After telling Josh about my golfing excursion a week or so ago, he was looking to the next time I was heading to Wareham so he could play his first round of the season at Little Harbor. We had originally planned to check out Fore Kicks in Foxboro to give their indoor driving ranges a try, but we were instead greeted with a sunny, 60 degree Friday in February. The ranges would have to wait, we were heading to Wareham.
We decided to try a new tactic and have a couple beers before we left. The way we play, it couldn't really hurt. We got to Little Harbor around 2:30 and found that in the winter that counts as twilight golf, so instead of the $9 I paid last week, we would be spending $7 for 9 holes. That's a friggin deal and half.
There were more people on the course than expected, which was a nice surprise. Guess having all the holes open and none closed due to excessive ice helps. Since I had played the back nine last week, we decided to start on the front 9 this time around.
#1 This was the only hole that I would be repeating. I learned my lesson coming up short with my pitching wedge last time and decided to go with a 9 iron. As it was last time, my first shot was the best I would hit all day, as it landed firmly on the green. Josh got even more distance and managed to find himself on the back of the green. After Josh putted close I lined up my putt. The greens were much softer and slower than last time, so I ended up having to put more power behind the putt. It was between 15-20 feet (I say 20, Josh says 15 - we'll split the difference at 17 feet). It had the slightest break before hitting the back of the cup and dropping in for my first birdie in.... ever. I showed off all of my 4 inch vertical jump and there was much excitement. Josh then finished off with a two-putt for a 5. We were off to a good start.
#2 After making our way across the road and through some sloshy parts of the cart path, we teed up on #2. My first shot landed to the right of the green on the cart path. Josh's went left behind a tree. On our second shots, I caught more path than ball and Josh couldn't chip over the tree. So much for that good start. Both of our second chip shots landed on the green, where we showed just how far our putting really hasn't come. Also, the cup was full of water. Welcome to winter golf in New England. I ended with a 5, Josh a 7.
#3 Josh's first shot put him again off to the left, but his chip attempt found the edge of a sand bunker. I returned to mid-season form, topping my drive weakly down the center. My second chip attempt managed to land me in the first fringe and I was content to putt from there. Waiting just off the green and to Josh's right, imagine my surprise when his ball shot 90 degrees to the right and smacked right into my bag. I kind of wish it hadn't been there, as I would have been amused to see where it ended up. Then again, if my bag hadn't been there it would have connected with my thigh, which probably wouldn't have been that funny (at least not to me). With the nice save from my golf bag Josh won his first hole of the day with a 6 to my 7.
#4 This hole reminded me of why it's best to play with someone of a similar skill level, as Josh and I landed our tee shots within 5 feet of each other. The green was a slope going downhill from left to right, but not steep enough for Josh to get the roll he was looking for as his chip landed at the top of the green. My chip skipped over the green and stopped just short of the cart path. I was getting very familiar with these paths. Two topped chip shots later got me back on the green. Meanwhile Josh had three putted for a 5, while I was looking at a downhill 10 footer to the cup. Expecting the greens to play slower, despite the incline I didn't give it much of a tap. I unexpectedly nailed it to save my 5.
#5 Josh brought out his go-to club for intermediate holes, his hybrid. I decided to go with my 3 wood. We were both rewarded for our choices as I got solid contact (if not height) and the ball ended up rolling within 30 feet of the green. After topping his drive, Josh bombed his second shot, which landed just short of the putting surface, but rolled up and over the green. Josh then tried chipping, which would be the weaker aspect of this game. He seems to get too much into them and thus goes up and over the cup. He then had to chip back onto the green while I only had to putt. Or, more accurately, two-putt. I recorded a 5 to his 7. This match was a barn burner.
Now, I would like to take a moment to pause here and talk about course etiquette:
As we were getting ready to tee off on #5, we could see that both players in the group behind us had reached the green in 1 on #4. Clearly, they were much better than us, so when we got to #6 we paused and offered to let them play through. They were grateful and both teed off with solid drives. As they were approaching the green another golfer came off of #5 alone. He came up to us and asked "Letting people play through?" in a tone that made it seem more a request, not a question. Now, I'm more than happy to let you play through if you're faster than us, but you really should wait until we offer it to you, don't expect it. Despite the tone, we figured he was by himself and would be quick, so we let him play through.
Now, if someone is nice enough to let you play through, you really shouldn't do what this guy did next. His first tee shot barely made it too the ladies tees (been there, buddy). He took out another ball and tee'd up a second shot, which traveled down the right side. Not great, but better. We assumed he would simply go and play the better shot. What he did instead was play both balls down the fairway (and badly). Josh and I stood there, incredulous. We just kept repeating back and forth to each other: "Wow, he's terrible" and "Is he really playing two balls?" The moral of this rant is, if you're crappy; don't demand to line jump and you shouldn't be playing two balls anyways.
#6 This hole was a cluster of bad drives, worse chipping and crappy putting. I don't even want to recap how bad we both were on this par 4's, except to mention that we both hit ricocheting tee shot off trees with our initial drives. Mine landed back in the fairway, close to the ladies' tee. Josh's almost came all the way back to him. That was the highlight of #6. I blame the extended pause.
#7 With that excuse used up I choose to blame the weather for my bad play on #7. When we started it was sunny out, but windy. By the time we reached this hole the sun had disappeared and the wind had picked up even more. I was colder today, when the thermometer read 55, than last time I played, when it was 38. This dogleg right was a pain in my ass. We continued our trend of Josh going left while I went right. This green was guarded by four large mounds, one on each corner. It took multiple chip shots for either of us to get onto the green where Josh salvaged a 6 and I ended up with a 7. My birdie on the opening hole was a distant memory.
#8 Back to a short par 3, which meant we could both go back to using irons; clubs we're both much better with. Josh's opening shot went right for a change, while I topped my shot down the middle, but got a decent roll in the fairway. Josh chipped over the green, but I was able to get on the green in one, giving me a chance for a par (a birdie and par in one round would have to be considered the round of my life). Josh had two long putts to come in with a 6. My par putt went right and past the pin. I would have been content with a four, only I lipped out the next putt... and the two footer (proving again that, when it comes to me, there is no such thing as a gimmie) for a very frustrating 6.
#9 The final hole was another par 3. We reversed roles for this hole, as my shot went down the left side and Josh's went right. I was standing with the bunker between me and the hole, while Josh was slightly farther from the pin, but had the better lie. Josh chipped over the green, while I was thinking too much about avoiding the bunker and came up short. Both of our second chip attempts landed us with long putts. Still having a tough time getting the speeds correct we both lipped out short putts and finished with a pair of 6's.
Final Scores:
Me: 50
Josh: 55
Self Analysis:
Other than my birdie on 1, I would say I only played marginally better than last time. I did manage to use the same golf ball and tee for the entire round, but I'll retire that ball now because of my first birdie. My putting is still solid, my iron play sporadic and my wood play continues to be my biggest area that needs work. As for Josh, for the first round of the season, I think he did well. I would say that short chip shots are the biggest thing he needs to work on. But, despite the miss hits yesterday, I think either of us would say that we're much better to start this season than we were at this time last year.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Little Harbor, Take 1
It was 38 degrees outside today with two inches of snow expected to fall overnight before changing to rain and getting pretty messy. Therefore, I could think of no better way to spend the day than going out for the first round of the season.
My brother recently got me the New England Golf Guide and while flipping through it I found out that Wareham's golf course, Little Harbor, is open year-round. My family has a summer place down in Wareham and I had intended to give the place a try later in the season. But, since I was working through a case of spring fever and was going to be down that area checking on the cottage anyhow, now seemed as good a time as any.
Little Harbor is a short course, featuring mostly pars 3s and two par 4s. Considering the time of year, it's in very good shape. The fairways are very well maintained, though the fringes were soggy due to all the melting snow we've had the last couple of days. Since I do most of my work on the fringes, I was glad I opted for the pull cart versus laying my bag on the ground between shots.
I under-armoured myself up, arrived and paid the special winter prices: $9 for 9 holes. The guy behind the counter informed me that there were only two other groups out on the course right now; two groups of three had just started. "So," he said, "I would start on 10. You can't play 11 because of too much ice. You can play 12 and then if you're ahead of the other groups you can play 4 and go from there. Front nine has a couple par 4s, the back is all 3s. Or, you can do whatever. Just play 9 holes and come back." Clearly the course etiquette is a little looser for winter golf. I'm already a fan of this place.
I decided to start on the back nine so that I could have some privacy, and I got it. I had the place virtually to myself for my round. Playing golf alone allows you to concentrate more on each shot - fewer distractions. Not to mention, you can see what it would feel like if you were rich enough to have your own course. Besides, I prefer to keep my audience to a minimum when I'm playing golf. You can keep your bad shots to yourself (until you write about them in a blog). The flipside is that no one is there to see your good shots. That wouldn't be much of a problem today.
#10 I attempted to get my tee in the ground, only to find it frozen after the first half-inch. This turns out to be a blessing in disguise because it allowed me to set the ball nice and high and get even more air into my drive. I connected for about 150 yards before it hooked and landed 50 feet from the pin, just off the green. As it would turn out, this would be the best shot I would hit all day. I should have quit while I was ahead. I topped my chip attempt (twice) and then three-putted for a 6.
#12 After skipping #11 due to the excessive ice on the fairway (editor's note: when the guy told me this in the clubhouse it didn't even phase me - I guess that makes me a "real" golfer now), I arrived on #12 to find it has a small stream running alongside on the right. Thinking too much about avoiding the water, I end up weakly dribbling my drive down the left. I debated teeing off again, since there was no one behind me, but instead I walked the 20 yards to where my ball landed and swung away.... only to watch my ball head across the fairway towards the hazard. It landed in the stream with a mighty splash, but on closer inspection it was only in about an inch of water. I fished it out and rebounded nicely, despite the penalty.
#13 There is an old adage that the first round of a golfer's season can be the best, because you've built up a reserve of good shots over the winter. That adage is bullshit. I topped my drive, my second shot, my chip attempt and then two-putted.
#14 At Little Harbor, the tee boxes for #5 and #14 happen to be next to one another. I arrived at #14 at the same time that one of the threesomes made up of the six other people crazy enough to golf in Massachusetts in February arrived at #5. Now, it's a little know fact that golfers passing on the course have to talk to each other, but are only allowed to speak in golf cliches. So we had the following conversation:
Me: Afternoon, gentlemen.
Guy #1: How's you're round going?
Guy #2: Leaving us any birdies for the back 9?
Me: Oh, more than I would like too, unfortunately.
Guy #3: That's alright. Early in the season.
Guy #1: Besides it's just nice being out.
Guy #3: A bad day golfing is better than a good day at work, right?
Me: True enough. Enjoy your round.
#15 This is a short (100 yard) downhill par three. I decided to play the pitching wedge, since I can usually get solid contact with it. For some reason I seem to hit every club the same distance; as a result, club selection is one of the weaker aspects of my game (falling just behind "actually playing." The solid parts of my game? Buying the first round and cart driving). This time, of course, I got too much loft with the club and came up short of the green, which was protected by three small bunkers. I figured it was just a matter of deciding which bunker I would be playing out of next. Miraculously I got over them and had a 20 footer for par. I had a hard time getting a read on the greens because some were colder and thus, faster, but this wasn't one of them - came up 2 feet short for a 4. As I was replacing the flag a large hawk, with the tail of something small and fuzzy hanging out of its mouth, buzzed my head. At least I'm having a better day than whatever this hawk was eating for lunch.
#16 After topping my drive for the.... every... consecutive hole, my luck from #15 ran out and on my second shot I landed in the bunker with a thud. The sand was a firm mud texture and so the ball didn't sink in. I wanted to hit the sand behind the ball and get some solid loft, but instead got direct contact for one of the few times in the day and watched my ball zoom out of the bunker, over the green and onto a service road. Definitely out of bounds, but I could see it and figured that I could still play it. After raking out the bunker, I approached to see a lady standing over my ball like a chicken over an egg. "Is this your ball?" she asked. "I just don't want my kids riding over it with their bikes." I'm not sure if her concern is for my ball placement or her kids' safety (how much damage could a golf ball do?) but I quickly fired my next shot back across the service road. Upon getting up on the green, I was confronted with a dilemma. My ball had landed 4 feet from an old pin that had not been filled in and 35 feet from the cup that had the flag in it. I could tap in for a short putt on what has already been a pretty bad hole, or go for the pin with the flag, which would be at least a two putt. Well, blame my parents for making me be a cub scout, but I went for the pin that had the flag... and three putted.
#17 This hole started off confusing, because the flag read #11. I guess this was what was supposed to be used instead of the iced-over fairway of the actual #11. Not that this was much better, as the tee box was a sheet of ice. I managed to find an area that I could get solid footing in, swung away... and have no idea what happened to my tee. I reached down to get it and it was gone - no trace. I mention this only because I was trying to get through the round with the same tee and ball. No such luck. This hole also featured two pins and again I went for the farther cup that featured the flag. At least on this hole I was rewarded by rolling a 30 foot putt to within a foot of the cup.
#18 Very good-looking hole with the clubhouse directly ahead of you. But, it also has a large wooded section on the right that my ball went screaming towards off the tee. I really think that my ball was trying to escape me at this point. As it hooked behind a clump of bushes, I was convinced I had see it for the last time. Miraculously, I found the ball (and about 4 others in the surrounding brush) and had a pretty descent lie to the green. All I had to do was not hit some branches about ten feet away and 15 feet up. Now, I couldn't hit these branches if I was aiming for them... so, of course, I connected perfectly with the thinnest one and my ball dropped like a stone.
#1 I had one hole to make up for skipping #11 and decided to go with the closest one, which also happened to be the shortest. My first shot was short, but I benefited from a nice roll on the fairway. As a result I had a short chip onto the green and was left with a 15 footer for par. Again, reading the speed of the greens was an issue and I came up three feet short. But, I sank that one for only my second 4 of the day.
Final Score: 54.
Self Analysis: I'm still topping all of my shots. If I could get solid contact I would probably have chopped 2 strokes off per hole. My putting is good, not great and my wood play needs some work. In other words - I'm in mid-season form.
My brother recently got me the New England Golf Guide and while flipping through it I found out that Wareham's golf course, Little Harbor, is open year-round. My family has a summer place down in Wareham and I had intended to give the place a try later in the season. But, since I was working through a case of spring fever and was going to be down that area checking on the cottage anyhow, now seemed as good a time as any.
Little Harbor is a short course, featuring mostly pars 3s and two par 4s. Considering the time of year, it's in very good shape. The fairways are very well maintained, though the fringes were soggy due to all the melting snow we've had the last couple of days. Since I do most of my work on the fringes, I was glad I opted for the pull cart versus laying my bag on the ground between shots.
I under-armoured myself up, arrived and paid the special winter prices: $9 for 9 holes. The guy behind the counter informed me that there were only two other groups out on the course right now; two groups of three had just started. "So," he said, "I would start on 10. You can't play 11 because of too much ice. You can play 12 and then if you're ahead of the other groups you can play 4 and go from there. Front nine has a couple par 4s, the back is all 3s. Or, you can do whatever. Just play 9 holes and come back." Clearly the course etiquette is a little looser for winter golf. I'm already a fan of this place.
I decided to start on the back nine so that I could have some privacy, and I got it. I had the place virtually to myself for my round. Playing golf alone allows you to concentrate more on each shot - fewer distractions. Not to mention, you can see what it would feel like if you were rich enough to have your own course. Besides, I prefer to keep my audience to a minimum when I'm playing golf. You can keep your bad shots to yourself (until you write about them in a blog). The flipside is that no one is there to see your good shots. That wouldn't be much of a problem today.
#10 I attempted to get my tee in the ground, only to find it frozen after the first half-inch. This turns out to be a blessing in disguise because it allowed me to set the ball nice and high and get even more air into my drive. I connected for about 150 yards before it hooked and landed 50 feet from the pin, just off the green. As it would turn out, this would be the best shot I would hit all day. I should have quit while I was ahead. I topped my chip attempt (twice) and then three-putted for a 6.
#12 After skipping #11 due to the excessive ice on the fairway (editor's note: when the guy told me this in the clubhouse it didn't even phase me - I guess that makes me a "real" golfer now), I arrived on #12 to find it has a small stream running alongside on the right. Thinking too much about avoiding the water, I end up weakly dribbling my drive down the left. I debated teeing off again, since there was no one behind me, but instead I walked the 20 yards to where my ball landed and swung away.... only to watch my ball head across the fairway towards the hazard. It landed in the stream with a mighty splash, but on closer inspection it was only in about an inch of water. I fished it out and rebounded nicely, despite the penalty.
#13 There is an old adage that the first round of a golfer's season can be the best, because you've built up a reserve of good shots over the winter. That adage is bullshit. I topped my drive, my second shot, my chip attempt and then two-putted.
#14 At Little Harbor, the tee boxes for #5 and #14 happen to be next to one another. I arrived at #14 at the same time that one of the threesomes made up of the six other people crazy enough to golf in Massachusetts in February arrived at #5. Now, it's a little know fact that golfers passing on the course have to talk to each other, but are only allowed to speak in golf cliches. So we had the following conversation:
Me: Afternoon, gentlemen.
Guy #1: How's you're round going?
Guy #2: Leaving us any birdies for the back 9?
Me: Oh, more than I would like too, unfortunately.
Guy #3: That's alright. Early in the season.
Guy #1: Besides it's just nice being out.
Guy #3: A bad day golfing is better than a good day at work, right?
Me: True enough. Enjoy your round.
#15 This is a short (100 yard) downhill par three. I decided to play the pitching wedge, since I can usually get solid contact with it. For some reason I seem to hit every club the same distance; as a result, club selection is one of the weaker aspects of my game (falling just behind "actually playing." The solid parts of my game? Buying the first round and cart driving). This time, of course, I got too much loft with the club and came up short of the green, which was protected by three small bunkers. I figured it was just a matter of deciding which bunker I would be playing out of next. Miraculously I got over them and had a 20 footer for par. I had a hard time getting a read on the greens because some were colder and thus, faster, but this wasn't one of them - came up 2 feet short for a 4. As I was replacing the flag a large hawk, with the tail of something small and fuzzy hanging out of its mouth, buzzed my head. At least I'm having a better day than whatever this hawk was eating for lunch.
#16 After topping my drive for the.... every... consecutive hole, my luck from #15 ran out and on my second shot I landed in the bunker with a thud. The sand was a firm mud texture and so the ball didn't sink in. I wanted to hit the sand behind the ball and get some solid loft, but instead got direct contact for one of the few times in the day and watched my ball zoom out of the bunker, over the green and onto a service road. Definitely out of bounds, but I could see it and figured that I could still play it. After raking out the bunker, I approached to see a lady standing over my ball like a chicken over an egg. "Is this your ball?" she asked. "I just don't want my kids riding over it with their bikes." I'm not sure if her concern is for my ball placement or her kids' safety (how much damage could a golf ball do?) but I quickly fired my next shot back across the service road. Upon getting up on the green, I was confronted with a dilemma. My ball had landed 4 feet from an old pin that had not been filled in and 35 feet from the cup that had the flag in it. I could tap in for a short putt on what has already been a pretty bad hole, or go for the pin with the flag, which would be at least a two putt. Well, blame my parents for making me be a cub scout, but I went for the pin that had the flag... and three putted.
#17 This hole started off confusing, because the flag read #11. I guess this was what was supposed to be used instead of the iced-over fairway of the actual #11. Not that this was much better, as the tee box was a sheet of ice. I managed to find an area that I could get solid footing in, swung away... and have no idea what happened to my tee. I reached down to get it and it was gone - no trace. I mention this only because I was trying to get through the round with the same tee and ball. No such luck. This hole also featured two pins and again I went for the farther cup that featured the flag. At least on this hole I was rewarded by rolling a 30 foot putt to within a foot of the cup.
#18 Very good-looking hole with the clubhouse directly ahead of you. But, it also has a large wooded section on the right that my ball went screaming towards off the tee. I really think that my ball was trying to escape me at this point. As it hooked behind a clump of bushes, I was convinced I had see it for the last time. Miraculously, I found the ball (and about 4 others in the surrounding brush) and had a pretty descent lie to the green. All I had to do was not hit some branches about ten feet away and 15 feet up. Now, I couldn't hit these branches if I was aiming for them... so, of course, I connected perfectly with the thinnest one and my ball dropped like a stone.
#1 I had one hole to make up for skipping #11 and decided to go with the closest one, which also happened to be the shortest. My first shot was short, but I benefited from a nice roll on the fairway. As a result I had a short chip onto the green and was left with a 15 footer for par. Again, reading the speed of the greens was an issue and I came up three feet short. But, I sank that one for only my second 4 of the day.
Final Score: 54.
Self Analysis: I'm still topping all of my shots. If I could get solid contact I would probably have chopped 2 strokes off per hole. My putting is good, not great and my wood play needs some work. In other words - I'm in mid-season form.
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