Sunday of this week was a total washout. I had intended to go to the driving range and get some quality alone time with my driver, but instead had to settle for watching Tiger Woods announce his full return to the golf world. Not a bad trade-off, but it still left me with a golfing itch.
So when I woke up this morning to a beautiful, sun-filled and warm day I knew I would have to get out and play while the getting was good. I decided to leave the range for another day and instead head into Norfolk and check out Fore Kicks and their 9-hole facility. Fore Kicks is a learning center for youth sports, featuring indoor soccer fields and a large lazer-tag area. Because it is mostly used by kids it is a very short course, featuring nothing but par 3's and the longest hole is only 157 yards. But for adults it can be a nice place to try and work on irons, scrambling and putting, as the greens can get tricky. Not to mention, for $12, you get what you pay for. This was the exact opposite of my original plan, since I wouldn't be taking the cover off of any of my woods let alone my driver, but I'd rather play short golf than just hit the range any day.
#1 At 115 yards I had my 7 iron in my hands, but figured that would be too much club and so I went down to an 8 iron. Turns out the club didn't matter as I caught the ball at an awkward angle and watched my ball shoot off to the rough on the right. I put my 8 away and grabbed my pitching wedge with 30 feet left to the hole. A good chip shot got me onto the green with 10 feet left to the pin. Putting for par I got the break right, but the speed wrong and ended up a foot past the cup. I tapped in for a pretty satisfying 4.
#2 With the hole pretty much the same length I decided to stick with my 8 iron and this time was rewarded with solid contact. Turns out I still had too much club as my ball landed over the green in the second rough. Now, watching the Arnold Palmer Invitational this weekend I saw a play where Sean O'Hair was off the back of the green in the second cut and rather than risk chipping, took out his utility club and hit that instead. It worked out for him, so I thought I would try it. Apparently the rough in Florida is thicker than the rough in Massachusetts in March, as my ball flew out of the rough, passed the hole and across the entire green, settling on the fringe on the other side. I guess I'm still not ready for the PGA tour. This putting surface was in the shade so it hadn't had a chance to dry from all the rain from the past two days, which slowed the green. My uphill putt came up well short and my second attempt still didn't have enough speed. I lipped out a close one for a very annoying 6.
#3 I had a pretty descent wind in my face, so despite the fact that this hole wasn't even 100 yards I decided to go with a 9 iron. Now, when you tee up you shouldn't be thinking about anything but the shot you're about to hit. But, on my backswing the thought "This is way too much club" flashed in my head. The result was a trying-to-pause half-swing. So, of course my ball weekly jumped off the tee and it didn't even make the green. I put the 9 iron away and grabbed the club I should have used the entire time, my pitching wedge. My second shot landed short of the green and I needed another to get onto the green. Now, this putting surface was in the sun and thus much dryer and faster so my ball ran past the cup. I nailed the 5-footer comeback putt to save a 5.
#4 The shortest hole on the course at just under 80 yards, I kept the pitching wedge in my hands for this hole. I felt pretty good about my first drive, until it faded to the left and landed off of the green in the rough. I thought about pulling out my utility club again but since it went badly last time I stayed with the wedge. Turns out I couldn't have done worse with the utility club, as this wedge shot took a sharp left. I needed a third chip to get onto the green where I two-putted for a second straight 5.
#5 This hole was only 118 yards, but uphill, so I figured I should go one club higher than my first thoughts and pulled out a 7 iron. Judging by how much the ball took off I probably would have been well over the green if I hit a shot with any loft. Instead I fired a line drive into the hillside and the ball died right there. My pitch attempt flew up and over the green and into the back fringe. Now, despite my bad wedge shot on the last hole I decided to stick with it and was rewarded by hitting the chip of my life. My ball perfectly caught the slope of the green and ran to within in a foot of the cup. A tap in and I had saved a 4.
#6 I was determined to get at least one shot with loft today and so I set the ball high on the tee. I really should have chosen a hole where the wind wasn't blowing into my face because it killed my ball off the tee and I came up two feet short of the green. I continued my good chipping from the last hole and got the ball inside of 10 feet. Again I had a pretty good read of the break on the putt, but not the speed and my putt attempt was an inch wide of the hole for my second 4 in the row.
#7 The holes were starting to increase in length so I moved up with my clubs and came up with 6 iron for the 122 yard hole. Again, no idea how far it would have gone if I had hit a descent first shot. Instead I hit a worm burner down the center of the fairway. The goose crap actually did a nice job of slowing it down and left me 40 yards or so to the hole. I pulled a Josh and my chip landed me over the green again and I needed another just to get onto the putting surface. This was another of the soggier greens and so I ended up about four feet short on my attempt at a four. After a quick double-check of the break I had to watch my ball circle almost the full diameter of the cup before dropping in with a 5.
#8 Determined to find out just how far I would hit a 6 iron if I actually made consistent contact, I stuck with in for #8, which was just 5 yards longer. Turns out that I was pretty close to right, as I landed on the green, but 30 feet from the hole. As I walked to the green I was feeling pretty proud of myself for doing so well today... only to turn to the right and see two kids who were probably 6 or 7 years old playing the same course I was. Suddenly I remembered where I was and my ego suffered a solid body blow. This would be like bragging that you could dunk when it's on a 7 foot rim.
#9 The longest hole of the course at 157 yards and into a pretty steady wind, I went for my utility hybrid club. Again, no idea if I had the distance right as I got almost no loft and watched my ball die in the fairway. My chip attempt was successful at getting me on the green and left me with 10 feet to the hole. For the final time, I was good the break, not on the distance. My putt went past the hole and left me with 3 feet to the hole. I was in a hurry and didn't set my feet, so shouldn't have been surprised that I lipped out the putt and ended the day with a disappointing 5.
Final Score: 42
Self-Analysis: My putting was better today as I was able to read the breaks pretty consistently. Speed of the greens was my big issue. Also, I'm having trouble getting distances with my irons right, but that's due to my lack of consistent contact. Fore Kicks is a good learning center and it's the right price, but if I want to get better at harder courses, then I need to play harder courses.
