How'd you play?

[GolfSpy_APH]

1 minute ago, cnosil said:

Why do you think you are starting slowly?  Where are the bogeys and worse coming from?  Shot selections, bad shots in general, not mentally focused? 

Today it was just freaking cold! Minus temps. 

I normally get a good warm up in and feel prepared and ready. The holes arent hard to start. Just seems one or two slight missteps cause a bogey.

The 4th hole is a par 3 that i am just having trouble with and making a poor swing which leads to trouble. 

I know I can remedy it and it will come. Just need to keep my head down and leaning into my natural shot shape a little more.

[berkeleybob]

Heyo! Started off my own li’l holiday event with a par 30 nine-hole. 

Ya know, I can start as a stranger in a foursome and on the first hole I can bear down and get my shot out of the tee box with a possible drive. It might be in the rough, but I’m not in any trouble.

But put me on the first hole with four greenskeepers stopping their work just to watch me tee off? I shanked it. Badly. Teed up another ball—shanked it again.

So, it started out rough, but eventually I settled down with 5 bogeys and 3 doubles to finish 16 over. I can’t complain. The day warmed up.

[chisag]

52 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Today it was just freaking cold! Minus temps. 

I normally get a good warm up in and feel prepared and ready. The holes arent hard to start. Just seems one or two slight missteps cause a bogey.

 

... If it makes you feel any better you are not alone. My last outing trip to Myrtle Beach we arrived Wednesday and played Thursday thru Sunday putting money in the pot with one 4 some winning every morning and afternoon round. At dinner Friday night my next 3 morning pards staged a "mutiny" and declared it unfair to have me as a partner the next morning. Seems my afternoon rounds for 2 days averaged 74 and my morning rounds averaged 86. The group decided they could average their 3 scores and mine wouldn't count.    

... I was not prepared for how cold it was at dawn as we always had the first tee times and it was still a little dark when we teed off. Range isn't open in the dark and the cold combined with the wet conditions I felt stiffer than a LA Golf Prototype Double X shaft. I never played morning golf again because as you so eloquently stated " it was just freaking cold!" 

[Siamese Moose]

I played fairly well (76 on an easy course), but the important thing was making a short putt for 14 skins on the 18th. It was inside the leather, and normally somebody would have picked it up for me, but not for one skin, not to mention 14.

[JerryB]

Owen and I got out to River Heights yesterday and it was the first day carts were available.  We got the first cart of the year!  Because we were early enough, it started a little chilly but at least this time there was no wind.  We played 18 in two hours.  

He kept score this time and I managed to beat him by two strokes, 95-97.  He started rough and was chunking a lot but picked it up on the back nine.  I was fairly consistent and even had a three par stretch starting with the dogleg par three 10th.

Wet and stormy today so no go, but the weather is looking pretty good going forward!

[Reesedw]

14 hours ago, Kenny B said:

Supposed to be 78º on Saturday!!

Holy crap @Kenny B, I woke up this morning on the WET side of the state to frozen snow in the ground.. I cannot wait for weather in the 70's.. let alone the Upper 70's.. Yes, Please.. 

[Kenny B]

10 minutes ago, Reesedw said:

Holy crap @Kenny B, I woke up this morning on the WET side of the state to frozen snow in the ground.. I cannot wait for weather in the 70's.. let alone the Upper 70's.. Yes, Please.. 

Yeah, me neither!  You must be sending more of your weather over here!  It did snow then sleet yesterday morning before the sun came out.  What was supposed to be 78 on Saturday was updated today to 67.  Still better than low 50's like it has been.  

[Sluggo42]

40° at tee off- plus 4 thru 5 …

a few pars and then a miracle 50 foot bird on 9.

ended up with a 79… seems to be my norm anymore..

[IndyBonzo]

I just posted my first score in the weekly contest after sneaking out of work to play Brookshire GC in Carmel, IN (north of Indy).  

 

It started drizzly just after noon and ended 75 and sunny.  Course is in good shape but wet in places.  

 

It was one of those days where you just have to laugh.  I felt like I played most of my shots really well, and I am loving the clubs in my bag so much.  But I need to get my head examined.  Mental errors, and I swear the vengeful golf gods, got the better of me.  

 

For instance, hole 15 is a pretty short par 5 with a slight dogleg right.  I hit a perfect 5 wood cut with the wind to mid fairway and 270 away.  Then a perfect 6 iron to 100 yards. Then I pop finessed/aimed the pitch shot too much and left it out right.  Bogey.  Mental.   There are several similar examples.  

 

On the first two holes, I hit perfect high chip shots that both landed softly and precisely on … the raised edge separating the green and the fringe, which acts like an accelerator and slingshots the ball past the hole to the far side of the green.  I don’t think I’ve ever done that before, let alone twice in a row. 

 

Hole 18 I crushed my best drive of the day uphill down the right side only to hit the one, solitary, spiny, Dickensian, Suessian tree limb that sticks out halfway across the fairway.  (You know that one limb.  We’ve all hit that one limb.)  Not satisfied, the ball lands on the cart path and rolls backwards down the hill.  Net driving yardage:  30.  I hit an angry 3 wood 260 incredible yards to help save bogey, but yeah.  Pretty funny.  

 

One other interesting tidbit:  Every time one drives the cart near the 16th hole (meaning holes 11, 12, 15, and 16), the GPS screen in the cart helpfully dings and informs its occupants, “Please do not urinate in the woods on the 16th hole.  The neighbor will call the police.”

 

I am not maligning the course.  It is actually quite nice and vastly improved over the last few years.  

 

My 87 could have easily been a 77.  Too easily.  This plateau I’m on is a bit frustrating right now.  But as always we had a ton of fun and cannot wait to do it again. 

 

Thanks for reading.   Hit ‘em straight, Spies. 

[GaryF]

8 hours ago, cnosil said:

This is why looking at one off numbers like FIR, GIR, and putts per round without additional context is so hard.   As you know, Your handicap is driven by the low scores you occasionally put up when playing well (77-84) since handicap is potential and not what you typically score.   
 

to me your numbers seem off though.  You average about 4 greens a round which leaves 14 up and down opportunities which you convert about 3 times.  So let’s say average 2 putts per GIR , you have 3 putts for the up and down, 2 putts for the 11 missed up and downs.    That is 8+3+22=33.   Not sure where you are shaving off 6 putts 

Maybe the disparity occurs because an up &down is only counted if it results in a par?  

For example, let’s say he is playing a par 4 hole.  His second shot is errant and misses the green resulting in a third shot that is just 4’ off the green.  For the 3rd shot, he either chips or uses his putter (doesn’t count as a putt) and lands 1’ from the hole.  He putts in for  a 1 putt and bogies the hole but doesn’t get credit for a up/down. Another example, he hits his tee shot that may be lost, hits a provisional that he ends up playing.  Provisional is in the fairway (lies 3) and his approach shot makes it to the green where he is lies 4 (or in some cases still off the green and needs a 5th shot). Holes out with a 1 putt but again no u/d. 

Edited April 4, 2023 by GaryF

[Kenny B]

41 minutes ago, GaryF said:

Maybe the disparity occurs because an up &down is only counted if it results in a par?  

For example, let’s say he is playing a par 4 hole.  His second shot is errant and misses the green resulting in a third shot that is just 4’ off the green.  For the 3rd shot, he either chips or uses his putter (doesn’t count as a putt) and lands 1’ from the hole.  He putts in for  a 1 putt and bogies the hole but doesn’t get credit for a up/down. Another example, he hits his tee shot that may be lost, hits a provisional that he ends up playing.  Provisional is in the fairway (lies 3) and his approach shot makes it to the green where he is lies 4 (or in some cases still off the green and needs a 5th shot). Holes out with a 1 putt but again no u/d. 

Anytime I am off the green and take one or two shots to get in the hole, I consider it an up and down.  Doesn't matter to me if it's for a double...  I don't keep those stats anyway.  

Everybody likes a good up and down. - Sergio

[richk9holes]

The best 9 holes I think I ever played today. Colonial Terrace is in nice condition "between the goal posts" so to speak but the rough has an adventure awaiting.

I ended with double bogey on #2 from what was a beautiful 5h strike, lined up too far right. It went plus distance and that hurts on this hole as the adjoining fairway turns to trees on the right of the green that I had to play a layup, on in 4 and almost made a 4ft bogey putt.

Besides that hole(handicap 1), which I consider a win for not going OB at all, I played at even par, 1 birdie on par 5 #7, bogey on par 3 #5 from 128y, the rest pars.

I wanted to break 40 and played much better than that. Missed 0 putts inside 3 ft and only gave myself a 20" putt on the last.

[richk9holes]

2 hours ago, IndyBonzo said:

I just posted my first score in the weekly contest

Awe, shucks. You were on my shortlist for the member-guest tourney that @Golfspy_TCBteased. You went ahead and became "one of us"

[GaryF]

1 hour ago, Kenny B said:

Anytime I am off the green and take one or two shots to get in the hole, I consider it an up and down.  Doesn't matter to me if it's for a double...  I don't keep those stats anyway.  

Everybody likes a good up and down. - Sergio

GHIN automatically keeps count of up/downs if one enters hole by hole stats. 

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, GaryF said:

Maybe the disparity occurs because an up &down is only counted if it results in a par?  

For example, let’s say he is playing a par 4 hole.  His second shot is errant and misses the green resulting in a third shot that is just 4’ off the green.  For the 3rd shot, he either chips or uses his putter (doesn’t count as a putt) and lands 1’ from the hole.  He putts in for  a 1 putt and bogies the hole but doesn’t get credit for a up/down. Another example, he hits his tee shot that may be lost, hits a provisional that he ends up playing.  Provisional is in the fairway (lies 3) and his approach shot makes it to the green where he is lies 4 (or in some cases still off the green and needs a 5th shot). Holes out with a 1 putt but again no u/d. 

good examples and that could be the case.  To average 27 putts,  that has to happen pretty frequently.    I am guessing he is tracking the numbers via some system and they are accurate,  just seems like a lower value than I would expect.  

[IndyBonzo]

1 hour ago, richk9holes said:

Awe, shucks. You were on my shortlist for the member-guest tourney that @Golfspy_TCBteased. You went ahead and became "one of us"

Oh man. I’m sorry (not sorry)?  
 

Can I get an “undo” @Golfspy_TCB?  My score stunk anyway!  Or can we redefine “guest”?  
 

I could always create a new login.  (Kidding.)

And I’m flattered @richk9holes.  

[richk9holes]

IndyBozno mysteriously enters the room

[GolfSpy TCB]

No Worries Guys... we ran a great two person net best ball for Thanksgiving last year.. that was a blast.  And you may have just missed the Players Two Person Two Ball...  there will be plenty of opportunities to build teams in Season 2

[Grand Stranded]

I’ve been on a really good streak in our members league, and that continued today as I took first place low net (also finished second in gross but can’t cash in both) in the A flight with an 84 on our Love Course, which is the most difficult of the 4 at my club.
I had one horrendous hole, taking a quad 8 and three doubles though, which proves nothing about this game comes easy to me, even when I’m playing well.

[MaxEntropy]

A bit of a rough night in league last night. Biggest issue was chipping. While I had some decent ones, twice it took me two chips just to get on the green - both times resulting in double bogies. I know double avoidance is the way to reduce scores, so I have to make sure I resist the temptation to get too cute and just get them on the green. I ended up with a +9 44. Weather was fantastic, though.

The course was closed last week as an energy company that has easement for a natural gas pipeline was there removing tress (and flying them out by helicopter due to location). Unfortunately, it really changed two holes. The pipeline enter the property at the red arrow on the lower right. The yellow ovals are the two main areas where trees were removed. Right on the lower hole and left on the upper hole used to be serious trouble. Now they are very benign and there is plenty of room to bailout. It'll be interesting to see if our scores drop on this 9.

[Contron]

2 minutes ago, MaxEntropy said:

A bit of a rough night in league last night. Biggest issue was chipping. While I had some decent ones, twice it took me two chips just to get on the green - both times resulting in double bogies. I know double avoidance is the way to reduce scores, so I have to make sure I resist the temptation to get too cute and just get them on the green. I ended up with a +9 44. Weather was fantastic, though.

The course was closed last week as an energy company that has easement for a natural gas pipeline was there removing tress (and flying them out by helicopter due to location). Unfortunately, it really changed two holes. The pipeline enter the property at the red arrow on the lower right. The yellow ovals are the two main areas where trees were removed. Right on the lower hole and left on the upper hole used to be serious trouble. Now they are very benign and there is plenty of room to bailout. It'll be interesting to see if our scores drop on this 9.

That’s a bummer. I remember one of the courses I play at has this hole with a dog leg left and water on the left and if you cut the water you could set yourself up for an easy chip but there was a massive tree on the corner and a massive tree by the green so you had a very narrow window, so if you nailed it, it was rewarding. Well one season the tree on the corner was gone and now everyone can easily drive right up there and avoid the green side tree. And no worries of a slice cause you’d just land back to the fairway instead of the corner tree stopping it. Tree used to be in that yellow highlighted area in the pic

[CSiders12]

Have been having some really hit and Miss weather here in Iowa to start the season. I was able to go play 9 holes with one of my players that I coach and I shot a pretty comfortable 36. I'm really happy with level par, especially thinking back a couple of years and realizing it was hard to break 40 in 9 and almost impossible to break 80 on 18. I'm hoping the weather continues to improve and I can get out and play a full 18 this weekend!

[Kenny B]

12 hours ago, GaryF said:

GHIN automatically keeps count of up/downs if one enters hole by hole stats. 

I know.  I post front 9 and back 9 scores.

[Kenny B]

21 hours ago, berkeleybob said:

Ya know, I can start as a stranger in a foursome and on the first hole I can bear down and get my shot out of the tee box with a possible drive. It might be in the rough, but I’m not in any trouble.

But put me on the first hole with four greenskeepers stopping their work just to watch me tee off? I shanked it. Badly. Teed up another ball—shanked it again.

I have that problem when I travel to a resort course and the grounds crew stops when we hit.  Never happens here at home; they don't stop for anything!!  

[Kenny B]

9 hours ago, Grand Stranded said:

I’ve been on a really good streak in our members league, and that continued today as I took first place low net (also finished second in gross but can’t cash in both) in the A flight with an 84 on our Love Course, which is the most difficult of the 4 at my club.
I had one horrendous hole, taking a quad 8 and three doubles though, which proves nothing about this game comes easy to me, even when I’m playing well.

I don't remember Barefoot having 4 courses; I thought there were only 3 and the Dye course was tough.  I played the Love course pretty well (if I remember correctly), but that was when I was an 18 'cap.

[Grand Stranded]

13 minutes ago, Kenny B said:

I don't remember Barefoot having 4 courses; I thought there were only 3 and the Dye course was tough.  I played the Love course pretty well (if I remember correctly), but that was when I was an 18 'cap.

We have Love, Dye,  Fazio and Norman courses. I struggle the most on Fazio because the first 4 holes on the back 9 are totally in my head, but I listed them in what most people consider the order of difficulty.

Personally, I’d go Fazio, Love, Dye, Norman.

[DStar]

Snuck out for 12 holes on Sunday afternoon in the glorious spring sunshine. Empty course, birds singing - fabulous.

Played pretty well and was 8 over for 12 holes. Nothing too special except a flop-shot birdie on the 5th. 

Missed the green, right, which put me high on a slop above the green with about 8 yards of green to play with - hit the slope and the ball is off the green kinda thing. Anyway, I'm normally pretty good at flop shots and, as the ball was sat up OK, thought I'd give it a go. 

Couple of practice swings felt good, set up to the ball - swing - up it pops, perfectly - lands 3 feet from the pin and rolled in like Tiger's chip in the Masters 

[Kenny B]

22 minutes ago, Grand Stranded said:

We have Love, Dye,  Fazio and Norman courses. I struggle the most on Fazio because the first 4 holes on the back 9 are totally in my head, but I listed them in what most people consider the order of difficulty.

Personally, I’d go Fazio, Love, Dye, Norman.

The day I played the Love course, they were holding the World Am and it was raining.  The pro shop sold every rain jacket and umbrella they had!!!

[funkyjudge]

Reply to all who have questions regarding my putts per round stat — I transposed the second and third digits; the average is 28.6 putts, not 26.8. Part of the reason for my relatively low putts per round average is because I chip in quite frequently and use my putter or 5-hybrid from as far as 30-40 yards off the green and often cozy the ball up within 3 to 5 feet of the hole.

This year, my putts per round average is actually trending downward, as I have had 27 and 25 putts in my first two 18-hole posted rounds of the 2023 posting season.  Putting has almost always been a strength of my game, as is chipping and bunker play, except during the winter non-posting season when greens and bunkers are typically in horrible shape.

Edited April 15, 2023 by funkyjudge

[Syks7]

I think I just played my most complete round ever.  It wasn't the best score I've ever posted but I'd be hard pressed to think of another 18 holes that I played as complete a game on.  Tough greens and pin positions today and windy, but otherwise gorgeous.  Tee to green I was pretty solid (including bunkers) and but for a couple big mistakes, some slightly better planning on approach in two instances, and a bit more luck this could easily have been in the 70s.   

41/42 83 at Rustic Canyon.  With a triple, a double, and three three putts. 

12/13 FIR -- One silly mistake (bad alignment) teed up the triple with a little block that barely went OB into the ESA.

10/18 GIR -- I didn't miss the green inside 130 yards.

10 Pars

35 Putts -- but 93' of putts made today (and it should have been more)  I'm not even really mad about two of the three three putts. The greens were lightning quick and above the hole was a big no today.   Both were from positions where it was impossible to lag it close (Going at the hole would have meant going 30 feet by or off the green).  I chose to play sideways to 12ish feet and see if I could get it to drop.  No luck.  Highlights were a 25 footer made to save par on 9,  a 90' big sweeping lag finishing 4" past the hole on 17,  a 30 footer for birdie that bounced off the pin (only time I forgot to pull it) on 4, and at 3 more up and downs from 7-8 feet.  

I only made two truly terrible unforced errors today, the block OB, and on 15 I misjudged the wind, didn't take into consideration that the better miss was short, basically went pin hunting, and airmailed my shot into the brush above the green and had to hack it out from under sage brush into the bunker.