dagolfer18

I don’t know what clicked, but I’m glad I played 9 after school today. Teed it up about 4:45: 1) 5W, 6I to right of green, chip in for bird 2) Driver to right rough, PW short, up-and-down for par 3) 9I to green, two-putt for par 4) 3W, 4H, 9I to green, two-putt for par 5) 5W to left rough, PW over green, chip on, two-putt for bogey 6) Driver to right trees, 7I punch, PW short, chip up, two-putt for double 7) 8I to green, two-putt for par 8 ) 4H hook, PW punch-out, up-and-down from 120 for par 9) 3W to right rough, 4H up fairway, GW onto front of green, two-putt for par TOTALS Course: Par 36, 2910 yards Score: 38 (+2) FIR: 2/7 GIR: 3/9 Putts: 14 I shot a 40 from the blues at this same course back in May. Guess the record didn’t stand for too long.😁 Seriously though, as a sophomore in high school AND an 18 HCP at that, I’m thrilled with a 38.

Alright, so this was just yesterday, more like best hole of the week: I was playing at a new course with my dad, grandpa and brother, and already with one birdie on the 14th, and on the par-5 18th, 500 yards, I hit a less-than-ideal drive and am left with over 300 yards, in the rough. I pop my second up about 120, leaving me about 180 into the green, I then hit a low hybrid that miraculously held on the lightning-fast greens, 7 feet behind the pin. Made the putt for birdie and a 95 on the day. Didn’t play my best apart from the two birds, but had that to be proud of.

I can think of 3, in order from least to most embarrassing: 1) I was playing with my usual foursome of my dad, brother, grandpa and me. I was in the greenside bunker on 18, caught way too much ball and sent it 25 yards over the green. I then made a triple. 2) On 14, I was playing with one of my friends who teases me whenever I hit a bad shot. My second shot was with a 5W, and I take a big swing at the ball and miss it completely. 3) My dad and I were playing together and on the par-3 third, about 150 yards, I shank a 7I right near the 8th green, which was 40 yards to the right of the tee. With this game, I’m sure y’all have had those kinds of moments.

Okay, so most of the people I’ve joined or who have joined me on the golf course are really nice and are a joy to play with. But there was one person who I remember quite clearly who was just plain rude. I was playing as a walking single through the 10th hole, and teeing up on 11, a riding single hit down to the 10th green. He pulled up and I offered to let him play with me, which he accepted. First, on 11 green, he picks up a 2ft putt. Being that I’m on our school team and I never do gimmes, I said “That’s not good.” He replied, “What?! You’re supposed to give me that!” He was ticked off at me for the next few holes. Then we got to 16, and there was a line of storm clouds in the distance, probably an hour or so away. But he wanted to get home as quickly as possible, so he rushed his shots and would let let me take my time on mine, ignorant of the fact that I was getting really tired. By the time we got to 18, I was exhausted after being rushed around the last three holes.

This shot was actually from a few weeks ago: my dad, grandpa, brother and I were playing a course at the beach, called North Shore. After two shots on the par-4 7th I was in the bunker in front of the green. I decided to pick the ball instead of blast it, because it was sitting about 6 inches below my feet. Started dead on line with the pin, but checked up two rolls short of dropping. Ended up tapping in for a par, the best par I’ve ever made, and my score was an 89, first time breaking 90. I just was in the zone that day.

I actually have three nemesis holes at my home club: Holes 13-15 No. 13: Par 4, 420 from whites. This hole starts our version of Amen Corner. A tricky driving hole, fairway about 30 yards wide. Downhill till the 200 yd marker, then uphill the rest of the way. Two bunkers short right of the green. No. 1 handicap hole. No. 14: Par 4, 355 from whites. Dogleg right, you can cut off as much of the hole as you dare, but if you fail, there’s OB to catch your ball. The green is sort of like 17 at St Andrews. When I play the blues, it plays like 395 is is a very different hole. Can’t cut the corner from back there. No. 15, Par 4, 370 from whites. This is the most difficult hole on the course, in my opinion. Downhill tee shot, then you will most likely have a downhill lie for your second. To add a bit of pressure, there is a small pond about 100 yds from the green that has caught quite a few of my balls. Only parred this hole once. If I can get through these three holes in +3 or +4, I feel like I’ve done good.

Today I played a short but tricky course about 10 mins from home. Following up a chip in for bogey on the first, I hit 5W to the right side of the fairway on the second, then a beautiful 9I to two feet and made the putt. One of the best iron shots I’ve hit in a while.