Willowhill 5-15-2010

[Dave H]

Played at Willowhill GC today. Willowhill is a fun 9 hole course. It's built on an old landfill in Northfield, so it's on a big hill and you get great views of the surrounding area plus a great view of downtown Chicago. I like the course too, it's only about 2900 yds from the blue but it's a links style so going in the rough can be a real problem. Overall, things were working really well today. I hit the driver the best I've hit it all year, and my irons were the best I've been all year too. Putting was ok, and short game left a lot to be desired. Recap:

Hole 1 377Yd Par 4: Had an awkward start today. 2 singles and a 2-some showed up at the same time (I was one of the singles) and the starter wanted to put us all together but the 2-some made a big deal out of playing on their own. Never really experienced that before. Typically, around here you just play with who they put you with. Often I'm a single so I don't really care. Anyways, me and the other single teed off before the two-some and I striped my drive right down the middle about 240 yards. I've pretty much decided that I need to play the driver for a power fade since that's whats working now. With 135 -140 left I tried to hit an easy 9 iron but I hit it fat and came up 5 yards short in the thick stuff. I skulled my chip and it rolled all the way across and just off the fringe. I opted not to putt it because of the lie, and my second chip was much better contact but came up about 12 feet short. My putt was right on line but came up 1 foot short, so I tapped in for a 6.

Hole 2 338Yd Par 4: Feeling confident with my driver I pulled it out on this hole but I sliced a bit, and ended up just in the right rough with about 120yards. The rough was heavy so I used a 9 and put it on the green - first GIR in about 3 rounds!! - but the pin was back left and I was front right, about 60 feet away. My putt was a good distance, but it didn't break as much to the right as I thought it was going to and I had about 6ft left for par. I sank the putt and had my first par of the day.

Hole 3 167Yd Par 3: The tee was on an elevated tee box today and I decided to club down because the pin was at the front but that was a bad decision as I came up 10 yards short of the pin. I chipped on and the distance was good this time, but unfortunately I can't seem to hit it at the pin lately and I left myself 12 feet for the putt. Had a pretty good left to right break and I left it low and had to tap in for the bogey 4.

Hole 4 341Yd Par 4: This hole is cool because it's a severe dogleg left and it's super risky to cut the corner as the corner and left front of the green are protected by bunkers. I opted for the smart shot and hit 4h to the middle of the fairway. At least, that's the way I planned it. Unfortunately I inexplicably topped my tee shot and barely made it past the white tees. Then I was basically left with the same decision that I had from the tee. I decided to skip the heroics and just try to get a shot to the best spot on the fairway. Mission accomplished there and I was left with 140 yards from the middle of the fairway. Easy 9i...except that I topped it 20 yards left into the rough. Used my 52 wedge from there but it hit the front of the green and bounced back and to the left. I was able to putt from there but but I played this one pretty badly and left myself 14ft for a 6. Fortunately I put it right in the heart of the cup, feeling more confident with the putter each round.

Hole 5 145Yd Par 3: Hole today was back left on a severely sloped green with a bunker in front. I used an 8i but I pulled it and was just outside of the bunker to the left of the green. I had to chip over the corner of the bunker well to the left of the pin and let it release down to the hole. I played exactly the shot I wanted which was cool, but the ball didn't release as much as I thought and I was 12 feet short above the hole. I just missed the putt and tapped in for a 4.

Hole 6 371Yd Par 4: Sliced my drive again and was in between two mounds in some heavy rough about 170 away. Because of the weird lie and the rough I used a 6i just hoping to knock it into the fairway and leave myself a decent approach. I got more rough than ball and barely made it over the mound and landed in a fairway bunker. I used a 9i and landed pin high 1 ft in the rough. I chipped on and the chip wasn't bad but again I couldn't aim and was left with 8 feet. I wussed out on my putt big time and had to 2 putt for another 6.

Hole 7 482Yd Par 5: Slight dogleg right and because of the mounds between this hole and the 6th hole the tee shot is a bit blind. I hit a great drive but I aimed a little too far left and the ball went very straight. I ended up in the left rough but had a decent lie. I popped up my 4h and pulled it a bit (not a good shot) but I got luck and landed in "good rough" between two mounds. I used my 8i and put the ball on the green about 30 feet from the pin. My second GIR today. I nearly sunk the long putt for a birdie but had to take the par which of course I was happy to do. The hunt continues for the elusive birdie...

Hole 8 188Yd Par 3: I used my 6i since the tee was up about 5 yards and we had the mild breeze at our backs. I actually hit my most pure shot of the day and it looked good all the way until it drifted left and got an unlucky bounce into the greenside bunker. Have I mentioned that I hate sand? I completely skulled my shot but I got lucky and the ball bounced out of the bunker and I had 16 feet left for par. It was a good putt but just missed the hole. I made the comeback for a 4. Par 3s today +3

Hole 9 493Yd Par 5: Far and away my best drive of the day. I aimed just up the left side and the ball landed middle of the fairway. I don't have GPS but I'm confident I got 250 out of that one. I had a great lie and while waiting for the group ahead I went back and forth between my 3h and 3w. In the end I chickened out on the 3w as I don't feel that confident with it from the deck. I hit a great 3h but I push-faded it and it came down in between 2 large mounds 85yds from the green. The pin was back right and protected by 2 bunkers. I decided to be bold and took a full swing with my 52 wedge and hit the shot of the day. the ball landed softly on the green and only 8 feet away from the pin. My third GIR and best opportunity for a birdie yet. I hit a good putt but a little firm and it lipped out. Bummer. I took the par happily though.

Summary:

Score - +9 44
FIR - 2/6
GIR - 3
Putts - 17

Today felt like the kind of day that would have gotten me that first birdie if I had 9 more holes to play. Oh well. Feeling good about next weekend - Spring Start at Bartlett Hills golf course.