Round #2 (3/25/10)

[Rexx]

A group from work decided to go out today. It'll be the last good weather day for a while (rain and chillier for the next week). We got a deal to play Stonewall Golf Club for $39. This is a course that normally costs $100+ on the weekend in season. It's only the second time playing the course (last year I shot 80... somehow). The course was in very good shape. The tee boxes and fairways were nice and the greens were slightly pitted, but lightning quick. Wow, were they ever quick. That has to be close to professional level quick. As I found out, if you're in the wrong spot for chipping, you can't get any closer than 15 feet. Also, this is a very well-bunkered course. I'm sure there were over 100 bunkers on the course (probably more like 150). They especially like fairway bunkers, which isn't exactly my cup of tea if I get in them.

Anyways, the weather was 65-70 degrees, party sunny/mostly cloudy, and the wind was initially 10-15 mph. That was the front 9, where I played decent. It was not as good a ball striking round as the previous, but there were certainly some good shots. The main culprit was the driver (which is usually one of my better clubs). I'd hit a great drive, followed by a "WTF was that?" drive on the next hole. Basically, if I hit a good drive, I got a par. If I didn't, I got a bogey. That was the front 9. Then, when we made the turn, the wind picked up. It was a constant 15-20 with gusts of 25-30 mph. Now, it became more about survival. I bogied 7 straight to start the back, then finished with 2 pars.

Here's the final stats:

FIR: 4/7 (front) + 4/7 (back) = 8/14
GIR: 5/9 (front) + 2/9 (back) = 7/18
Scrambling: 1/5 (front) + 1/6 (back) = 2/11 (includes sand saves)
Sand Saves: 1/1 (front) + 0/2 (back) = 1/3
3-putts = 1
1 birdie, 12 bogies, 6 pars
+4 on front, +7 on back = +11 = 83 (par 72)
Course Rating/Slope: 71.9/140
Calculated Handicap = 8.6

Obviously my scrambling is still bad. BUT, I actually chipped very well from lots of difficult positions. In fact, it was some of my best all-around chipping I can remember. I just couldn't make the 4-6 foot putts for par. Oh well... that's my game in a nutshell anyways. That's why I like to hit more greens... then I don't have to worry about it. Overall, a fun day and I can't wait to play that course again. I think I can take it into the 70s if the wind isn't so strong.