First Round of Season (3/18/10)

[Rexx]

Just completed the first round of the season with my usual 4-some. It was beautiful: sunny, 65-70 degrees, 10-15 mph wind. From the tees we were playing, it's 6600 yards, but probably a little shorter, since a few tees were up a little from standard. However, there was absolutely no roll out there... all the drives plugged or hopped out 6 inches.

Anyways, to the round... I arrived 15 minutes before tee time, but everyone else was already there. In fact, my partner comes driving up to me in the parking lot with the cart and says, "Get in. If we go now, we can have no one in front of us." So, while I was grabbing my shoes and hat, he was grabbing my clubs and throwing them on the cart and off we went to the first hole. I asked about paying, but he had already taken care of it. Yeah, we don't like anything slowing us up. The other two are up at the first tee and as we pull up... *pow*... first tee shot is off. Pleasantries can be saved for later. As I'm getting tees and golf balls out... *pow*... second drive is off. I'm thinking to myself... did I lock the truck? Too late to worry about that now, it's almost my turn. Where's my glove? I know it's here somewh... *pow*... there it is! "Hey, it's your turn... we don't have all day". "Yeah... well... suck it... I'm ready." Grab driver, throw head cover off, put tee in ground, ball on tee, aim in general direction of fairway... oh crap... what was my swing thoughts from 4 months ago? Wider stance... no... narrow stance... bend your knees more... that's too much... swing easy, but hard... turn shoulders or hips... ahhh... F*** IT! Let's do this! *POW* Great drive up the right center... "Nice one!"... "Smoked it!"... "I hate you".

Things calmed down after that. Like I said, pretty wet out there, and my 8-iron into the first hole was chunked to about 10 yards short of green (back pin), an indifferent chip to 10 feet, and a lipped out putt started things off with a bogey and that was the easy hole. But, the round far exceeded expectations. With the wet conditions and consistent 10+ mph wind, I was hoping for mid-80's score. Somehow, I ended up with a 6-over 78 in what was as good a ball-striking round from start to finish that I have ever had. Here's the stats:

FIRs: 10 of 14 (the 4 misses were all within a few yards of the fairway)
GIRs: 11 of 18 (the soft conditions + tricky wind were the cause of most misses... just coming up short... but on-line)
Putts: 35 (1 up-and-down... no 3-putts!!... no birdies... missed 3 and 5 footers + numerous other chances... but lagged great)
Scrambling: 1 for 7
No penalty strokes!
12 pars, 6 bogeys

I see the short game is where I last left it 4 months ago. Really should work on that.... probably requires going to the range... someday. But overall, that was a bit unreal. We were playing Hi-Lo and everyone else was struggling -- especially my partner. I don't think he ever won a hole (even as the Low) and there wasn't a single push on any holes -- very weird. But, we somehow managed to win the front and back (and obviously totals). They said I can no longer play with them... they were joking... I think.

Last year, I probably had 4 of 20+ rounds in the 70s (a fair # of 80-83 scores, though), but it felt good to get one early this year. Maybe it's all the reading of the forums that brought this on...

[Fairway_CY]

Sounds like a real good start to the season. I wish I could shoot like that... I'd be happy with 12 pars in my first THREE rounds. Good stuff... I enjoyed reading it.