and it was a wierd one!
Pouring rain here this morning, but it tapered off about 11AM, so I jumped in the car and drove to Aiken Golf Club, a 1912 Donald Ross design. I've only played it once before: it's short, only 6057 yards from the medal tees, but kind of fun. Par 70, rating 68.0, slope 117. Sounds easy, right? Well, I hope some of my ST friends will come visit sometime, because this course is a gem. Several long (190+) par 3s make it interesting, along with big hills, big trees, and OB on 9 holes.
I walked for the 3rd straight day. Just sprinkling when I teed off on #1, a par 4. Birdied that baby! Par the next 2. Got to #4 and it started pouring. Dug out the umbrella, and waited it out. Parred/bogied my way around the front for a 37 (par 35).
This course meanders through an older section of Aiken, complete with horse riding trails. Heard this noise on #7, and there were 3 horses watching me.
The course does not come back to the clubhouse until #18, and the snackbar on #9 was closed today. About this time, I was getting really hungry. No food handy, but the rain stopped, and the sun came out.
Some of the back side par 4s are only about 290 yards. Drivable for animals, but 3 woods off the tee for me. Then you get to your ball, and you see that the greens are the size of a postage stamp. Parred/bogied my way around to #18, which is one of those 180+ par 3s. Hit my 25* hybrid 8 feet from the pin, one putt for another birdie! Birdies on first and last holes: told you it was a wierd round! No doubles for the first time in my life!
40 (par 35) on the back for a 77 (par 70). First time in my life I broke 80.
Happy New Year to everyone, and may your first round, whenever it is, be a good, memorable one.
Pouring rain here this morning, but it tapered off about 11AM, so I jumped in the car and drove to Aiken Golf Club, a 1912 Donald Ross design. I've only played it once before: it's short, only 6057 yards from the medal tees, but kind of fun. Par 70, rating 68.0, slope 117. Sounds easy, right? Well, I hope some of my ST friends will come visit sometime, because this course is a gem. Several long (190+) par 3s make it interesting, along with big hills, big trees, and OB on 9 holes.
I walked for the 3rd straight day. Just sprinkling when I teed off on #1, a par 4. Birdied that baby! Par the next 2. Got to #4 and it started pouring. Dug out the umbrella, and waited it out. Parred/bogied my way around the front for a 37 (par 35).
This course meanders through an older section of Aiken, complete with horse riding trails. Heard this noise on #7, and there were 3 horses watching me.
The course does not come back to the clubhouse until #18, and the snackbar on #9 was closed today. About this time, I was getting really hungry. No food handy, but the rain stopped, and the sun came out. Some of the back side par 4s are only about 290 yards. Drivable for animals, but 3 woods off the tee for me. Then you get to your ball, and you see that the greens are the size of a postage stamp. Parred/bogied my way around to #18, which is one of those 180+ par 3s. Hit my 25* hybrid 8 feet from the pin, one putt for another birdie! Birdies on first and last holes: told you it was a wierd round! No doubles for the first time in my life!
40 (par 35) on the back for a 77 (par 70). First time in my life I broke 80.
Happy New Year to everyone, and may your first round, whenever it is, be a good, memorable one.
