first round of the year....

[oregongolfguy]

Finally winter was over and I played my first round on a new course that I joined the men's club on. Never played the course before and I couldn't ask for better conditions. Substained winds over 20mph and rain.....oh well, I can't choose the weather. Plus side was the course was not very busy. This was also going to be my first posted round ...ever. well at least I could use the weather as a built in excuse. I'm not gonna go hole by hole. I will say I am playing regular men's tee's. 6429 yds 71.1/126 naturally their were alot of ups and downs through the round. Overall I was very pleased with how I hit driver. Solid contact, directional control pretty good. No big misses. I hit a couple straight into the wind that didn't clear bunkers but will be fine in more normal playing positions. No 3 putts so I was happy there. And my speed was pretty good overall. The greens are fairly big. No huge slopes but lots of fairly subtle humps and bumps. I suspect that my gir and ngir are gonna naturally go up due to the size of the greens but more long lag putts and I hit those well today. I got onto the green from green side bunkers every time. And that will be important as their are a zillion bunkers on the course. Luckily the sand is as good as any I've ever seen. My pitching was pretty good. Tight and wet is not the easiest. And I'm not all the way there working on the pitching technique shown here but good progress......I hit a couple really solid shots with long irons into greens. And the bad.....I couldn't hit a short iron or wedge full swing if my life depended on it. A whole bunch of half shanks, and ground balls....it was embarrassing. After I got home I did some slow swings and figured out I was rotating the club open and leaving it waaaayyyy open through the ball. And losing spine angle. And probably everything else that you could possibly do wrong. Sigh. I'm gonna head out tomorrow and play again...in the rain...but the wind is supposed to be down at least. A little extra range time with the short clubs before I tee off. Oh yeah. 85. Not horrible considering new course and weather conditions. But as well as I drove the ball and putted I feel that it was pretty wasted. On the plus I put myself in alot of good positions. I took alot of notes so I will better know the lines to take off the tee. And I think I can get the short irons in better shape fairly quickly. I've been striping it on the range the last couple weeks so I am not horribly worried.

[drifterdon]

I've been playing all winter here when I can. I can't wait for the humidity to drop some and for it to warm up so good strikes get some more distance to them. Playing in the ran isn't so bad, not ideal by any means but here in the Northwest you just have to dress for it. Sounds like a pretty good first outing though.

[oregongolfguy]

Yeah. Living in spokane wa now. Used to be in bend or. Rain is not something I'm used to.

[drifterdon]

You certainly would have a hard time playing in Spokane during the winter.

I am sure thankful we don't get any measurable white stuff over here by Seattle.

[jsgolfer]

  drifterdon said:

You certainly would have a hard time playing in Spokane during the winter.

I am sure thankful we don't get any measurable white stuff over here by Seattle.

My Aunt lives in Spokane.

[9424tm]

  drifterdon said:

You certainly would have a hard time playing in Spokane during the winter. I am sure thankful we don't get any measurable white stuff over here by Seattle.

Not this year! I live in Spokane and played every month this winter for the first time ever. 52 degrees on December 23rd. Totally crazy. It's a great year to be a golfer in Spokane Wa.

[9424tm]

  oregongolfguy said:

Finally winter was over and I played my first round on a new course that I joined the men's club on. Never played the course before and I couldn't ask for better conditions. Substained winds over 20mph and rain.....oh well, I can't choose the weather. Plus side was the course was not very busy. This was also going to be my first posted round ...ever. well at least I could use the weather as a built in excuse. I'm not gonna go hole by hole. I will say I am playing regular men's tee's. 6429 yds 71.1/126 naturally their were alot of ups and downs through the round. Overall I was very pleased with how I hit driver. Solid contact, directional control pretty good. No big misses. I hit a couple straight into the wind that didn't clear bunkers but will be fine in more normal playing positions. No 3 putts so I was happy there. And my speed was pretty good overall. The greens are fairly big. No huge slopes but lots of fairly subtle humps and bumps. I suspect that my gir and ngir are gonna naturally go up due to the size of the greens but more long lag putts and I hit those well today. I got onto the green from green side bunkers every time. And that will be important as their are a zillion bunkers on the course. Luckily the sand is as good as any I've ever seen. My pitching was pretty good. Tight and wet is not the easiest. And I'm not all the way there working on the pitching technique shown here but good progress......I hit a couple really solid shots with long irons into greens. And the bad.....I couldn't hit a short iron or wedge full swing if my life depended on it. A whole bunch of half shanks, and ground balls....it was embarrassing. After I got home I did some slow swings and figured out I was rotating the club open and leaving it waaaayyyy open through the ball. And losing spine angle. And probably everything else that you could possibly do wrong. Sigh. I'm gonna head out tomorrow and play again...in the rain...but the wind is supposed to be down at least. A little extra range time with the short clubs before I tee off. Oh yeah. 85. Not horrible considering new course and weather conditions. But as well as I drove the ball and putted I feel that it was pretty wasted. On the plus I put myself in alot of good positions. I took alot of notes so I will better know the lines to take off the tee. And I think I can get the short irons in better shape fairly quickly. I've been striping it on the range the last couple weeks so I am not horribly worried.

What course did you play?

[oregongolfguy]

Meadowood. I joined the meadowood/liberty lake men's club. But I plan on enjoying all the courses. I here that all the muni's are pretty nice around here.

[9424tm]

  oregongolfguy said:

Meadowood. I joined the meadowood/liberty lake men's club. But I plan on enjoying all the courses. I here that all the muni's are pretty nice around here.

Meadowood is a great course. And you heard right, we have fantastic munis for a great price. The city and county cards are $35 a piece but they knock off $5 per round. It's a good deal. You definitely need to try Hangman and Indian Canyon. They are definitely my 2 favorite courses in the area. And I'm sure you've heard about the Circling Raven already. Around $100 a round but there are always deals to be found and it's by far the greatest course in the area. It's nice to have a fellow Sand Trapper in the area! Welcome!