First Par! And First near-Birdie! :-)

[mellojoe]

A great day yesterday. Went out and played evening golf with a customer / friend. We started off pretty poor, but then it turned into a GREAT day.

I'm a beginner, mind you, and I'm averaging Double-Bogey per hole, with several triples and a handful of single Bogey's. Single-bogey is a good hole for me, especially on the Par 5's.

We were playing in the evening, so after hole 6, we jumped to hole 15 to come back to the clubhouse for the finish.

Kingswood Golf Course in Bella Vista, Arkansas, on 08-14-08.

#15 is a Par 4. I was on in 3 with a 1 putt. My very first ever Par. Legitimate par, no gimmie putts, no "preferred lie", no mulligans. Just a solid bit of golf. 3-wood off the tee with the wind at our backs. Landed right on the 100-yard marker. Right next to it. I didn't know you could move them, and almost bent my 7-iron on the follow-through. But, I put it right on the fringe from there. A quick chip with my 8-iron... I guess you call that a bump-and-run using an almost putter-like stroke. That put me within 5 feet, and I putted it out for the Par.

#17 is a Par 5. First shot went right, took a lucky bounce off the cart path, and ended up just off the fairway, a good 275 yards to go. 2nd shot wasn't perfect. I used my old all-metal 5-wood and punched it about 125, leaving nearly a full 150 left to the green. Same club, easy swing. I just wanted to get it close and let it roll. My target is 1-over Par, so I want to be on the green on a Par 5 in 4 strokes. However, I hit it perfect, and she bounced in the short stuff in front of the green, and rolled on. Not only did it roll on, it rolled to within 7 feet. I couldn't believe it. My first legitimate chance for Birdie.

I'll NEVER underestimate the little pressures of sinking a birdie putt ever again. It wasn't overbearing pressure, or crazy nervousness... but it was a little extra thought in the back of my head. Sink it. Sink it. Sink it for Birdie. Well... I didn't. Missed it by a little. Sank the Par Putt.

Too bad I missed the Birdie. But I was ECSTATIC to have such a great hole. GIR on a Par 5? Unheard of for me. A real birdie putt on a Par 5? Insane.

TWO PARS ON THE SAME DAY?!?!? Priceless.

A happy day that I just had to share.

[Smallville]

Congratulations. Pars will start to come easier now that you got the first (two) out of the way!

[Aetsh]

Congrats!! When I got my first one, I was pretty excited too!

My first bird was only a few weeks behind it, so keep working hard!!

[FlopShotArtist]

Congrats! You'll start getting more now!

[lynxer23]

Nice! I got my first par about a week ago. It feels great. I have yet to birdie.

[AlCzervik]

Congrats. This was the first season I've pared holes and it felt great. No birdies yet though.

[Finnstang]

Congrats. This was the first season I've pared holes and it felt great. No birdies yet though.

???

Why is this such a big deal then?

[Sergio77]

Well done MelloJoe!! :)

[TigerCurtis333]

Very good!!! Man it took me a LONG time to hit par.

I have yet to birdie as well. Now that I'm playing regularly for the first time, I'm trying to string together some good shots. I'm very good at saving par with my short game, but I've had trouble putting it all together. But AWESOME job yesterday. Now it's on to birdie!

[mellojoe]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the support. I just wish there was a film crew to capture that stuff when it happens.

OH! And I figured out a trick with my irons. It REALLY helps if you square your face up before you swing. I realized that I wasn't paying attention to exactly where the club face was at set-up and sometimes I would be way closed, causing all kinds of mis-hits. When I took a moment to look at the club, I realized my error. So, take a moment, pay attention, and be sure your club face is square before you do anything.

[ZaPPPa]

Congrats man.. I know the feeling. I got my first par a couple of weeks ago (par3), had my first par4 yesterday and stared a 10' birdie put in the eye on a par5 also a couple of weeks ago (missed short!!!!.. but par-ed).

Makes up for all the blow-up holes, doesn't it?

Next goal: birdie.

[Big_M]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the support. I just wish there was a film crew to capture that stuff when it happens.

Also... don't just square the face by rolling your hands... you MUST regrip the club with the face square, otherwise it will just return to the misaligned position.

Nice work on the pars... birdies are close and pars will pour in.

[Kabal]

Congrats mellojoe! Keep up the great work and the birdies will follow.

[Dub]

Great post.

Your enthusiasm and sucess sums up why we all love the game.

Keep at it....you'll be getting those birdies and "boring" old pars dropping soon enough.