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.
