Format: Stableford
Venue: [Home course]
Score: 35pts
Handicap mark: 3.5
Themes in reply: Consistency
20th December 2012
Hi Colin,
Just getting around to sending details of the round I played on 8th December.
I’ll see what I can remember!
Conditions were ok with a slight SW wind.
1st – Hit a 3 wood off the tee and it usually cuts back onto the fairway but this one drew into the LH rough. The rough has been cut back quite a bit so the lie was ok. It was a 6 iron to the flag but because it was a bit cold and uphill I hit a 5-iron. Pitched by the flag and rolled to the back of the green. Very poor first putt and missed the next so a 5 and 1 point.
2nd – Hit the drive right and hacked out about 50 yds from the green. Hit a poor pitch which rolled off the front of the green. Putted up to about 3’ and holed for a 5 net 4 and 2 points.
3rd – Hit 3 wood off the tee into the fairway followed by a 3 iron to the green and 2 putts – 2 pts.
4th – Playing quite long so hit a 3 wood off the tee which went way left. Chipped up over the bunker and 2 putts for a 4 and 1 pt.
5th – Hit a really good long drive. Going for the green in 2 but caught the 3 wood a bit heavy so it came up short. Chipped on again a bit short but a good first putt dead and 2 pts.
6th – Good drive followed by a really good 8-iron to about 6’. Holed for a birdie 3 /net 2 and 4 points.
7th – Hit a wedge stiff so a birdie 2 and 3 pts.
8th – Not a great drive but managed to get over the bank with my second. Chipped on and 2 putts for a par 5 and 2 pts.
9th – Good drive but pushed the 9-iron. Difficult chip over the bunker. Managed to get it to 4’ but just missed the putt so 1 pt.
18 points after 9 holes so not too bad.
10th – Excellent drive and a wedge to 5’ – holed for a birdie 3 and 3 points.
11th – Good 6-iron to about 15’ – just missed the putt so 2 points.
12th – Ok drive and hit a 3-iron for the 2nd shot just to keep on the short stuff. Hit a 5-iron to the green and a good first putt dead so a 5 net 4 and 3 points.
13th – Awful drive low and left resulting in a lost ball. Hit a good provisional (3 off the tee) and a 3-iron to the back of the green. However, it was asking a bit much to hole the putt for a 5 – zero points
14th – Ok tee shot just a bit short. Putted up passed the hole but managed to hole the one back for a par 3 and 2 pts.
15th – Poor drive down the left. Did well to get the ball within 40 yds of the green. Topped the chip which ran up the front of the green and then someway back down the fairway. Putted up but just missed the 4 footer so a 6 net 5 and 1 point only.
16th – Good drive but didn’t time the 6-iron to the green at all and thus ended up about 35 yds short. Hit a lovely pitch to 4’ and holed for a 4 and 2 points.
17th – Drive to the RH rough and knocked it forward with my 19 degree wood. Pitched up a bit short but 2 putts for a par and 2 points.
18th – Good drive but 6-iron was a bit short. A quick putt down the hill went 4 to 5’ past. Holed a really good one back for a par and 2 points.
17 points coming back making 35 in total. The winner had 38 points with 3 on 36 points and 2 others on 35 so joint 4th.
Could have been better. The lost ball on 13 was a killer. I was trying to hit a low one with a bit of draw into the wind but completely overdid it!
I holed out well again which is pleasing.
So Colin, here’s to a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family.
I am confident next year will be even better on the golf course and the bowling green!
Where do I find this blog/website?
Regards,
John
2nd February 2013
Dear John,
Call me “sad” but this is quite an interesting exercise. For one reason and another I haven’t ever looked at this round and now I’m reading about it 2 months later.
The first thing to say is that even though the round is over 8 weeks old I find that I am still “with you” on every shot, which must be a result of all the rounds I have read about over the past 18 months or so.
So, the first shot of the round is a drawn 3-wood which stays left, which is quite an unusual start for you. And then you hit a five-iron out of the rough and onto the green as your second shot. In anyone’s book that is a good shot and proof that your “timing” is still at your beck and call.
Then on the 3rd you hit a 3-iron on to the green and two-putt for a par. Super stuff!
Then a good chip over a bunker after a poor tee shot on the 4th. The 5th is a good par followed by a birdie on the 6th after an 8-iron to 6’ – easy game this golf.
Then another birdie on the par-3 7th, a par on the 8th and a good chip to 4’ on the 9th for 18pts. This is very good golf in the middle of winter when you are only playing once a week. It says a lot for your consistency these days.
The back nine is a right old mix but somehow you conjure 17pts out of it. For me the 13th hole is so very interesting because it does not knock you down in any way whatsoever. In fact, you finish particularly strongly with two pars on the 17th and the 18th, and every weak shot is followed by a strong recovery.
If this round were part of a 4-round tournament you would be very pleased with how you had put a score together. There are no weak parts to your game, and triumph and disaster are treated with equal contempt.
As you say, 2013 looks very promising indeed.
Regards,
Colin
PS Merry Christmas, by the way.
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