Greg Plays Well at Hillcrest

Written on 8-31-24.

       It’s a Saturday and the last day of August.  Belinda and I did something new this morning.  Because we now have two paddle boards (B bought a lighter version from Amazon for an upgrade), we went to Farmington Lake to go on a paddle boarding date.  It was fun!  I could alternate between sitting and getting up on my knees to be  more comfortable.  I’ve been using the new (to me) Hinge Health app, and that has helped with my flexibility.  Amanda started using it for her knees, and since we are both on New Mexico Retiree Health, I decided to try it out, too.  That and the promise of a massage gun helped get me going.  I still haven’t received it yet, though.

I just called Hinge, and they actually answered on a Saturday.  My massage gun is in the works!  I should get an e-mail with shipping info soon.  Cool.

On a bummer note, Mom and Dad are...

not doing well at all.  They got their hospital beds delivered yesterday.  Mom is going on hospice now, too.  They said her weight loss, ineffective physical therapy, and her ongoing dementia are the reasons she qualified.  Guy is going to visit next weekend, and I am relieved he will get to see them soon.

B and I spoke with Dad on our way back from the lake, and he said the first night in the bed wasn’t so bad.  He was up and in his recliner, but Mom was still in bed.  Looks like she will remain in bed from now on, which is a devastating.  Now, they won’t be in the same room as often.  Dad said they are working on getting a smaller television in the bedroom for her.  Sigh.

On to golf…

I am watching the Tour Championship in our bedroom.  Scottie Scheffler is leading with a score of 23 under.  I am lying on the floor, and my head is supported by two pillows from the living room.  The “gaping hole” I wrote about before is replaced with new walls for our shower.  We are deciding to have them paint the bedroom while all the other construction is going on (might as well), so we have a new texture on the walls, and they are ready to be painted this week.  The paint is called Sea Salt, and it’s a faint green color, but it looks baby blue in different lighting.  

I thought it would be a great idea to have a new small shelf above our new shower in our bedroom, so I can see that has been textured as well.  It looks super, I think.  It adds some flavor, and it matches the large shelf in our living room.

I invited Greg to come play in Farmington this past week, so he did.  It was swell to catch up with him, and he said he had shot a 79 at Hillcrest recently.  I heard him telling Eric about a semi-truck that had kicked up rocks onto his windshield when he and Nan were traveling, too.  He and Eric rode in a cart while Herman (not his real name) and I walked, so I never heard the rest of that story.  Sounds terrifying!

He texted yesterday to let me know he had just shot a 78!  Wow!  I replied, “Nice shootin’, Tex!”

Unfortunately, he didn’t shoot as well when he played with us.  He and I tied with 93.  I really shot a 94, but I missed a putt from less than two feet that I rushed to get out of his way, and they were giving putts that were farther out than that, so I gave it to myself.  He shot a 46, 47, and I shot a 47, 46.

I am sad that my scores have gone up in the past few rounds.  I’ve shot an 88, a 90, and now a 93.  Hopefully, I will get it going in the other direction the next time I play.

I had an excellent par on #12.  I thinned my approach, so my ball barely made it past the desert rough area.  I had a pitch from 59 yards, and Herman told me to “show him something,” so I did.  My pitch stopped three feet from the hole.  I got multiple compliments after that par.

My 5-iron/utility club is working really well still.  I hit the green on #6 with a smooth swing, and I also hit the green from 167 yards on #11 with it after a pulled tee shot.  I hit the final green from 174 yards, also.  It’s a great option from 170-182 yards, and the ball gets up in the air quickly.

I also made a nifty bogey on #10.  My tee shot sliced out to the rough, but I escaped with my 6-iron.  Then I hit the green with my 8-iron.  I used up two putts from a long distance there.  That was a nice boost to start the back nine.  

Poor Eric struggled mightily.  I think he was tired from swimming that morning.  He shot a 105, but he also hasn’t played since we were in Nevada.

Herman shot his own 78.  His back is feeling better and better, so that is great news.  Have I missed my chance to beat him while he was hurting?  Well, it’s hard to beat someone who plays well even when his back is out.