Howies Golf: 2016 - Round 7 - Eisenhower Park (White)

Course - Eisenhower Park (White)

Playing Partners - Vak, Dan, Richie

Weather conditions - SPECTACULAR!!

All is right with the world, yet again. It looks like I've righted the ship, and the game is back on track.

We had a 9am tee time at Eisenhower Park (White). As I've posted before, the White course is a pretty boring course (to me) as, for the most part, the holes just go straight out, and straight back. All greens are somewhat the same, elevated protected by bunkers, and it's hard to differentiate the holes.

Well, I'm starting to change that opinion. Nassau county is plugging a ton of bucks into this course. I'm not saying that it will be a Bethpage Black (or even Eisenhower Red), but they are making some major renovations that improve the course. I'll give the course updates at the end of the blog.

After the last few weeks of BAD golf (Capital letters!), I needed to work on my game. As the weather was finally cooperating, I was able to get to practice a bit. So, last Thursday I went out to the course at lunch, and putted and chipped. Work Work Work. I needed to get my putting back on track.

After work, I went to the range and worked on my turn and tempo (T&T).

So, we teed off on time - I was in shorts and a short pullover, which quickly came off (the pullover, not the shorts), as the weather was great.

The first 5 holes were played well, but always had a bit of trouble that kept me from par. Either drives that landed in fairway bunkers, or some other minor issue. But, once I got to the green, I was always able to two putt.

By the 8th hole, I was feeling the tempo and had my putting stroke down. Hit the green on the Par 3 to about 15 feet and sunk the putt.

BIRDIE!!

I finished the front nine with a respectable 43, with 16 putts.

The back nine was pretty much the same thing. I could have had a really nice score, if not for the 15th hole.

My drive was off to the right, into a fairway bunker. I was 190 yards out. Although I could have attempted a fairway wood out of the bunker, I know my limitations (interpret that as "I suck at fairway bunkers). So, I opted to hit a 9-iron to 100 yards. As the wind picked up, my layup landed in the fairway at 117 yards out.

Here was my dilemma. My Pitching wedge is 110 yards, and my 9-iron is 130. So, I either try to power the PW, or hit a short 9-iron.

I opted for the latter, and choked down an inch. However, the shot was poor and landed in the right greenside bunker.

The lie was awful. At the outer edge of the bunker, on a down-slope, within a foot of the back edge. My swing caught the top of the grass, and I skulled the ball over the green!!! FML

A lob wedge and two putts later, I was in for a triple bogey.

However, I can't complain. I shot an 87 for the day. I wasn't even pissy about the triple bogey. I was more upset with missing my 4 foot putt on 18 for birdie.

My playing partners, didn't fare as well.

Vak - normally my equal on the course - is still in a golf-funk. I stopped scoring for him after his triple bogey on the 14th - which is about the time he started to play well. The Golf Gods threw him a birdie on 18, so as totally not to discourage him.

Dan played a nice game. He's not a long hitter, but his drives were always consistent. Dan's problem today is the "yips" Dan plays with a long putter, but still yips every now and then.

Richie was really good off the tee all day. No banana slices, as he sometimes does. It's still early in the year for Rich, so the rest of his game is still a "work in progress).

As for me - I'm now happy again with the status of my game, I need to look at critiquing my work, and improve.

My drives were pretty damn good. If I missed fairways, it wasn't by much. I just need to work a bit more to hit more fairways.

My woods were good - no complaints. Then again, I only had to hit 2 woods all day.

My hybrids and Irons were solid. I was making great contact. I really need to dial in my yardages, though. I missed some greens because my distances were off. That comes with more play.

Chipping was good, but not GREAT. I would like to get to the point where I can one-putt after a chip.

Putting was great. No 3-putts, and I made most of my putts in the 3-6 foot range (Except for that birdie on 18).

As this is my birthday week, I'll try to get out to play mid-week. I'll also make sure to work my game. Chipping practice (again). Some range time to keep my tempo on track.

Unfortunately, I don't use the range to dial in my distances, because range balls (no matter how new they are) are not the same quality as the balls I play with.

For those of you not interested in the course improvements, you can skip to the end to look at my selfie :-)

Now, for the course upgrades:

The Starters area will soon boast a putting green. Something that was missing.

The third hole is having the green side bunkers completely redone. Previously there were several wide bunkers protecting the green. They are building into 3 deep pot bunkers that any short shots will find their way to (Practice you sand shots!!)

The 14th hole, a par 3, is having the three protecting bunkers changed to two pot bunkers, an a collection are to the right. Here are the before/after pictures (The parallel hole is still the old way)