Yes, it’s been a long while - not only since I’ve blogged, but since I’ve touched my clubs. I hit the range today and hit quite well - why oh why does that always happen?
Take 3 weeks off and you hit the ball great. Practice like a mad dog and get worse and worse.
I’ll get a chance to play next weekend - can’t wait.
Wow! What a great round of golf with my daughter. We played in a scramble/best ball tourney together today. We had to use at least 2 of her drives and she had to play from the green tees, which I think are the women’s tees.
Some notable action from today:
Hole 1, Par 4.
I totally mis-hit my drive and barely made it past the green tees. Julia hit a decent shot just off the fairway about 100 yards forward and we played her ball. We had a chance to get on the green in 3 but I chunked a wedge badly and we ended up with a triple bogey. It would get better, thank god.
Hole 3, Par 4.
Julia drove her ball into the woods and I hit a big time drive off the fairway, but up about 100 feet on a huge hill. Oops. Thankfully, I found the ball and made an amazing recovery, hitting a 7 iron about 140 yards to just off the green. We made bogey after Julia just barely missed her par putt.
Hole 5, Par 3.
I hit a too long 9 iron but Julia hit her longest drive ever - about 150 yards. Too bad it hit the cart path and bounced out of bounds. Bogey.
Hole 6, Par 4.
I hit a perfect drive, and Julia matched my effort within 15 yards. We played her ball and ended up with par after I hit a 7 iron on the green.
Hole 9, Par 5.
I hit a good drive with my 5 Hybrid. The guy we were playing with took his turn and when he hit the ball, the club head flew off his club. We were all shocked - it was funny as hell, but we managed not to laugh too hard. Then, his kid (a 6th grade boy) drove out about 140 yards. Julia stepped up and in a pure moment of girl power nailed her drive about 15 yards past his, just off the fairway. Unreal! I flubbed a short wedge and we made bogey.
We finished +10 with a 43 and had an amazing, terrific time.
I’m playing with my 9 year old daughter in an adult/youth tournament at Tashua Glen tomorrow! She’s played twice on the course before, but has been getting much better at hitting the ball.
Given the fact that it’s best ball, and my best ever on that course is +8, I’m not sure we have a shot. I can’t wait to hang out with her though. How cool is this!
No idea who to credit on this joke, but it is funny.
Shortly after the Pope had apologized to the Jewish people for the treatment of Jews by the Catholic Church over the years, Ariel Sharon, then Prime Minister of Israel, sent a proposal to the College of Cardinals for a friendly game of golf to be played between the two leaders, or their representatives, to demonstrate the friendship and ecumenical spirit shared by the Catholics and the Jews.
The Pope met his College of Cardinals to discuss the proposal. “Your Holiness” said one of the Cardinals, “Mr. Sharon wants to challenge you to a game of golf to show that you are old and unable to compete. I am afraid that this would tarnish our image in the world”. The Pope thought about this and, since he had never held a golf club in his life, asked, “Don’t we have a Cardinal to represent me?” “None who plays golf very well,” a Cardinal replied. “But there is a man named Jack Nicklaus, an American golfer, who is a devout Catholic. We could offer to make him a Cardinal, and then ask him to play Mr Sharon as your personal representative. In addition to showing our spirit of co-operation, we will also win the match."
Everyone agreed that this was a great idea. The call was made. Of course, Nicklaus was honored and he agreed to play as a representative of the Pope.
The day after the match, Nicklaus reported to the Vatican to inform the Pope of the result. “This is Cardinal Nicklaus. I have some good news and some bad news, your Holiness,” said the golfer.
“Tell me the good news, Cardinal Nicklaus”, said the Pope. “Well, Your Holiness, I don’t like to brag, but even though I have played some pretty terrific rounds of golf in my life, this was the best I have ever played, by far.
I must have been inspired from above. My drives were long and true, my irons were accurate and purposeful, and my putting was perfect. With all due respect, my play was truly miraculous."
“How can there be bad news?” the Pope asked. Nicklaus sighed, “I lost by three strokes to Rabbi Tiger Woods.
I absolutely love golfing on vacation. For the first time ever, I played a round during a family break - our first visit to Myrtle Beach. We headed down on one of those Marriott special preview deals (more on that later) and I got a free round as part of the package.
I got up early and hit a bucket of balls in the morning mist before teeing off with 3 strangers - a guy from VA and a father/daughter from Boston. The girl was probably 16 or so, and shouldn’t have been on the course. She was a new player and could barely swing the club.
No matter! I was golfing on vacation and had an amazing time. I shot a 103, but the round could have easily been 6 shots better - 2 chunks and 3 triple bogeys really hurt bad. But again - no matter - I was totally relaxed and had a terrific time.
The course was nice, not too hard and had a few pretty difficult par 3 holes.
As for the Marriott weekend - we got 4 days/3 nights for $199 plus the golf and $50 in “Marriott bucks.” We sat through a 90 minute sales pitch and guess what - we actually bought a timeshare!
This means 2 things:
Headed to Myrtle Beach for some family vacation time next week and I can’t wait.
I’m going to play some golf - can anyone out there suggest which courses I should consider, taking in to account I only have about 30 balls and haven’t broken 100 quite yet?
Here are the one’s I’m considering:
Did you say something you want to take back? The smack down is on - Tiger is 8 under playing bogey free golf and you are not having a great day.
I love how Tiger has remained silent - the big dog doesn’t have to say a thing and just keeps on going and going.
Perhaps next time Rory will keep his trap shut and just go out and act like the champion that he could become. But not yet.
Calling Tiger “more beatable than ever” is like talking smack about Tom Brady on the eve of the Super Bowl. It’s stupid, immature and can only cause you grief.
I really enjoyed reading Tiger’s quotes where he deflected. The best one is classic talk from a true champion:
It’s not officially over quite yet officially. But we all know, it’s over.
“He’s trying to think of ways to motivate himself,” added the 12-times major winner, who held a share of the third-round lead with Sabbatini before bogeying the last.
When I was in High School, there was this amazing band “Hipsway” that hit the scene big time.
I played 18 today with a guy who is really, really good. He’s a 4 handicapper and I met him because we were both playing “singles.” So this guy crushes the ball - his driver are 280-300 easy - and I can tell he’s taking it easy, sizing up the course and seeing what’s what.
I can also tell he’s looking at me funny half the time - I get the silent treatment when I duff the ball - and the occasional “good golf swing” comment when I manage to actually hit the ball. (Side note… new favorite club is the 5 hybrid. God I hit that thing great).
By the 17th hole, I’m +30 or so and he’s about to finish with a 73. I slice the crap out of the ball and for the first time after 4+ hours, the guys says “Marc. Hipsway."
I’m trying to figure out what he just said and ask him what he means. What he was talking about what how I have now started over-compensating my shoulder turn by adding a nice hip movement (left to right) which is completely throwing off my angles.
I’d like to make 2 comments about this story:
1. Damn, golf really is hard!
2. Say something earlier man. Could have saved me from myself.
I was going to play again tomorrow, but I think I’m due for some time on the range instead.
Things were going OK - I was +3 and playing bogey golf before I hit the 4th hole, which I promptly tripled.
Took a deep breath and got it back together with a bogey on the next hole. Then things fell apart again - triple bogey and a hole so bad I just picked it up. The first night were up and down but not horrible, I shot a 51.
I should have sat down for a minute at the turn, but kept on going - it was getting late and I knew I was going to run out of daylight at some point. I would end up triple bogey on the last hole in darkness. Can I give myself a shot for that? Didn’t think so.
Back to back double bogeys and I really lost my temper. Good thing I was all alone on the course. I cursed out loud in bad form and slammed my 3 iron into the ground in frustration. The darn club deserved it after what it did to me!
I took a deep drink of water and ate a bag of chips and felt a bit better. I promptly hit a totally crap shot… never mind, that’s a mulligan. I’m allowed OK? C’mon. It didn’t help and I ended up playing the first ball. Yea, it was that bad!
Then, on a hole that gives me fits I nailed a fairway and hit a magical 52 degree to within feet. Easy putt for par! Then more magic… another par, then a bogey.
I slowed down my swing and held my back arm in tight and started to really crush the ball like I know I can. I hit a 6 iron about 160+ which is way long for me. What was going on?
Don’t worry though, it was fleeting. Triple bogey, triple bogey on the last two holes to limp in with a 50 and a total score of 101.
I am mostly disappointed in myself for actually losing my temper. Golf is supposed to be my “zen”. I think the expectation of shooting in the 90’s is getting in the way of my just swinging the club and relaxing. I’m getting better, but apparently I’m not so patient a person.
I stumbled on to this earlier this week - my new goals include getting down to shooting 95 or better so I can qualify to play in what would seem to be a really cool opportunity.
Finally a Golf Tour of the Public Golfer, For the Public Golfer
The Golf Galaxy® Tour offers one day, 18 hole events open to all golfers (men, women and juniors welcome) who normally score 95 or less on 18 holes.
Played on the weekends at top local courses in your area, come experience the camaraderie and friendly competition of tournament golf. 2 person team, Best-Ball, and Scramble formats hosted. Sign up today and experience why thousands of golfers just like you nationwide are getting “inside the ropes."
Look up your local tournaments and get the scoop here.