October 11th - Round 36

Course - Eisenhower Blue

Playing partner - solo round

After the lackluster round on Saturday, I decided to get up and get my ass out and play again - I needed more torture.

I had made an 8:20 tee time on the Blue course the night before, and got to the course at 7:20 to check in, and warm up.  The cashier said she could move me up - to 8:04, and I said that would be great.
In the back of my mind, I actually thought that waiting an extra 21 minutes might let the air warm up a few degrees more.  Then I realized that was such an stupid idea - and I took the 8:04 slot.

I took some extra time warming up.  Taking it VERY slow, as the air was cooler than Saturday's round.

The one thing about today was the lack of wind.  Saturday's weather had a 10-20 mph winds.  Today, it was calm.  After the warm up, I got to the 1st tee at 7:55.
A twosome was teeing off, and I joined them.
NO WAIT!!!

The pair was George and Shane.  Two very nice guys and two very bad golfers.  They hit the ball a mile, but it was at 45 degree angles.
George's swing was bad.  Over rotating, bending his left elbow around his head.
Shane had a backswing that was short - and fast as lightning.

The place was empty. There was no group in front of us, and no one waiting behind us.

I simply walked up, made the introductions - and teed off.  I drew it off the the left, just off the fairway.

As I walked up the fairway, I realized my first mistake.

I wore my Footjoy Ultralights - NOT WATERPROOF!

By the time I got to my ball, my feet were wet and cold.
It was also brutal trying to track the flight of your ball.  The sun was sitting just over the trees, and the glare was a killer.

My ball was sitting in the deep rough, which was wet and gnarly.  I opted for my 4 Hybrid, which I thought I hit well, but the ball sailed across the fairway - to perch directly behind a tree.
For a moment, I actually considered trying to hit my 9 iron AROUND the tree with a hard draw.

Then I came back to my senses, and I simply pitched out and took my medicine.
Bogey 6 on the first hole.
By this time, the temps had risen to a balmy 50 degrees - but the sun was strong - so I peeled off the vest.

By the 2nd hole, my swing hit that point where it became a simple routine.  It was effortless, and the ball was (BASICALLY) doing what I wanted.
I parred the 2nd hole, and proceeded to finish with a front nine of 41.
I had hit 6 of the 7 fairways (only missing on the first hole).
My only disappointment was how I played the par 3's.  I didn't hit either green and bogey'd both.
(this will get worse on the back nine).
I also was putting well.  This despite the fact that the greens were aerated.

The back nine started off great.  I had a great drive (on the fairway again) leaving me 140 to the flag.  My 8 iron made it to the front of the green, leaving me a 15 foot putt.
As I said earlier, I was putting well.

I drained the putt for a birdie.

After a par on 11, I screwed up the 12th - double bogeying.  My drive was off the fairway on the right, and my 7 iron got caught up in the grass.  Amazing how staying on the fairway makes SUCH a difference.

My next hole of not was the 15th hole - par 3 at 160 yards.  As the green was elevated, I pulled my 4 hybrid (170 yard club).  Feeling a bit of wind in my face, I (of course) tried to overswing, and topped the ball - 100 yards up.
I then proceeded to chunk two short wedges and was on the green in 4.
Luckily, I sunk a 20 foot putt to SAVE DOUBLE BOGEY!!!

That, my friends, is like "Whip Cream on SHIT!"  Great shot, but the hole sucked big time. I finished the round out well.
Bogeying the 16th (#1 handicap hole), parring the 17th par 3 and parring the 18th par 5.

The 18th hole was my worst drive of the day.  Trying to give the ball some UMPH, I pushed it right of the dogleg, and was in the rough.
Rather than try to make up my shot, I simply hit a hybrid, and had 150 yards to the pin.  My 7 iron put me on the green, and I was able to 2-putt for par.

I ended the back nine with another 41 - 82 overall.
Considering I double bogey'd two holes, that was a damn good score on the back 9.

Reviewing the round, my only criticism was how I played the par 3's.  I was 4 over par on those 4 holes, with one double bogey.  I think I need to loosen up on those, and not try for the HOLE-IN-ONE each time I was up there.
As I try to analyze why THIS round was so good, I can come up with one major difference.
PACE OF PLAY.
We played the round in under 4 hours.  We never waited on any hole.  I'd say with two other golfers (that shot under 120) we could have finished 15-20 minutes faster.  When you are playing well, and don't need to stop and wait 2-3 minutes (or more) between shots - you're body gets into the groove.
But, that's a problem I'll have to deal with...

This, my friends, was my last round of the 2015 golf season.  Unfortunately, I'm having a medical procedure this week that will sideline me anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks - before I get clearance to play golf or exercise.
And, as the "official" golf season in the Northeast ends on November 1, the season is over.
That's not to say I won't get a round or two in when some warm November/December days roll in.  Last year I got in 4 rounds between late November and December.

I'll post an entry in the next few days, critiquing my overall season, and what my thoughts are on how to improve caliber of game, and how to enjoy this wonderful game - whatever level of golfer you are.

So - for now, remember that in golf, as in life - you should....

Keep it in the Short Hairs

October 10th - Round 35

Course - Eisenhower Red
Playing partners - Pete, Jason, Anne

Weather - chilly

We had an 8:44am tee time this morning.  At that time, it was a cool 51 degrees.
However, the breeze made it feel like 40!  Brrrrrrr.

The trick to keeping warm is layers.  I have my standard layering that I go with.
First, I have an Under Armor long sleeve Cold Gear shirt.
      Really a must of a golfer who plans to play through some chilly weather.
Over that I have a standard golf shirt.
Over that I have my Under Armor flannel vest.
And, over that I have a flannel jacket.

I also wore pants, and my Addidas Golf Shoes (As opposed to my Foot Joy Ultra lights) as they are waterproof.

During warmups at the range, I keep the jacket on until I start to loosen up and I peel it off.
Today, I didn't peeled it off until the 3rd hole - as the wind was a killer.

I also have a pair of Hand Warmers.  These are little bags that you open up and shake - they turn into mini-heaters.  I keep these in my pants pockets, and it gives some warmth.

Jason is a new playing partner that I met on Golf Match App.  He's 23 and works for the U.S. Open.  Hit's the ball a mile.

Our foursome completed when Ann was put into our group. She was a solid golfer,

At tee time, the temperature was soaring to around 53.  I took off the jacket, but was still stiff from standing around at the first tee.  I hit a nice drive, and a good layup to 60 yards. However, my pitch was long and I ended up with a double bogey - the first of two on the front nine (four for the day).

After parring the par 4 second hole, and bogeying the par 5 fifth hole, I realized that the day would be about scrambling.
After finishing the front nine (with a par on the 9th hole), I assumed the score was BAD.  I looked at my scorecard (on the Garmin) and saw 49 - I was not surprised.
My drives were inconsistent, and I was scrambling to recover from them all day.
Ann made a comment that I was pretty much in the bunkers all day.  This was true, and many of the bunkers were lakes, with the heavy rains from the night before

I felt I played better on the back nine.  Even though I double bogey'd the long par 3 - by skipping my ball over the pond to around 60 yards - and then mis-clubbing when I need to lob one from 80 yards - leaving me in the big bunker.
I had thought I pulled my Pitching Wedge, but had inadvertently pulled the Gap Wedge.
This is one of those mental mistakes that are pretty much unforgivable.
I then wanted to get out of the trap and get the ball all the way back to the pin - and I put too much UMPH into it, and went over the green.

By the time I got to the 18th, I was tired.  It's tough when you play poor golf.  A lot more walking then usual!
I hit a nice drive, and layed up to 60 yards. A pitch and two putts and I was in for bogey.

So, I checked my scorecard - and saw 90!!

I looked over the score, and realized that (without my glasses), I had read the front nine wrong and had a 45.
So, I shot a 45/45.

It was still, kind of disappointing as the season is coming to a close, and by this time of year - I am normally in a groove.

I still needed to look at my round and determine what I could do to improve.  Today, was just "off".  And, I need to stay focused mentally - hard to do when you are cold.  But, as it was the first cold round of the year, I'll take it as a just getting accustomed to Fall Golf.

I've already decided to get up early on Sunday and play again.  Maybe Bethpage.

Until then,

Keep it in the Short Hairs