First round back...

Was not as good as I'd hoped, but not as bad as it might have been.  After a 16 month layoff, I didn't know what to expect, since Ive never had that long without playing in the 40 years I've played the game.  We played at Grand Elk Golf Club in Granby CO, a Craig Stadler design that weaves through a wetland valley in the mountains.  I had only played the course once before, 2 years ago.  Despite being in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, there isn't much elevation change, but as you might expect, hazard and unplayable areas of rough were in play on every hole.  Lots of opportunities to fail.

To break my long fast from golf, I hit about a dozen ball on the range to warm up, putted for about 5 minutes, and I was ready to hit the tee.  That is more than I usually do, but I needed to get reacquainted with my clubs.  First tee shot (we played the white tees, first set forward of the tips) I pulled left but still in play and we were off.  Along the way I hit some real clunkers, but I played a few shots quite well too.  Ended up losing 4 balls, didn't make my first par until the 10th hole.  I shot 49 on the front, and then was doing okay on the back until we got the strong winds from a thunderstorm south of the course.  After all pars and bogies on the back, I dunked a tee shot into a lake and made double on 17, then on 18, 421 yard par 4 dead into a 30mph wind, I 4 putted for an 11 to kill the round.  9 over on the last 2 holes. Still broke 100 with a smooth 99.

It was still good to be back.  My body hurts this morning because it seems that golf uses muscles that you don't use much for anything else, and at 66 my body isn't as resilient as it once was, but we are headed out to Keystone Ranch today for the next try.  I have just one goal... to play better than yesterday.