9 holes - June 10

It's been raining cats and dogs lately and this is the first time I've played since before memorial day (I went to Vegas for a week to with the Wife and didn't golf). Also, since I've been struggling with my driver, I planned to use my 3 wood all day. Here's how it went down.

HOLE 1, Par 5: I hit a decent 3 wood, but it went a little left. I still felt like I was a mile away as there was some obvious loss in distance. I'd usually hit a 4 hybrid here, but I hit another 3 wood. I made solid contact and had about 40 yds left. I pitch on the green to around 12 feet. My putt rolled to 3 or 4 feet and I managed to miss it for 3 putt and a bogey. The pin was located in a tough spot on going downhill, but I should have made it. I need to start spending a lot more time on the practice green.

HOLE 2, Par 3: I missed the green right with my tee shot and chipped on to about 8 feet. I missed the putt short and putted in for my bogey. Can't really complain about 2 bogeys in a row, but that first hole was horrible putting.

HOLE 3, Par 5: Perfect 6 iron off the tee to where I need to be for my second shot. I really wanted to go for the green, but the last two times I lost a stroke because of a bad shot. So, I did the smart thing and hit my PW down to the fairway. The only problem is I still had 160-165 left. I think I can hit it at more of an angle next time to get towards the green more. Anyways, I hit my 6 iron about 8 feet right of the green. I managed to catch the chip a little thin and right off the other side. Another chip and two putts for a double bogey. Lame.

HOLE 4, Par 4: Tee'd up my 3 wood and hit a nice fade to the middle of the fairway (I'm trying to accept my natural fade now a days). I had a 6 iron left, where I would have an 8 iron if I would have hit my driver (hit my driver in the fairway that is). Anyways, I it a bullet about 2 feet off the ground that ended up 10 feet to the right. The pin was on the other end of the green so I chipped up with my PW to about 6 feet. I missed my par putt somehow and bogeyed the hole. Did I mention I need to work on my putting?

HOLE 5, Par 4: I got a hold of my 3 wood on this hole and was probably 20 yds short of where I would be with my driver. I was just at my limit for my pitching wedge. I hit a good shot that was just a little right. I chipped on to 6 or 7 feet and 2 putted AGAIN. Bogey.

HOLE 6, Par 4: Tee'd up my 3 wood and really hammered it this time ...kinda. When I hit a good driver I'll have an 8 iron or possibly a 7 iron left. Well, I had what seemed like the magic second shot club, my 6 iron. I don't know how, but I chunked it and sailed it right into the woods right. Shit. It was unplayable, so I took a stroke, dropped and chipped but it hit the hill up to the green and died. Another chip 2 putts and a triple bogey. Ugh.

HOLE 7, Par 3: I pulled my 7 iron left and had a downhill pitch about 20 yds left to the green. I hit it very well, but a tad too long. The green rolls away here, so it went to the fringe. I didn't hit it hard enough and had 6 feet left. 2 more putts for a double bogey. Seriously?

HOLE 8, Par 5: 3 Wood that sliced a little and ended up in the rough right. Decent lie , but I couldn't go at the green due to trees. I hit another 3 wood, pulled it a little and ended up in the trees to the left. Unlucky for me I had no shot due to trees. There was a creek in front of me, fairway right and a rough area between 1 and 9 left. I decided to gently punch it straight towards the creek. I was in the rough but had a straight shot to the green. I just had to clear a tree. I knew I could with my 56 so I took a 70% swing the hit it perfect....almost. It just clipped the tippy top of the tree and fell like a rock. Man, that shot would have been perfect. Oh well. A chip on and I actually made the damn 8 footer for a bogey. Nice.

HOLE 9, Par 3: 205 yds, 4 hybrid as usual. Didn't make a perfect strike, but it was acceptable. I pulled it a little left and landed about a foot from the sand trap. This left me with a real weird stance. I pitched it pretty decent though even if it was a bit short. 2 putted for bogey.

The ball striking was good, but I really left some shots out there today with the putter. I hit every fairway except for 8, but it was still a good lie and left me with a decent shot. That said, I need to seriously get my driver in check. Putting the ball in the fairway is the most important part, yes. However, going 2 clubs down on approach shots isn't going to cut it.