Like last year, there are a few courses that I really feel like should be "must plays" for this year (or sometime in the next 5 years, depending on the location). Let's run through the ones I played from last year's list, and set up new lists for this year.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Aerated Greens
Masters weekend. It always inspires me to get out on the course, even in the sub-par conditions that New England weather usually gives this time of year. But here in 2010 things have been different; although we had drenching rains for several weeks, we've also had warm temperatures, and so it was mid-60s and sunny when I got out for my third round of the year early on Masters Sunday (i.e. before the TV coverage started). Did I have an even par round in me this early in the year? Here's what unfolded....
Pinehills Golf Club (Nicklaus Course), Plymouth, MA - April 11, 2010
I've played the Nicklaus course 5 times before, and I have never played poorly on it. Never. I shot 74 (+2) the first time I played it. "It suits my eye," as they sometimes say. But this was the 3rd round of the year, and -- I'll be honest -- I didn't really keep my skills up at the range this winter in the way that I did last year. So I didn't have high expectations. And to top that off, the greens were aerated 6 days before my round, so putting wasn't going to be smooth. I was there to have fun and enjoy being outside.
It turns out the round was slightly better than I expected.
1 A nice gentle 384 yard par-4 from the Blue tees. After a pretty terrible range session before the round (which consisted of mostly pull-hooks with the driver), I was tempted to hit an iron and just get out there. But like I said, I was there to have fun. So driver it was, and though it wasn't my best shot it did find the fairway about 270 yards out, leaving a 53-degree wedge into the green. I pulled the approach a little but still hit the target, leaving about 30 feet in for birdie. As I said before, the greens were aerated that week -- they weren't in terrible condition, but still a bit bumpy -- and my 1st putt came up about 4 feet short. The 2nd one bounced straight left about 2 inches before reaching the hole. I hate 3 putts. Score: 5. Round: +1.
2 A par 5 that for some reason I always drive the ball left, and I did it again here. I ended up in the rough behind a tree, forcing a punch out, though I was able to advance the ball to about 145 yards short of the green. I hit a nice 8-iron in to about 15 feet and 2 putt for par. Score: 5. Round: +1.
3 A long and challenging par 3, measuring 221 yards, with a large bunker that protects the front center of the green. I hit 2-hybrid dead at the stick (the ball mark was about 2 feet in front) and ended up on the back of the green. My 30 footer just scooted right of the hole at the last minute, and I tapped in for par. Score: 3. Round: +1.
4 The fourth is a nice dogleg left par 4, with a carry over a waste area on the approach to the green. I hit my drive a little more left than I wanted to (and almost rolled into the waste area), but actually ended up with a great angle for another 53-degree wedge approach. Hit the center of the green and 2-putt. Score: 4. Round: +1.
5 The 5th is probably my favorite hole on the course, if only because I've played it well in the past. I hit an ideal drive (first time I really felt comfortable with the driver all day) 290 yards down the center of the fairway, again leaving a gap wedge to the green. Stuck it in there at about 10 feet, but missed the birdie opportunity and settled for par. Score: 4. Round: +1.
6 A nice, slightly uphill dogleg left par 5 that clocks in at 521 yards. The fairway is protected by bunkers shortish left and longish right -- I carried the left bunkers to leave an ideal approach shot. My 4-iron found the right fringe, and I easily 2-putt from there for birdie. Score: 4. Round: E.
7 The first time I played this hole I came the closest I've ever come to a hole-in-one (a topic for another blog?). This time... not so much. My 8-iron came up well short of the green; from there I made a nice pitch up to about 4 feet... but missed the putt when for the 2nd time in the round my ball bounced straight left on an aeration hole. Score: 4. Round: +1.
8 A 361 yard par-4 that plays tough because the green is capped more than most on this course and protected by a deep bunker on the right side. I found the rough left of the fairway on the tee ball, and then the aforementioned bunker greenside. I got out fine, but had 20+ feet for par and had to settle for bogey. Score: 5. Round: +2.
9 Like the 5th, I've always seemed to play this hole well. That was the case again here as I smashed a drive 275 yards right down the middle, leaving just a 60-degree wedge in, and I stuck that to about 5 feet. No bounces left this time. Score: 3. Round: +1.
10 After a quick hot dog, I got right back to driving the ball well -- this one was my best of the day, 305 yards down the middle. Another gap wedge to the middle of the green and 2 putts for par. Score: 4. Round: +1.
11 A sharp dogleg left par 5 that measures 514 yards on the scorecard but plays a lot less than that if you can cut the corner. I was playing with a member at Pinehills who said that when Jim Rice plays there he actually goes straight at the green and often has less than 50 yards left after his drive. I wasn't quite so bold, but did manage to get over the trees and leave about 195 yards. With the pin back and the wind in my face I hit 2-hybrid and found the back of the green. I like 2-putt birdies. Score: 4. Round: E.
12 A tough par 4, playing 436 yards with an approach that is essentially all-carry over a valley between the end of the fairway and the green. I hit my first poor drive in a while -- a pull left, reminiscent of the range earlier. I had about 185 in from the rough and hit 5-iron just onto the front; it had a little cut spin and then took a slope down to the far right of the green (pin was left), leaving a long 50 footer back up the hill. I ran that by the hole 10 feet and missed the come back. I hate 3-putts. Score: 5. Round: +1.
13 A 181-yard par-3 with a somewhat shallow green. I hit 6-iron pin-high but about 20 feet left. For the only time all day, though, the putt found the center of the cup. Score: 2. Round: E.
14 My nemesis hole on the course. I have never made par. It's a short par-4 (just 312 yards) but you can't see the green from the pin because the sight line is protected by a huge mound and there are bunkers on both the right (short) and left (long) of the fairway. On top of that the green is well-bunkered and very shallow. I hit 2-hybrid off the tee and pull-hooked it into a bush. Punched out -- barely; I still didn't have a line to the green. Had to punch it again, this time down in front about 30 yards from the flag. My pitch with my 60-degree hit the stick and bounced away 20 feet. 2 putts. Score: 6. Round: +2.
15 An all-carry 166 yard par-3 over a large waste area. I hit a perfect 9-iron (with the wind) to about 6 feet. Didn't make it. I'd like to blame the aeration, but I think it was the stroke. Score: 3. Round: +2.
16 A dogleg left par 5, and at this point I knew I would probably need eagle here -- 17 and 18 are two of the tougher par-4's on the course. But 16 is a great opportunity. The tee is highly elevated, which gives a big advantage to any effort to cut the corner. The wind was favorable. In a similar situation in the past I'd managed to get my drive to the 150 yard markers. I picked my line and gave a great swing -- just a little draw, high trajectory... but pulled just a shade more than I wanted. There was no way to know if it made it or not, so I ended up hitting a provisional out safely (sort of -- it was in the fairway trap straight out). When we got around the corner there was no ball in the fairway, which meant I didn't make it. I did find it, just past the tree line, presumably after trickling through a few branches. I was able to advance it but had no shot at the green; ended up in a bunker about 50 yards out. From there I hit the green and made a long lag up to tap in distance for par. Score: 5. Round: +2.
17 Birdie-birdie? It would take a better drive than I hit. The pull-hook was back, and I was blocked out behind a mound and trees. I hit a low 7-iron to well right of the green, then chunked a pitch into a bunker, but did get up and down from there. Score: 5. Round: +3. Mission: Failed.
18 At least I didn't fold. Perfect drive down the middle, 290 yards. Easy gap wedge to the front of the green. 2 putts. Score: 4. Round: +3.
Was it another "round that could have been?" Of course. (Aren't they all?) Without aeration marks, would I have made 3-4 more putts? I think I might have. I know this -- I have never hit my irons that well. I hit 14 greens -- 3 more than I have ever hit before. I drove the ball great in the middle of the round, but so-so on the bookends. If only for that damn 14th hole.
It is going to happen. Someday.
Pinehills Golf Club (Nicklaus Course), Plymouth, MA - April 11, 2010
I've played the Nicklaus course 5 times before, and I have never played poorly on it. Never. I shot 74 (+2) the first time I played it. "It suits my eye," as they sometimes say. But this was the 3rd round of the year, and -- I'll be honest -- I didn't really keep my skills up at the range this winter in the way that I did last year. So I didn't have high expectations. And to top that off, the greens were aerated 6 days before my round, so putting wasn't going to be smooth. I was there to have fun and enjoy being outside.
It turns out the round was slightly better than I expected.
1 A nice gentle 384 yard par-4 from the Blue tees. After a pretty terrible range session before the round (which consisted of mostly pull-hooks with the driver), I was tempted to hit an iron and just get out there. But like I said, I was there to have fun. So driver it was, and though it wasn't my best shot it did find the fairway about 270 yards out, leaving a 53-degree wedge into the green. I pulled the approach a little but still hit the target, leaving about 30 feet in for birdie. As I said before, the greens were aerated that week -- they weren't in terrible condition, but still a bit bumpy -- and my 1st putt came up about 4 feet short. The 2nd one bounced straight left about 2 inches before reaching the hole. I hate 3 putts. Score: 5. Round: +1.
2 A par 5 that for some reason I always drive the ball left, and I did it again here. I ended up in the rough behind a tree, forcing a punch out, though I was able to advance the ball to about 145 yards short of the green. I hit a nice 8-iron in to about 15 feet and 2 putt for par. Score: 5. Round: +1.
3 A long and challenging par 3, measuring 221 yards, with a large bunker that protects the front center of the green. I hit 2-hybrid dead at the stick (the ball mark was about 2 feet in front) and ended up on the back of the green. My 30 footer just scooted right of the hole at the last minute, and I tapped in for par. Score: 3. Round: +1.
4 The fourth is a nice dogleg left par 4, with a carry over a waste area on the approach to the green. I hit my drive a little more left than I wanted to (and almost rolled into the waste area), but actually ended up with a great angle for another 53-degree wedge approach. Hit the center of the green and 2-putt. Score: 4. Round: +1.
5 The 5th is probably my favorite hole on the course, if only because I've played it well in the past. I hit an ideal drive (first time I really felt comfortable with the driver all day) 290 yards down the center of the fairway, again leaving a gap wedge to the green. Stuck it in there at about 10 feet, but missed the birdie opportunity and settled for par. Score: 4. Round: +1.
6 A nice, slightly uphill dogleg left par 5 that clocks in at 521 yards. The fairway is protected by bunkers shortish left and longish right -- I carried the left bunkers to leave an ideal approach shot. My 4-iron found the right fringe, and I easily 2-putt from there for birdie. Score: 4. Round: E.
7 The first time I played this hole I came the closest I've ever come to a hole-in-one (a topic for another blog?). This time... not so much. My 8-iron came up well short of the green; from there I made a nice pitch up to about 4 feet... but missed the putt when for the 2nd time in the round my ball bounced straight left on an aeration hole. Score: 4. Round: +1.
8 A 361 yard par-4 that plays tough because the green is capped more than most on this course and protected by a deep bunker on the right side. I found the rough left of the fairway on the tee ball, and then the aforementioned bunker greenside. I got out fine, but had 20+ feet for par and had to settle for bogey. Score: 5. Round: +2.
9 Like the 5th, I've always seemed to play this hole well. That was the case again here as I smashed a drive 275 yards right down the middle, leaving just a 60-degree wedge in, and I stuck that to about 5 feet. No bounces left this time. Score: 3. Round: +1.
10 After a quick hot dog, I got right back to driving the ball well -- this one was my best of the day, 305 yards down the middle. Another gap wedge to the middle of the green and 2 putts for par. Score: 4. Round: +1.
11 A sharp dogleg left par 5 that measures 514 yards on the scorecard but plays a lot less than that if you can cut the corner. I was playing with a member at Pinehills who said that when Jim Rice plays there he actually goes straight at the green and often has less than 50 yards left after his drive. I wasn't quite so bold, but did manage to get over the trees and leave about 195 yards. With the pin back and the wind in my face I hit 2-hybrid and found the back of the green. I like 2-putt birdies. Score: 4. Round: E.
12 A tough par 4, playing 436 yards with an approach that is essentially all-carry over a valley between the end of the fairway and the green. I hit my first poor drive in a while -- a pull left, reminiscent of the range earlier. I had about 185 in from the rough and hit 5-iron just onto the front; it had a little cut spin and then took a slope down to the far right of the green (pin was left), leaving a long 50 footer back up the hill. I ran that by the hole 10 feet and missed the come back. I hate 3-putts. Score: 5. Round: +1.
13 A 181-yard par-3 with a somewhat shallow green. I hit 6-iron pin-high but about 20 feet left. For the only time all day, though, the putt found the center of the cup. Score: 2. Round: E.
14 My nemesis hole on the course. I have never made par. It's a short par-4 (just 312 yards) but you can't see the green from the pin because the sight line is protected by a huge mound and there are bunkers on both the right (short) and left (long) of the fairway. On top of that the green is well-bunkered and very shallow. I hit 2-hybrid off the tee and pull-hooked it into a bush. Punched out -- barely; I still didn't have a line to the green. Had to punch it again, this time down in front about 30 yards from the flag. My pitch with my 60-degree hit the stick and bounced away 20 feet. 2 putts. Score: 6. Round: +2.
15 An all-carry 166 yard par-3 over a large waste area. I hit a perfect 9-iron (with the wind) to about 6 feet. Didn't make it. I'd like to blame the aeration, but I think it was the stroke. Score: 3. Round: +2.
16 A dogleg left par 5, and at this point I knew I would probably need eagle here -- 17 and 18 are two of the tougher par-4's on the course. But 16 is a great opportunity. The tee is highly elevated, which gives a big advantage to any effort to cut the corner. The wind was favorable. In a similar situation in the past I'd managed to get my drive to the 150 yard markers. I picked my line and gave a great swing -- just a little draw, high trajectory... but pulled just a shade more than I wanted. There was no way to know if it made it or not, so I ended up hitting a provisional out safely (sort of -- it was in the fairway trap straight out). When we got around the corner there was no ball in the fairway, which meant I didn't make it. I did find it, just past the tree line, presumably after trickling through a few branches. I was able to advance it but had no shot at the green; ended up in a bunker about 50 yards out. From there I hit the green and made a long lag up to tap in distance for par. Score: 5. Round: +2.
17 Birdie-birdie? It would take a better drive than I hit. The pull-hook was back, and I was blocked out behind a mound and trees. I hit a low 7-iron to well right of the green, then chunked a pitch into a bunker, but did get up and down from there. Score: 5. Round: +3. Mission: Failed.
18 At least I didn't fold. Perfect drive down the middle, 290 yards. Easy gap wedge to the front of the green. 2 putts. Score: 4. Round: +3.
Was it another "round that could have been?" Of course. (Aren't they all?) Without aeration marks, would I have made 3-4 more putts? I think I might have. I know this -- I have never hit my irons that well. I hit 14 greens -- 3 more than I have ever hit before. I drove the ball great in the middle of the round, but so-so on the bookends. If only for that damn 14th hole.
It is going to happen. Someday.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The 2009 Recap
The short version: It didn't happen.
It turns out that Friday was just the prelude. Saturday I made a tee time at Red Tail Golf Club, which had just hosted the U.S. Women's Public Links tournament the week before (the USGA tee markers were still out, which was fun to see). It clocks in at just over 7000 yards from the tips, with a 73.9 rating and a 138 slope. I started out with a bogey, followed by 4 pars, a bogey, and another par -- +2 after 7. Then the fun began. 8 is a short par 3 (323 yards), and I hit a perfect drive about 290 to the left (proper) side of the fairway, followed by any easy pitch to 5 feet that led to birdie. 9 is the opposite -- a monster 461 yard par 4 that starts out very narrow and plays uphill to a heavily contoured green. But, for the 2nd time in a row on that hole, I hit a great drive and then played an approach off the slope on the right side of the green that funneled the ball down toward the hole for a tap in birdie. Even par through 9. A few small blemishes (a painful 3-putt bogey on the par-3 11th, and another bogey on the challenging par-4 14th) meant that I was +2 standing on the tee of the par-5 18th hole. It was at this point that my dad jinxed the round (no doubt) by saying, "Have an eagle in you?" Now, the 18th is really a beautiful hole -- 572 yards, mostly downhill, but with an approach over a pond to a fairly deep green that is reminiscent of the closing hole at Bay Hill. I hit an absolutely perfect drive: 335 yards (remember, it's downhill), right down the center of the fairway. So I was left with one shot, 240 yards, had to carry it all, and then worry about the putt later. The pin position was favorable -- on the front left of the green -- which meant I didn't have to contend with the entire pond and had a little less carry. I hit 2-hybrid, trying for just a little fade so it would land gently... but I overcut it just a hair, and found the water. After the penalty, a flop and 2 putts I made 6, for a +3 round of 75. It was easily the greatest round I'd ever played, and this close to even par.
The slightly longer version: It almost did.
I put a real charge at even par over a 3 day stretch that can only be described as the greatest golf weekend of my life. I got out of work a little early on Friday -- and it was mid-July, so the day was long -- so I managed to squeeze in a quick 18 at Granite Links, which last year was named to Golf Digest's Top 100 Public Courses list (#73). It was, to be sure, an inconsistent round -- started out bogey-bogey-bogey-birdie-bogey. Any chance of reaching the goal was dashed with an ugly double-bogey on the 9th hole, closing the front side at +5. However, things did turn around quickly on the par-5 10th (1st hole on the Granite 9): after a lay-up off the elevated tee just short of the hazard with my 2-hybrid, I smoked a perfect 4-iron to the center of the green and made the putt for an eagle to get back to +3. But too little too late -- 3 bogeys and one more birdie on the back side left me even on the back but +5 overall.
It turns out that Friday was just the prelude. Saturday I made a tee time at Red Tail Golf Club, which had just hosted the U.S. Women's Public Links tournament the week before (the USGA tee markers were still out, which was fun to see). It clocks in at just over 7000 yards from the tips, with a 73.9 rating and a 138 slope. I started out with a bogey, followed by 4 pars, a bogey, and another par -- +2 after 7. Then the fun began. 8 is a short par 3 (323 yards), and I hit a perfect drive about 290 to the left (proper) side of the fairway, followed by any easy pitch to 5 feet that led to birdie. 9 is the opposite -- a monster 461 yard par 4 that starts out very narrow and plays uphill to a heavily contoured green. But, for the 2nd time in a row on that hole, I hit a great drive and then played an approach off the slope on the right side of the green that funneled the ball down toward the hole for a tap in birdie. Even par through 9. A few small blemishes (a painful 3-putt bogey on the par-3 11th, and another bogey on the challenging par-4 14th) meant that I was +2 standing on the tee of the par-5 18th hole. It was at this point that my dad jinxed the round (no doubt) by saying, "Have an eagle in you?" Now, the 18th is really a beautiful hole -- 572 yards, mostly downhill, but with an approach over a pond to a fairly deep green that is reminiscent of the closing hole at Bay Hill. I hit an absolutely perfect drive: 335 yards (remember, it's downhill), right down the center of the fairway. So I was left with one shot, 240 yards, had to carry it all, and then worry about the putt later. The pin position was favorable -- on the front left of the green -- which meant I didn't have to contend with the entire pond and had a little less carry. I hit 2-hybrid, trying for just a little fade so it would land gently... but I overcut it just a hair, and found the water. After the penalty, a flop and 2 putts I made 6, for a +3 round of 75. It was easily the greatest round I'd ever played, and this close to even par.
The 18th hole at Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, MA.
I finished the weekend on Sunday at Acushnet River Valley Golf Course. Secretly, this is one of the best values in Massachusetts. For the second day in a row I was even par on the front (2 bogies, 2 birdies), and then ran into a bit of trouble on the back with 3 bogies in the first 5 holes). So I needed 3 birdies with 4 holes left, and no par-5's. The 15th is a short par-4 (292 yards), so of course I went for it... and badly pushed my drive out to the right, narrowly avoiding a bunker. But I then stuck the approach to about 3 feet and made birdie to get back to +2. On 16 I made a conventional par (had about 30-40 feet on the birdie try that never really had a chance), so I was still +2 with 2 to play. I needed a birdie on the par-3 17th, but my 5-iron missed the green, and I settled for an up-and-down par. On 18, no longer having any chance at achieving the mission, I hit really my only terrible shot of the day, a dead pull drive into the woods. I had to punch out, and from there hit a decent shot to about 20 feet... and made a saving putt to close at +2.
So in summary I shot +5, +3, and +2 over a 3-day stretch. My handicap index went from 6.7 to 5.2. I played 3 nines -- one each day -- at even par. You can always say, "What if?" but rarely is it ever so true. Dad's fault (obviously).
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