Fun Day

[Fourputt]

Yesterday was one of the most fun days I've had in years on the golf course.  This year I rejoined the Foothills Men's Club (public course) that I was a member of from 1989 through 2011.   We were out of the country for 2½ years, then moved back to Colorado, but 150 miles from the course, so I didn't consider getting back in the club last year, what with getting settled into the new house and all.  I missed the competition and the good friends I'd made through the years, so I decided that the 2+ hour drive was worth it to me again.  

Yesterday was the first tournament of the year, a 5 man scramble that we always start the season with as a mixer for newer members and to shake the rust off of our games.  Due to lack of play, my game had gone downhill during the last 4 years, so I was the "D" player on the team.  However, as it turned out I was a major contributor to our scoring success.  

The rules for this comp are that "A", "B", and "C" players play the Blue tees, and "D" and "E" players play the white.  You must use each player's tee shot once on each 9 holes, so that only gives a team 4 holes on each side with no restrictions.  

The day started good with a great tee shot from Player A, but what looked like a great approach wound up being 25 feet short when we got to the green.  The first player hit his putt and I got a read from that and drained mine for our first birdie.  We only ended up making 4 birdies on the front 9, but that included my second putt from long range on the 9th hole.  And we salvaged a par on the par 3 8th hole where we selected Player E's tee shot even though it was well off the green (we didn't want to take a chance on him hitting crooked on 9, where there were trees on both sides of the fairway).  On 10 we also used Player E's drive, and I hit a 7 wood to about 5 feet, for birdie #2 in a row.  11 was another bird, as was 13 (another long putt by me).  I finished by holing another 25 foot birdie putt on 18, and I putted last, so it was our last chance with all the pressure on me.

We made 7 birdies on the back 9, 6 of which were my putts, plus that approach shot on 10.  I drained a good 100 feet worth of putts overall, and add to that a couple of really good approach shots, I felt great about my contribution as the "D" player.  We posted a 61, which looks like it will take 5th place out of 26 teams.  58 is low, with a 59 and 2 60's.

As a qualifier, this scramble is not like the ones that draw all of the sandbaggers and complaints on the forum.  Teams are computer matched with the GHIN software, so there is no stacking and no cheating.  

All in all, a fun time and a great start to my return to competition after a 4 year layoff. 

[boogielicious]

2 hours ago, Fourputt said:

Yesterday was one of the most fun days I've had in years on the golf course.  This year I rejoined the Foothills Men's Club (public course) that I was a member of from 1989 through 2011.   We were out of the country for 2½ years, then moved back to Colorado, but 150 miles from the course, so I didn't consider getting back in the club last year, what with getting settled into the new house and all.  I missed the competition and the good friends I'd made through the years, so I decided that the 2+ hour drive was worth it to me again.  

Yesterday was the first tournament of the year, a 5 man scramble that we always start the season with as a mixer for newer members and to shake the rust off of our games.  Due to lack of play, my game had gone downhill during the last 4 years, so I was the "D" player on the team.  However, as it turned out I was a major contributor to our scoring success.  

The rules for this comp are that "A", "B", and "C" players play the Blue tees, and "D" and "E" players play the white.  You must use each player's tee shot once on each 9 holes, so that only gives a team 4 holes on each side with no restrictions.  

The day started good with a great tee shot from Player A, but what looked like a great approach wound up being 25 feet short when we got to the green.  The first player hit his putt and I got a read from that and drained mine for our first birdie.  We only ended up making 4 birdies on the front 9, but that included my second putt from long range on the 9th hole.  And we salvaged a par on the par 3 8th hole where we selected Player E's tee shot even though it was well off the green (we didn't want to take a chance on him hitting crooked on 9, where there were trees on both sides of the fairway).  On 10 we also used Player E's drive, and I hit a 7 wood to about 5 feet, for birdie #2 in a row.  11 was another bird, as was 13 (another long putt by me).  I finished by holing another 25 foot birdie putt on 18, and I putted last, so it was our last chance with all the pressure on me.

We made 7 birdies on the back 9, 6 of which were my putts, plus that approach shot on 10.  I drained a good 100 feet worth of putts overall, and add to that a couple of really good approach shots, I felt great about my contribution as the "D" player.  We posted a 61, which looks like it will take 5th place out of 26 teams.  58 is low, with a 59 and 2 60's.

As a qualifier, this scramble is not like the ones that draw all of the sandbaggers and complaints on the forum.  Teams are computer matched with the GHIN software, so there is no stacking and no cheating.  

All in all, a fun time and a great start to my return to competition after a 4 year layoff. 

I'm glad you had fun. 

[JonMA1]

Good to hear @Fourputt.