On to golf…
Not much to report really. First, the golf course has a new hole arrangement, or, depending on how you look at it, a whole new arrangement. It’s…interesting. The front nine is no different from before, save two holes. When we finish playing #7 now, instead of heading to what used to be #8, we turn back around and play the old #14. So, the old #14 is the new #8. Then we finish up the front nine on what used to be #18. So, #18 is now the new #9. Savvy?
For the back, it’s a bit more confusing, but it works. We start on #10 just like before, but instead of heading back to the clubhouse on #11, we now head over to what used to be #13. #13 is the new #11. Then we come back on what used to be #8. Following that hole now is what used to be #11. #11 is now the new #13, the one that takes us back to the clubhouse, and that makes three short par fours in a row. If I am driving the ball with confidence, I have a chance to score well on this part of the new arrangement.
The new #14 is the old #12, the most difficult par three on the course. In an unusual way of looking at this, #14 switched from the easiest hole on the golf course to arguably the most difficult. This par three has the hardest green to hit in regulation, in my opinion, and I typically score more double bogeys and bogeys than pars on this hole. A par has always felt like a birdie here.
After the new #14, we head over to what used to be #17, the one that doglegs left around the water. Then we complete our trip all the way around that water by playing the new #16, which used to be the old #15. Completely confused? I recommend playing it to fully understand what’s going on.
After we play #16, we play the new #17, which used to be the old #16. To wrap things up, we come in on the new #18, which used to be the old #9, and that’s the only par five on the new back nine now. That’s it. Those are the changes.
This new layout is tough. When I first played the front nine, I was robbed (sort of) of two birdies. I got a four on the new #1, but a four there is now a par, not a birdie. I earned another four on #18, but that has also been changed from a par five to a par four, so no birdie there either. To be honest, though, the tees were moved up making that hole shorter. My tee shot flew over the biggest hill on the right side, and I was pretty sure it was going to be in the ditch. After searching for a bit, though, I saw a ball about 40 yards short of the new #18’s green. My ball had flown the ditch, so I will have to think of a new strategy for playing this hole now. It is just weird to play #3’s fairway on this hole now. When teeing off from the new location, the advantage of going left on this hole is silly. It’s like teeing off at more of a 90˚ angle to the left now.
I played the front nine on Easter, and I shot a 46. The new par is 36, so not so good. When I played with C.J. on Tuesday, I did worse on the new front nine, shooting a 48. I did much better on the back, though, rebounding and shooting a 40. Par on the new back is 34, so I was just 6 over on the back. Better. He still beat me by two strokes when we adjusted for our handicaps.
With this new arrangement, an adjustment period is likely. With #1 and #18 now par fours instead of par fives, the opportunities for eagles and birdies is diminished. I’ll have plenty of opportunities to score birdies this summer, though, because I just paid for my new membership. I’m set for another year.
In sad news, Bruce has decided not to renew his membership this year. Because he does not get the government employee discount after retiring from the schools, he is choosing to put his money elsewhere, either Hillcrest or Pinon Hills. From here on out, if we want to play with Bruce, we’ll need to play at a different course. No more Hidden Valley for Bruce. Ack! It’s like the end of an era. Sigh. Most people have a regular golf foursome, but C.J., Bruce, and I have been a regular golf threesome for years and years. It’s possible he might join us for a tournament or two in Aztec, though, so we’ve got that going for us.
In sad news, Bruce has decided not to renew his membership this year. Because he does not get the government employee discount after retiring from the schools, he is choosing to put his money elsewhere, either Hillcrest or Pinon Hills. From here on out, if we want to play with Bruce, we’ll need to play at a different course. No more Hidden Valley for Bruce. Ack! It’s like the end of an era. Sigh. Most people have a regular golf foursome, but C.J., Bruce, and I have been a regular golf threesome for years and years. It’s possible he might join us for a tournament or two in Aztec, though, so we’ve got that going for us.
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