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2026 TST Birdie Challenge


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  • Administrator
Posted

Just like the 20222021202020232024, and 2025 topics, we're doing it again in 2026!

Once again, I'd like to birdie every hole at Whispering Woods in 2026 (and maybe every numbered hole on other courses). I'd like you to join me on this quest. This year's spreadsheet is below:

 

Please click through, add your name, home course, and location, and when you make a score on the holes as you play them, update your line in the spreadsheet with your ringer score, basically. The idea is to score a birdie or better on each hole on the course this year.

If you're above a certain handicap and would like to make it a par challenge, go for it! Just add that note to the Notes column.

Please leave the formatting as is. And note that you only write down one score - if you birdie a hole three times, you aren't writing down -3. It's just your best individual score for each hole.

We can all cheer each other on and see where this takes us!

If you truly play a TON of different courses, then follow these two guidelines:

  • If you just play a lot of golf, but still get 20 or 25 (or more) rounds in on one course, consider making that your home course and just doing the birdie challenge there.
  • If you truly play only 20-40 rounds per year, and never more than a handful at the same course, consider trying to birdie holes numbered 1 to 18 across all of your courses. Or even doing it twice. Yeah, some hole #17s will be easier birdies than others, but that's why you might do it twice.
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Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Birdied last 2 holes today for 44/36 (Par 37 on front, 35 on back).  Nearly Eagled #17--had a sidehill 30 ft putt, breaking right to left.  Aimed about 8 ft above hole, ball broke and stopped about an inch from going in.

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Luis


Posted

Played once this year and made 1 birdie. Weather not looking good for a while to play again.

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-Jerry

Driver: Titleist 913 D3 (9.5 degree) – Aldila RIP 60-2.9-Stiff; Callaway Mini-Driver Kura Kage 60g shaft - 12 degree Hybrids: Callway X2 Hot Pro - 16 degree & 23 degree – Pro-Shaft; Callway X2 Hot – 5H & 6H Irons: Titleist 714 AP2 7 thru AW with S300 Dynamic Gold Wedges: Titleist Vokey GW (54 degree), Callaway MackDaddy PM Grind SW (58 degree) Putter: Ping Cadence TR Ketsch Heavy Balls: Titleist Pro V1x & Snell MyTourBall

"Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots but you have to play the ball where it lies."- Bobby Jones

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  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Eagled #18 today!  It's a short par 4, about 290 yds from the Blue Tees.  My drive was right, about even with the front of the green and just inside the cart path (so I didn't need relief). I chipped onto the green and it kept rolling, then went into the hole.

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Luis


Posted

Picked up the 1st Birdie for the year on #16 (usually the easiest to bird for me on my home course) in early Jan....now to get 17 more on the other 17 holes.   Recent cold spell (ice, snow, etc) has completely shut down any play here in eastern NC. 

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Ping G400 SFT 10deg  R flex
Ping G410 3w R flex
Ping G400 3h and 4h R flex
Taylormade SLDR 5i thru PW graphite shaft R flex
Cleveland CBX wedges - 50, 54, 58 or 52, 58 (depending on my mood)
Odyssey Versa or White Steel #5
Srixon Q Star

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Posted

Broke the seal last week with a birdie on 12. Only 17 more holes to go!

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-- Daniel

In my bag: :callaway: Paradym :callaway: Epic Flash 3.5W (16 degrees)

:callaway: Rogue Pro 3-PW :edel: SMS Wedges - V-Grind (48, 54, 58):edel: Putter

 :aimpoint:

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Moderator
Posted

After a couple months of rest, I'm at Streamsong for my first golf in a while.  Red course yesterday, 1 birdie, Blue today with one more, but I'm definitely jumping in at the deep end.  

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Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

I have only played one round and birdied both of the par threes on the front nine. I have never played a game like this, new here. Excited to join 

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Posted

Knocked out my first Eagle of the season this past Wednesday. 3W from 200 yds out in the cold (for us) and windy conditions.

image.thumb.jpeg.627a4c3f26a2a153eba260210b17b3cd.jpeg

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Jim Morgan

Driver: :callaway: Paradym 10.5 deg Reg
Woods: 3W :callaway: Epic Flash 15 deg, Heavenwood:callaway:GBB 20 deg
3 Hybrid: :callaway:  Epic Flash 21 deg, 5 Hybird: :callaway: Apex 24 deg
Irons: :ping: G425 Graphite 6-SW, Wedges: :ping: Glide 58 deg
Putter:   :tmade: ZT Broomstick :aimpoint: Express
 :titleist: golf bag, Pinned RF

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Posted

First round of 2026. No birdies and a very pedestrian 86. Maybe I should have hit a few balls over the past 100 days. Next year!

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Brian Kuehn

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Posted

Played three and a half rounds in England last week. I will not be playing more than maybe 4 rounds on any one course. Probably only about 20 rounds all year and between 4 and 8 of those will be alternate shot, so don't really count. Off to a pretty good start though. Three and a half rounds gave me 5 birdies and an eagle (with two of those birdies being on the same hole number). 

  • Like 1
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Posted

I did get a birdie in my round the other day! downwind and downhill par five I had a wedge in after a great drive. 

 

But according to usga my rounds dont count at this time of year in colorado. bummer there

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  • Moderator
Posted
21 hours ago, MentalityJohn said:

But according to usga my rounds dont count at this time of year in colorado. bummer there

That's a decision made by the Colorado Golf Association, the USGA just administers the handicap system.  Still, your birdie counts for THIS purpose, well done!  :banana:

  • Like 1

Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

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Posted
45 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

That's a decision made by the Colorado Golf Association, the USGA just administers the handicap system.  Still, your birdie counts for THIS purpose, well done!  :banana:

It also counts in my heart! Thank you

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted (edited)
On 2/27/2026 at 8:11 AM, coachjimsc said:

Knocked out my first Eagle of the season this past Wednesday. 3W from 200 yds out in the cold (for us) and windy conditions.

image.thumb.jpeg.627a4c3f26a2a153eba260210b17b3cd.jpeg

Got my first eagle of the year as well, our 17th hole, holed out from 105 Yards.

Edited by jsgolfer
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-Jerry

Driver: Titleist 913 D3 (9.5 degree) – Aldila RIP 60-2.9-Stiff; Callaway Mini-Driver Kura Kage 60g shaft - 12 degree Hybrids: Callway X2 Hot Pro - 16 degree & 23 degree – Pro-Shaft; Callway X2 Hot – 5H & 6H Irons: Titleist 714 AP2 7 thru AW with S300 Dynamic Gold Wedges: Titleist Vokey GW (54 degree), Callaway MackDaddy PM Grind SW (58 degree) Putter: Ping Cadence TR Ketsch Heavy Balls: Titleist Pro V1x & Snell MyTourBall

"Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots but you have to play the ball where it lies."- Bobby Jones

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Posted

I shot my best ever round of 3 over 75 the other day, 5 birdies a couple double bogeys and four bogeys. Crazy wild round honestly but I ended birdie birdie and chipped in at the last! 


Posted

I held off posting to this because I wasn't sure what my home course for 2026 was going to be.  There are two courses, which I'll call A and B, that could be candidates.  My friend who is able to get me tee times at A is moving in a few months to where I won't be able to play A anywhere near as often.  That's too bad, both because my friend is moving away and also because I like the course (it's pretty much the only well-maintained and reasonably-priced course in a short drive from me, plus hanging out with my friend).  B is much further, I used to live near there, and while I kept club membership, I haven't played in club events and it's hard to get a tee time, plus it's an hour drive away.  I'm going to get back into club events soon so maybe that re-becomes my home course in more than just name. 

I'll track my BB for those two courses separately as well, and if one becomes the clear home course, I'll make it the home course (and remove it from the away composite).

In any case, I've had far more birdies (5, but one hole repeated) this year in 5 rounds than I anticipated, especially since I don't fire at flags.  These are, so far:

* February 15, Navy GC, birdied holes 2 and 5.  What a fun opening that day was:  par birdie triple par birdie.   Both birdies were the result of a forward pin where I was aiming well past it, a habit I picked up from Erik + Mike's notes from a recent Newport Cup, and hit the shot poorly, leading to it coming up short... right at the pin.  

* March 15, same course, hole 9, a par-3.  Pin was right in the middle of the green, I hit at the middle of the green, and wouldn't you know it?  I sank a 6' putt for birdie.

* March 16, same course;  birdied hole 5 again and managed to also birdie hole 18 (also a forward pin, also aimed a little past it, also didn't catch it perfect and ended up with a 6' birdie putt that I made).  That was a great day, 11 GIR including 9 in a row (holes 4 through 12 inclusive, plus hitting the greenside fringe in regulation on 13).

-- Michael | My swing! 

"You think you're Jim Furyk. That's why your phone is never charged." - message from my mother

Driver:  Titleist 915D2.  4-wood:  Titleist 917F2.  Titleist TS2 19 degree hybrid.  Another hybrid in here too.  Irons 5-U, Ping G400.  Wedges negotiable (currently 54 degree Cleveland, 58 degree Titleist) Edel putter. 

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  • Posts

    • That wine list is wild. The d'Yquem is only about $600 a bottle (at a liquor store you're lucky enough to find it in). The rest are 2-3 times that much. 
    • I held off posting to this because I wasn't sure what my home course for 2026 was going to be.  There are two courses, which I'll call A and B, that could be candidates.  My friend who is able to get me tee times at A is moving in a few months to where I won't be able to play A anywhere near as often.  That's too bad, both because my friend is moving away and also because I like the course (it's pretty much the only well-maintained and reasonably-priced course in a short drive from me, plus hanging out with my friend).  B is much further, I used to live near there, and while I kept club membership, I haven't played in club events and it's hard to get a tee time, plus it's an hour drive away.  I'm going to get back into club events soon so maybe that re-becomes my home course in more than just name.  I'll track my BB for those two courses separately as well, and if one becomes the clear home course, I'll make it the home course (and remove it from the away composite). In any case, I've had far more birdies (5, but one hole repeated) this year in 5 rounds than I anticipated, especially since I don't fire at flags.  These are, so far: * February 15, Navy GC, birdied holes 2 and 5.  What a fun opening that day was:  par birdie triple par birdie.   Both birdies were the result of a forward pin where I was aiming well past it, a habit I picked up from Erik + Mike's notes from a recent Newport Cup, and hit the shot poorly, leading to it coming up short... right at the pin.   * March 15, same course, hole 9, a par-3.  Pin was right in the middle of the green, I hit at the middle of the green, and wouldn't you know it?  I sank a 6' putt for birdie. * March 16, same course;  birdied hole 5 again and managed to also birdie hole 18 (also a forward pin, also aimed a little past it, also didn't catch it perfect and ended up with a 6' birdie putt that I made).  That was a great day, 11 GIR including 9 in a row (holes 4 through 12 inclusive, plus hitting the greenside fringe in regulation on 13).
    • interesting your comments about quail ridge, I've e driven past it dozens of times, might have to try it some day.  you'll love Southern Pines, the greens are crazy, the renovations are good, and things just keep improving there.
    • I shot my best ever round of 3 over 75 the other day, 5 birdies a couple double bogeys and four bogeys. Crazy wild round honestly but I ended birdie birdie and chipped in at the last! 
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