Team Golf and the TYGF Pro-Am
The course was set up perfectly. The rough was about 2-2.5″ of thick Bermuda grass which is playable but penal. The fairways were plush and competitors played the ball down (as it lies) through the green. Now this brings us to the greens. Well, some would say they were quick. Others might even say slippery. I even heard one player call them fast.
I’d say quick… like how quick Michael Phelps takes a shower.
I’d say slippery… like how slippery sliding down black ice is with Clark Griswald’s sled.
I’d say fast… like how fast you head to the baño after eating a Rochester garbage plate.
Bogies:
Hence there were a lot of bogeys. In the 36 holes of the tournament I carded four bogies, two double bogies, and two triple bogies which also included 4 three-putts.Ouch! Others didn’t even fair that well. There was one stretch of holes that I scored double bogey, bogey, triple bogey, par, bogey… but not to whine.
Birdies:
Finally with six holes to play, my mind kicked in gear. If there is one lesson I re-learned, it is that:
On my 13th hole, the 520-yard par 5 fourth hole (I started on the back nine), I hit a good drive into the wind down the left side of the fairway which left me 230-yards to a back hole location. This is normally not an issue, but I was semi-blocked by the trees guarding the left side of the fairway which left me a high draw shot shape to the green. Out of bounds, just right of the green, did not leave me a high percentage shot. My goal was to make birdie and get the momentum swinging back in the right direction. I decided to lay up with a 7-iron (I know, wimpy, right?), and swallow my ego. This left me a perfect sand wedge into the hole and set up a 10′ putt. Drano! I got one back!
I pared the 14th and smoked a drive splitting the fairway on the 15th, pitched to about 12′ and made another birdie.
The 16th hole was a 272-yard par four with a pond protecting the front-right part of the green. I hit a high fade driver off the tee to the front of the green about 50′ from the hole. Like I alluded to before, the greens were on the speedy side, so a lag putt below the hole was critical. I two-putted for another birdie.
The 17th hole is a short par five. I chose to hit 3-wood off of the tee and stay short of the pond, which loomed about 270 yards from the tee. This set up an 8-iron approach to about 8.’ I read my putt, visualized the line, and stroked the ball in the hole for an eagle three. Sweet!
Eighteen was an easy par 4 of only about 320 yards. In my attempt to hit the greens I double-crossed it and pulled the ball into the trees just left of the fairway. As I approached my ball, a little steamed from the miscue, I was faced again with a choice. I could try a miraculous shot around the trees, while keeping it under the limbs or punch it to the left side of the green and have a tough pitch to get up-and-down for par. I chose the latter, which left me a side-hill pitch to the green that sloped up to the hole and then downhill past the pin. I hit the best shot I could, but it ran about 10′ past the hole. I did manage to knock that one in for a par.
Five under par on my last six holes! All because I made good decisions. Too many golfers throw countless shots away due to poor choices on the golf course. That usually leads to impatience, which in turn, produces big numbers. Decide your goal for each shot and make the decisions that will most likely achieve the desired result and watch your scores come down.
Ducks:
That finish secured my first Seafood Invitational Duck, which are awarded as trophies to the winners of each flight.
I know you want to see my duck. Here is a picture:
This past Tuesday I played in a qualifier for the NC Mid-Amateur golf tournament. It is one of the Carolinas Golf Association Majors, and there are several qualifiers throughout the state to complete the field of 100+ players. It is being held this year at Sedgefield CC , which was host to the PGA Tour’s 2008 Wyndam Championship. I am eligible this year since I have been reinstated to the amateur ranks and have celebrated the 30th year since I took my first breath. I guess they call it “Mid-Am” for mid-life, because we are too old to compete against the teens & 20 somethings (protect ego), and too young to tee it up from the Gold Tees(50+ crowd). I am just getting warmed up! 30 is the new 20! At least that is what I tell myself even though my body seems to argue sometimes.
but back to the tournament
I played the one day shoot-out against 88 other guys for 20 spots in this year’s championship. The qualifying round was contested at Chapel Hill CC. The course was stretched to approximately 6,850 yards, and the par 72 Gene Hamm layout was in perfect condition. The bermuda rough was up (about 1.5″-2″) and the greens were rolling true and quick (that speed where putts can get away from you easily). The weather was soggy, humid, and rainy as three other gentlemen from the Greensboro and I strolled the fairways. Also joining us was Justin, my caddie. He is a great friend, and said he would be my looper (he once caddied for the the Lama I am told, but that is another story).
I am a pretty low maintenance golfer as far as caddying goes. My main expectations are:
That is pretty much it…Oh! one more thing, pull the pin when I putt.
Justin learned this, Caddy tip #106, on the ninth hole as I putted from about 60 feet. Justin was a little startled as all four of us yelled PULL THE PIN! in chorus as my putt rolled end-over-end towards the cup. Fortunately, my ball rolled over the left edge of the cup and all was well. Had it struck the pin while putting on the green I would have incurred a two-stroke penalty. Whew! That was close.
Other than that incident, the round went well. Justin did a great job, even though he was annoyed I did not let him do his job sometimes when I pulled clubs from the bag myself. I played well, carding two birdies, one eagle, and a bogey to finish with a three under par, 69, to take medalist honors. I believe 74 made it through the cut. It is now off to Sedgefield in mid September for my first NC Mid-Am Championship.
Wish me luck!