Prodigal Duffer

My final VCT hdcp (9.4) is pretty close to my GHIN index (9.7). Seems like it's a pretty good estimate of current ability. Thanks for your great work, Ben.

Date 10/04/2024 Course Name Split Rail Golf Club Gross Score 84 Course Rating 71.7 Course Slope 127 Gross Strokes over/under par 12 Birdies or better 8 Longest Drive 299 Went straight to the course from work, no warm up. Front nine took me several holes to get sort of get going. Been making a consistent error with driver, and that was very present today. But, I putted really well and this was the first round in a long time where I did not lose strokes on my approach game.

Are you in Tarrant County or Dallas County, and were you called to a specific court?

Yes, a Mon/Tues. Hopefully folks commit and we can meet, even if it’s just a post round beverage.

Date 09/29/2024 Course Name Split Rail Golf Club Gross Score 82 Course Rating 71.7 Course Slope 127 Gross Strokes over/under par 10 Birdies or better 9 Longest Drive 292 This was the view from my back patio today. Great start followed by a great day at the course. Really happy with my round. Been struggling with the driver as of late, and today, it was really good (one hole exception, went in water). My iron play was vastly improved, although still the weak spot. Short game was excellent, putting was close. I had two blow up holes and two three putts. Easy to see a path to breaking 80 again if I can cut down those mistakes.

Posted to the other thread (Texas Meetup) about date and venue.

Count me in for my first MGS special tournament. Hope everyone plays their best.

So, it looks like Oct. 21-22 works for the most people who responded either here or in the scheduling thread. I suggest we play The Bandit in New Braunfels -- pretty centrally located, good rates, lots of lodging and food options, etc. I also propose that we play a Monday afternoon round and a Tuesday morning round. Please respond if you will join us and, if so, which rounds (or both) you will play. Bandit takes tee times two weeks in advance, so I will need commitments by October 4.

Date 09/21/2024 Course Name Oeste Ranch Gross Score 87 Course Rating 72.2 Course Slope 129 Gross Strokes over/under par 16 Birdies or better 4 Longest Drive 301 Struggle bus with the driver until about hole 13. Then, went on a little run. Didn’t have it today and my score was better than bogey. That has been my goal for a while. Getting there!

Quick update: still gaming the Array B-1. Stats since 7/1 have been decent: SG are compared to a 10. Today, I gained over 1.5 strokes putting (round not included in the above stats), and that was with two crappy three-putts. Made two clutch putts between 12 and 15 feet (birdie and save par). So grateful to MGS and Edel for this opportunity and for giving me what is slowly becoming a weapon in my bag.

A pretty wild round, tale of two nines: I had two three putts, but on the back nine, I putted out of my mind. Hit a few 12-15 footers (to save par and to make birdie). Lag putting was good, too. Been working hard on my irons, and in general, I was happy with how I hit them, even though I am still losing strokes. I had only two blow up shots with my irons, but they both cost me a penalty stroke. On the #2 index hole, I hit my approach to 12 feet: Made the putt. A great feeling. This was my second lowest round ever. Glad I didn’t throw in the towel after nine.

Date 09/15/2024 Course Name Split Rail Golf Club Gross Score 82 Course Rating 71.7 Course Slope 127 Gross Strokes over/under par 10 Birdies or better 9 Longest Drive 285 Wild day. First nine, I could not get hardly anything going, kept shooting myself in the foot, etc. But, I made par on the 1, 3, and 7 SI holes. Back nine, I played a lot better, but got hot with a run of par, birdie (on the #2 SI), par, birdie (#8 SI), par to finish with a 37. My SG says I stunk (as usual) on approach, but I felt like in general I hit my irons very well. This was my approach on the #2 SI, which I then canned the 12 footer: And on 17, I came THIS close to driving the green: Getting there. The race in Flight IV is tight and hopefully I can make it a fight to the end (good luck fellow 4s!)

Date 09/08/2024 Course Name Split Rail Golf Club Gross Score 86 Course Rating 71.7 Course Slope 127 Gross Strokes over/under par 14 Birdies or better 6 Longest Drive 311 Randomly got paired with the dad of one my daughter’s teammates. Had a great time with him. Front nine was not horrible, but I had a blow up triple bogey hole and a blow up double bogey hole. Seeing more of my practice translate into my game, but still have a good way to go. I gained strokes in 3 of the 4 facets, but lost almost 4 strokes in approach!

What were the greens fees, and do you think the quality of the courses matched the fees? Looks like a lot of fun.

Great points, @Golf2Much. I like the idea of the anti-cap. Knowing the upper limits of one's game might help manage self-assessment. I don't think I'm better than my bad scores (or at least I hope I don't). I know my potential is better, but a bad day drives me to keep working at the things that kept me from making the kinds of shots I know I can make.