U.S. Open Musings...

Here are a few of my thoughts after watching most of the US Open.

1. It's great that literally anyone can play in it, if you pay your money, and have the requisite handicap. That alone makes it a cool golf tournament.

2. Rory McIlroy was out of his mind at this tournament. I liked that he seemed to learn from his fiasco at the Masters. He seems much more mature at 22 then anyone I know.

3. Jason Day, who finished at -8, would have won 30 out of the last 33 US Opens (or something like that). He has now finished second at the last 2 majors.

4. I read an interesting article on USA Today.com on if people were "missing" Tiger Woods, or if the game has passed him by - meaning people have moved on to the next new phenom. I tend to agree. I don't think he will ever be the same. He has retooled his swing twice (now in the midst of the third time), and was dominant with both other swings. I don't get it. I once thought Jack's 18 was in jeopardy, but now I think it looks fairly safe....

5. Interesting that people don't think the Open was hard enough. Usually par (or slightly under) wins, but lots of rain made the course accessible. Not the players fault...Just my opinion.

Tell me your thoughts...Out to play more golf.....

Controversial Pet Peeves...

I thought about this one for some time. As an employee and an avid golfer, I thought I would share a few from both sides of the counter. I'll try to explain, but they are my own opinion. See what you think....

1. Tee times
An amazing concept - a tee time of 10AM means you are on the tee at 10AM hitting, not screaming into the parking lot at 9:59. If we are full, and you are late, it literally backs up the whole course.

2. Cart path only
Is it really that hard to understand. Not a huge problem at my course, but I was recently at 2 others were it was cart path only, and idiots were in the fairway....So its cart path only, except for you....rriiiight. This goes hand and hand with...

3. Play ready golf
I'm a big fan of this! As you approach your shot, think of a couple clubs you may want. Nothing is worse than during cart path only, walking across the fairway to your ball, lasering it, walking back, getting your club, walking back, and hitting. Take a few clubs and go! Rounds could be much shorter...

4. Denim
Just a personal preference of mine. I don't look down on anyone who plays in denim, I just think it looks better if you don't. I realize that many people can't/won't switch - just my opinion. Just aesthetically pleasing to me.

5. Ball Hawkers
I don't mind looking in the woods for a ball or two, or coming across one while playing, but some make an art of it. We have had people "sneak" on our course to spend hours in the woods. I understand balls can be expensive, but there has got to be better ways. In addition, it lengthens the round if done on virtually every hole.

6. "Golf Guy", "Golf Girl", or "Golf Kid", at a PGA or LPGA tournament
Lots of fun - almost like Where's Waldo- My friends and golf team look for these people. These are the spectators that look like they are dressed to play golf - complete with golf shoes and gloves in back pocket. We have been to the WGC in Akron, LPGA in Toledo, and the Nationwide when it was at StoneWater, and we saw Golf Guy, Golf Girl, and Golf Kid at each one (and no, they were not playing). Fun to find!

7. Pace of play
Many golfers think that once the pay their green fee, they have as long as they want. Not true. I wish people would keep to the simple rule of keeping up with the group directly in front of them. If that were always true, pace of play would improve dramatically.

8. Have Fun!
I wish more people would! When I ranger sometimes, people seem to forget the real reason they are there! I love the game, and am glad others do as well....just remember that...

My few pet peeves....Just my opinion, and I could be wrong! Let me know if you have any comments!

Little Mountain

The latest stop was Little Mountain, where we enjoyed another 6.5 hour round. The bachelor party ahead of us (again), and cart path only made time creep along. Luckily, I enjoyed the time with my playing partners, but was eager to get home.

My mental experiment paid dividends, as I played one side well at 42, but struggled on two holes, and got into a mammoth bunker that was hard to get out of. I drove the ball much better, but suffered a bit from 100 and in. Putting was definitely better, as I had birdie chances. My game is coming around, I just have to play more. It's hard with a son and a wedding to plan - happy events!

Next is a scramble on Saturday for Our Shepard Lutheran School. It will be fun - especially knowing that my shots can be bad at times! We get 4 chances fir every shot! Good fun! Glad to see the warm weather - maybe we will actually get off of the cart path! :)

Boulder Creek

Boulder Creek was the last stop of the Golf Channel Amatuer Tour. We started playing #10 first, as the was a bachelor party on the front nine. SIX AND A HALF HOURS later, I finished my round. Again, it was cart path only, so I expected it to be slow, but not that slow. I teed off at 12 PM and finished at 6:30. Wow!

I tried using my new mental approach, and it worked, except for a few times when I became frustrated at outside instances (most notable the group behind us being off the cart path), which led to a higher back nine. I went out in a respectable 42, and got a birdie on the signature 17th island hole. Other thoughts got the best of me on the back, but I did hit the pin from 133 out and got a bad break. Our last two holes just beat the approaching thunderstorm, and that didn't help my score either. Again, a decent score, but not good enough to win.

The next tournament is Saturday at Little Mountain. I will really try to stay out of the bunkers there - they are enormous! My mental outlook continues to improve! I need to also work on my short putting - 4 feet and in. I feel it's costing my strokes....

I hope we can get out of "cart path only" sometime in June! Email me with questions and comments!

New look at 9...

I had the opportunity to play 9 this week, when the weather was approaching 80 and the carts were crossing at 90 degrees. I tried to use my new mantra - to forget about the score, and it worked to an extent. My problem is, my game is still erratic due to the long wet spring. I have been to the range 3-4 times, and have played 3 rounds total. I feel that my new clubs will come around the more that I use them. I feel comfortable with them.

I also got some advice about bunker play, and used it to make a nice shot. Alas, I missed the putt. As my irons are a bit off, I need to work some more on my bunker play so it is not a hindrance to my game. This week's tournament is at Boulder Creek, and I will be playing with the same people as last time. I hope the results are better! I will have a better frame of mind!

Look for my posts to increase as the school year ends! It is hard to it all and keep a full-time job! :)

As. always, email me with your questions and comments!

Tournament 2....and the agony of defeat....

Tournament 2 occurred at Sawmill Creek in Huron. I have stayed there before, but never played golf there before. It is a Tom Fazio design, relatively open, and it thought that I might do well. I did in fact do well, but the experience left a bitter taste in my mouth - due to my own play.

I was playing OK throughout the round - except for the par 3's. I really need to work on my bunker play, as it is erratic at best, and kept me from shooting an even better round. I am still adjusting to the new clubs I bought, and when I hit them right, the are pure, but I still am struggling a bit. Putting has improved from the last tournament - up until the last hole...but I digress.

The course was VERY wet, so it was lift, clean, and place throughout the golf course. That helped immensely in the rough. I finished with 5 pars in a row on the back until the dreaded 18th hole. This is where things turned for the worse. I was 99 out and just need to get a respectable score - and ended with a 7!? My approach was 10 yards short of the green on the shaved area, so I thought I would putt. My adrenalin was flowing, and I hit the putt past the hole, over on to the back fringe. I then three putted from there, giving me a 7 when I was 99 yards out in 2.

This put me in a playoff where I had a nice drive down the middle, but pulled the approach into a bunker. I did not hit a great bunker shot, and had about 50 feet for a birdie. Again, 3 putts later, and I finished 1 stroke behind to lose when I was up by 3 going into the last hole.

Here's what I learned - play your own game...I have heard this before, and have not heeded it. Many times in competition, I am too worried about what my competitors are doing, and what score I need to win. Saturday I finally learned my lesson the hard way - worry about trying to get the best score possible on each hole, and treat each hole by itself. If I would have done that, I would have won going away, instead of being in a playoff and losing. I'll work on that for the next Tournament - May 14th at Boulder Creek...We will see how my mental focus improves...It made for a long drive home from Huron!

Tournament 1 in the books...

Well, I completed my first tournament on Saturday at Olde Stonewall in Mercer, PA. A really great course - lots of elevation changes, and some water here and there, both in the form of both rivers and lakes. My score was OK, but above where a 16 handicapper should be. I finished 3rd in my flight, and left a few shots on the course.

The course conditions were good considering the amount of rain that we have had this spring. I was presently surprised by the fact that the range was open, and able to be in use. I did that, and putted for about 20 minutes on the practice green, then headed for the first tee with no sign of the other 2 parts of my threesome for the day.

The fact that I did not see or hear of them until the first tee should have given me a bit of foreshadowing toward the scope of how my day was going to proceed. My two playing partners did not help my game, and I did my best to ignore them, and do my best and concentrate on having a great time at a nice course. I intend to discuss them (and other pet peeves) in a later post, but lets just say they were not conducive to having the best time possible on the course.

Speaking of the course, I did have 4 birdie putts (none converted), but did have 2 nice long putts over 10 feet that went in. Unfortunately, I also had 2 four putts (OUCH - I hate to even 3 putt), so I was not happy about that. Our tour director did mention to us on the first tee that the staff double cut and double rolled the greens, and they were running about 11-12. Thanks for that. My 2 four putts were on the front, and were a direct result of me being frustrated and not taking my time. I got it together on the back and only had one 3 putt on the back.

Overall, not too bad, although I have noticed I have to slow down now getting through the ball, or it goes left. My P90X workouts have made me stronger, so now I have to slow down. I went to the range Tuesday night, and fixed some things there - most notably the swing thought of keeping the back of my left hand through the target through impact. I also did a lot of putting.

This Saturday - Tournament #2 at Sawmill Creek. Looking to get a lower score, and strike the ball better given the amount of rain in the area. Let me know if you have any questions!