Popular Post GolfSpy Barbajo Posted September 4, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted September 4, 2017 Played as a single at Crystal Lake Golf Course in Lakeville, MN today - one of the last times I'll play it before we move east. It's a fun course, always in great shape and well conditioned - not overly long but you do need to think your way through it. Breaking 80 is really the Holy Grail for golfers - I guess it validates you as a playah. I can remember trying like hell to break 80 and how good it felt once it happened - so good that you wanted it again. It's really hard to break 80 for the first time, but once you do, the floodgates open and you can do it more often, to the point that anything over 80 on y our home course feels like a lousy round. Anyway, I was paired up with another single - a kid (I call him a kid, he's 37) named Paul. Sometimes when you hook up with someone on the course you just know it's going to be a good day. Paul told me about how his family fled Cambodia and the genocide of the Khmer Rouge when he was only 4, and then lived in a refugee camp in Thailand until they were finally able to come to the US when he was about 7. We talked about parenthood and being married to German women (they forget NOTHING. They remember stuff that hasn't even happened yet!). Anyway, Paul showed to be a pretty decent ball striker but told me he had never broken 80 - and that was his goal. He'd been close - 82 was the lowest - but you could tell is was something he wanted. Paul finished the front 9 at 6 over par - so he had 2 strokes to play with (Crystal is a Par 71). He saved par on 9 with a great up and down, but he didn't like his chances. I told him to take it one shot at a time and you never know. On the back 9, Paul started par-par-birdie-birdie-birdie -- the first time he had ever had 2 birdies in a row, let alone 3! On the par 4 15th he flew his approach about 35 feet long and left his first putt about 7 feet short - and drained it to save par. On 16 he hit driver (not a driver hole) and put it in the weeds of a creek that cut through the fairway. We found it and he did have a shot - and hit the thing about as hard as he could with a wedge and hit the green, leaving an uphill 30 footer. I could tell he started gripping the putter a little tighter because he left his first putt about 15 feet short. Well son of a gun if he didn't drain that one to save par. Paul had a 3-putt bogey on 17 (again, a stranglehold on the putter) so when we got to 18 I mentioned it looked like he was gripping the putter a little tight. He hit a nice drive into the fairway and then his approach to about 18 feet, with a sidehill uphill putt. Again, he left it about 7 feet short - he said he might have gripped it a little tight, and then drained that putt to save par - finishing the 9 at 2-under. We waked off the green and he tallied up his score - an 80 shattering 76. I've never seen a guy so happy with a score ever - he wanted me to sign the card and attest the score so he could show it to his buddies. Dude was walking on air! And the thing is, I had almost as much fun watching Paul shoot his 76 as he did shooting it. What a great moment and it reminds me why this game is so much fun. I told Paul about the forums and I hope he joins up. You guys would like him. There was one downside - he beat me by a stroke! Bags, mooremikea, revkev and 35 others 38 Quote What's in the bag: Driver: TSR3; DynaPWR Carbon FW Wood: DynaPWR 3-wood; TSR 2+ Hybrids: PXG Gen4 18-degree Utility Irons: ZX MkII 20* Irons:; 699/699 Pro V2 Combo; D9 Forged; MT86 (coming soon!); VIP 1025 V-Foil MB/CB; Wedges: RTX6 Zipcore Putter: HB Soft Milled 10.5; Newport Special Select; Willamette, BB8; 8802; MATI Monto Ball: Tour B RXS; Z-STAR Diamond; Triad Stat Tracker/GPS Watch: Follow @golfspybarbajo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bags Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Played as a single at Crystal Lake Golf Course in Lakeville, MN today - one of the last times I'll play it before we move east. It's a fun course, always in great shape and well conditioned - not overly long but you do need to think your way through it. Anyway, I was paired up with another single - a kid (I call him a kid, he's 37) named Paul. Sometimes when you hook up with someone on the course you just know it's going to be a good day. Anyway, Paul told me about how his family fled Cambodia and the genocide of the Khmer Rouge when he was only 4, and then lived in a refugee camp in Thailand until they were finally able to come to the US when he was about 7. We talked about parenthood and being married to German women (they forget NOTHING. They remember stuff that hasn't even happened yet!). Anyway, Paul showed to be a pretty decent ball striker but told me he had never broke 80 - and that was his goal. He'd been close - 82 was the lowest - but you could tell is was something he wanted. Paul finished the front 9 at 6 over par - so he had 2 strokes to play with (Crystal is a Par 71). He saved a great par on 9 with a great up and down, but he didn't like his chances. I told him to take it one shot at a time and you never know. On the back 9, Paul started par-par-birdie-birdie-birdie. On the par 4 15th he flew his approach about 35 feet long and left his first putt about 7 feet short - and drained it to save par. On 16 he hit driver (not a driver hole) and put it in the weeds of a creek that cut through the fairway. We found it and he did have a shot - and hit the thing about as hard as he could with a wedge and hit the green, leaving an uphill 30 footer. I could tell he started gripping the putter a little tighter because he left his first putt about 15 feet short. Well son of a gun if he didn't drain that one to save par. Paul had a 3-putt bogey on 17 (again, a stranglehold on the putter) so when we got to 18 I mentioned it looked like he was gripping the putter a little tight. He hit a nice drive into the fairway and then his approach to about 18 feet, with a sidehill uphill putt. Again, he left it about 7 feet short - he said he might have gripped it a little tight, and then drained that putt to save par - finishing the 9 at 2-under. We waked off the green and he tallied up his score - an 80 shattering 76. I've never seen a guy so happy with a score ever - he wanted me to sign the card and attest the score so he could show it to his buddies. Dude was walking on air! And the thing is, I had almost as much fun watching Paul shoot his 76 as he did shooting it. What a great moment and it reminds me why this game is so much fun. I told Paul about the forums and I hope he joins up. You guys would like him. There was one downside - he beat me by a stroke! Awesome story just great what makes golf greatest game EVER!! Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy cksurfdude, Flipper554, Hackabilly and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaksy68 Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Great story John. It's amazing how often guys who've never broken 80 smash through it when they finally do. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy Rickp, Bags, silver & black and 2 others 5 Quote 849 Pro Evenflow Riptide 6.0 F8 3 & 5 Woods Project X Evenflow Blue 6.0 TS2 7 Wood Project X Evenflow Blue 6.0 MP18 MMC - Project X LZ 5.5 Zipcore Wedges 50,54,58 - Project X LZ 5.5 MLA Tour Mallet 33" Z Star Pioneer bag buggy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty1885 Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Well told story. I still remember the first time I broke all the milestones. Breaking 80 was the sweetest. silver & black, Flipper554, cksurfdude and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surinta1 Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Paul is one of my good friends and is very dedicated to the game.. I am all so glad he was able to break 80 let alone hit 76 - I am 😱. Thanks for keeping him company because we could not join him earlier today. Paul is very excited and the group messages has yet to stop and now that we've read this article, I can say I believe him!! Nice shooting paul and do it when we are around next time buddy Rusty1885, cksurfdude, jpcgolf and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revkev Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 What a great story and wonderful thread. My lowest round ever was totally over shadowed by my league teammate breaking 80 a number of years back. He had done it before. What made this remarkable was that he had significantly advanced Parkinson's. His putter head was shaking through the ball and the thing was still going in. Thanks for reminding us about how much fun the game is! Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy Hackabilly, cksurfdude, GolfSpy Barbajo and 3 others 6 Quote Driver: Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60 R flex - 44.25 Fairways: Ping G410 5, 7, 9 wood Alta CB red 65 R flex Hybrid: Ping G410 26 degree Alta CB Red 70 R flex Irons: Ping G430 7-PW, 45, 50 Alta CB black 65 soft R flex Wedges: Ping 195 S54, E58 Wedges and irons are - 1/2” and one degree flat Putter: Sacks Parente Duke 32.5” Ball: Titleist Pro VI or Callaway Chrome Soft X ls While not at the same time I was fit for every club in my bag as well as the Pro VI ball. I use the chrome soft x ls on my league course. It has much softer softer greens than the club that I belong to. I’m on a mission to shoot my age - lifetime lowest round is 66 and I’m currently 67. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josmi15 Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Great story, happy for Paul! It does wonders for personal morale when you accomplish your goal. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy cksurfdude 1 Quote PING G425 SFT 10.5 Ben Hogan GS53 3 Wood PING G425 MAX 5 Wood Cobra Fly Z 3 Hybrid PING G30 5-PW Cleveland RTX 3.0 50/10 V-MG Cleveland RTX 3.0 54/14 V-FG Cleveland RTX 3.0 58/12 V -FG EVNROLL ER-3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STUDque Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 That's great for Paul. I'm in the breaking 80 hunt myself. It's crazy how quickly shots can add up and put you out of contention. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy Quote In my Pisa, riding on a 3.5+ G410+ EXS 5W King F7 Hy i500 5-GW Equalizer 56/60 Heppler Ketsch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfJunkie302 Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Great story -- thanks for sharing! Sent from my SM-T580 using MyGolfSpy mobile app Quote 2017 M1 460, Project X HZRDUS Black 6.0 JPX EZ 3 wood Fly-Z 4H MP-60, 3i-PW, True Temper Dynamic Gold S5 54° & 58°, True Temper Dynamic Gold California Monterey Pro V1x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reesedw Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Great story. Congrats to paul.. Sent from my SM-G900V using MyGolfSpy mobile app Quote Dave- Follow me on twitter @GolfCrazyWA and on Instagram @GolfcrazyWA WITB: Cobra Ultralite Cart Bag Titleist TSR3 Hzrdus Black 65g shaft Cobra F8+ 3wd Hzrdus Red 65g shaft Cobra 3 hybrid Rogue Pro 75g Shaft Cobra 4 hybrid Rogue Pro 75g Shaft Cobra F8 irons 5-GW KBS tour 90 stiff shafts Cobra King Black Wedge 54* Cleveland RTX Zipcore Wedge 58* Snake Eyes Viper Putter. Ball: Taylormade TP-5X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canucklehead Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Awesome for him!! A couple weeks ago I shot my personal best of 77, NINE strokes better than my previous best. Was pretty over the moon when I tallied up my final score! I also found my last few holes I was holding the putter a little tight, and hit the ground before the ball a few times because I knew I had a good score going. Sent from my E6853 using MyGolfSpy mobile app Flipper554, ddryan, silver & black and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyscout Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 That's fantastic. I played with a buddy this week. He shot 2-over 74 for a life low. He was even on the 17th tee, but some shaky putting, like Paul, betrayed him at the end. He followed it up with a 99 yesterday. He was a mess right from the beginning and his expectations were way too high. Good luck and thanks for sharing. Sent from my Pixel XL using MyGolfSpy mobile app GolfSpy Barbajo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miboy62 Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Great read, Congrats! 80 is a magic number for sure. Quote ZX5 MKII LS 8.5 Stealth 2 plus 3 wood Stealth 2 plus 5 wood Stealth 2 plus 19.5 Hybrid ZX5 MKll 5 / AW Dart stiff MG3 black 52 9b 58 12b 7.5 Phantom 34” Z Star Diamond 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfSpy Barbajo Posted September 4, 2017 Author Share Posted September 4, 2017 That's fantastic. I played with a buddy this week. He shot 2-over 74 for a life low. He was even on the 17th tee, but some shaky putting, like Paul, betrayed him at the end. He followed it up with a 99 yesterday. He was a mess right from the beginning and his expectations were way too high. Good luck and thanks for sharing. Sent from my Pixel XL using MyGolfSpy mobile app 74 followed by 99 - a reminder of why we don't do this for a living. We'd have skinny kids if we did! Flipper554, ddryan, cksurfdude and 3 others 6 Quote What's in the bag: Driver: TSR3; DynaPWR Carbon FW Wood: DynaPWR 3-wood; TSR 2+ Hybrids: PXG Gen4 18-degree Utility Irons: ZX MkII 20* Irons:; 699/699 Pro V2 Combo; D9 Forged; MT86 (coming soon!); VIP 1025 V-Foil MB/CB; Wedges: RTX6 Zipcore Putter: HB Soft Milled 10.5; Newport Special Select; Willamette, BB8; 8802; MATI Monto Ball: Tour B RXS; Z-STAR Diamond; Triad Stat Tracker/GPS Watch: Follow @golfspybarbajo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lou mcconaughey Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Great story. Now he has a new goal. 75. I guess we all love to break goal. Mine is 67. I've shot 70 twice. I doubt it will happen now that I've reached the age of 70 but you now I'm still a single digit handicap. Love those goals. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy cksurfdude and Canucklehead 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemclub Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Great story and congrats Paul! This is bringing back memories, but more to do with the rounds that followed my sub 80 round. A slew of mid to high-80's rounds that crashed me back down to earth. I think I just put too much pressure on myself to hit 70's every time I went out. Barbajo, moving away from MN? Headed back to NE? GolfSpy Barbajo 1 Quote Bag: Bennington Quiet Organizer 9-Lite (link) Cart: 3.5+ Driver: F9 speedback, Accra iWood Woods: Sonartec GS Tour 14*, Fujikura Six S DI: T-MB 2 iron, KBS Tour-V 120 X, Irons: PP-9003SN 4-GW, Nippon 1150GH Stiff Wedges: 1957 K-grind SW, LW, Nippon 1150GH Stiff Putter: EXO Indianapolis (link) Ball: MTB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfSpy Barbajo Posted September 4, 2017 Author Share Posted September 4, 2017 Barbajo, moving away from MN? Headed back to NE? Yes indeed -- moving to Exeter, NH as soon as we can sell the house. Wife is moving with nearly all our stuff in a couple of weeks. I'm here until closing or first snow -- whichever comes first. Quote What's in the bag: Driver: TSR3; DynaPWR Carbon FW Wood: DynaPWR 3-wood; TSR 2+ Hybrids: PXG Gen4 18-degree Utility Irons: ZX MkII 20* Irons:; 699/699 Pro V2 Combo; D9 Forged; MT86 (coming soon!); VIP 1025 V-Foil MB/CB; Wedges: RTX6 Zipcore Putter: HB Soft Milled 10.5; Newport Special Select; Willamette, BB8; 8802; MATI Monto Ball: Tour B RXS; Z-STAR Diamond; Triad Stat Tracker/GPS Watch: Follow @golfspybarbajo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Theoo Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Yes indeed -- moving to Exeter, NH as soon as we can sell the house. Wife is moving with nearly all our stuff in a couple of weeks. I'm here until closing or first snow -- whichever comes first. So like 3 more days Since it's in MN? Canucklehead, Flipper554, STUDque and 3 others 6 Quote Driver: Epic 10.5 set to 9.5 w/ Tour AD-DI 44.5 FW: F6 baffler set at 16º Hybrid: NONEIrons: 3i 2014 TP CB 4-PW 2011 TP MC w/ TT S400 Wedges: 52º 56º 60 º w/ KBS C-Taper XS Soft-stepped Putter: Sigma G Tyne 34 inches Gold dot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfSpy Barbajo Posted September 5, 2017 Author Share Posted September 5, 2017 So like 3 more days Since it's in MN? Har har.... We actually had courses open this past February - and in the past they've stayed open until Thanksgiving. A little cold never hurt anyone... Quote What's in the bag: Driver: TSR3; DynaPWR Carbon FW Wood: DynaPWR 3-wood; TSR 2+ Hybrids: PXG Gen4 18-degree Utility Irons: ZX MkII 20* Irons:; 699/699 Pro V2 Combo; D9 Forged; MT86 (coming soon!); VIP 1025 V-Foil MB/CB; Wedges: RTX6 Zipcore Putter: HB Soft Milled 10.5; Newport Special Select; Willamette, BB8; 8802; MATI Monto Ball: Tour B RXS; Z-STAR Diamond; Triad Stat Tracker/GPS Watch: Follow @golfspybarbajo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny B Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 Yes indeed -- moving to Exeter, NH as soon as we can sell the house. Wife is moving with nearly all our stuff in a couple of weeks. I'm here until closing or first snow -- whichever comes first. I had a shot at getting to Minneapolis, but NH is probably out of the question. Hope you can make it out west again some day. Best of luck with the move. Have you found a course to play yet?? Quote “We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hckymeyer Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 Yes indeed -- moving to Exeter, NH as soon as we can sell the house. Wife is moving with nearly all our stuff in a couple of weeks. I'm here until closing or first snow -- whichever comes first. When you say nearly all your stuff does that mean it doesn't count all the upcoming trips to 2nd Swing so you can stock up on clubs? Also great story! Somehow when you're playing with someone breaking a milestone it doesn't seem to matter what's going on with your own game. It's just fun to watch and be around and you get caught up in the excitement. Rickp, Mr_Theoo, Bags and 1 other 4 Quote Driver: SLDR w/ Fujikura Ventus Black 3w: '16 M2 hl w/ Diamana D+ 82 5w: Launcher HB w/ HZRDUS Yellow Hybrid: 22 deg. Launcher HB w/ HZRDUS Black Irons: 5i - gap Launcher CBX w/ Nippon Modus 3 125 Wedges: 54 CBX & 58 Zipcore w/ Nippon Modus 3 125 Putter: Red 7s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sluggo42 Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 Yup it does seem to happen more after the first one. Doesn't seem to work that way with breaking 70 though... Flipper554 1 Quote TSr2 on tensi blue stiff Speedzone 3-wood on Tensi blue S Epic Max 5 and 7 woods on HZRDUS Reg flex Paradym 9 wood on HZRDUS reg flex P770 / P790 combo set on Ventus R-6 shafts 6-AW T22 Denim Copper 54°, 58° on Kinetic X Trajectory ER3 or, E.A.S. #4 (“Fang” or “Adele”) ProV1x, or, Maxfli Tour X .Org 14 cart bag Adidas Tour 360 , or Sketcher shoes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cksurfdude Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Yeah, great story, John! And a big CONGRATS!!! to Paul! But that's really one of the things that makes golf different .. when you get paired up with someone and are spending a few hours with them outdoors, you never know what sort of interesting and unique person you have just run into. GolfSpy Barbajo, Bags and Flipper554 3 Quote WITB of an "aspiring" play-ah ... Driver...Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Max (Grafalloy ProLaunch Blue 45/A) 3H...Cobra King Tec (MMT 70/R) 7W...Tour Edge Exotics EXS (Tensei CK Blue 50/R) 4H...Callaway Epic Super Hybrid (Recoil ZT9 F3) 5H...Callaway Big Bertha '19 (Recoil 460 ESX F3) 6i-GW...Sub 70 699 V2 (Recoil 660 F3) SW, LW...Mizuno ES21 54-08, 60-06 (KBS Hi Rev 2.0) Putter...MLA Tour XDream or EvnRoll ER5 ...all in a Bag Boy hybrid bag on an MGI Zip Navigator. ..ball often, not always, MaxFli Tour. Or "found" Pro V1. Forum Member tester for the Paradym X driver (2023) Forum Member tester for the ExPutt Putting Simulator (2020) Other tests: MLA putter; Cleveland Hi Bore driver; Ben Hogan hybrids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flipper554 Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Yup it does seem to happen more after the first one. Doesn't seem to work that way with breaking 70 though... Got that right. Could probably do a topic on the messed up world of breaking 70. It messed me up for couple of weeks. Bags 1 Quote Driver: Taylormade QI10 3W: Taylormade QI10 5W: Taylormade QI10 Hybrid Taylormade 4 QI10 Irons: 5 to LW Taylormade Stealth Putter: Taylormade Spider Tour Ball: Taylormade TP Bag: Hot Z Canadian flag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddryan Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Yeah, great story, John! And a big CONGRATS!!! to Paul! But that's really one of the things that makes golf different .. when you get paired up with someone and are spending a few hours with them outdoors, you never know what sort of interesting and unique person you have just run into. Interesting thought- and reminds me of a time in my younger, more "emotional" days, I was playing at Ft Campbell, KY on a particular Saturday, and I was paired with an older gentleman and we headed directly to the first tee. The first three or four holes were an absolute disaster for me- perhaps three lost balls, no control (granted I was recently getting back in the game after having spent 3 years in Germany and no golf). My language was quite colorful- I probably ran through every word that I knew, a few foreign words, and was on the verge of inventing a few more... We arrived at the first par 3 (4th hole, I think, a significantly uphill par 3), the group ahead of us was still on the green. As we waited for the green to clear, the older gentleman with whom I had been partnered formally introduced himself. He said - "My name is Bob, I take it you are stationed here at Ft Campbell?" I said, "yes, my name is Drew, and I am in First Brigade... (one of three Infantry Brigades within the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) stationed at Ft Campbell.) He nodded with understanding- and a pause, which prompted me to ask "And how about you, Bob? Are you from around here, and what do you do?" To which he replied, with a deadpan straight face (but smiling eyes) - "Yes, I grew up in Clarksville (the town just outside the base) - I'm a Southern Baptist Minister in town!!!" I was very quiet for the next few holes!!!!! STUDque, chisag, cksurfdude and 1 other 4 Quote What's in the bag? Driver Callaway Mavrik 105 set to 9.5, square, Aldila Rogue White 130 MSI 60G Stiff shaft #3 Wood Callaway FT Tour 13 degree neutral setup, Fuijkara 370 Stiff Shaft Hybrid 18 Degree King Cobra Baffler pro, Baffler Stiff shaft 4-PW Titlest 714 AP2, Standard loft and lie, MGS S Shafts 53, 57 degree loft Hogan Equalizer wedges 1962 Wilson "Sandy Andy" sand wedge with HUGE bounce! Putter MLA Pro Classic Titlist ProV 1, ProV 1x Currently Gaming "Costco Kirkland Signature Tour Performance" balls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWahoo Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 As I have stated in other threads, this year, for some reason, I found it difficult to get off my lazy butt and go to the course like I previously did. On Labor Day, the wife convinced me in her own special way, to get of my butt and go to the course. So I went to Bay Hills a course rather close to my residence. It is a rather short course from the get go and I was paired with some fellow seniors and we played the senior tees. Due to my lack of play, I expected to have a rather bad round in the context of score. But it seemed just the opposite occurred, rather than a bad round, I played better than I have in over a year. I shot a 78. cksurfdude 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDGolfHacker Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Played as a single at Crystal Lake Golf Course in Lakeville, MN today - one of the last times I'll play it before we move east. It's a fun course, always in great shape and well conditioned - not overly long but you do need to think your way through it. Breaking 80 is really the Holy Grail for golfers - I guess it validates you as a playah. I can remember trying like hell to break 80 and how good it felt once it happened - so good that you wanted it again. It's really hard to break 80 for the first time, but once you do, the floodgates open and you can do it more often, to the point that anything over 80 on y our home course feels like a lousy round. Anyway, I was paired up with another single - a kid (I call him a kid, he's 37) named Paul. Sometimes when you hook up with someone on the course you just know it's going to be a good day. Paul told me about how his family fled Cambodia and the genocide of the Khmer Rouge when he was only 4, and then lived in a refugee camp in Thailand until they were finally able to come to the US when he was about 7. We talked about parenthood and being married to German women (they forget NOTHING. They remember stuff that hasn't even happened yet!). Anyway, Paul showed to be a pretty decent ball striker but told me he had never broken 80 - and that was his goal. He'd been close - 82 was the lowest - but you could tell is was something he wanted. Paul finished the front 9 at 6 over par - so he had 2 strokes to play with (Crystal is a Par 71). He saved par on 9 with a great up and down, but he didn't like his chances. I told him to take it one shot at a time and you never know. On the back 9, Paul started par-par-birdie-birdie-birdie -- the first time he had ever had 2 birdies in a row, let alone 3! On the par 4 15th he flew his approach about 35 feet long and left his first putt about 7 feet short - and drained it to save par. On 16 he hit driver (not a driver hole) and put it in the weeds of a creek that cut through the fairway. We found it and he did have a shot - and hit the thing about as hard as he could with a wedge and hit the green, leaving an uphill 30 footer. I could tell he started gripping the putter a little tighter because he left his first putt about 15 feet short. Well son of a gun if he didn't drain that one to save par. Paul had a 3-putt bogey on 17 (again, a stranglehold on the putter) so when we got to 18 I mentioned it looked like he was gripping the putter a little tight. He hit a nice drive into the fairway and then his approach to about 18 feet, with a sidehill uphill putt. Again, he left it about 7 feet short - he said he might have gripped it a little tight, and then drained that putt to save par - finishing the 9 at 2-under. We waked off the green and he tallied up his score - an 80 shattering 76. I've never seen a guy so happy with a score ever - he wanted me to sign the card and attest the score so he could show it to his buddies. Dude was walking on air! And the thing is, I had almost as much fun watching Paul shoot his 76 as he did shooting it. What a great moment and it reminds me why this game is so much fun. I told Paul about the forums and I hope he joins up. You guys would like him. There was one downside - he beat me by a stroke! Great story! MDGolfHacker cksurfdude 1 Quote What's In This Lefty's Bag? Driver: TSR2 11° Project X HZRDUS Black 4G 60g 5.5 Flex Fairway Woods: F8 3W Project X Even Flow Blue 75g shaft Fairway Woods: Hybrid: TSR2 18° Graphite Design Tour AD DI-85 Shaft Irons: 2021 T200's 4-GW AMT RED shafts Regular Flex Wedge: Tour Satin RTX 4 Wedges in 52° and 56° 2 Dot Putter: Gray Matter TDP 2.2 32.75" Bag: Three 5 Ball: PRO V1x / Z*Star RangeFinder: Titan Elite Social Media: Facebook: MD Golfhacker Twitter: @mdgolfhacker Instagram: mdgolfhacker Current MyGolfSpy Review - Precision Pro Titan Elite Rangefinder: https://forum.mygolfspy.com/topic/64979-testers-announced-precision-pro-titan-elite/?do=findComment&comment=1082733 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver & black Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Yup it does seem to happen more after the first one. Doesn't seem to work that way with breaking 70 though... I won't need to worry about breaking 70...lol. STUDque 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bags Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 Well told story. I still remember the first time I broke all the milestones. Breaking 80 was the sweetest.I birdied par 3 18th hole home course at the time at least a 20 footer with about 4 feet of left to right brake went right in the middle jumped up like Phil after his masters win shot 79 pretty cool beer always taste good but tasted even better that day. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy cksurfdude, MattF and Rusty1885 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chisag Posted November 4, 2017 Share Posted November 4, 2017 ... Reminds me of my first audition for a Major Motion Picture. I had just won a Best Performance Award for Chicago Theater in 1982 and my agent got me an audition for Ricky Business. I was OK learning my lines and getting ready for the audition but once I actually got there, the waiting in the casting directors office was just brutal and the nerves really started to take over. By the time I read for the Director, I was so nervous I was visibly shaking and my voice probably went up two octaves. The equivalent to gripping the putter too tight and leaving it 15 feet short. When I left, embarrassed and dejected I thought about quitting the profession. But after a good nights sleep I was ready to get back at it the next day. Sound familiar to golf? ... Once I was cast in a film, it became so much easier to audition, but breaking thru is just so difficult. Exactly like breaking 80 for many. Some will always succumb to the pressure and never make it. But those that fight thru the nerves and break thru, find it much easier once they have cleared that mental hurdle. For those of you struggling just remember, ALL of us were just as nervous before our first time. Great story John and congrats to Paul! ole gray, MattF, Bags and 3 others 6 Quote Driver: Qi10 10.5* ... AutoFlex Dream 7 SF405 Fairway: Qi10 5 wood ... Kai'Li Blue 70r Hybrids: G430 Hybrid 22*... Alta Hy70r Irons: P770 5-pw ... Steelfiber i80r TP UDi 4 ... Steelfiber i80r Wedges: MG3 46*/50*/54* MG4 58* ... Steelfiber i95r Putter: Custom 5.1 (no alignment) 33" Ball: '24 TP5x/Maxfli Tour X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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