Official 2020 MGS Hard Rock Challenge

[sirchunksalot]

Played my final round of the Hard Rock Challenge today at Chatata Valley in Cleveland TN. It's not my best round of the competition, but it was fun. Shot a 48 hitting 3 fairways and 2 greens to go along with 21 putts. This round I used a Pinnacle Rush, which was only slightly more less pleasant than any other ball I've used during this. It was quite possibly the worst ball on the greens I've played. It came off the putter face hot! I would have had a 4 putt on the par 3 8th of the first shot hadn't been from off the green. Past the hole, past the hole, past the hole to 4 feet and I sunk that one. 

From tee to green it was one of the best rounds I've had in a while, but I could not putt well with this ball. 

I want to thank @JohnSmalls for getting this together again this year, you rock! I also want to say thank you to everyone who participated and made this torture a lot of fun. 

[JohnSmalls]

7 hours ago, jddaigneault said:

I thought drives needed to be in the fairway? I’ll have to see if I can sneak away from a wedding weekend to put in a round...I don’t get caught!

Whoops!   Good catch! I got two posts mixed up this morning when I was taking notes to update everything. I’ll get it fixed—looks like you’re still in the lead!  

[RoverRick]

That is awesome! What did you do practice wise to lead to such improvements? I mean going from a 14 handicap to shooting just over par is a monster jump. Sent from my SM-G950U using MyGolfSpy mobile app  

 

 

 

 Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.  Practice wise, I didn’t really do anything. I was an almost scratch golfer in 2014, but had a number of swing flaws. When I returned I tried several different swing changes, but most have caused more problems than they solved. I am still trying different things to improve but no more trying to swing like a 20 yo.

 

I had the skills then and retained the course management skills now. I just can’t pull off the shots every time like I did then. It is not unusual for me to have either the front or back 9 that is 10 or more strokes higher than the other. Usually the front.

 

What I DID do that day, and sadly only 3 or 4 other times since, was to focus on every shot and played to the safe side most of the time. I knew I couldn’t spin the ball so I played to the long side of the green and relied on my putter.

 

I also got lucky a few times. On number 2, I was inches away from OB on one side and a wedge-it-out only lie on the other, but was sitting on a pristine piece of freshly mowed grass. I can recall 3 times recently where I was making double bogies from the same area. On 9, I hit the flag and was inches from the cup. I have hit the flag in the last two rounds I played, on 16 & 18. On 16 it hit the flag and bounced off the green almost into the water hazard. Yesterday on 18, I though I was going to have a 3-4’ birdie putt, but it bounced off the stick, took all the spin off, and rolled all the way across the green, and left me 50’ down hill. So that day all the luck went my way.

 

Bottom line is on most days, my short game allows me to get up and down for par if I keep my tee ball in the short grass. My driver, on the other hand, has put me in positions where I have to use my second shot to get out of trouble, and then I’m getting up and down for bogey.

 

Today, I took on a 7 handicapper heads up in $5 two-downs. Driver and putter were both good and thus no money exchanged hands, and we both shot 79’s. I also had 11 one-putts, a birdie and 10 pars. I could tell I was getting to him because he was in the fairway passed me, and usually a GIR and 3 putts. I was mostly in the fairway, but missed the green, and wedged it close and made the 6-8’ers for par.

 

Yesterday, I didn’t have it at all and shot an 88. I am actually quite frustrated that I haven’t been able to shoot better more consistently. I rarely 3 putt and had 6 yesterday. I did realize I was holding my putter too close to the butt of the club and this hitting the ball harder than I intended and powering through the breaks.

 

I my handicap is down to an 11 right now, but I have had a 73, 74, 78, 79 and several low 80’s and a few in the 90’s and many in the high 80’s. I post the scores in my GHIN app and it starts to drop but then I blow up and it throws out the low score because it is so out of the norm.

 

Just as putting together 2 good 9’s to get a good score 18 hole score is rare, and I can’t seem to play well 2 days in a row either.

 

Sorry, I rambled on.

 

 Edit: Handicap updated and am now a 10.

 

 

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[RoverRick]

I was planning on playing an extra 9 today after my round and trying this again, but we had 2” of rain this morning. So instead of 8:30 we played at 12:30. So no time. Also, HRC on a soft course is not the way it is intended. Although I think the course was softer than a typical July when I played in this. Not wet like today, just not baked like a normal July.

Usually we go without rain from the second week of June until the end of August. We did have rain in July this year.

 

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[xOldBenKenobiX]

Dang, I will have not a chance to add anymore to this competition, work and family, didnt get a chance to play over the weekend nor will be able to play today, so I guess I need to hope that 99 is the most holes played., for the Stonehands trophy 

[xOldBenKenobiX]

Also since this year's competition is over for me I will slowly release the current rocks I have in captivity back into the wild, so they can make hell of someone else's hands.

[JohnSmalls]

And we have a winner!   First of all I want to thank you guys for taking the time and frustration to enter in this years atypical Hard Rock Challenge!  Without y'all this competition literally would not happen.  This season brought about a few more twists with a time change, an extension to the challenge, crazy weather, and who knows what else---it made for a unique challenge.  If I am not mistaken, this was our largest turnout for the HRC and there were plenty of new faces in the mix.  It was a blast getting to challenge you guys again, but I am READY to start hitting finely engineered and produced golf balls again.  We didn't focus on it much but in the ever lasting battle between classic rock and new-age rock, new-age rock(s) dusted the competition.  Furthermore, the Titleist Velocity put up some big performances when it counted and is now the number one ball of stone masons. 

 

Without further adieu, here are your winners:

Long Drive Champ-  @jddaigneault 322yds (Wilson Eco)New-age

Closest to the pin-  @fixyurdivot  10" (Titleist Velocity) New-age

Rockstar/Hands of granite- @xOldBenKenobiX  99 holes played

2020 OVERALL CHAMPION:  Tiger w..... I mean, @RoverRick  with the 31.36.  Rick went on a tear and set the bar early with a mixed box of rocks (Titleist Velocity, Top Flite XL, Nitro) New-age/Classic Rock creating his own blend: Garage Grunge

 

 

 

 

 

 

[xOldBenKenobiX]

13 minutes ago, JohnSmalls said:

And we have a winner!   First of all I want to thank you guys for taking the time and frustration to enter in this years atypical Hard Rock Challenge!  Without y'all this competition literally would not happen.  This season brought about a few more twists with a time change, an extension to the challenge, crazy weather, and who knows what else---it made for a unique challenge.  If I am not mistaken, this was our largest turnout for the HRC and there were plenty of new faces in the mix.  It was a blast getting to challenge you guys again, but I am READY to start hitting finely engineered and produced golf balls again.  We didn't focus on it much but in the ever lasting battle between classic rock and new-age rock, new-age rock(s) dusted the competition.  Furthermore, the Titleist Velocity put up some big performances when it counted and is now the number one ball of stone masons. 

 

Without further adieu, here are your winners:

Long Drive Champ-  @jddaigneault 322yds (Wilson Eco)New-age

Closest to the pin-  @fixyurdivot  10" (Titleist Velocity) New-age

Rockstar/Hands of granite- @xOldBenKenobiX  99 holes played

2020 OVERALL CHAMPION:  Tiger w..... I mean, @RoverRick  with the 31.36.  Rick went on a tear and set the bar early with a mixed box of rocks (Titleist Velocity, Top Flite XL, Nitro) New-age/Classic Rock creating his own blend: Garage Grunge

 

 

 

 

 

 

congrats @RoverRickfor the overall championship.

I am starting the Bryson diet, so next year I can edge @jddaigneault

@fixyurdivot very nice shooting.

 

[RoverRick]

congrats [mention=14368]RoverRick[/mention]for the overall championship.
I am starting the Bryson diet, so next year I can edge [mention=89716]jddaigneault[/mention]
[mention=81655]fixyurdivot[/mention] very nice shooting.
 

Thanks.

I think at the beginning of July my handicap index was 15.3 was 13 from these tees, when I did this it was 12 from these tees, and as of this weekend it is 8 from these tees.

Unfortunately, the club championship is this week, and I just moved into a harder flight.


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[xOldBenKenobiX]

53 minutes ago, RoverRick said:

Thanks.

I think at the beginning of July my handicap index was 15.3 was 13 from these tees, when I did this it was 12 from these tees, and as of this weekend it is 8 from these tees.

Unfortunately, the club championship is this week, and I just moved into a harder flight.


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Best of luck this weekend buddy. 

You have been putting a lot of work on your game. 

[sirchunksalot]

5 hours ago, JohnSmalls said:

And we have a winner!   First of all I want to thank you guys for taking the time and frustration to enter in this years atypical Hard Rock Challenge!  Without y'all this competition literally would not happen.  This season brought about a few more twists with a time change, an extension to the challenge, crazy weather, and who knows what else---it made for a unique challenge.  If I am not mistaken, this was our largest turnout for the HRC and there were plenty of new faces in the mix.  It was a blast getting to challenge you guys again, but I am READY to start hitting finely engineered and produced golf balls again.  We didn't focus on it much but in the ever lasting battle between classic rock and new-age rock, new-age rock(s) dusted the competition.  Furthermore, the Titleist Velocity put up some big performances when it counted and is now the number one ball of stone masons. 

 

Without further adieu, here are your winners:

Long Drive Champ-  @jddaigneault 322yds (Wilson Eco)New-age

Closest to the pin-  @fixyurdivot  10" (Titleist Velocity) New-age

Rockstar/Hands of granite- @xOldBenKenobiX  99 holes played

2020 OVERALL CHAMPION:  Tiger w..... I mean, @RoverRick  with the 31.36.  Rick went on a tear and set the bar early with a mixed box of rocks (Titleist Velocity, Top Flite XL, Nitro) New-age/Classic Rock creating his own blend: Garage Grunge

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to @RoverRick for taking the overall prize, great shooting! Also, congrats to @jddaigneault for having the long drive (322 is insane!), @fixyurdivot for closest to the pin, and @xOldBenKenobiX for having hands of granite, man those hands probably need an ice bath. Thank you @JohnSmalls for doing this again and making the Hard Rock Challenge the must do event of the summer, I appreciate the hard work you've put in. 

[xOldBenKenobiX]

1 minute ago, sirchunksalot said:

Congratulations to @RoverRick for taking the overall prize, great shooting! Also, congrats to @jddaigneault for having the long drive (322 is insane!), @fixyurdivot for closest to the pin, and @xOldBenKenobiX for having hands of granite, man those hands probably need an ice bath. Thank you @JohnSmalls for doing this again and making the Hard Rock Challenge the must do event of the summer, I appreciate the hard work you've put in. 

The swelling is starting to go down. 

[tchat07]

Big thanks to@Johnsmalls for putting this all together! Every year it's so much fun and every year I feel like I'm happy when its over hahaha

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[fixyurdivot]

8 hours ago, JohnSmalls said:

And we have a winner!   First of all I want to thank you guys for taking the time and frustration to enter in this years atypical Hard Rock Challenge!  Without y'all this competition literally would not happen.  This season brought about a few more twists with a time change, an extension to the challenge, crazy weather, and who knows what else---it made for a unique challenge.  If I am not mistaken, this was our largest turnout for the HRC and there were plenty of new faces in the mix.  It was a blast getting to challenge you guys again, but I am READY to start hitting finely engineered and produced golf balls again.  We didn't focus on it much but in the ever lasting battle between classic rock and new-age rock, new-age rock(s) dusted the competition.  Furthermore, the Titleist Velocity put up some big performances when it counted and is now the number one ball of stone masons. 

 

Without further adieu, here are your winners:

Long Drive Champ-  @jddaigneault 322yds (Wilson Eco)New-age

Closest to the pin-  @fixyurdivot  10" (Titleist Velocity) New-age

Rockstar/Hands of granite- @xOldBenKenobiX  99 holes played

2020 OVERALL CHAMPION:  Tiger w..... I mean, @RoverRick  with the 31.36.  Rick went on a tear and set the bar early with a mixed box of rocks (Titleist Velocity, Top Flite XL, Nitro) New-age/Classic Rock creating his own blend: Garage Grunge

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for putting this together John!  

[JohnSmalls]

Glad to do it fellas.  Thank y’all for the kind words and for putting yourselves through torture every year!  One of these days we’ll all get together in person