I've been struggling most of the year, except for a couple of decent rounds, due mostly to inactivity and lack of ability.
On Monday, I went out to play my regular course, not expecting a whole lot. I had a new 3-wood in the bag that I had only hit three times before, without stellar results. My swing, at the time, was not too good with any club, however.
Fast forward to Monday, a sunny 45° day with some dewey greens.
Hole #1 is a 480 yard Par 5. I hit a good tee shot down the left center of the fairway, leaving me about 235 to the green, but needing to hit a hook around a tree to hit the green. I took out the 3-wood and hit it pin high about ten yards from the green. A chip and a 3 foot putt started me out with birdie. I bogeyed the next two holes with a nice save on the third from just off the green. An 8 foot birdie putt, on 4, missed just left and ended in a par. The best drive i ever hit on five left me about 40 yards from the green, but a less than decent pitch left me about 35 feet for birdie, and I slid it by leaving a short putt that I made for par. On 6, I hooked my tee shot hard left leaving me ~190 to the green. I took my 4H, figuring it was too much club, and hit a very pretty draw right over the pin and ff the back of the green. I took my 7-iron, and promptly chipped in for birdie. Another great drive on 7 left me about 130, and my 8-iron flew the green, leaving me a rather trecherous downhill chip which I hit about 6 feet long. I canned the putt for par and came to the 8th hole, thinking I was doing pretty good. A 265 yard drive down the middle got me thinking about my score. I realized I was even par to that point, and visions of sugarplums began dancing in my head. As I looked over a nice 7-iron to the green, I thought, 'All I have to do is avoid pushing the ball into the lateral water hazard'. We all know where it went, and as the ball splashed, I was reaching for another ball, and without thinking, I dropped it at the scene of the crime. I put that one on the green, pin high, about 18 ft left of the hole. My bogey putt just missed, and a 6 was carded. The last hole is a par 3, and I took out my 6-iron for about a 160 yard shot. My alignment was a bit off, as it felt very good as I hit it, but it landed in the greenside bunker pin high. A tough bunker shot,as the sand was damp and heavy. I put the ball about 15 ft passed the pin and two putted for bogey. As I totaled up the score, i see 38 as the result, beating my former BP by one stroke.
At this rate, it will be about 6 years before I break 40 again, but it was great.
