Hershey PA, Manada Golf Club October 16, 2011

The fam took a trip to Hershey PA to see some chocolate and I was able to squeeze in a round at the Manada Golf Club. I walked up at 7:15 and they set me out on the back nine all by my lonesome. I got to play the back nine in ninety minutes. It would have been fifteen to twenty minutes quicker than that if it wasn't for some leaves on 12 and a drive directly into the sun on 14.

                                 Below is the clubhouse from the 10th green, still early AM.

The course was mostly flat, with a few hills, but set against the Blue Mountains, so it was picturesque, as you can see from the photos. Throw in some October colors, not quite peak, but still gorgeous, and I was having one of those 'they built this place for me' moments. I didn't see any other golfers until I was on 15, and he was two holes behind me. I played slightly better on the first nine, which was the back nine. I managed three pars here. The first was the Par 3 11th, 167 yards. I dribbled an eight iron off the tee, about 75 yards. But my second shot on the soaked, soft terrain was a wedge that landed a foot from the hole. I tapped in for par.





The course was soaked from the record rainfall this year. It was playable, and I only seriously plugged one time, but that was probably more due to me hitting the ball poorly, lack of clean loft shots and such. My next par was the photographed 13, a 500 yard Par 5.

I hit a good drive here, landing in the center of the fairway (photo above). My second shot was awful, a yanked five iron that went way left, and put me on the 14th hole, but only about 80 yards out (photo below.  The two pine trees that are left of center above, are on the right side of the picture below).

 I could see the pin, but only half the green, blocked by the pines you see in the picture. I hit this third shot below the green, rolling up barely a foot from the bunker. Somehow I was never in any bunkers today. My fourth shot was an easy chip that landed four feet from the hole, and I made the par putt.





The next hole was the 14th, a 360 yard Par 4. It was a pretty straight hole that dipped down to a green that then sloped up. I felt a great drive, but couldn't see it, driving into the low morning sun. I spent a while finding it, about a hundred out, and in the rough on the left side of the fairway. I hit a wedge shot that stopped on the fringe at the front of the green. I made a nice putt here, parking it three or four feet from the hole, and made the par putt.  Below is the 14th green:

After finishing out the back nine with a 47, I was joined up with Derek and Rodney for the front nine. Derek had his Raiders gear on, which I thought would be sacreligious in Pennsylvannia, even though we were hours from Pittsburgh, but he became a fan at a young age and stuck to it. Derek had a nickname that Rod kept calling him, but I can't seem to remember it. It was something like Scoot. They knew the course well, both had been club champs, Rod in 1980 and 1987, and Derek in 1997. Derek was probably low to mid forties, and Rod was a little older. But they played well, nice smooth swings both of them, and had plenty of tips for me, playing the course blind for the first time. I think they both shot 38's on the front nine.





The front had a few more hills, and the 4th hole ran along a stream, with an elevated green.


After telling me I was playing with former club champs, they both hit nice tee shots, and I promptly yanked one left, just missing the road that led up to the clubhouse. I managed to save a six with a decent fourth shot that landed me on the fringe, followed by a flubbed seven iron that went four feet onto the green, and then a highlight reel 25 foot putt that bent downhill and in.





Derek told me he grew up in the house that was just off the second hole. In fact, if I hit the same drive on 2 that I hit on 1, I would have broken his parents' window. The house was to the left, but hittable if you muffed it. But I hit a fine drive here, straight over a hill to a blind landing. I was on the first cut rough, and hit a very nice eight iron, and landed on the green. Then I three putt for a five. Curses followed.





The 3rd hole was a Par 3 162. I muffed the drive as we talked about football and the Jets (there has to be some excuse) and I didn't recover well. A five on the Par 3, basically sinking all chances of a satisfying score.





I hit a decent drive on the river hole (stream really), and hit a halfway decent second shot with the four iron, uphill to the green. I missed the green right, then muffed my chip on, then went long, and ended up with a 7.





Their weren't many other shots worth mention until the 9th (my 18th). My third shot on the 5th, a dogleg right par 5, was sweet. I hit a lousy drive left (wrong way) and then a flub that managed to roll 80 yards or so uphill. I then hit a pretty five iron, a nice line drive that still came up short of the green, but it was a nice downhill shot, center of the fairway, and ended up 40 yards or less in front of the green. I managed a six.





The long Par 3 6th...do I need to say more? A long iron off the tee was a guaranteed flub, and I had a five. The seventh was awful as well. I was putting for five on the seventh, away from the mountain, and came up way short. Rod pointed out that the mountain draws the ball toward it. I was putting away from it and neeeded to hit the ball harder to break it away. I hit a fine drive on 8, but it missed the fairway, and plugged. But I recovered with a five.





The highlight of the round was the ninth (my 18th). I hit a bad drive left, but far enough, leaving me in the rough about 150 out. I hit a fine 8 iron here that landed about six feet from the stick. I missed the birdie, but made the par.

I read a few reviews online about Manada that were less than glowing. I'd agree that it was a simple design, nothing too elaborate as far as island greens and such. But the scenery could not be beat, especially in October with the colors. The place was surrounded by woods, farms and great views on all sides. It was a great golf experience for me, and the company, with Rod and Derek playing well and for some dough and bragging rights, made it a fun time. I'd go back here in a heartbeat.

September 3, 2011

As long as you've had a decent night's sleep, there is nothing quite like getting up at the crack of dawn and leaving the house for a round of golf before the sun is up, and before the dew has even made its way down the leaves. I arrived to a mostly empty parking lot at Charleston, and I walked into an empty pro-shop. I was offered the south course if I could be ready in fifteen minutes.
7:20 South. I'm joined by Nate and Grant, both about my age, or a little younger. Nate is just winding down his baseball career, so we have that in common. He was mostly a catcher, so I tip my cap to him. I love golf, and I love writing about the rounds, but I've yet to have an experience with either of those things that compared to the game I caught back in, oh 2002 maybe, when Teddy Grandstaff tossed a complete game shut out, 1-0, over Scamerdella Funeral Homes. I was not the full time catcher, mostly caught here and there, but that was one of the best baseball games I ever played. Catching is the bomb, but more about that some other time.
Nate is from Pennsylvannia, and Grant is local, so he has been here before. What can be said about the weather? Take a look at the 3rd photo from the top of this page. Add in 69 degrees. Enough said.
Since I walked up to the 1st tee, three miles uphill, Nate and Grant tee off first, and both hit decent shots. I catch my breath and hit a decent shot as well, but it drifts off to the rough on the right side of the fairway, downhill lie. Looks like the course is still in a 'tournament layout', championships were a week or so ago. The rough is long. I'm two hundred out, or just short of it on this Par 4 405. If I had hit the fairway (ha! what a way to start a golf thought!) I would have had a great roll downhill, and maybe ended up 150 out, or less, for the way I hit that drive. I think I was about 130 out last time I played here. But I hit it in the rough, and there was no roll. So from the thick rough, 190 or so on a downhill lie, I elect the six iron, to play it safe and get back to some short grass. There are trees and trouble (a gorge) to the right if I miss the 3 iron, which may or may not have allowed me to reach the green. Given the rough and the downhill lie, the six was a good move. I hit, not so well, but land in the middle of the fairway, about a hundred out. Next up is the wedge, aiming for a pin right at the front of the green. I know this is missing right as soon as I hit it, but I do roll across the fringe to the beginning of the rough, only about twenty five feet from the hole. I chip it on, leaving four or five feet, and sink the putt for bogey, 5.

The 2nd hole is 350 yards, a par 4, but the gold tees are back in the blue box, about ten feet in front of the blues, so it played 385. I hit a good drive, starting center and fading to the right, but the fairway goes that way. It's a suckers play, but I take it, and I say that because now I'm 175 out, uphill, looking at a pond if miss right. I hit a five iron, not sweet, a low liner, but it bounces just before the green, and rolls deep to the top. The pin was toward the front however, and I have a good 40 footer for birdie. I get it close and par, 4.

Of the four Par 3's at Charleston South, three of them have my number. The 3rd hole is a 195 yard Par 3, which shouldn't be any trouble to bogey, much less par if you know how to hit a long iron. I'm not better than 40% with my three iron, and I hit a low line drive into some heavy rough. It had half-a prayer of getting through the rough, which only runs for the first sixty yards or so from the tee box, but I hit it too low. It barely went fifty yards. I found my ball though (and two others) and from the heavy rough I hit a straight seven iron that lands ten or fifteen yards short of the green. Disappointing, but from where I was hitting, it could have easily not even moved. I chip on, not stellar, and two putt for a 5.

The 4th is the number 2 handicap, a 432 yard par 4, mostly uphill. It is wide enough, but there is a mess to the right. All three of us hit really good drives here, all on the fairway. Grant swung hard off the tee, and he nailed this one up the right side of the fairway, while the lefty Nate and I were further back and right. I am right around 200 out, and hit the three again, but don't make it on. It was another low line drive, very low, but straight, and I hit the wedge from about 80 yards out right at the pin. It looked closer from the fairway, and I manage a two putt, bogey 5.

5th fairway

5th green

The 5th hole is a nice 379 from the gold, where you aim at a bunker that is about 210 yards in front of you. If you clear it, you are sitting pretty hitting downhill about 150. Nate nailed it right over the bunker after I just explained that to him, a nice drive. I floated one out there, right of the green, about 175 out. I flub a six, and leave 120 to the right, same shot I had last two times I played here, pond right, bunker and green left. Last two times I went straight into the bunker, but this time I make the green. I have long, downhill putt, maybe 35 feet, and make a nice one, and sink bogey, 5.

The sixth (above) is a Par 5 dog-leg right, but again a wide fairway, which I hit. I follow with a six iron, not a great shot, but straight and safe. I am on some heavier grass which surrounds a bunker I just missed, about 135 out. I hit a soft 8 iron, and think I really nailed it. I am on the green, but when I get up close to see it, I am still 40 feet from the cup, putting downhill. The greens have been very slow, but not this time, and I scoot it about six or seven feet past the cup. I miss par, and bogey, 6.

The second easiest hole on the course is the Par 4 7th, 317 yards. The green is cleverly guarded by some tall trees if you go straight at it, as the hole dog-legs left, and begs you to hit a long iron or short wood out to a wide fairway. Here I discover that the hat I keep on my 3 wood is missing. I hit that three wood anyway, and hit a lousy shot left, but it catches the beginning of the fairway, leaving me 175 out. It hit a lousy 5 iron here, but I am safe, 80 yards out or less for my third shot. I hit a fine shot fearlessy over the bunker guarding the front, and two putt for bogester, 5.

This was the end of the best I would play today, although I did par one other hole, the all important 18th. The 8th is a long par 5, uphill then right, then down hill. I hit an ok drive here, but it is right. The best direction to the green is blocked by tall trees. I hit a line drive three iron that is basically safe, if not perfect. For my third, I am 160 out, and I hit a seven iron, not pure, and land just short of the green in a muddy bunker. My ball is sitting really on some wet dirt. I play it anyway, and escape the trap, but only travel 6 or 7 yards, still short of the green. I chip on five, and two putt, for a lousy 7. There were other parts of that same bunker that were even wetter and I would not have played from there. I should not have played the one I did, a drop from just beyond the bunker would have been fair. Maybe later.

The Par 3 9th has my number, an uphill 158 with a gorge to the left just off the green. This hole truly has a spell on me. I did get a four last time, but the seven iron is the right club there, and I never hit it true. I dribble one off the tee, and then dribble the second shot way right, into the rough. My third lands in the green side bunker, which leaves me four feet below that green. I make a decent bunker shot, but it's too late for the hole. I two putt for a 6. Owned.

The good news is that was one of the best nines I had this season. The bad news is that it was 48.

10th green, Charleston South

The 10th is a short Par 4, 295, but it is well protected by woods and rough left and a gorge and some bunkers in front of the green(the gorge is between the fairway and bunkers above). I hit a good drive here, a soft touch shot, leaving less than 80 yards and the gorge to carry for that green. I herky-jerk a wedge shot and land in one of those bunkers. This time I'm not playing mud. I put it behind the bunker, and pop on the third. I two putt for a 5. There is a photo of the 10th green somewhere on this page, and you can see those bunkers. But it wasn't taken on the day of this round. There was still Irene water on this course and the bunkers hadn't recoved.

The 11th is the easiest hole, a 115 yard par three. There is a bunker short right, but I pop up a wedge left. I can't find it for a while because of some heavy grass, but Nate finally helps me out. I am pin high. I make it on with a wedge, and two putt for a 4.

The 12th is a tough uphill drive, a Par 4 412 that parallels the 1st hole. I hit one right, into a tree that separates those two holes and as we inter-mingle with the group teeing off on one, who hit some of their shots left, I search for my ball with no luck. I was heading right, where there is plenty of room, but I can't find my ball. I thought I saw it leave that tree, but after an extensive search, I give up and drop. No gallery (patrons) available to spot my ball, and the other group gave no help, so I drop two and hit three from two hundred or so out. I come up short and right. My fourth shot goes over the green into some tall grass I had trouble with. This is more of that deceiving nice grass, not fescue. It is only 3-5 inches long, but good and thick, and I muff 5. Six gets on safely and I two putt for my first snowman, 8.

The pain is not over. The 13th is a Par 5 dog leg right, over a pond (2nd shot). I fear the pond left, and hit a rocket over the left fielder's head, which also means into the farmer's yard, lost. Three is a brilliant drive, high, straight, far. Four is a six iron, also, high, straight, far, and I am looking at an 8 iron, 150. This shot is almost ninety degrees right from the last one, and I don't hit it well. I am short and left of the green. The was my fifth. Six chips on, and I two putt, second 8 in a row. This was the worst of it, but it only got a little better, and I can't torture you anymore with this poor/mediorcre round. A few good shots will get me back, as will weather like this, but this was not a satisfying score.

100 out on the 16th

May 21, 2011

The month is busy, but I'll get in this round, and maybe one more Monday, the 23rd. But Saturday the 21st is a fine day. The sun was strong enough for high seventies at times, but it was mostly cooler. It clouded up later, as you can see in the picture (between 5th and 6th) way below, and even drizzled, but not enough to be a bother. I play Charleston South for the second time in a row, but it's hard to say I'm warming up to it.

I ended up in a twosome with George, a Staten Island native like myself, transplanted here to Monmouth County, in love with the public courses here. He is a lawyer, has a practice near Silver Lake, so we trade comments on the Staten Island links, Latourette, South Shore, and Silver Lake. He is driving, arthritis in the knee and elbow has him humbled, but willing, on his 53 year old frame. He has one great piece of advice: keep moving, never let it get stale. He was great company the whole way. He hit the ball short, but straight.

I drive the 1st well but I am right of the fairway in some heavy grass, downhill slope, probably 150 out. I hit a seven iron with the second shot, but pull it left of the green, into a bunker at the top of the hill. I get out of the bunker with one stroke, but don't reach the green. I chip on four, and two putt for a six. Poor start, but salvagable.

The 2nd is a challenging drive with the aforementioned (4/30/11 post) bunker center left, and the pond straighaway. The gold tees are way in the back of the box, making a reach of the pond impossible for me, so I swing away. My drive is high and far, but drifting right, however I stay on the fairway, a little shorter than the last trip to Charleston South. I am a short iron away from the green, but since I am far right, I need to carry the pond to reach the green. I pull out a seven iron from about 152, a shot for which I would usually use the eight. I don't want any part of the pond. The eight was the right club, because with the seven I land just past the pin, which is center/back on the green, and I roll over and off. From the high grass and under some pine branches I punch a seven, but it was an awkward shot at a downward sloping green, and I don't get on. I punch again with the seven for the fourth, on, and two putt. I'm starting out bad, but not defeated, a few encouraging shots, especially the drives.

I am cautious with the 3rd hole Par 3, 195. Last week I flubbed it off the tee. This week I hit it hard, but a slice with the 3 iron, and I yell 'fore' to the the group on the fourth tee because I'm coming right at them. I bounce one near their carts as they collect themselves, and roll onto the fourth tee box. They are pissed, but I apologize. My second shot is a great save. I float one with my pitching wedge (after I moved the ball about two feet, no closer to the pin, off the tee box). I land this wedge about ten feet higher than the pin, but safely on the green. Incidentally, the greens were full of sand, not sure what the procedure is called, as they were recently treated. Putts were hard to comeby today, but it was exciting to see the dusty splash on the lifted approach shots, like this last one. I come close with the par putt, but no cigar. 4.

The number two handicap 4th hole is like staring at a monster, 432 uphill. It is a wide hole, but you're dead if you miss the first cut. I miss the first cut. I land behind the blue tee box of the third hole, in tall grass, nice lawn grass, not the fescue. I hit a four iron, awful shot, and this one does get to the fescue. But I find it, chancing the ticks with a search, and hit a six iron, swing hard through some straw. I hit this one pretty solid, but it is pulled way left of the green, and only some kind trees save me from the fescue on the other side of the fairway, about sixty yards out. I have no look with my fourth becuase of the low branches around the saving trees, so I try to punch up a seven iron. I hit it up, left of the green, just missing George. I chip on 5 and two putt for a seven. My not so lofty goal of at least being better than the 55 I shot on the front nine on 4/30 is looking, well, lofty.

The 5th is not a hole I am afraid of, but I shoud be. I need to carry the fairway bunker, which is probably 220 straight out, but my drive slices slightly, landing me on the fairway, but way right, the long way to the green. The smart move from 215 out is to just hit an eight, but no, I can't do that. I put the eight iron down, and take out the six, this way I can reach the pond on the right. I miss the bountiful fairway and make sure I am just right enough to splash. Drats! (feel free to substitute real profanity, I did). Drop three, and four is the same shot I had on 4/30, 130 yards, pond right, big green, bunker left. Same result as last time, right in the bunker. I hit out of the bunker, on the green but way short of the pin, leaving myself a forty foot putt. I actually hit a very nice putt here, not in, but leaving an easy tap-in for a mini-highlight, seven. I am now on pace to be one over the 4/30 front at Charelston South.

Not too many people can comfortably admit that, but I soldier on. If you don't practice a lot, and if you didn't establish a base as a kid, scoring well (eighties and such) is extremely difficult. So I remind myself that it is about the experience. The picture of the pond below is a good example. The weird thing about that picture is that is sounded so much better than it looks. I had just finished the 15th and that pond is between 15 and 16. It was after 5pm by then, and the golf course was very quiet, hardly any other golfers around, and the birds were singing. The course is somehow more serene in the evening, even more so than the morning, which you think would be quiet. Maybe bird activity is different that hour, so the songs are different. But it was a mood shot, I was moved to capture it.

The 6th inspired photos too. I hit a short drive right, heading for the high fescue and the first pine tree among many to the right of it. It looks like I will be short of that pine tree, and it will be directly in my way for the second shot. For a minute I couldn't find the ball, but then I finally check in front of the pine. A lucky break as it rolled through some high fescue, but I don't take advantage. I flub a three iron, and the ball goes about thirty yards, in the rough on the right side. Since I'm right, and the hole dog-legs left, I'm hitting my third from close to three hundred out. I hit one of the best shots of the day here, a three iron that went out toward the left side of the fairway, but then bent back to land in the center. I hit it out of some thick grass, and didn't really take a full swing, but I made solid contact and hit a turning bullet of a line drive. It didn't go that far, because I was about 130 out from my fourth. The picture above tells the story. You could see the sunken bunker guarding that green. I could try to stay left, but the pin is in the back/right of a large green. I sky a nice sounding nine iron, and for a few short seconds it was all about 'will it' or 'won't it' because I was dead on the pin, which meant I was dead on the bunker. But I made it to the green, though still 35 feet from the stick. It looked much closer from the spot where I hit it, but I swing the two putt for a six. Two good shots on this hole, in a row, and the sweetness of that nine iron shot might very well be the one reason I try this game again someday.

The 7th is easist of the bunch, a short par 4, 317. It dog-legs right, and the green is well guarded by some tall trees if you're thinking about driving it toward the green. There is a fine, wide fairway begging you to take the safe route left. I pull out the 3-wood, one I don't find easier, and hit a fine shot that flirts with the tall trees, but makes it out to the fairway, leaving me a good 120 out. I hit the pitching wedge here, well, but playing with the bunker short left of the green. It goes over, but I'm off the fringe. My third is a punched up seven iron, and I two putt for five.

Things start out looking up on the 8th with a great drive, but after that it falls apart. I line up my second shot with a five iron, but flub it. It dribbles along the right side of the fairway, still safe, but not far. Now I'm right on a dog-leg right, but I have trees blocking the short route. I pull out a six iron, hoping to just place myself in line for my fourth. I yank this one left, over a bunker and into the woods. Nothing pretty happens now. It's an eight in the end.

The 9th Par 3 158 has my number. I am never on the green, and I am not on the green again this time. I hit a seven iron and landed in the bunker to the right of the green. Almost the same shot as the last round here, only the last one carried the bunker and landed in tall grass. But the bunker doesn't beat me today. I hit a smooth shot out and on the green, and two putt to save four. I beat the last round, but still not respectable, a 53 on the front.

The 10th is an easy Par 4, 294, but I make it as hard as possible. I hit good drive, pin straight. I really tried to tap it easy, but that's this game. Swing easy, but well, and the ball goes. This one heads straight for the bunker that guards a straight shot to the green, but it comes up a little short. I chip over the green, but barely over. With a seven iron, I tap on, but not a great shot. I leave myself with a good ten feet for par, and miss it. 5.

The 11th is the second easiest according to the handicap, a 115 yard Par 3. I hit the wedge high and straight and land it on. It looks close from far, but up close, it is far. I have a good 25-30 feet for birdie and I miss it. It is a good putt though, and I make a three foot shot for my first and only par of the day.

The 12th is scary like the fourth, uphill and wide, but woods left, and the first fairway is to the right. It is 412 yards. Here I boom a nice drive. It is high and far, and just reaches just past the 175 yard marker on the right side of the fairway. From here I am looking at a six iron. I was a little closer than this last time, and a six iron took me long, over the green. I hit it nice and easy, but didn't finish the shot, and it drifts right, through a tree. I am lucky to have a nice lie from here, and I chip on the green. I was ten feet or less for par, but couldn't make it. I tap in a five. This is a highlight score for me, I have been terrible at the 12th at Charleston South. A five is good.

Things were looking up from here, and I continue with a great drive on the 13th. This is a Par 5, a dog-let right, with a pond protecting the short route. I drive to the right side of the fairway, near the pond, but still on fairway. The group ahead of us is slow now, and we are waiting for them to look around. The delay costs me, concentration wise, and I flub a five iron. It rolls up and leaves me about 185 yards out. From here I need to carry the pond with a four iron so I try to make sure I hit it well. I don't swing terribly hard, and I don't know what happened but I pull it way left, a good forty yards left of target, and have to yell 'fore' once again. This time I get more than stares, I get arms raised in a 'wtf' sort of a way. But they were off the green, gathered around their carts, and not scidaddling to the next tee like a group that knows there are people playing behind them. I wasn't at all going for them. I missed the shot, and hit it just about the right distance. I just aimed poorly. I get up to them and apologize three times, but one of them, an older guy, Asian, maybe Filipino, says something like, 'well, you've done it a few times now,' like he was really pissed. It must have been his son that was with him, because the younger, pretty built son just sort of stood there making sure this didn't escalate. I tried to plead my case, that I just hit a lousy shot, but he wasn't having it. Just as I was about to tell the guy to stuff it for being like that after I apologized multiple times, I just said, 'I should have waited, sorry.' But there's no way I should have waited there. They were off the green. They should have been expecting my shot, cautious that a miss could reach them. Well they were in my head. My shot went through a tee, and low branches made this forty-yarder impossible. I flub more than one shot here, that guy got in my head. 8.

I manage a great drive on the 14th, and a bogie five after missing a six foot par putt. But the wheels come off the next hole as I drive the ball into a pond. I go out 8,7,5,6 on the last four holes, with barely a memorable shot, to close out the back nine with a 52, one worse than the awful 4/30 round, for a 105.

I will play golf again, but I'm not sure why.

April 30, 2011, One Stoke

Another fine day weather-wise, I ventured out at Charleston Spring's South Course for an afternoon round. There is nothing like the quiet and stillness on a golf course near the last few holes, still well before dusk but getting there. The sun was hot for a while but very comfortable as the day went on.

I played with Lou, Milan, and Bob. Lou walked and so did I while the other two shared a cart. Lou was older than me, but not by much, maybe forty-five to forty-eight, maybe older. Milan was around my age, probably a bit younger, but more grey than me. Bob was in his sixties. I finally broke down and got myself a push cart, cheap one, Maxflie, $70. We'll see if it was worth it. I had no issues on this Saturday.

The 1st hole at Charleston South is a Par 4 405 from the golds. You are driving slightly up hill, but it turns down on the landing so it is mostly a blind shot. You can see the green beyond the valley. I bang it left side of the fairway, flirting with the rough, but I can't see it land because of the hill. It turned out to be a fine drive, on the fairway, about 125 out. I'm on a down slope, and the green is slightly uphill for me. As with a few other holes, Lou and I are right next to each other. I skull the nine iron, however, but at least it's straight at the green. It looks like it's going to scoot way past, and I look for my ball in the rough down to the right of the green, but no, that was me right next to the fringe, barely un-puttable. I originally thought that ball was Milan, but he's way over on the other side. I tap on the green with a seven iron, but leave it ten or twelve feet for par. I miss it, but I'll take a five.

The 2nd has some trouble if you make a short mistake left and right (unhittable brush, which I've been in). It's a 350 yard Par 4 with a bunker about two hundred out toward the green (center-left), and a pond that starts maybe 300 yards or so straight on from the tee box, and runs up next to the green's right. The green is slighty uphill from the fairway. I hit one that is leaking right, not nearly far enough to reach the water, and I end up on the fairway, but way on the right side. I'm about 135 out, but I have to carry the pond if I aim for the stick. I cowardly, but smartly play it left, hoping for safe green as opposed to being dead on the pin. I go with the full 9 iron instead of the soft eight, thinking a soft shot could easily turn into a flub that goes right in the water. I hit a smooth nine, good loft, but it is short of the green by about ten yards. My third is an uphill shot from about thirty feet, but I hit it too hard. Now I have 10 feet down hill for par, and I miss that way short, a good 3 or 4 feet to go, and yeah, miss that too. That dreaded feeling rolls over, six.

The 3rd is always a tough hole for me, a Par 3 195. I'm at my worst with a three iron, and I flub it off the tee, into six inch tall grass. I flub two with a six iron out of that mess but only six feet, gritting my teeth, and talking under my breath. I hit the six again and it is way left. I pop on from twenty yards with my fourth, while Bob and Lou are hitting their seconds from about that area left of the green and short. Another six here. Stay calm, you can come back. Get the next par.

Four is a tough hole, the number 2 handicap. It is a Par 4 432, and an uphill 432 at that. It is wide enough though, but not enough for me. I hit it hard and far, but drifting right, over the Port-0-john, into some long grass. I have a terrible lie in some high grass and I'm still about two hundred out. I hit a four iron, hoping to just find fairway, but I open the club and slice this one way right, onto the fifth hole fairway, which connects with the deep rough I'm in. I wait for one or two drives coming back at me, and I jog onto the fifth with a seven iron and make one of my patented four-second address/swing sessions. This is a fine looking shot, I was guesstimating the distance, and though I was short of the green, I was quick, and hit a fine lofted shot right at the pin. I tap on from twenty-five feet with the seven-iron again. I mean again as in the previous shot, and again as in that was the third time I was using the seven for a chip around the green. The practice paid off as this one is pin high, though still a good ten feet from the hole. No problem said I, I roll in the putt for a five, easily but unfortunately the best putt of the day. A lesson in golf holes: I started with two awful shots, right and worse right, but I recoved nicely.

The 5th is a Par 4 379 with a nice sized bunker you must aim for and carry from the tee box. I aim, and carry, but I carry way right, nipping some leaves on the one giant tree at the far right edge of the fairway. I am on the fairway, but way right of where I need to be, still about 200 out. As I said before, my three is suspect, and there is water if I miss right again. I fearlessly rip the three iron, and it is mostly a flub, but it travels a good eighty yards, straight but well short of the pond. I'm looking at a pond in front of me that runs right up to the green, and beyond (you can see it in the picture of the 5th hole), and I try to keep it left right at the pin. Those clever devils knew I would be looking to keep it left, so they put a bunker just before the green on the left edge of the fairway, and I find it just fine. The sand is the same disaster my three iron is, the bottom of my game maybe. I am twenty-five feet from the stick, about level, but I hit it fifty feet. I'm on the edge of the large green clinging to 'at least I didn't flub it and stay in the sand'. That would come later on the course's easiest hole. Anyway, I don't want to leave it short, and I don't. I needed twenty-five feet or so, but I hit it thirty-five, and miss the next one too for a 7.

The 6th is a Par 5, 505 that dogs slightly left. They give you plenty of room right to park your drive, but I skim one two feet off the ground. It goes about a hundred yards. I flub the three iron for my second shot, and then hit it pretty solid with my third. For my fourth shot, I'm still over two hundred out, so I just play it safe with a seven iron, and I hit a decent shot. It was one of those situations where the group ahead were still on the green. I had the nice sound on my shot so they may have been like 'wtf' when they first looked up, but I knew I would be fifty yards short of the green. My par shot was an easy wedge that landed pin high, but twenty feet off the pin. I two putt for my second 7. The pain was just beginning.

The 7th is the 18 handicap, a 317 yard Par 4 that urges you to take out a 3 wood, or even a three iron. It is a dog leg right, but there are tall trees protecting, and with the overall shortness of the hole, you have to be crazy not to just bang it out to the plentiful fairway. There is open space but nasty tall grass left. I drift right, into the tall trees, a pin ball crap shoot if I'll have any kind of look at the green. Turns out I'm right near a tree with no shot of getting to the green, so I take a seven iron and punch out to fairway, almost ninety degrees. Distance is not a factor here. It seems like a fine shot, but it is too far because now my eighty yard look at a slightly uphill green has got a deep bunker in front of it, which normally would not scare me, except I'm in a divot. I find the center of that bunker with my third shot, and I find it again with my fourth shot, which doesn't really go anywhere. My fifth shot gets out, but still doesn 't reach the green. I slap the seven iron again to get on with six, and two putt for an 8. Easiest hole on the course, eight. Now the thoughts creep in: why am I here? Do I need this? Is it smart?

It is not smart. But I trudge on. 8 is another Par 5, this one 503. There are power line towers and weeds to the left, and tall trees right. You can't see the pin, or much of the hole for that matter, as it is an uphill drive, and then the hole bends right and downhill. I hit my drive toward the power lines. I can't find it. In a tournament, like on TV, the gallery find that ball for me, so I drop out there. It's just not realistic to walk back to the tee for three when there are groups behind you on a public course. And I hate hitting second tee shots (provisionals). If I ever improve my scores consistently, I'll count this right, but when I'm stringing together sevens and eights, a simple penalty stroke will do. My third goes way right, toward the trees. My fourth is a decent shot, a three iron punch out through those tall trees that catches the hill and rolls way down the fairway, leaving me about thirty yards away, looking way uphill at the green. But my fifth is too strong. I land pin high and roll up a good twenty feet away. I putt six downhill, a pretty nice putt here, what would have been beautiful if it was the fourth stroke. I tap in a 7. The question ('why am I here') isn't just lingering at this point. It's screaming.

There's a bit of a walk to the 9th tee, down a valley, and over a bridge. Nice Jersey woods. The hole is a Par 3 158, slightly uphill, with a deep drop if you go over, and a nice size gully if you are way short and left. I hit a half decent seven iron off the tee, but it is right of the green, just about pin high. The grass is high and thick, but I manage a good wedge shot. If I knew how to hit my sand wedge, that was a good spot to use it, but I don't. I'm most comfortable with the pitching wedge. I two putt for a four. But a 55? Going home after nine is an option. The score is shot.

But my schedule was open that afternoon. This round was sanctioned because May is crazy with events. Maybe I'll break 50 on the back, maybe I could use the practice. So I make the long, hilly walk up to 10, a short Par 4 294, with major trouble left, and a narrow strip that dogs way left to the green. Going for the green is not even an option with me, way too much woods all around the green for me to chance a monster swing. I try to hit the drive nice and easy, knowing I don't need distance, but I drift way right, toward the eleventh tee. I hit the second shot just short of the green, and chip on, managing a five.

I did complete the round with a 51 on the back. As difficult as it was to play through that awful score, it's proving twice as hard to write something interesting about it. There was just one thing though. On the Par 5 16, I was looking at another awful score when I took a blind 'I don't care' swing from about 150 out. The photo here of sixteen is from 100, but from 150, you cannot see the green. I sky it with a seven iron, and land pin high, about five feet away. I still two putt, but that is the one stroke I needed to come back again, a real golf shot, hit clean, lands where it should. I think even pros are occasionally happy to land five feet from the pin.

Winter Round 3/19/11

It wasn't all that winter. Sunny in the fifties, but with a kicking wind--one and two clubs worth. But it is technically winter today. Tomorrow is the first day of spring. It was another 'built for me' moment. I arrived at the clubhouse at 11:00, was offered a choice of 11:1o or 11:30, and I took the 11:30 North. I got my county card renwed, putt for ten minutes, and was ready to go.

The starter congratulated me on my decision to wear a jacket. More precisely, I had the wife-beater tee, a regular tee on that, a polyester golf tee-shirt over that, and then a fleece and the Vanbro jacket, still kickin' (1996 and 2000 CHAMPS!). I wore the Mets winter hat, in case I appear despondent at any point it's explained, and I needed it because that two club wind was a last punch of the winter variety. It warmed up nice those moments of calm, but they didn't last.

I arrived at the first tee alone and took a few swings. The three others rode up a minute or two later. They were Ryan and Pete, and Mike rode solo. Michael was Pete's dad. He immediately offered me a seat any time I wanted it, which set the tone for the round in general, pleasant company.

Since I was waiting there I tee'd off firstat 1. It was my first swing of the driver this year, since November actually, but I did swing once at the range, last week in fact. You never know what you're gonna get as far as foursome goes when you show up as a single. These guys had solid golf looks, golf clothes, where as I'm a little iffy when it comes to that. I would be suspect if I saw a guy dressed like me, but it's not out of line. Right on the border. The jacket gives me away as a baseball guy, but these fellas dressed golf. Ryan had pink pants on, regular kakies. He pulled if off too. I'm thinking of getting a pair. I like the guys that dress nuts on tour.

As luck would have it, my first drive is a beauty. I'm sure I could use some professional help on my drive. The only one I actually tried to calculate distance came in at 210 yards. But it felt like so much more. I thought I was hitting them 240-250, but who knows. A pro could at least get me to get the most for what I swing. But I hit a solid drive. Charleston North is easy to play in March because the trees are bare and the fescue is still dead. But I was on the fairway. Next I pulled out the five iron, solid shot, but left, off the fairway, but safe. From about 120 on the Par 5 I used a nine iron on my third shot. I probably would be hitting the wedge from there, but that cold wind ate the ball up. Nine was a good choice because I was on the green, putting for birdie from a about 28 feet. Unfortunately when I putt on the practice green, I practiced short putts. So I was way short. I missed the par putt too from six feet, and tapped in six. From birdie to bogie in three easy strokes.

Mike gave me a ride up to the second tee box, a long way from the first green. 2 is an uphill Par 4, 400 yards, with fairway bunkers left and right. I hit one way left, a line drive, but without the fescue it rolls in sight to the seventh tee box, or just before it. This leaves me about one hundred out. I had to wait for three gentlemen to tee off from the whites. They all hit solid drives. I hit a decent shot with my wedge, good loft, but it is left of the green. My third is a twelve yard chip, sideways to the green, as I was pin high. But I don't chip it right, it's more of a liner, but I'm on the green, putting for par from about 20 feet. I miss, but make a good three footer for 5.

3 comes back the other way, a level 398 yarder (distances are all golds). In season there is hopeless fescue left, ten feet from the fairway, and more if you go way right. There is also a bunker right, right distance from the tee. I hit my drive right, but still solid, and I find it just passed the bunker, on the wrong side of the cart path. But it's a decent lie. I was a little over 150 out, normally a seven, but today it was a six iron. Or was it? I hit that six iron very well, and went over the green. I thought I would be safe, but as I got close I couldn't find the ball. I walked out even further, and I was lucky. I hit that six into the wind, with nice loft, and I almost made the pond that is past the green. But I was safe, chipping three. I make good contact with the chip, but not aimed well. I'm 18 feet for par, I miss short, and save bogie from six feet on a slight downhill--could have been ugly if I miss that.

That pond that I just missed with my six iron last hole makes the drive on 4 tricky. This is a Par 5 469. If you hook it at all, you're swimming. If you are safely left though, past a bunker out there, you are in good shape for birdie, but I don't ever try to play it over there. I over compensate right, and end up on the 11th fairway, yelling "fore" but not in a bad spot. Pete skimmed his shot, a low line drive left, that took a dip and skipped out safely. I hit a nice five iron for my second shot, but there are some hills, or mounds running through 4 and 11, so I'm hitting it blind. I aim at the high voltage line towers. I'm not sure where it goes, but it was a solid shot, so I just walk up in the general direction and I find it. I'm about 147 out now, hitting three off a mound beside the fairway, among but not in some fairway bunkers. I grab the eight iron in spite of the strong wind and at the last split second in my swing I try to really groove it, and it goes left into that pond that had been calling my ball for some time now. I drop 4 from the same spot and hit another eight, solid, but short, and land short of the bunker that is four 0'clock from the green. Ryan plugs badly in that same bunker. I chip on six and two putt for a lousy eight.

Number 5 has had my number for a while now, and today is no different. It is a Par 3 181, but there is no room for error left, same pond. I go left, naturally. I always use a five iron, and there was some discussion going on among the three about hybrids and woods here, but I stick five. I mean, I don't stick five, I stick with the five iron, but with the wind it's the wrong club, and I skirt along the water. There is a twosome creeping up on us, and we basically screwed them all day starting right about there, so I hate to hit a second ball if there's a chance I can find the first. But I can't, my second libation to that pond within five strokes of each other, and I drop about where it went in, which left a thirty or forty yard chip for me. I hit it hard, past the pin, past the green, and can only make a halfway decent comeback putt, decent but not in. I finish here with a manufactured six. I say manufactured because I think the rule there is for me to hit that second tee shot, as three, but when you write a six on your card on a par 3, frig the rules, it's a loss anyway.

The uphill drive on 6 isn't horrible, but it's short. It sounded good, felt good, but it was high and into the wind, so it didn't go anywhere. Now I'm still downhill from the hole, and I can't see the bunkers protecting the green. I just see the top of the flag waving. Doesn't matter because I tear up a divot almost as long as a skirt steak, and the second shot goes about 14 feet. Still uphill and blind to the hole, I aim a nine iron at the stick. Wrong club, comes up short again, this time in the bunker I couldn't see. This nine iron was well struck, nice lift, but it probably should have been an eight iron. Anyhoo I hit a good bunker shot, four, and two putt, nothing memorable.

I do a little adding because I know the 8 and the sixes are piling up, and if I can par-out from here, it's a 48, not great, but liveable. I can't par-out. 7 is a Par 4 368 that dog legs a bit right, but that shot is protected by a few bunkers center and right for those aiming to cut a few yards off the hole. I go way right here, but so far right that I pass the big pine trees that are supposed to discourage people from hitting the ball where I did. I didn't try to hit it there, mind you, I tried to hit it where Mike hit his, in the middle of the fairway. But I'm a little over a hundred out, and I chose the nine iron to beat the wind. The wind really does mess with me. I hit a line drive over the green. I'm now chipping my third shot uphill, blind to the green, and I flub it. I get on with the fourth and two putt for another 6.

8 gets birdied and par'd from time to time by yours truly, so I'm going in confident. It's a short par three with bunkers at five o'clock, and nine to ten o'clock. If you are short and right you can lose your ball in the brush, but this being a winter round, none of the brush is grown in. I flirt with that five o'clock bunker, but miss it by a foot or two, ten feet from the green. I scoot on, but still over ten feet short of the pin, and I two put for a four. I was short all day with the putts and had to make a few four footers.

On the 9th, Par 4 389, I hit a drive that is lost in season because it's right in the fescue, but it's short and easy to find today. It's about 150 out and I hit a strong seven, nice clean shot, and I'm on the green in two, putting from a good 25 feet. I am short again by about four feet, but I make this putt for my only par of the day.

10 is a Par 4 396 with a some big trees if you go left or right. There is another big tree in the fairway to the left, and a bunker and pines right. I hit a decent drive here and land just past the bunker on the right. I am just about 185 out now and use the four iron, a questionable call. But I hit a strong shot, even though it is right of the green it is pin high. I do not make my best chip from there, a downhill twenty yarder, and I roll off the edge of the green. I tap it back on and one putt for a 5.

On the Par 5 11th, I hit a strong drive, but this makes the fairway bunker on the right. I hit a lousy six iron out of the bunker, probably only seventy yards. My third shot is not good either, a three iron from two hundred out, which goes only one fifty and right again. So I'm looking at four with a wedge with a green staring back, but I can't make the right shot. I land in a bunker to the left, well below the elevated green. I manage a good sand shot, which is lucky for me as I never know what will happen with the sand wedge. It is my fifth stroke, and though I hit it clean and out of the bunker, it is nowhere near the pin. It takes me three strokes from there for an 8.

The easiest hole is the Par 3 12th, a short 154 yards with a pond if you dribble one left. I hit a clean seven, but the wind is brutal. I am left of the green, about pin high. I chip on two, and two putt for a four. Should have taken advantage of the course there.

The 13th took the spirit right out from under me. I hit a decent drive right of the fairway, but it leaves me about 160 out. I hit a bad eight, scooping up a lot of grass. And then I flub two more. My knees were starting to wobble. I get close with five, chip on six and then two putt, my worst performance of the day even though I had two other eights.

Somehow I manage to come back on 14, a Par 4 359 that can be tough because the slope leaves you hitting your shot mostly blind. I hit a decent drive, but it is right. I am 150 or so out, looking at a pond if I am short and right and I hit an eight iron that I flub . My third is better, but it is still not on. I make a short chip and two putt for another six that does not help my round.

Having thoroughly disgusted my self the last two holes, a I was set up for more misery on the 15th. This is a long Par 5, 526, and it is uphill from the tee, and then somewhat down after about three hundred yards. I flub my drive. My second is a short three iron that put me about where the drive should have. I flub three but nail the fourth, a three iron into a blind fairway. This leaves me about sixty or seventy out, and I hit a nice wedge for my fifth that lands twelve feet from the pin, but I two putt for a seven.

The 16th is a pretty tough Par 4, 399 and another hole where it rises from the tee to midway, and then goes downhill to the green. I hit my best drive of the day here, exhaustion and all, and roll nicely down slope leaving a second shot from 150 out. I stick with an eight iron and hit a nice looking golf shot, but it rolls just onto the fringe. It takes me three to finish, a good opportunity to par blown.

17 is no help either. This is a long Par 3, 175 yards, and I hit a five into the strong wind. I should have gone up a club. But I am pin high, only right of the green. I make a lousy chip that rolls all the way past the pin and past the fringe too. I sweep the seven iron to within about four feet, and save four with a good putt.

I made a valiant effort to finish strong on 18. I hit a nice drive to the middle of a narrow fairway that eats your ball left with woods, and has some mess of hills, bunkers, fescue and giant oaks right. Now the hole is 362, and I'm still 15o out, which puts my drive at 210??? I know it had to be better than that, so maybe a measurement was off somewhere. I sky an eight, but it carries all the way to the back of the green, while the pin sits in the front. I am putting for birdie from thirty, downhill, and I am short still. I two putt from there for a five, and a 104 on the day.

All in all this is a miserable score, but for a first time out in what was technically still winter, there were a few bright moments. I drove mostly well, with only one bad flub on 15, when I needed it most for the long Par 5, so that' my game in a nutshell. I practiced a bunch of short putts before the round, and I was short all day as reality left me some longer ones.