9 holes - April 14th

[anthony]

I played 9 at Pleasant Valley today. The front 9. This is my home course I suppose since it's 2 miles from home. It's probably the toughest course I play regularly. Mainly, because of the fast greens. A few fairways are semi-tight and the rough can get quite thick in some spots. It's easily the toughest to walk around here. Some serious hills.

Anyways. I shot a 49 today, which is unfortunately pretty average for me here (I plan on changing that this year). They did airrate the greens though, which through a couple shots off. So, I could have shot a couple less possibly. I've only been playing this course since it went public last summer. I struck good iron shots all day and my game within 100 yds was great. All that short game practice is paying off. My drives were horrible. Which is disappointing, because I was hitting wonderful drives at the range 2 days ago. I've been working on my tempo and developing a pre-shot routine and it's been great for my confidence in shots. I don't think I hit a straight drive today though. I was coming over the top and couldn't stop it.

Anyways, here's a run down of the day.

Hole 1: A Par 5 with one of the widest fairways on the course. The fairways are lined with trees though (as is the entire course) and there is a strategically placed tree mid way up the left side. I pushed the drive right and it was partially behind a tree in the rough. I didn't have a straight shot to the green, so I had to hit it left of the green. Unfortunately, I absolutely striped my 4 hybrid and hit it in the trees to the left of the green. When I got up there, it was sitting up with no trees or branches in the way. I pitched up to the green with 56. I 3 putted for a bogey.

Hole 2: A 160 yd par 3 with sand traps on the front right and left side plus very little landing area long. This is a 7 iron for me generally. I have to take a little bit off it though because I've flown the green twice this year. It's a nice smooth 90% 7 iron which I usually play pretty well. I chunked it though today and came up about 20 yds short. I then proceeded to skull my chip into the leaves above the green. From there I had a severly down hill chip which went off the green again. I chipped it up and 2 putted for a 6. Ugh.

Hole 3: This hole is rated #2 ( I think it should be #1) on the course and is a split level fairway that goes out 200yds at a maximum and is 90 degrees left at that point as there are tall trees at the end that prevent you from going straight. It goes down about 200 ft I guess and anything more than a 9 iron will put you in the next fairway or behind trees. I used to hit a 5 or my 5 hybrid, but I've switched to my 6 iron off the tee because I can hit my 6 iron as my second shot at a 45 degree angle and get to within 75 yds on my 3rd shot. You really have to hit a good shot here because the fairway is super tight. Left is OB and right is a hill that is very tough to hit down.

Anyways, I hit my six and pulled it a bit. It bounced off the cart path and went in the sticks to the left. I found the ball, but I couldn't set up to hit it. I took a drop and hit my 6 iron to about 75 yds. I debated between my gap (52) and my sand wedge (56). I ended up going with a 70% gw and hit it to about 2 feet off the green. Just for giggles I took a full swing with my sand wedge and shanked it. I just don't feel comfortable hitting that club full. I chipped up and 2 putted for a 7 (double bogey.

Hole 4: Par 4 that curves left a bit. I hit driver and sliced the crap out of it. Found my ball in the next fairway and thought I was about 150-155 or so and selected my 8 iron. I hit a very clean shot and it hit the green but was a little long and rolled off on to the first cut just pass the fringe. I chipped and 2 putted for a bogey

Hole 5: Par 4 that curves right. The creek is to the left and a row of trees to the right. Well, I sliced it again (surprise surprise) into the previous fairway. I had about a 9 iron left and hit a good shot that pulled a bit and I was off the green. I hit a nice pitch shot to 10 feet. Somehow I managed to 3 put for a 6. I'm gonna blame it on the freshley airrated greens. The ball was bouncing all over the place.

Hole 6: This is a fairly long dog leg left par 4 with a creek to the left and woods and long rough to the right. Usually right is pretty safe because the fairway really opens up and is okay for a slice. Well, either I was aligned wrong or pushed it right but, I really got ahold of this one and made it to the woods on the right. It barely went in so I thought it might have popped out, but I had to take a drop and had a pitching wedge left. This green is elevated and sloped from back to front and is pretty narrow. I hit my wedge just right and it bounced off the side of the elevated green. I pitched my 56 up and it rolled right off. I pitched it again and it rolled off again. One more pitch and it barely stuck on the fringe. So frustrated! I ended up with a 7 here after sinking a long putt. I need to play this green smarter. It always give me problems.

Hole 7: After a treacherous climb up a mountain after the last hole I arrive at the 175 yd downhill (about 30 degrees in elevation change) par 3. By this time the sun is in my eyes playing this hole. I usually play a full 7 iron here. Although, the last 2 times I played this hole I hit it past the green. I may have to take a little off it. This green slopes severly left to right and front to back. I hit my 7 iron which rolled 15-20 yds past the green. This left me with a very elevated shot back up to the green. I hit a great 56 degree pitch that landed the green. I two putted for 5 (double bogey)

Hole 8: A 500 yd par 5. I sliced the drive and it was a little shorter than average. I was behind a tree that prevented me from going straight so I had to aim left of the green. I didn't plan on landing it, so no big deal. I pulled out my 4 hybrid and hit what felt like a solid shot. The sun was directly in my eyes so I had no idea where it went. I walked up to where I thought it went. It was about 10 yds short of the creek and I hit a half gap wedge on to the green. 3 putted for a bogey. Again, the greens were ridiculous to put on.

Hole 9: This is a 200 yd par 3 with 2 sand traps to the left and out of bounds with a fence 20 yds right. Coming up short is the best miss here. My 4 hybrid is perfect for this hole. I hit a great shot to about 8 feet and 3 PUTTED!! Again, the greens were like ping pong with my ball.

Pros: Iron striking and most of my chips and pitches were very encouraging. I didn't hover over any balls today. I set up and swung.

Cons: Driver was ridiculous. I added 50 yds to every second shot due to that slice. Luckily my irons were in check. I was coming over the top and possibly rushing the tempo with my driver. I was hitting it so well at the range 2 days ago and my last 2 rounds were good also, so I'm confident I can fix it.