The Yellow Ball Tournament Experience-Part 2

Written on 7-20-25.

   I did pretty well on my “yellow ball” holes.  I earned two pars, one bogey, and two double bogeys.  Not bad for my first time.

On my last hole, hole #13, we hadn’t lost a yellow ball yet, but I lost focus.  My tee shot went low and left and headed for the little creek.  When we got up there, thankfully Greg spotted it stuck on some rocks with the cold water rushing over it.  Phew!  

Now, we just had to get it out.  I debated taking off my shoes and socks, and we were all working on a solution (Chuck had a ball retriever) when Greg simply got down on his stomach, reached in, and snagged it out.  Phew again!  

I was still far away (215 yards), so I...

laid up to the fairway with my turf buster to 90 yards.  Marc was impressed with that shot, because the grass was thick where I had dropped.

My approach was well short, and I was looking at a very difficult pitch.  The hole was tucked just past the bunker on a ridge.  Just a little short or long with that pitch, and it could have resulted in a huge number.  I gave it my best shot and got the correct distance.  The ball did not roll back to my feet nor did it go well past the hole.  

Now, however, I had a seven foot putt to not do any worse than a double bogey.  This was the last putt of the tournament for us, because they had just made their par putt from close to the same spot after two tries.  Two officials rolled up in a cart to watch their putts, and then they stayed to watch mine.  No pressure.

My ball caught the left edge and rolled all the way around the rim of the hole before it fell in.  Even though, it ended up being a double bogey, I was very satisfied with how I had controlled my game after nearly losing the yellow ball.  If Greg would have only written down a bogey like he did for Chuck on the previous hole, we would have placed.  Ha!

I got a par with my first yellow ball on hole #17.  My drive went far and split the fairway, but I caught my lay-up shot thin, and it fell short.  My approach looked great, but it landed in front of the green and that killed all of its momentum.  I made a weak attempt with my putter to get it up the hill, but it also fell short.  Then I made the very long putt for my par.  I got my other double bogey on hole #1 after sending my ball into the bunker with my approach.  

In my opinion, I made an amazing par on the par three #5.  I used my 5-iron/wood and hit a stinker.  It flew towards/over? the corner of the fence, and we all weren’t sure if it went out of bounds or into the street.  We didn’t hear a clang, but we weren’t sure.  Greg said I would be the one to climb the fence to go get it back, because A. I hit it, and B. I was the only one young and capable enough to climb the fence.  

Then I had to hit a provisional with the…gulp…other yellow ball.  Yikes!  I was thinking terrible thoughts, but I did my best to focus on my routine.  That would be sooooo bad to lose both yellow balls on the same hole as the A player!

I swung a nearly identical shot, however.  This one looked like it might have flown a little farther, but we just couldn’t tell; the fences with their vines and other greenery blocked our view.

It all turned out okay.  Both had made it, and my first one was right between and a bit back from the two trees next to the green.  I chipped with my 7-iron to keep it below the branches, and it bumped through the tall, thick grass a few times and spilled out onto the green.  From around 15 feet, I made my putt for my par.  That was a good one.  I felt I earned my A Player status.

My only other yellow ball hole was the par three #9.  My pitching wedge put my ball just on the green.  With Marc and Greg’s help with the read, I putted it short of the hole that was on the top right side.  I barely missed my par putt, so this was my only bogey.  

We were able to turn in both of our yellow balls to help our score at the end of our round.  Now that I see we turned in a wrong score, it truly doesn't matter, but we missed getting 4th place by one-tenth of a stroke.  The 4th place team earned a score of 135.4.  Don’t know how it came down to one-tenth of a stroke, but oh well.

I realize I am recounting holes and scores from a round where our team was in the third flight (the lowest), and we didn’t even place.  That’s a bit silly, but remember what this journal is about, and then it will make more sense.

We had beers after our round (Greg bought mine: a tasty, frigid Modelo), and we all agreed to play again next year.  I got to know Chuck better.  He’s an accountant and a saxophone player who has been married three times.  Marc said he had more fun with this team than any other.  Not sure why.  It was fun, but part of it wasn’t so fun for me because I was the A player.  I had better step up my game if we really play again next year.

Greg has invited me to play in the Ryder Cup tournament on September 28th, so that will be my next tournament.