Written on 11-14-02.
I’d like to start my new birdie count now. The last one I counted was #22. Since then, I have had five more that I can remember. I am going to start over again for this year. I would like to get forty birdies now by the end of September next year. Two of those birdies came from my round of 18 holes when I played with Joe and Laura. That round included my lowest nine hole score, which I have mentioned earlier, a 37! I shot a 37! I am still very impressed with that. I’ve shot a 39 before, but a 37! That’s just a glimpse of my true potential. Two over par! Here are those birdies.
Dalton Ranch-Hole #6
Eric, Chris, Greg Braum and I played a “practice” round together a couple of weeks before the tournament. It was our last chance to look the course over and figure out a plan for playing in the tournament. I did not prepare for this tournament as well as I did for Pinon Hills. I didn’t walk an entire nine holes backwards here! Nor did I hit seven or more large buckets the week before. I did, however, look back on certain holes and try to get a sense for what would be the best approach. I also tried to figure out which holes I needed to use my 4-iron instead of driver or 3-wood. I also played a perfect round in my head the night before the tournament. It did help on some holes, but definitely not on others! I digress. I hit a huge tee shot with my 3-wood past the 150 marker. Then I hit my 9-iron. This was another very smooth and well-balanced swing. It felt comfortable, but aggressive. It landed right on the green, but short of the hole. I had to go pee really badly and since I was closest to the hole, I had some time. I took my putter and set it outside the bathroom. I came out in time to watch Chris putt. He did not putt well. I don’t remember what I told him, but he was upset. It had something to do with putting out first or taking your time, but I can’t remember. Anyway, I had a putt of about fifteen feet to make. I made that for what I will say is my first birdie of this year.
Hidden Valley-Hole #5
This birdie came on the front nine, where I scored a 47. I don’t remember how I got on the green, but I do remember that it was a long putt that earned the birdie, so I must have gotten on the green in three shots. It was a downhill putt to a flagstick on the front of the green. Sadly, I don’t remember very much about this birdie. I think I told Joe and Laura that it was a birdie just to make sure someone else knew that, but they were so involved in their game that I don’t think they cared. That was birdie #2.
Hidden Valley-Hole #14
This is the birdie that came smack dab in the middle of my best round of nine holes ever. Hole #14 is a par five, also. This one I remember. I know that my second shot ended up above the green in the rough on the left side. There’s a little hill there. I call this green the “toilet bowl”, because that’s what it looks like, a great big toilet seat. The flag was on the rim of the “seat” on the opposite side. I hit a relaxed pitch that ended up about twelve feet away. From there I putted in for birdie number two of this round with Joe and Laura. I was so happy they had come to visit me. I kept telling them how happy I was when we were done playing, and that I needed them to come play with me all the time. After making that putt, I made par on the last four holes, including the difficult #18. That last putt was a tricky down-hiller that broke to the left. Actually, the putt before that was a long uphill, downhill putt with about eight feet of break that was very difficult to read and get the ball close. I really took my time reading those last two putts and making sure I was prepared to hit them. Somehow I knew a double-putt would earn a record score for me, and I was right. That birdie on #14 was birdie #3 for this year.
Hidden Valley-Hole #10
Eric and I played Hidden Valley when I earned this birdie. This hole was one of twenty-seven holes where we actually ended up tying. This is also the same hole I earned my one and only eagle so far. It’s a short par four where the green can be driven if you hit a great tee shot. I hit my second shot just barely on the green on the right side. From there, I thought I had hit my putt too hard. It surprised me when the ball fell right in the hole. Yeah! Birdie #4!
Hidden Valley-Hole #6
It’s nice to get a birdie on a par three, which is what I did on this hole. I was playing with Eric and Chris. Chris asked if we could play one last time before daylight savings came where we lose a precious hour of golf-playing daylight in the evenings. I am glad he asked us, because I got this birdie in before darkness fell completely on late night golf adventures. This hole is 159 yards, but it’s downhill. I sometimes use a 6-iron, but sometimes I feel a 7 is better. One time I used my 8-iron. It varies every time we play there because of the location of the flag or the tee markers, and maybe the wind. This day, the 7-iron got the call. The pin was back and in the middle. The swing felt effortless, and the ball took off like a rocket! It was high and straight, and it just hung there above the flag for what seemed like a full minute. I held my pose, and Chris complimented me on my follow-through. The ball hit the green and rolled right toward the hole. My breath stopped for a second as I thought this was going to be my first ace ever! It wasn’t to be, though, but I wasn’t too upset. I was left with only a one-foot putt for birdie #5!
There. I am all caught up with birdies. I wish I could say I have eight! I have missed some birdie putts lately that all had really good chances, but have just missed or lipped out. It doesn’t bother me, though. It just means I’m due to make my next few opportunities.
Next time I write, I need to tell of my experience in my second tournament ever, the Four-Corners Stroke Play Tournament. I will talk about the difficulties I had, the really good holes, the lessons I learned, and the weather
No comments:
Post a Comment