If you are reading this blog, you are probably a golfer. And over your years of playing, you always have goals you are trying to achieve. My cousin Bud in New Jersey has taken up the game in his retirement years like it was invented for him. He never played much golf during his working years but discovered it in a big way as he neared retirement. I played a few rounds of golf with him last year and he had a simple formula of goals for improving as he played in his nine-hole league. One, no three putts; two, no penalty strokes; three, no score above six on a hole. If he could achieve these three goals, he knew he would be around bogey golf for a round.
Just about all of us have golf goals to achieve. Break 90; break 80; single digit handicap; no double bogeys for the round. Hit ten fairways; hit nine greens. The list is long.
My longtime goal has been to shoot under par for 18 holes. I've been able to shoot under par for nine holes many times. But I could never put two nines together. And when I was in the process of a career round, my brain went into overdrive. I couldn't play shot to shot. That two under through 14 became a three over for the round. It was frustrating.
Yesterday, I fought off the demons.
I was paired at my home course, Coyote Creek Golf Club in Fort Wayne, IN with three excellent golfers and good friends, Mark Bickel, Jeff Miller, and Tom Putman. We were playing our normal Nassau. Three of us were walking, and I had my bag on my back as usual. We were playing from our White Tees at 6209 yards.
On the driving range before the round, I was fighting a hook, even a snap hook. I teed off second on number one and what did I hit? A snap. Fortunately, the first hole is a par five and I was able to get the next shot through some trees (luckily) back into the fairway. I was able to make a par and as I walked to the second tee, I had my normal thoughts for fighting the snaps: weaker grip, quiet lower body and take it back low and slow. It worked for several holes but I was still uncomfortable with every tee shot, even on the par threes. My only decent drives were on six and nine.
By the time the front nine was complete, I had made nine straight pars but only hit two fairways and three greens. I was chipping sufficiently and making every putt. A 20 footer on three, a twelve footer on five, a curling downhiller on seven. Even a sand save on eight. So that was a good nine for somebody who is unsure what kind of shot is going to come off the driver.
The tenth hole is a par four and I rushed my drive, hitting another snap and was blocked from the green. I didn't try to hit a "one in twenty" shot, took my medicine and hit a wedge over a pine tree (below) to about 45 yards short of the hole.
Just about all of us have golf goals to achieve. Break 90; break 80; single digit handicap; no double bogeys for the round. Hit ten fairways; hit nine greens. The list is long.
My longtime goal has been to shoot under par for 18 holes. I've been able to shoot under par for nine holes many times. But I could never put two nines together. And when I was in the process of a career round, my brain went into overdrive. I couldn't play shot to shot. That two under through 14 became a three over for the round. It was frustrating.
Yesterday, I fought off the demons.
I was paired at my home course, Coyote Creek Golf Club in Fort Wayne, IN with three excellent golfers and good friends, Mark Bickel, Jeff Miller, and Tom Putman. We were playing our normal Nassau. Three of us were walking, and I had my bag on my back as usual. We were playing from our White Tees at 6209 yards.
On the driving range before the round, I was fighting a hook, even a snap hook. I teed off second on number one and what did I hit? A snap. Fortunately, the first hole is a par five and I was able to get the next shot through some trees (luckily) back into the fairway. I was able to make a par and as I walked to the second tee, I had my normal thoughts for fighting the snaps: weaker grip, quiet lower body and take it back low and slow. It worked for several holes but I was still uncomfortable with every tee shot, even on the par threes. My only decent drives were on six and nine.
By the time the front nine was complete, I had made nine straight pars but only hit two fairways and three greens. I was chipping sufficiently and making every putt. A 20 footer on three, a twelve footer on five, a curling downhiller on seven. Even a sand save on eight. So that was a good nine for somebody who is unsure what kind of shot is going to come off the driver.
The tenth hole is a par four and I rushed my drive, hitting another snap and was blocked from the green. I didn't try to hit a "one in twenty" shot, took my medicine and hit a wedge over a pine tree (below) to about 45 yards short of the hole.
Second Shot on 10th Hole. Green 190 Yards Left of Pine Tree
I was able to hit a pitch (which I have been practicing) to less than a foot and I sensed something special might be happening as I made my tenth straight par.
I parred the eleventh and after a mediocre drive on the short par four twelfth, hit my second shot to ten feet and made birdie. I was one under with six to play.
This is where my brain engaged and for the next six holes, a wrestling match occurred. "One shot at a time" I told myself over and over again. Do not think ahead to the remaining holes. As a walker, I was able to stay away from the others (or they stayed away from me). I'm sure they had a sense of where I stood and it was like a baseball pitcher in the midst of a perfect game or no-hitter...you avoid the pitcher and make no comments about what is happening.
I hit a nice long draw on thirteen but unluckily, it didn't make it all the way to the fairway, stopping in the rough three yards right of the fairway but on the side of a small knob. The ball was two feet above my feet and the next shot would be like a baseball swing. But I aimed to the right side of the green and hit a controlled pitching wedge to twenty feet and walked away with par.
Fourteen is a par three over water and I hit a draw at the pin that settled just onto the fringe, pin high left and got down in two for another par.
On the fifteenth tee, to give my mind a break, I engaged the others in a conversation about senior softball bats, how I had used one for the first time the previous Monday evening and was stunned at how "hot" they are. My drive was OK on fifteen, a par five where most golfers lay up for a short shot onto an elevated green. I was right, in the rough, the ball slightly above my feet and chose an 8-iron to leave a third shot of 100 yards. My target was the bridge over the creek.
I parred the eleventh and after a mediocre drive on the short par four twelfth, hit my second shot to ten feet and made birdie. I was one under with six to play.
This is where my brain engaged and for the next six holes, a wrestling match occurred. "One shot at a time" I told myself over and over again. Do not think ahead to the remaining holes. As a walker, I was able to stay away from the others (or they stayed away from me). I'm sure they had a sense of where I stood and it was like a baseball pitcher in the midst of a perfect game or no-hitter...you avoid the pitcher and make no comments about what is happening.
I hit a nice long draw on thirteen but unluckily, it didn't make it all the way to the fairway, stopping in the rough three yards right of the fairway but on the side of a small knob. The ball was two feet above my feet and the next shot would be like a baseball swing. But I aimed to the right side of the green and hit a controlled pitching wedge to twenty feet and walked away with par.
Fourteen is a par three over water and I hit a draw at the pin that settled just onto the fringe, pin high left and got down in two for another par.
On the fifteenth tee, to give my mind a break, I engaged the others in a conversation about senior softball bats, how I had used one for the first time the previous Monday evening and was stunned at how "hot" they are. My drive was OK on fifteen, a par five where most golfers lay up for a short shot onto an elevated green. I was right, in the rough, the ball slightly above my feet and chose an 8-iron to leave a third shot of 100 yards. My target was the bridge over the creek.
Layup 2nd Shot on the 15th. Simple 8-iron Just Left of Tree On Right
But I hooked the 8-iron. The ball was flying past the cart path into jail. But it hit a tree left of the path about three feet up on the trunk and bounded back into the fairway, 135 yards away.
Hooked 8-iron Screaming Toward Trees Over Cart Path Hits Trunk of First Tree On Left
Wow! I knew I needed to take advantage of this break and get my par. I hit wedge pin high, twenty feet left of the pin and two-putted for par.
One under with three holes to go.
Two days earlier, I stood on the sixteenth tee, four over par and knew I was going to shoot another round in the seventies. But I finished bogey, double-bogey, bogey and shot 80, wasting fifteen holes of decent golf.
I promised myself that would not happen today. Sixteen is the number four handicap hole, a par four to an elevated green protected by a large trap in front and with a diabolical green pitched left to right and back to front. My drive was nearly a snap but thankfully more of a strong draw and again, although in the left rough, I had only a wedge to the green. It hit near the pin and rolled to the back fringe from where I was able to two-putt.
Seventeen is the final par three, over 200 yards to a large green pitched left to right and back to front. And it's the number two handicap hole on the course.
One under with three holes to go.
Two days earlier, I stood on the sixteenth tee, four over par and knew I was going to shoot another round in the seventies. But I finished bogey, double-bogey, bogey and shot 80, wasting fifteen holes of decent golf.
I promised myself that would not happen today. Sixteen is the number four handicap hole, a par four to an elevated green protected by a large trap in front and with a diabolical green pitched left to right and back to front. My drive was nearly a snap but thankfully more of a strong draw and again, although in the left rough, I had only a wedge to the green. It hit near the pin and rolled to the back fringe from where I was able to two-putt.
Seventeen is the final par three, over 200 yards to a large green pitched left to right and back to front. And it's the number two handicap hole on the course.
200 Yard Par 3 17th Hole
I rushed my swing and my five-hybrid started at the middle pin and hooked viciously past a row of trees 20 yards left of the green into the rough just past pin high and over the cart path looking down to the pin. I was definitely looking at my first bogey.
Tee Shot Lands Past 4th Tree Above Green in Rough
But I hit a nice pitch that rolled twelve feet from the hole, leaving a downhill, sidewinding putt with a break of at least a foot. I rolled it in, dead center and walked to the final hole, still one under par.
Eighteen is a par five, dogleg left, fairly easy. There's a trap 220 yards out on the left and trees and out-of bounds on the right. I tend to guard against hitting it right into the trees or out of bounds. So I normally aim just right of the trap.
Eighteen is a par five, dogleg left, fairly easy. There's a trap 220 yards out on the left and trees and out-of bounds on the right. I tend to guard against hitting it right into the trees or out of bounds. So I normally aim just right of the trap.
Par 5 18th Hole, 230 Yards to Carry Trap
I hit a solid drive, but pulled it slightly, right at the trap and called for the ball to carry it. It did easily but nestled down in the grass. Not a great lie. I still had 240 yards left and my next shot would need to stay under two trees with low-lying limbs and have a bit of a draw.
Slightly Uphill Second Shot Needed to Stay Between the Trees and Under the Limbs
My mind was racing. I knew what was at stake. I needed a par for 71. And I needed to hit a low screaming shot under the limbs. I debated hitting a 7 or 8-iron with the ball back in my stance or a three-quarter four-hybrid with the ball just slightly back in my stance. I chose the latter because I wanted my third shot to be inside 100 yards as the green is guarded by a pond on the left.
I swung but the ball was nestled too deeply in the grass and I advanced it only 40 yards. I had 200 yards left to a green guarded by water left, traps in front and short right, and out of bounds deep and right.
I swung but the ball was nestled too deeply in the grass and I advanced it only 40 yards. I had 200 yards left to a green guarded by water left, traps in front and short right, and out of bounds deep and right.
200 Yards Left to the Pin With Water Left, Traps Front and Right, Out of Bounds Right and Over Green
My lie was decent and I never really doubted my club selection for the shot. I would not lay up. I chose a six-hybrid and aimed at the right traps, guarding against a snap and expecting a draw. I hit the ball really well but the grass between the club and ball prevented the expected draw. "I killed that" I muttered. I feared it would fly the right trap, hit the cart path beyond and bounce out of bounds.
I got lucky again for the second time in four holes. The ball splashed in the shallow trap, three feet from the back of the trap and bounced softly above it. Four more feet and it would have bounded out of bounds.
Now hole high, I was facing an 80 foot chip. Still fighting anxiousness, I hit a mediocre chip twelve feet below the pin. But the putt was straight and I was able to calmly stroke it in the middle.
I breathed a big sigh of relief. I had finally won that many decades struggle with my mind. You need certain golf skills but when it comes right down to it, achieving a goal in golf is mental, whatever that goal is.
I hit just one fairway on the back nine and only four greens but shot 35. I had 12 putts on each side and only 24 for the round. I hit three fairways and seven greens but still shot 71.
I never would have guessed that on a day where my driving was such a struggle that I would achieve a feat at age 67 I had waited 53 years to accomplish. I received two huge breaks on the back nine and there's no question my round would have gone the way of so many others without them.
More than 25 years ago, a pro at one of Fort Wayne's muni courses told me that once you break par the first time, it gets easier to do it again.
We will see.
I got lucky again for the second time in four holes. The ball splashed in the shallow trap, three feet from the back of the trap and bounced softly above it. Four more feet and it would have bounded out of bounds.
Now hole high, I was facing an 80 foot chip. Still fighting anxiousness, I hit a mediocre chip twelve feet below the pin. But the putt was straight and I was able to calmly stroke it in the middle.
I breathed a big sigh of relief. I had finally won that many decades struggle with my mind. You need certain golf skills but when it comes right down to it, achieving a goal in golf is mental, whatever that goal is.
I hit just one fairway on the back nine and only four greens but shot 35. I had 12 putts on each side and only 24 for the round. I hit three fairways and seven greens but still shot 71.
I never would have guessed that on a day where my driving was such a struggle that I would achieve a feat at age 67 I had waited 53 years to accomplish. I received two huge breaks on the back nine and there's no question my round would have gone the way of so many others without them.
More than 25 years ago, a pro at one of Fort Wayne's muni courses told me that once you break par the first time, it gets easier to do it again.
We will see.
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