Category: Tournament Golf

Team Golf and the TYGF Pro-Am

Last Friday I had fun playing in a pro-am with my college coach, Robert. He has been a mentor, boss, and now a friend over the years. He has served golfers for over two decades now as one of the best golf instructors in the country. The pro-am benefited the Triad Youth Golf Foundation. In its eighth year, TYGF, has helped spread the game of golf to youth in the area.
[youtube=httv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v25swuKEnQU]
Golf is one of the few sports that incorporates character and competition. I believe it is a game that provides an environment for youth to develop the principles of integrity, perseverance, and a strong work ethic that are often proportionate to success in life. Thanks to Chris, Mike, and Jonathan for all the hard work investing in the Traid’s juniors.
The event was held at Bryan Park Champions Golf Course, located in Browns Summit, NC, and was recently awarded to host the USGA’s 2010 Amateur Public Links Championship. This Rees Jones Design, is consistently ranked as a top public course in the country, boasting some of NC’s best designed holes.
Golf is largely an individual sport, but pro-ams offer team oriented competition.  Our team consisted of one pro, Robert, and three amateurs; Elton, Kathleen, and me. The format was one best ball gross and one best ball net (with handicap). Our team had a cumulative handicap of 7, thus having a slim-to-none chance at winning and a great chance for fun. We did finish fourth thanks to Kathleen putting together a four hole birdie streak.
One of the best ways to enjoy competition and play team golf  is in pro-ams like these. Typically for about $100, one can play good golf courses (a lot of times- courses not open to the public or non-members), meet some new folks, and get the competitive juices flowing in true team golf. It is also a great opportunity to play along side a professional, and learn course management skills valuable to your development as a player.  Golf is largely an individual sport, but pro-ams offer a team oriented approach.
Ask your local club pro or teacher about any pro-ams you might be able to get into.

The Seafood Invitational Part 2: Bogies, Birdies, & Ducks

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:

  • good decisions, backed up by action, will always produce great results.

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:

I've named him Justin
I think I will call him Justin

The Seafood Invitational Part 1: Homecoming

Last weekend I played in the Seafood Invitational golf tournament. For 42 years the tournament, started by Purcell Jones, has been held at Morehead City Country Club (MCCC) in Morehead City NC. As a junior golfer growing up at the club, I remember watching great NC amateurs like Bill Boles and Bob Cato and weekenders, like my father, stroll the fairways in pursuit of taking home a Core Sound Duck Decoy trophy. The hand-carved decoys are the traditional trophy for winners in each flight. Tradition, a fun and challenging course, and great seafood (not to mention the beautiful crystal coast) has made this a popular tournament for over 4 decades.
This was actually my first year playing in this tournament so I was excited to be able to tee it up at the course where I played my first tournament 22 years ago at the tender age of 8. On Friday, the official practice round also doubles as a skins game. With 130 players, skins were hard to come by, but I did manage to drain a 48′ putt for eagle on the 14th hole and picked one up. The highlight Friday was playing a practice round with a good friend Randy. He was the head pro at MCCC when I was in high school and college and was one of the best bosses I ever had.
MCCC’s director of golf and this year’s tournament host, Nick, held a seafood hors d’oeuvres social for the players and their significant others. This was a homecoming for me, as many of the folks there were members of the club and watched me grow up. One player, Corey, was one of the grommets that hung around at the club with us. He used to be the shrimp of our high school team, unable to hit it out of his shadow, but now at over 6’2″ he bombs it a mile. I was pleased to find out we would be playing together in the first round.
coming soon: Seafood Invitational at MCCC Part 2: Bogies, Birdies, & Ducks

Caddy Tip #106- Pull the pin

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:

  • keep the ball and clubs clean
  • keep the grips dry
  • help with yardage from time to time
  • provide extra pair of hands in wet conditions (holding the umbrella, etc)
  • be a sounding board and security blanket for decision making

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!

The Forest Oaks Invitational (The New GGO)

11 years ago I walked off of the 18th green of the Forest Oaks Country Club golf course after an exciting round of 72, even par. The round included 1 birdie and 1 bogey and only 2 GIR (greens in regulation). It was good enough to secure a victory in the Forest Oaks Invitational, over some of the top amateur golfers in NC thanks to a first round 7 under par, 65.
But I digress.
This year’s Forest Oaks Invitational, held in Greensboro NC, marked a new era in the tournament’s history as the golf course has undergone a redesign (Davis Love III in 2002) and a new management team (Troon Golf). Even though it is no longer host to a PGA Tour event (FOCC hosted the Greater Greensboro Open, The Chrysler Classic, The Wyndham Championship from 1977-2007) it is still a tour caliber golf course. I have to say I was impressed. The staff at Forest Oaks did an outstanding job at getting the course in great shape. A few complaints may come from the players due to the fact that the rough was worthy of a USGA championship, but the course was incredible. The staff was very professional from the proactive cart and bag attendants to the kind folks that served the food. Players were treated as welcomed guests of Forest Oaks CC. From the range to the tee, Troon’s professionals ran the tournament first class, complete with the starters and tournament officials in coats and ties. Lunch was included both days including an awards presentation at the conclusion of the tournament.
The tournament was 36 holes of stroke play which is flighted after round one. All handicaps were welcome and there was a senior division as well. As a nice touch, the final round hole locations were cut in the Sunday Wyndham Championship placements. I believe the tournament could grow into a premier event for amateurs warming up for the US Amateur or for local hoofers who just love competition and championship golf.
I wish I could say I hoisted the trophy a second time but this year did not unfold that way. It did unfold, but only for me on the greens, as I struggled with the flat stick shooting 74-79=153. It was good for t15 overall and t4 in 1st flight, but was a little disappointing as the winning score of 72-68=140 was not out of reach. It is funny that the difference between playing well and poorly is usually small. I am thankful for what I was taught years ago by a dear friend, Stephen, with College Golf Fellowship. Our identity doesn’t come from our score (good or bad), but from a personal relationship with the Father and his Son, and that we are joint heirs created for a purpose with the seeds of greatness within us.
So, if you are looking for a fun event that gets the competitive juices flowing and a great course to tee it up with friends, check out the Forest Oaks Invitational and put it on your calendar next year.