Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Almost An Eagle @ Ahwatukee CC, Par 4 #07, 16-05-31
Friday, May 27, 2016
Ocean Course at Kiawah_Mr Science Reports
Mr Science has entered a new campaign of exploration: an attempt to play the #1 Public course in every state as he "fifth-wheels" around the lower 48. . . . So I infer, on his list, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island would qualify for South Carolina. No Issue with That . . . 86) . . .
Another good round! Another 84, but on a higher course rating and slope. 2nd in a row that was my best differential of the past 20. 24 putts, 2 in the water, 5 times chipped twice on the same hole, and one triple bogey, without doing any of those things. Coulda been a 75. Or 77, since there was an improbable 0-putt and a 30-footer that went in.
I was starting to think I really could play. After a bogey on #1, I made 6 pars. 7 putts on 6 holes. Including one hole with two chips and no putts. The Pete Dye greens are very elevated,
and from the collection area 6 feet below the green my first lob wedge almost made it to the top, but rolled all the way back to my feet. The second one crashed into the pin and dropped in the hole for a par.
There were dangerous beasts on some of the holes
I made a 5-foot birdie putt on #13, which was the hardest hole in the PGA when it was last played here in 2012.
And made par on the signature 17th
We had a very light shower the last few holes, and it was windy all day, but the downpour held off until after we had finished.
Heading to Pinehurst tomorrow.
Another good round! Another 84, but on a higher course rating and slope. 2nd in a row that was my best differential of the past 20. 24 putts, 2 in the water, 5 times chipped twice on the same hole, and one triple bogey, without doing any of those things. Coulda been a 75. Or 77, since there was an improbable 0-putt and a 30-footer that went in.
I was starting to think I really could play. After a bogey on #1, I made 6 pars. 7 putts on 6 holes. Including one hole with two chips and no putts. The Pete Dye greens are very elevated,
and from the collection area 6 feet below the green my first lob wedge almost made it to the top, but rolled all the way back to my feet. The second one crashed into the pin and dropped in the hole for a par.
There were dangerous beasts on some of the holes
I made a 5-foot birdie putt on #13, which was the hardest hole in the PGA when it was last played here in 2012.
And made par on the signature 17th
We had a very light shower the last few holes, and it was windy all day, but the downpour held off until after we had finished.
Heading to Pinehurst tomorrow.
Almost an Ace, Club West # 15, 16-05-3
I could areckoned it wouldna go in . . . had the best scoring round of this spring, . . . 41-37 =78 . . . birdied # 15 & #16 back to back
Friday, May 13, 2016
Harbor Club at Lake Oconee
I've been forced to make a slight alteration to the rules for my quest to play the best course "you can play" in each state, according to Golf Magazine.
It turns out that in some of the states, the #1 course is not really one "you can play". Their list excludes private clubs, but it includes some that won't let you play unless you're staying at the resort, in one of their $250 a night rooms. Per person, double occupancy.
In Georgia, as in Colorado, the #1 and #2 courses on the list are "you can't play here" resorts, so I played #3 today, the Harbor Club at Lake Oconee.
It's a Weiskopf/Morrish design, with a few holes like ones I've seen elsewhere, but since they did it in 1991, it's hard to say who copied whom.
I've been reading "The Legend of Bagger Vance", which seems appropriate since we're heading to Savannah tomorrow. During the round I seemed to have found my Authentic Swing several times, using the technique revealed by Bagger. Between that and my new putting stroke, from the "Putting Solution" book, I was quite pleased. The number was 84, but it included a missed 3-footer, a hole on which I chipped twice, and three balls that are now entertaining the denizens of Lake Oconee. Not bad for the first time on the course, and my first round since leaving AZ over a month ago.
I had intended to play the best course in Texas, but we were waylaid by storms and flooding, narrowly escaping total destruction by tornados. And I'm missing Florida because TPC Sawgrass was closed for a month before the tournament, and will be closed for 6 months after, for renovations. Next on the list is the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, and then Pinehurst #2. It's going to be an expensive week.
