July 2013

I had a mini breakthrough and a simultaneous setback yesterday, playing 36 holes at Metropolis Country Club. I shot 70 (-1) in a morning game, bogeying the 18th hole to just miss shooting 69. I went back out there in the afternoon with my friend Dan and had a nearly remarkable round. I found myself with a straightforward 20 foot putt to shoot a (-5) 66. This would have been the finest round of my life and one of the best rounds played at Metropolis, the course record being 65 in a tournament and 64 more recently in a weekend game. Unfortunately, I hit two poor putts, including a complete bonehead miss of a 2.5 foot par putt. Making that putt would have secured a 67, and a new record for me. Instead, I "settled" for the 68. Still, my best 36 hole performance to date, and I seem to be hitting my stride just in time for the club championship which begins this Sunday...

Back from Scotland

I shot 68 (-3) last Saturday, tying my all-time best. This after I almost missed my teetime by getting stuck in a 7AM traffic jam, only having time to hit 3 practice putts before my group was on the tee. The 68, strangely, felt like the highest I could have scored: I missed five putts of five feet or less. I hit solid drives and sharp approaches (11 birdie opportunities under 15 feet) and I stayed away from trouble by hitting the right clubs and sticking to routine. I made some, but not all, my putts.

I now know exactly what it takes to go out and shoot in the low 60's, but I know enough that I could just as easily go out next time and shoot 81. I hit 17 greens and the one I missed on #2, I nearly holed out a tough bunker shot. I missed a 5 foot birdie putt on the par 3 4th, and another on the 8th which turned into a three putt. But then I birdied 10 and 12, two of the hardest holes on the course and the two easiest 15th and 16th, just missing a 4 foot eagle putt on 16. I then missed two more very short putts on 17 and 18, leaving me stunned but still pleased with the round. I could have really gone low.

I returned from a golf trip to Scotland a few weeks ago with friends and played some of the historic/best/storied golf courses in the world. In a week, we played St. Andrews The Old Course, St. Andrews Castle Course, Kingsbarns twice, Carnoustie, Troon, Prestwick and Turnberry. Golf is much, much harder in Scotland. Part of it is the weather conditions, where 30 mph winds and driving rain describe some of the nicer days; part of it is the difference in turf, where the ball just does not sit up nicely on Scottish fairways as it does in calm Westchester or Long Island courses; some of it is the fescue which can swallow balls hit even slightly offline. Whatever it is, it's same game, but golf in Scotland is more complex and requires more creativity than stateside golf.

During the back nine at Carnoustie (the site of Jean Van de Velde's epic meltdown at the 1999 British Open), on a 460 yard par 4, downwind, I hit a Driver and 9-iron on the green but well past the pin, approximately 480 yards. On the 17th hole, playing into the wind, I was unable to reach the green with two of my best drivers on a 380 yard par 4. Forgetting about how a 30+ mph wind makes your swing unstable, you need creativity and trust to hit a 5 iron 130 yards into the wind or a 9 iron 175 yards downwind. Small mistakes are magnified and many of the best shots are not rewarded.

(Carnoustie 18th)

I went from playing unfamiliar courses in tough conditions back to where I've played hundreds of times in near perfect conditions. We will see if I can continue this momentum into the club championship starting in just two and a half weeks.

Turnberry

Turnberry

Troon

St. Andrews Castle

The Road Hole