Winter Golf - a bonus

Well, after almost an entire season "off" (i.e. - no blog entries), I'm back.   And, surprisingly, in February!!

In NY, its a rarity to play golf in the winter months.  Sometimes a day in December pops up, but January and February are like finding a needle in a haystack (or, a good lie in the rough).

Today was that day.  Lloyd called me and said we should head out to Merrick Road Park to play 9.  So, we agreed to meet at 1pm.

As I walked up to the cashier, I see this sign:


Yikes - it seemed that everyone in the county came out.
So, we checked in and sat for the hour and a half.  We couldn't even putt, as the putting green was closed for the winter.

But, we teed off at 2:30pm - on the button.

We were playing with two nice guys - Wayne, and Warren.

Warren was 87 years old, and carrying his clubs!  Well, he only had 6 clubs in his "weekend" bag, but still!  Impressive.

Much more impressive than the golf.  It took 3 holes to shake off the cobwebs that build up after 3 months of not swinging a club.

And, there was snow on the course.  Not a lot, but - much like sand bunkers, well placed.

The round took 2 1/2 hours - kind of torturous - The group in front of us was slow.  Not hitting, but putting.  We'd wait 1- minutes on our approach shots because they took all day linking up putts - on greens that had not been maintained in months!!!

We finished at 5:00, just as the sun was setting over Merrick Mountain, and the temps started to dip.

Scores?  Although we kept scores, they really don't count as this was February golf in NY.  But, all in all - a great day.

My new driver - an M1 USA edition that I won on the GolfMatch app at the end of last season, needs a bit of tweaking - I adjusted the loft a a notch up (to 11.5 degrees) which seemed to help the ball flight.

I'll have to work on that once the weather turns nice permanently.


In the meantime,

Keep it in the Short Hairs

2016 - Memorial Day Weekend (Rounds 9 and 10)

Courses - Merrick Road park and Eisenhower Park (red)

The week has been jam packed with golf, work, family, and more golf.  For this reason, I'll start combining some rounds into a single blog entry - both for my sake, and for yours.

After the Thursday debacle at Centennial , I wanted to get out on the course and ensure that I hadn't completely lost my game (and my mind).

As my office closes early on holiday weekends, I had set up a round with some fellow GolfMathers (GM'ers) for 9 holes at Eisenhower Park.
However, when I got there I was told there was a 90 minute wait!

Seriously?  I texted the two GM'ers that we were out of luck, and started to drive over to the range.  At least I could hit balls.  I then called Merrick Road Park Golf course - where there is normally a long wait (and that's on good days!).

The guy told me there was no wait, so I zoomed over, and ran out to sign up.

The starter said I should go right out with these to gentlemen who just teed off.  John and Ray.  10 years ago I would have called them elderly.  Now that I'm coming close to that 60 mark in my life, I'll just call them seasoned!!

I jogged up to them, introduced myself, and rushed to tee off, as I didn't want them waiting on me.  I didn't have time put a glove on, nor take a practice swing.  Just took a half swing, and put the ball in the fairway.
I think I should do that more often, as I birdied the hole!!!

I was quite happy with my game.  My drives were quite OK, and my play was good.  One of my only "Glitches" was on the 8th hole, part 3.  My tee shot landed in the greenside bunker - nestled against the right edge almost under the edge of grass.  I had almost no shot.  I figured it would take two to get out.
Little did I know that it would take 3!!!
I opened my stance and opened the clubfase wide open - and swung under the ball.  It popped up magnificently, and dropped right back into the sand divot that I had just dug out.
Worse lie than before!!

Now attempting to keep the clubface closed, I swung again - this time the ball did what I expected.  It popped up and rolled into the main part of the bunker.  Finally able to get out, I wound up with a 6 (Triple bogey).
But, all in all, I shot a 44.  Not great for this course - but it did get my head on straight.
I was no longer worried that I'd make an ass of myself when playing 18 on Sunday.


On Memorial weekend/Sunday, I met up with Vak to play Eisenhower park, yet again.
The weather was great.  We were grouped with two other walkers, and set out for the Memorial Day weekend of golf.
The front nine was less than spectacular, as I shot a 47.
My big fuck up was the VERY EASY 9th hole.  My drive was a "Thurman Munson" - aka a dead yank into the woods on the left.

With the ball resting at the base of a tree, it took me two to pitch out.  Now hitting 4, I finally put it on the green - and three putted!!!
Seriously - the easiest hole on the course, and I carded a triple bogey.  Ugh!!

I started to play OK, parring 3 of the next four holes.  My problems came on the 14th.  I had taken my phone out to take a shot of the long par 3 - 13th hole.

After my decent drive on 14, while walking down the fairway, I noticed the zipper pocket on my golf bag was open - and my phone was gone!!  I told my playing partners to play on, as I backtracked my steps.  I got all the way back to the tee box of the par 3 with no luck.
But, one of the golfers at the tee offered to drive me up and down, calling my phone - and seeing if we can find it.

I LOVE GOLFERS!!!

We got all the way back to the tee box at 14, where he was going to drop me - and we made one more attempt to call it.
AND FOUND IT!

It was sitting 3-4 fee off the cart path.

I proceeded to walk to the 15th hole to meet up my playing partners.

My score for the day didn't matter.  (93).
I had found a needle in a haystack - and made progress in my game.

I also realized that my game was not in shambles - but was merely in hiding - needing some practice to come out.

So, until next time -

Keep it in the Short Hairs