairways and missed more greens. My lone highlight was birdieing the pretty difficult 13th, a ~430 yard hole playing dead into the wind and with a back flag. Killed a drive, hit a perfect 7-iron from around 160 (!), and made a nice putt. When I found out I carded a 14-over 85 I just laughed because I felt pretty good about the round.

53-48-101 Chilly to start. Just terrible with irons and went on tilt for 2 holes on the front. Putted great and kept burning edges. Consistently good with 3-wood off the tee.