jcostello88
SSDD
- Apr 16, 2007
- 52
- 0
:unhappy:
This might drag a little as a story - but hang in there.
I haven't broke 80 in my time playing golf. I have scored well below 40 numerous times over 9 holes (on more than one course, might I add) and I've been right on the money at 80 now 5 times. The previous 4 times were understandable; I was proud of them in some senses. Either making a clutch par or even a birdie at the last to push the 80 number. But this most recently 80 will stay with me for a while.
I went out solidly in 40 - ok, I threw away a double at a very makeable par 5 by leaving my drive out right and having a rush of blood to the head (don't even attempt to hit a green in 2 on a par 5 that you cannot see from your lie). But other than that, it was a tough day on the course. The wind especially made putting and holding lines in the air a complete nightmare.
Cutting to the chase, I hit the 17th tee at +9 (my course from the Gents boxes is 69, Medals is 71). I'd never had the chance to seize before - I had always been chasing a birdie to make the 80 line - so standing up there made me feel pretty in control. All I needed was to play these 2 holes in +1, and I had finally done it. Hit a peach (my soft natural fade) up the 17th (which is a short par 4) to about 115yds - and stiffed a pitching wedge to about 13ft. I have to say it was the best feeling shot I have more than probably hit from that yardage. "Holy crap", I thought, "I'm within birdie distance and I've been lagging it all day". So what the hell do I do? I naturally race the ball 4ft past the hole and promptly 3putt for a 5. To the 18th! (While muttering furiously)
On the 18th box and I'm concentrating on making a full release at the ball - 18 is an elevated tee average length par 4 that opens up a huge green to anyone hitting a draw down there about 260yds. I needed that par, so I had to naturally hit my anti-shot. I can pull it off on the day - and today was no exception. Sure, the ball turned right to left - but it landed on the wrong fairway. D'oh! Hook.
So I'm walking down there, cursing and spluttering at my feet - my mind racing at the next shot. I had about 180 to the green because of the magnitude of this hook (gads, it was big) which had to carry exceptionally tall trees. From my lie, I couldn't see the green - so I had to pace around the trees a few times to look at where I was hitting it. Because of the trees and the nature of the shot (I would have to fade it into the green to have a chance of making it over, because I hit a draw low), I choked down on a 7wood, said a little prayer and just hit the goddamn shot.
...Wow! Crisp contact! Beautiful fade...oh wait...god is it going to make it over...go!...go!...*ball disappears from view*...
It landed on the fringe with a 20fter for birdie.
I was absolutely ecstatic! "This is it! That is the shot that makes you a single figure player!" I was saying to myself over and over as I walked to the green. Surely I can't mislag 2 putts in a row when I've been putting so well to hold onto this dream all day?!
This is the part where I have to remind you, and perhaps myself, that I am playing golf in this story. We all know what the heck happens on that green to me. A little part of me knew that I was going to leave the birdie putt 8ft short. And it was enevitable that my putt for 79 that looked dead in the cup the whole way would lip out and horseshoe back the way it came.
Have you ever had this? Where you just cannot stop shooting the same number? Am I crazy? So I have single-figure phobia? Am I doomed to shoot +10 and above for the rest of my life?
:laugh: It is pretty funny looking back now!
This might drag a little as a story - but hang in there.
I haven't broke 80 in my time playing golf. I have scored well below 40 numerous times over 9 holes (on more than one course, might I add) and I've been right on the money at 80 now 5 times. The previous 4 times were understandable; I was proud of them in some senses. Either making a clutch par or even a birdie at the last to push the 80 number. But this most recently 80 will stay with me for a while.
I went out solidly in 40 - ok, I threw away a double at a very makeable par 5 by leaving my drive out right and having a rush of blood to the head (don't even attempt to hit a green in 2 on a par 5 that you cannot see from your lie). But other than that, it was a tough day on the course. The wind especially made putting and holding lines in the air a complete nightmare.
Cutting to the chase, I hit the 17th tee at +9 (my course from the Gents boxes is 69, Medals is 71). I'd never had the chance to seize before - I had always been chasing a birdie to make the 80 line - so standing up there made me feel pretty in control. All I needed was to play these 2 holes in +1, and I had finally done it. Hit a peach (my soft natural fade) up the 17th (which is a short par 4) to about 115yds - and stiffed a pitching wedge to about 13ft. I have to say it was the best feeling shot I have more than probably hit from that yardage. "Holy crap", I thought, "I'm within birdie distance and I've been lagging it all day". So what the hell do I do? I naturally race the ball 4ft past the hole and promptly 3putt for a 5. To the 18th! (While muttering furiously)
On the 18th box and I'm concentrating on making a full release at the ball - 18 is an elevated tee average length par 4 that opens up a huge green to anyone hitting a draw down there about 260yds. I needed that par, so I had to naturally hit my anti-shot. I can pull it off on the day - and today was no exception. Sure, the ball turned right to left - but it landed on the wrong fairway. D'oh! Hook.
So I'm walking down there, cursing and spluttering at my feet - my mind racing at the next shot. I had about 180 to the green because of the magnitude of this hook (gads, it was big) which had to carry exceptionally tall trees. From my lie, I couldn't see the green - so I had to pace around the trees a few times to look at where I was hitting it. Because of the trees and the nature of the shot (I would have to fade it into the green to have a chance of making it over, because I hit a draw low), I choked down on a 7wood, said a little prayer and just hit the goddamn shot.
...Wow! Crisp contact! Beautiful fade...oh wait...god is it going to make it over...go!...go!...*ball disappears from view*...
It landed on the fringe with a 20fter for birdie.
I was absolutely ecstatic! "This is it! That is the shot that makes you a single figure player!" I was saying to myself over and over as I walked to the green. Surely I can't mislag 2 putts in a row when I've been putting so well to hold onto this dream all day?!
This is the part where I have to remind you, and perhaps myself, that I am playing golf in this story. We all know what the heck happens on that green to me. A little part of me knew that I was going to leave the birdie putt 8ft short. And it was enevitable that my putt for 79 that looked dead in the cup the whole way would lip out and horseshoe back the way it came.
Have you ever had this? Where you just cannot stop shooting the same number? Am I crazy? So I have single-figure phobia? Am I doomed to shoot +10 and above for the rest of my life?
:laugh: It is pretty funny looking back now!