New Years resolution - Walk more!
First walk was for nine holes around Inglewood Golf Course behind my electric cart. No buggy. It was left crying at home.
I got to the club and unloaded the cart and assembled all the gear on it. I had to remember how to drive the thing.
Walked up to the office and as John was there collected my winnings from Fridays Monthly Tournament in the earlier post. 3rd place gave me a $20 return. Doubled my money.
Just the two of us today, Allan and I, and as we were following a three in front of us, we took out 9 hole cards for the longer blue tee course. Off we went.
I started well With a good tee shot and second shot. Left myself 50-60 meters from the green. Out with a wedge and hit the ground first and scuttled the ball just onto the green and a good 20 meters from the hole. My bad putting started right there. Hit the first putt too hard past the hole by a good 2.5 meters. Missed the return putt and tapped in the third. Easy six. Cursing already!
Onto the par three 2nd hole. Average tee shot up by the green which would require a touchy, feely, chip shot. Well I touched it alright. Whacked it in the guts and hacked it over to the other side of the green. Putted the next shot to the hole and tapped in for a four.
Two chances for pars on the first two holes, both missed. 3rd hole is a short par four. Teed off to 50 meters from the green. Out with the wedge again, this time I hit it properly into the middle of the green. Chance for a birdie, but that meant a good putt. No chance. Got it close to the hole and tapped in for a par. Not unhappy with the first of the day. As it turned out only par of the day. The next six holes netted three one over bogeys, one double bogey and two triple bogeys. Not really a good day golf wise. But today was not about the golf it was about getting out for a three kilometre walk in the sun, enjoying myself.
I started off with a tight back, but after 4-5 holes it had loosened off and walking became easier. Only other physical problem was my legs trying to calf cramp walking up the 9th.
Wednesday will be back on the buggy for the Oscars Tournament. Friday will be another walk in the park behind the electric cart.
Use it or lose it.
6th hole, par 4, second hardest hole on the course. Hit my magnificent drive down past the corner with a mid iron to the green. Pushed it down beside the green for two. One chip and three putts later I had my double bogey. I think the name I called myself started with 'W'.
Never got my Friday walk, it rained, boo hoo.
Saturday I was the starter for the Haggle for the day. Couldn't face too many holes, so walked the first three. That was enough for the day.
First 'Duckhook' Competition of the year.
Needed to be at the Club by 8.45am for a 9.00am start. Timing allows us to be broken up into groups of four and assigned a hole to start from. Nowadays I always get there early to give me time to assemble the buggy and give myself time to do a few warm-up putts and chips. Also gives time to have a chat with the other 'Old Farts' as they turn up. (That is how the Duckhook Convenor refers to us)
The four names for our group get read out and we were assigned the 10th hole as our start point. The trick with that is to remember to turn your card over and write your scores starting on the 10th and not the 1st. We got a 75% pass rate for that. Only one forgot. At 81 Grumpy is allowed the odd 'miss'.
Not a good start for me. Topped my ball straight into the face of the far side of one of the little streams that wind there way through the golf course creating 'water hazards' to be wary of. I was lucky that my ball was still playable. Hit my second shot too hard, up and over the far side of the green. A chip and two putts later I had my opening point for the day. Yes the cursing started early!
It was one of those days where if the putts that missed had of dropped instead, it would have been a great day. The day did end up being slightly better than average. The highlights were the two birdies I managed on the 1st and 15th holes.
The holes that concern me are the 5 'others' listed on my card, three double bogeys and two triple bogeys. They hurt. To only score three points from five holes is giving the field of other players the chance to pass you by, and most importantly the chance to lose the beer. (monetary loss, and loss of 'face')
The winner for the day had 40 points on a day of trying conditions with a strong cold wind blowing through. Not often you need three layers of clothing for the middle of January (Summer for us). Five of us came second on 37 points. Little $10 earner. Not unhappy with that, but another 'wannabe' day.
Not sure if there will be an Oscars Wednesday Club competition as Australia is sending us over some more shitty weather. Have to see what happens. At least I have my entry fee already paid for.
Below is the days 'card' with the sorry tale and highlights in red. At my level of handicap I should be getting at least one or two birdies per round. It has been many weeks since I last had two birdies in a round. I wonder if that is why it is called a 'red letter' day.
