The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

I had a morning free today to play golf before going into New York City this afternoon. So, I got up at my usual time for work and went over to my local course, the one I live on but have yet to join, Beaver Brook Country Club. I recieved an email from them offering a great rate this week so I couldn't pass it up. For some reason, although the course is only a 122 slope and a 70.4 rating, I am yet to break 100 on it. Not sure why, but I can never seem to keep it together on all 18 holes. In fact, the lowest I have ever shot there going into today was a 102 and that was this past December. Today, I thought, was going to be different.

Let's start with The Good: in this case most of the front nine. I had four pars, and one bogey and shot just ten over. My putting was decent with only 17 needed. I parred the first, sixth, seventh and ninth holes (one par five, one par three and two par fours). I hit four out of seven fairways and was averaging over 240 yards per drive. In fact, on the very first hole I drove it 271 yards right down the middle. I was feeling pretty good about myself and my chances to break 100 for the first time.

The Bad: For the first time in my golfing career, I was consistently over shooting the greens. (Now, keep in mind, this is bad, not ugly!) On five holes I was forced to chip on from behind the green. To me, however, this is more of a "not so" bad. I am usually underclubbing rather than overclubbing. This coupled with my unusually high driving average and my shot accuracy makes me believe (hopefully!) that the mechanics are finally coming together. I am certainly not stronger, as I have not been to the gym in weeks. I am not thinning my shots, as I have been incredibly comfortable with the way the ball has been coming off the club face. It's gotta be the two and a half years of obsession starting to pay off. Let's hope. So, that means I need to realign my distances, but that is a good thing.

The Ugly: You guessed it - the back nine. Not a single par to be had and only three bogeys. Do the math: doubles or worse on six holes!

As I came around to number 17, I was on a 98 pace. All I needed was a bogey and a double bogey on the last two par fives and I would break the century mark. These are fairly easy par fives, mind you. Straight as a driving range and both under 500 yards. I stepped up to the tee box on 17. I hit my drive 260 yards and landed in the the first cut of rough on the right side. I still had 230 to the green. I was fairly certain that a 3-wood would get me close to the dance floor, but I was worried about the accuracy with a row of trees creeping in on the right side. I decided to use my hybrid club and get myself to a comfortable less than 100 yards. Remember though, this is the ugly. I misaligned and went too far left and behind a tree. I the flubbed my wedger and finally popped onto the green past the flag. I putted too long for five. Came back short the other way and tapped in for seven. But, I remembered, if I could just bogey the 18th, everything would be fine. I'd break 100.

My drive on 18 was the worst of the day. Going only 217 yards and off to the right, I was left in some fairly deep rough about 250 yards from the uphill green. I decided that my hybrid was the way to go again. Just get 140 yards or so and I am in good range - even for par. The lie was a little odd and the rough was deep. I decended too quickly on my shot and hit it fat and short leaving me a good 220 out and in the first cut off the fairway. On a good day I can hit my 3-wood 210+ yards. This must've been a good day, because from just off the fairway I connected perfectly and ran the ball up hill to within 25 feet of the green. I was going to be on in four with a great chance of breaking 100. Unfortunately, even though the flag was on the second level back on the two-tiered green, I wimped out and left myself a very long put for par: 55 feet, uphill. I put my head down and slowly drew my new putter back. I had the line - but too much muscle. When I looked up after making contact, I saw that I was right on line. It was at the worst two inches to the right of the cup. It was coming closer to the hole when it sped on by just outside the right side. I was left with an 8 footer for a bogey and a milestone.

I missed it and tapped in for another seven.

The good news is I have hit 100 on Beaver Brook. The bad news is, I still haven't beaten this course - even with one of my better games. The key here, though, is to not watch the score, as I did starting on the 10th hole. It took my head off the matters at hand and had me thinking ahead. This is very dangerous in golf. My advice is and continues to be: only add 'em up at the end. If I had done that, I bet I would have broken 100 today.