Best rounds that leave a sour taste

[trackster]

I have shot sub 40 on the front nine at my home course only two times.  I have been striving to get that elusive even par 35.  I thought I had a shot today despite 30 mph winds.

Hole 1:  390 yard par 4

This hole was dead into the wind.  I had a bit of a wait on the tee and once I finally hit, I hit a pretty solid drive.  A gentleman rolls up in a cart and asks to play in since I was a solo.  I usually play my rounds solo or with one of my friends so this was a change of pace.  My second shot was left of the green.  I chipped on and two putted.    +1

Hole 2: 300 yard par 4

I hit a nice six iron to the middle of the fairway and followed that up with sticking a gap wedge 2 feet from the hole.  I proceeded to push the birdie putt and had to settle for par.    +1

Hole 3: 390 yard par 4

Hole three finally turns around so we had a nice tail wind.  I hit a nice drive with the wind that rolled to about 110 to go.  I pushed a gap wedge right of the green and proceeded to chip to a foot and par.   +1

Hole 4:   400 yard par 4

This hole plays very long and was into the wind.  I hit a nice drive and a 7 iron just right of the green.  I chipped to within a foot and got a par.  +1

Hole 5: 470 yard par 5

This hole was with the wind.  I hit my best drive of the day, which left me with 170 to go.  On the way to our drives the gentleman's cart ran out of gas.  We pushed it over to a secluded area and he continued walking.  I hit my second shot just over the green.  I chipped to 2 feet and of course had my birdie putt lip out.  +1

Hole 6:  350 yard par 4

I again split the fairway with a nice drive.  I chucked a gap wedge just short of the green.  I chipped to within a foot.  Again I missed a very short putt.  +2

Hole 7:  180 yard par 3

The gentleman left after the 6th hole because he was going to go back and get gas for his cart before it got too late.  I proceeded to top a 7 iron but the resulting grass burner rolled up to within 20 yards of the green.  I left my first chip well short.  My third shot left me with about a 6 or 7 foot putt.  I surprisingly made this.  +3

Hole 8: 160 yard par 3

This is were the story gets frustrating.  I decided to use an 8 iron despite the heavy tail wind.  As soon as I hit my shot and tried to track the ball I got an eye full of sun.  I did not see the ball at all.  I proceeded to walk up to the green and search the surrounding rough.  After a reasonable amount of time I gave up and walked back to the tee to hit my third.  I struck a nice 9 iron to within 10 feet and two putted.  +5

Hole 9: 350 yard par 3

The wind had picked up to its strongest by now.  I sliced my drive into the wind and was left with a long second shot.  I hit a descent six iron that got a great bounce off a cart path and bounced up into the rough next to the green.  I chipped to about 5 feet and took a little bit of the nerve off by sinking the putt.  +5    40

I missed three putts of 2 feet and under and had to take a lost ball.  Despite this being my best 9 so far this year its always frustrating to have a few blunders ruin it.  Ive got a 2-man scramble tomorrow so hopefully I can keep up the nice driving.