yeah, it's somewhat remarkable to have a RTJII course as a muni. more than once i've taken people out for their first time on it when it's in peak condition and after the round they couldn't believe the value.
doesn't really matter how good of a round you have going, 16-17-18 are going to get you one way or another. that green on 17 is really tough for a par 5.
the older guys in the group like to play Green because it's shorter (and cheaper), so i've played that a lot more than Blue.

What course is that?

Heron Lakes Great Blue in Portland (two courses at Heron Lakes, the other one is Greenback). you have to catch it when conditions are right and it's not soggy, somewhere around late June/early July thru late September, but it's a great play.

three of the par 5s have water in play around the green, two of the par 3s are over water and another (11) might be the hardest tee shot on the course.

Got out first yesterday with the wife and son. I chipped and putted then said screw it and took PW on a 114y par 3 (ladies tees). Immediate pain. No good.

Went out today with usual group and decided to play that same hole with a 3 wood. Kinda hard to stop a shot on that green with a 3 wood. Played 3 other holes with a 50% swing with no pain, so progress.

Also when I played yesterday I lined up a 30 foot putt for my son suing the line on the ball. Drains it with perfect speed. Go figure.

Progress is a good thing, if you can swing at all (even just 50%) without pain that has to be a great indication that you can get back to 100%.

Played a weird round today. +4 on the front with a double bogey and two 3 putts. Was +1 on the back with 3 birdies, 4 bogeys, and 2 pars. The birdies were on a par 3, 4, & 5. Had two more 3 putts on the back. Hit the ball great overall but boy did I putt like ****. 3 or 4 great chips leaving kick ins saved the round. Reached two 520+ yd par 5s in two so that was fun. Can't remember last time I had 3 birdies on a side.

74 today(par 72). Started with 12 straight pars and 11\12 greens. Then went bogey, bogey, birdie, birdie, bogey, bogey. Don't hit a fairway on the back till 18 but most were either just off the fairway or purposely hit in the rough because of cutting the corner of doglegs. Best ball striking day in awhile but continue to struggle with the flat stick.

Nice shootin' ec!

40-39-79

1 birdie, 2 doubles

Pretty good for an 80% swing. Really started to get sore by the 11th hole and stuck it out with about a 60% swing

Don't let playing with a modified swing mess up your normal swing scott. About 20 years ago I dislocated and fractured my elbow playing softball. In a rush to get back to the course sooner than I should've I found a way I could use a 1\2 to 3\4 punch type swing to get around the course "good enough". Unfortunately bad habits stuck and I never did get my full powerful swing back once my arm was fully healed. To this day I have a punchy type swing with my irons.

43-42-85

Cold, damp, waterlogged course. About 44 degrees and drizzle. Some standing water on greens. Struck the irons well,.putter and driver inconsistent as usual. Nice to get out for one last round in 2020 though. Weather looking decent for January next week here in New Jersey so hope to get out again.

35

3 birdies, 2 bogeys

Got up the courage to hit one driver today and didn't double over in pain, more winning!

Scotts modesty is becoming, but I'm reminded of Jordan dropping 56 with the flu. One under for 9 with a hand thats performing at less than 100% is pretty nice.

41-44-85

3 birdies, 4 doubles

Went +8 of the last 5 holes. Should have taken the day off. Going to take 3 days off before I play again.

One bright spot is I have cleared 6 of the 18 holes on one of my courses for birdies on the year so far in 27 holes played.

Tl;Dr
Cliffs - people are *******s about letting faster groups play through

Sun City Willowcreek - 75(par 72) yesterday morning. 1 birdie, no doubles. Frustrating morning as I had an 8:07 tee time as a single and about 7:30, right after I get to the course, I find out the rest of people with my tee time aren't showing up so they rush me to the box so I can get out before a couple groups of women. So then I'm stuck trying to kill enough time I'm not pushing the group ahead of me, knowing they're waiting on the group ahead of them, while not holding up the group behind me. Eventually I have no choice but to drive up on the group ahead of me while they're still waiting to tee off. They wave me up and tell me to play through. I thank them, apologize for having to drive up on them, and explain what happened with the rest of the group. One of the guys says something under his breath about me being out there as a single(they were only a threesome). I lose it. Something along the lines of "look MFer, did you not hear what I just said?". More words are exchanged, I politely ask him to EAD, and go about my business. I immediately catch the group ahead of me and they were more than willing to send me through since it's pretty open in front of them.

So the front 9 was pretty much a custerfluck, but once I was past that second group I could take my time, hit extra shots, and keep a 1-2 hole gap ahead of and behind me. Got through the round in less than 3 hours and was ready to go home and relax. As I'm walking back to my car a buddy calls and says they're teeing off in an hour about 30 minutes away and have an open spot. More golf it is!

Grand Canyon University - 81(par 72) for the almost 5 hour afternoon round. 1 birdie, 3 doubles. Sprayed my driver all over the property but avoided penalty strokes and did good to avoid more big numbers.

35-45-80

1 birdie, 2 doubles

I guess I should be stopping at 9 holes still. +9 the last 8 holes.

40-36 76(par 70)
3 birdies, 3 doubles. All on the front 9. Shotgun start and we went off #3. Started bogey, bogey, double, double, double(penalty stroke on each). -2 the rest of the way after that horrid start.

40-46-86

1 birdie, many doubles

Started off with 4 pars. Really need to work up to playing 18 again.

Yesterday 42-44 86(par 72) Hadn't played this course in years and never could get the speed right on the greens. Six 3 putts, lol. Don't have the card in front of me but 3 doubles I think, maybe 4. 2 penalty shots. 1 birdie.

Today 39-39 78(par 72). Played worse than yesterday but on a much easier course. No birdies, 1 double. A lot of missed fairways, hit greens, and 2 putts.

45-39-84

1 birdie, 2 or 3 doubles

Hit what could be my worst shot in years today. Tee ball on #6 I snap snap hooked one and hit a house about 3 down from the tee box (like 100 yards). Also managed to go 3-wood, 8 iron to 15 feet on a short par 5 to 15 feet and 3-putted.

Right now I think I hit my 3-wood just as long as my driver. I can get those low spin bombers that roll forever with it. I guess it's time for a driver fitting again.

39-36 75(par 72)

4 birdies, 2 bogeys, 1 double, 1 triple. Aside from one 5 iron onto a roof and two 3 putts from 15' I hit the ball great today. Missed 3 birdie putts from inside 10' too. Had a chance to go real low.

40 degrees in Massachusetts at 11am. 5600 yards(9 holes twice). Par 72. Light rain showers passing occasionally. 14 clubs in a bag with a picture of my dogs(rip woof). Lost a few out of bounds very few solid shots. 9 Yesterday. 18 today.

54 Yesterday.

52-50 - 102 today.

Nice escape.

Actually yesterday was dry and a bit colder.***

That's good you were able to get out on back to back days Bob. I'm guessing your days of golfing weather are pretty limited this time of year.

Might go today too if it's not raining hard. I did both days in a winter hat(that I took off on hole 14 yesterday), socks, shoes(new balance waterproof ftw), pants, two undershirts and a fleece. Was a little cold Wednesday but fine yesterday.

Yesterday was tough. Not golf either. I found out my mom died around 830 Wednesday morning. The golf was my escape. She crept into my thoughts on most shots. I really wasnt expecting to have good focus.

Hit a few satisfying shots. Thats all I wanted.

40

Had a setback with my hand. After my tee shot on #8 it was super sore. After playing 10-12 in +5 I decided to shut it down for the day. Sleeping last night was miserable. Every time I moved it ached. Looks like I have a week off of golf coming up.