An uncanny ability to hit the only tree branch that can be hit
This afternoon, I ventured out into the cool, sunny weather to practice and play nine at Hank Haney Golf Ranch in Lewisville. The temperature was in the mid-60’s, and a one or two club breeze was blowing in from the north.
Since I have been practicing well the last few days, I decided I would try, once again, to conquer this challenging nine-hole course. Alas! I should know better…
I bought a small bucket of balls and hit the range. I started right back where I was yesterday, hitting the ball well. I hit most of the clubs well during practice, even my SasQuatch 3-metal and the 21-degree hybrid. My only real issue was pulling the short irons and wedges. Pulling the short irons didn’t really bother me, since on this course, all the trouble is on the right.
After hitting all the balls, I putted for a few minutes and then played.
My score:
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total |
| Par | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 31 |
| Score | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 3* | 46 |
* Hit green in regulation.
Themes:
- Tee shots. Only hit one green in regulation and only one fairway. My best tee shots were on the first, where I was just right of the green, and on the ninth, where I hit a perfect 7-iron fade to the center of the green 25 ft from the hole. Utterly unbelievable was the tee shot with a 4-iron on the eighth, where I hit a seemingly perfect shot only to hit the only branch that hangs over the fairway. I hit terrible shots on the rest of the holes, including a fat pitching wedge into the hazard on the third hole.
- Approach shots. Terrible, as well. Even my layups out of the rough sucked, hitting them from one side rough to the other side rough. On another layup out of the rough, I had a clear path to the fairway except for a single, skinny branch: I hit it.
- Wedges. Indescribably bad today, didn’t have even one worth discussing, except that I managed to get out of the sand nicely on the fifth (only to 3-putt) despite being in a deep hole left behind by another golfer who did not rake.
- Chipping. I did hit some very nice chips today, but also managed to hit one over a green as well.
- Putting. Good today. I had only one 3-putt today, on the fifth hole, where I lipped out a 4 footer to save bogey. I had single putts on 2, 4 and 6, which shows how poorly the rest of my game was today.
Today was one of those days that tests your desire to ever play the game again. I had practiced and played well the since Friday, and was gaining confidence. After the round, I hit another small bucket of balls just to see if I could get back into form, and not surprising to me, I hit the ball pretty well again.
Golf is testing my persistence.