Precursors to main events of the day included lunch with Eric and MiMi, as well as lounging around the house and listening to my iPod while I packed up some more stuff.
At about 4:45 p.m., Eric, my Dad, and I teed off of The Short Course at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. One thing that I have enjoyed about this summer is that I have been able to play a lot of golf, something that I have not had a lot of time to do during the past 4 years. The Short Course is and 18-hole-all-par 3 course, with even par being an obvious 54. It presents a good opportunity to work on the ever challenging short game of a golfer. I came out blazing today, shooting +1 on the first 5 holes. I don't think I hit a single green on those 5 holes, but I was scrambling like crazy. My sand wedge was deadly accurate, and my bump-and-run with a 7 iron was also working extremely well.
This bump-and-run shot is one that I have only recently figuratively added to my bag of shots, and I have found that in situations where I am just off the side of the green or instances where I am further off the green but I have a downhill approach to the green, it allows me to be consistently more accurate.
After the first 5 holes, I cooled off a little bit and ended up +9 over the front 9. I continued this cooling off phase at the start of the back 9, and my Dad started to heat up. I think at one point he had me by about 7 strokes or so. I was hitting my irons pretty solid all day, and I hit about or 7 of the greens in regulation. However, I had a trend going of making par on a hole and following it with a double bogey or two before regaining focus.
With 2 holes left to play, my dad stated that he was up 5 strokes on me. I had just come off a blow up hole in which I took a double par because I had some trouble getting out of the sand. I was determined to calm down, re-focus, and try to par out in hopes of a tie or a win (I was also hoping my dad would choke and make a double bogey on the last 2 holes).
Hole #17 was a par 3, 135 yards, mainly flat, and I elected to take my 9 iron off the tee. I hit a beautiful shot that faded slightly to align itself with the pin, and I found myself 15 feet away from the pin. After lining up the put, I played a 1 ft break to the left and.....drano! Birdie! My dad took a double bogey, and I had cut the lead down to 2 strokes.
Hole #18 was a par 3, 125 yards, mainly flat, with a difficult pin location on a skinny part of the green that jutted out of the back right hand corner. Knowing that I had to gain 2 strokes on this hole, I had to go straight for the pin instead of playing for the large part of the green which would lead to a longer put. I pulled out my pitching wedge, made good contact, and landed it on the skinny part by about 6 inches, leaving me 15 feet from the hole. My Dad landed on the fat part of the green, but left a monster of a put. He putted first and misjudged the downhill speed leaving him 15 feet past the hole. After leaving his next put short I putted, and came about about 6 feet short. His next put was for the win, and he barely missed it, followed by a tap in and a 5 for the hole. This meant that I had a 6 ft put for the tie! After a few deep breaths and some practice strokes, I putted, and...drano! Tie! Come from behind, 5 strokes in 2 holes!
Later on, I had a friendly debate with my parents about euthanasia, and all that know me know my opinion on the issue. Tomorrow will be another relaxing day. I will definitely go on a ride tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment