Golf was quite expensive 27 quid I think (and very expensive including a buggy). We had time for 14 balls each on the range. I was pleasantly pleased with 13/14 good shots from PW to 4i. Wonder if its a bad omen?
Just time for a couple of putts before we got off. We were following a 3 ball playing off white tees. They were quick enough and finished after the 9th, perhaps they played starting from he 10th? Anyway it was fine as we had a few holes while we caught up a slow 4 ball but never waiting more than a few minutes.
The weather was one of the nicest this year for golf, warm not hot with perhaps just a bit too much wind. The fairways and greens were in great shape and there was plenty of sand in the bunkers which makes a change from recent courses I have played.
We decided to play stableford points for a change to hole play. Its a bit more complicated to score but we will get better as we practice. I set off nicely on the first 3 holes despite a couple of shots in the green side bunker on the 2nd. On the 4th I decided to try to get a bit farther right than usual and ended in a bit of trouble in the big hole to the right of the fairway. Make mental not never to do this again. On the 5th across the lake I was pleased to land just short of the green and avoid the bunker with a 5i (the wind was behind so this helps!). I had a bit of bunker trouble an the 6th which is a pity as this could have been a good score on the hardest hole. For some reason I messed up the 9th by going in the big hole right from the tee and then going well right of the green as M went off to find an out of bound ball. No excuse just lack of concentration.
M played particularly well on the 3rd and 4th holes going ahead by 1 point but this was reversed at the end of the front 9 as I was 1 point up. On the 10th I got another point up and this is how it stayed. The trophy stays here which is nice. My handicap goes back to 26 as I have won 2 in a row. Maybe we should make it 3 wins in a row before changing handicap to stop flip flop between 26 and 27?
We both had a nice run of holes 12 to 17 with acceptable scores all round. Sadly we both messed up the 18th. M from the tee and me into the lake. M did however get applause for his shot from the 16th to the 18th fairway. M's driver worked well on several holes and he had great par on the 3rd. My score is click here.
I got to the green in time to make 7 proper golf scores and I made them all. I made 1 extra with a 1 putt at the 17th. (No pars though). My putting was better than usual saving 3 and I had a couple of very near misses so could have been a bit better with some extra luck! (I am thinking of adding a new shorthand + to indicate the the last putt was a 'drop in' or gimme.) I only messed up the 9th through lack of concentration and the18th with my only lost ball in the lake. I was pleased with my tee shots only letting me down on the 4th and 9th. If only I could hit a 3W I could improve a lot.
Great fun!
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| Before the off. |
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| Only reference to hole in 1 to date! |
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| Concentration! |
