Another beautiful morning for golf. My scheduled playing partner called and canceled at the last minute, and so I went out early. Unfortunately, there was really no one on the course, so I had to start my round alone. I ended up shooting an unofficial 43 on the front nine after only an hour. I say unofficial because if you play alone, you tend not to pull the flag, and you take questionable gimmes, which I did. When I turned the corner, there were a few members just starting their round, so I started over again - and called the first nine holes a warm-up. The round totals below are for the the full 18 holes I shot after the warm-up nine.
Just under 3 1/2 hours today, +20c, light NW winds, and sunny.
Round Totals:
Gross Score: 87
Net Score: 72
Stats:
Putts: 34
3 putts: 2
Birdies: 0
Pars: 7
Bogeys: 7
Doubles: 4
Others : 0 :)
Penalties: 2 :(
Fairways hit: 6/14 (42%)
Greens in regulation: 5/18 (27%)
Highlights: All in all, a good round. a career 7 iron from 172 yards to hit the 9th green in reg. Driver had it's good moments today - still not quite back in shape yet. No "others" on the round (although, I did have triple on my warm-up nine - but I also had a birdie there - so they cancel each other out. I also shot my cap today - can't complain about that. Hit that 43 on the front nine again, and had a string of 4 pars in a row from 9-12.
Lowlights: 4 doubles, and 2 three putts. failed to get up and down 8 times. Never really threatened a birdie try today, and wasn't very strong out of the sand. Also, two unnecessary penalties.
Tomorrow - the weather changes - cool and windy - but four good friends will hit the links at 8:42!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
June 28th Round
Great week for golf ahead - and a pretty good start to the week this morning!
Here are the stats:
Just under 4 hours today, +20c, light winds mostly from NW, a bit swirly at times, and sunny.
Round Totals:
Gross Score: 88
Net Score: 73
Stats:
Putts: 32
3 putts: 2
Birdies: 0
Pars: 6
Bogeys: 10
Doubles: 1
Others : 1 (a quad :( )
Penalties: 1
Fairways hit: 6/14 (42%)
Greens in regulation: 3/18 (16%)
Highlights - Only one double and one other - the rest all pars and bogeys. Generally speaking (except for the quad) a better front nine than back, even though both were 44s. The front was a 44 with a quad - so 8/9 pretty good holes! Played reasonably well out of the sand, but would prefer not to be in it at all really.
Lowlights - well, the quad was a lowlight. So was my driver - despite the 6/14 fairways, I'm just not getting through the ball right now - so really high over-the-moon drives, with no distance - leaving me to hit 3 woods and low irons into the green (which I did well), and then I was scrambling for up and downs, which I only managed to do 5/16 times. Wow - If I converted all 16 up and down tries, I would have shot 77! That's the sort of thought process that makes me feel the goal is attainable. And for the most part - I had really good short game - just need to reduce that putt total.
You'll notice from my net score that I am now at a 15 cap. Looks like it will stay around that number for a while, a few low scores to fall off the bottom of my card, including an 82 and 84 - it will depend on how I shoot tomorrow and Wednesday - but there is a chance I could see 16 creep back in before it goes down again. That's not a bad thing - I'm getting killed on Men's night, so a bit of a higher cap might allow me to contribute to my team a bit more!
Tee times early tomorrow and Wednesday - so here' s hoping for two solid rounds before the holiday weekend - then probably two more rounds before I head to Ottawa next week, where there won't be much golf, if any.
Here are the stats:
Just under 4 hours today, +20c, light winds mostly from NW, a bit swirly at times, and sunny.
Round Totals:
Gross Score: 88
Net Score: 73
Stats:
Putts: 32
3 putts: 2
Birdies: 0
Pars: 6
Bogeys: 10
Doubles: 1
Others : 1 (a quad :( )
Penalties: 1
Fairways hit: 6/14 (42%)
Greens in regulation: 3/18 (16%)
Highlights - Only one double and one other - the rest all pars and bogeys. Generally speaking (except for the quad) a better front nine than back, even though both were 44s. The front was a 44 with a quad - so 8/9 pretty good holes! Played reasonably well out of the sand, but would prefer not to be in it at all really.
Lowlights - well, the quad was a lowlight. So was my driver - despite the 6/14 fairways, I'm just not getting through the ball right now - so really high over-the-moon drives, with no distance - leaving me to hit 3 woods and low irons into the green (which I did well), and then I was scrambling for up and downs, which I only managed to do 5/16 times. Wow - If I converted all 16 up and down tries, I would have shot 77! That's the sort of thought process that makes me feel the goal is attainable. And for the most part - I had really good short game - just need to reduce that putt total.
You'll notice from my net score that I am now at a 15 cap. Looks like it will stay around that number for a while, a few low scores to fall off the bottom of my card, including an 82 and 84 - it will depend on how I shoot tomorrow and Wednesday - but there is a chance I could see 16 creep back in before it goes down again. That's not a bad thing - I'm getting killed on Men's night, so a bit of a higher cap might allow me to contribute to my team a bit more!
Tee times early tomorrow and Wednesday - so here' s hoping for two solid rounds before the holiday weekend - then probably two more rounds before I head to Ottawa next week, where there won't be much golf, if any.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
June 24th Round
Back on the home course today - after being away for about a week and a half. Was really tired for the round - was up at 5 AM to do a little breakfast concert with my chamber choir. So, I played from the whites today - it was a pretty decent round considering!
3 hours and 10 minutes, round, +23c, light winds and sunny.
Round Totals:
Gross Score: 87
Net Score: 73
Stats:
Putts: 31
3 putts: 3
Birdies: 1
Pars: 6
Bogeys: 7
Doubles: 3
Others : 1 (a triple)
Penalties: 2
Fairways hit: 2/14 (14%)
Greens in regulation: 5/18 (27%)
Highlights: The back nine - shot a 41, would have had a 39 if it weren't for a double on the last hole. Actually, I doubled 13 as well, which is a reachable par 5- so perhaps that is the hole I should blame. I had a stretch of 5 holes where I was -1, including a par on #15, a par 5 where my current stroke average is 7.0. Hit many really good approach shots from far distances (180+) and scrambled well (as you can see by my fairway percentage today). The back nine to me proved once again that shooting a sub-80 round is still within grasp.
Lowlights: Driving was very inconsistent today, only 2 of 14 fairways. Missed a few makeable puts too, and had 3 three-putts on pretty easy greens today. A comparably slow group in front of us held us up a bit in places, not really much to complain since we did play fast, but it would have been nice to have a sub-three hour round!
3 hours and 10 minutes, round, +23c, light winds and sunny.
Round Totals:
Gross Score: 87
Net Score: 73
Stats:
Putts: 31
3 putts: 3
Birdies: 1
Pars: 6
Bogeys: 7
Doubles: 3
Others : 1 (a triple)
Penalties: 2
Fairways hit: 2/14 (14%)
Greens in regulation: 5/18 (27%)
Highlights: The back nine - shot a 41, would have had a 39 if it weren't for a double on the last hole. Actually, I doubled 13 as well, which is a reachable par 5- so perhaps that is the hole I should blame. I had a stretch of 5 holes where I was -1, including a par on #15, a par 5 where my current stroke average is 7.0. Hit many really good approach shots from far distances (180+) and scrambled well (as you can see by my fairway percentage today). The back nine to me proved once again that shooting a sub-80 round is still within grasp.
Lowlights: Driving was very inconsistent today, only 2 of 14 fairways. Missed a few makeable puts too, and had 3 three-putts on pretty easy greens today. A comparably slow group in front of us held us up a bit in places, not really much to complain since we did play fast, but it would have been nice to have a sub-three hour round!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
June 20th Round
I managed to squeeze in a round here on my examining trip. Finally got to play Dakota Dunes, just south of Saskatoon - a beautiful championship course, which is now a permanent stop on the Canadian Tour. And rightfully so! Black, Gold, Blue, White and Red tee boxes for every level of player. Links style, few trees, lots of long grass and dessert like fescue.
I played from the gold tee box, and turned down the GPS equipped power carts and walked instead. The course was quite walkable, except for some long walks between holes. The gentleman I played with allowed me to ride with him on those longer walks, which helped. We had some trouble with the marshal who accused us of playing slow (and even asked us to skip a hole at one point - when there was NO ONE behind us ... that's another story though).
Anyhow, first time on the course - nothing to be too excited about score wise - but here are the totals:
4 hour 20 minute round, +22c, light winds and sunny. Tons of mosquitoes!
Round Totals:
Gross Score: 95
Net Score: 81 (14 cap - which is probably bit low for that tee box)
Stats:
Putts: 38
3 putts: 5
Birdies: 2
Pars: 2
Bogeys: 6
Doubles: 4
Others : 3 (two trips and a quad!)
Penalties: 4
Fairways hit: 5/13 (38%)
Greens in regulation: 5/18 (27%)
Highlights: The start of the back nine - even after 10, 11, 12, 13 with two birds. Driving was pretty good today once I warmed up. Putting, although looks horrid on my stats - was actually pretty good. Greens were huge and fast! Both my birdie puts were about 20 feet+. Was paired up with three great people!
Lowlights: The marshal on the course - who followed us the whole front nine - confusing us for the slow group that we passed on #2. After he figured it out, and left us alone - we were then followed by an additional two other marshals. An over-marshaled course can be just as bad as an under-marshaled course. My five three puts were nothing to write home about either.
I played from the gold tee box, and turned down the GPS equipped power carts and walked instead. The course was quite walkable, except for some long walks between holes. The gentleman I played with allowed me to ride with him on those longer walks, which helped. We had some trouble with the marshal who accused us of playing slow (and even asked us to skip a hole at one point - when there was NO ONE behind us ... that's another story though).
Anyhow, first time on the course - nothing to be too excited about score wise - but here are the totals:
4 hour 20 minute round, +22c, light winds and sunny. Tons of mosquitoes!
Round Totals:
Gross Score: 95
Net Score: 81 (14 cap - which is probably bit low for that tee box)
Stats:
Putts: 38
3 putts: 5
Birdies: 2
Pars: 2
Bogeys: 6
Doubles: 4
Others : 3 (two trips and a quad!)
Penalties: 4
Fairways hit: 5/13 (38%)
Greens in regulation: 5/18 (27%)
Highlights: The start of the back nine - even after 10, 11, 12, 13 with two birds. Driving was pretty good today once I warmed up. Putting, although looks horrid on my stats - was actually pretty good. Greens were huge and fast! Both my birdie puts were about 20 feet+. Was paired up with three great people!
Lowlights: The marshal on the course - who followed us the whole front nine - confusing us for the slow group that we passed on #2. After he figured it out, and left us alone - we were then followed by an additional two other marshals. An over-marshaled course can be just as bad as an under-marshaled course. My five three puts were nothing to write home about either.
Friday, June 11, 2010
June 11th Round
After two days of rain, I got out on the course today. A late afternoon round with my wife at Riverside Golf Course, one of our two city owned and operated golf courses. It's been a number of years since I've played the course, and I've forgotten a) how much I love the course and b) how LONG the back nine is! From the blues, it's 6316 yards total, and 3205 on the par 35 back nine. Credit to my wife, as there is no relief from the reds. The back nine for her was a long par 38 with FIVE par 5s, and the par 3s were near 200 yards. The par 4s were long for me as well. Seldom was my second shot (even after a good drive) less than a 3 wood. Pars were hard to find, and Birdies didn't exist today at all.
Anyhow, not a great round - but here are the details!
3 hours and 50 minute round, +20c, light winds and sunny.
Round Totals:
Gross Score: 91 (+20 on this par 71)
Net Score: 77
Stats:
Putts: 32
3 putts: 1
Birdies: 0
Pars: 3
Bogeys: 11
Doubles: 3
Others : 1 (a triple)
Penalties: 0
Fairways hit: 69% (9/13)
Greens in regulation: 11% (2/18)
Highlights: Fairways! They were wide, but even still, often I was dead centre. Driving was really steady in general. Also, played with the same ball for all 18 holes. It helps that there is no water in play on this course. I also had 2/3 Sand Saves. Only 3 doubles - but they all sucked.
Lowlights: 3 putting for bogey, I hate that! My one triple was also a disaster from the tee shot onwards. I was 4/15 for up and downs. Need to start making more one puts. I also was very poor in the GIR department, however with these long par 4s, that's not too surprising.
The other highlight was playing with a round with my wife. She is still learning, but is counting all her strokes now, and when she hits the ball - she really hits that ball!
A little hiatus now as I leave for Saskatchewan, I do hope to play on the road at least once. Hopefully the weather will co-operate on my day off!
Anyhow, not a great round - but here are the details!
3 hours and 50 minute round, +20c, light winds and sunny.
Round Totals:
Gross Score: 91 (+20 on this par 71)
Net Score: 77
Stats:
Putts: 32
3 putts: 1
Birdies: 0
Pars: 3
Bogeys: 11
Doubles: 3
Others : 1 (a triple)
Penalties: 0
Fairways hit: 69% (9/13)
Greens in regulation: 11% (2/18)
Highlights: Fairways! They were wide, but even still, often I was dead centre. Driving was really steady in general. Also, played with the same ball for all 18 holes. It helps that there is no water in play on this course. I also had 2/3 Sand Saves. Only 3 doubles - but they all sucked.
Lowlights: 3 putting for bogey, I hate that! My one triple was also a disaster from the tee shot onwards. I was 4/15 for up and downs. Need to start making more one puts. I also was very poor in the GIR department, however with these long par 4s, that's not too surprising.
The other highlight was playing with a round with my wife. She is still learning, but is counting all her strokes now, and when she hits the ball - she really hits that ball!
A little hiatus now as I leave for Saskatchewan, I do hope to play on the road at least once. Hopefully the weather will co-operate on my day off!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
June 8th Round
Today's round was played at Coloniale, it was Men's League night, the round took 4.5 hours. The weather was partly cloudy, +13 degrees. Wind was around 7-10 km/h swirling from NW and later, E.
Round Totals:
Gross Score: 93
Net Score: 79
Stats:
Putts: 30
3 putts: 0
Birdies: 0
Pars: 6
Bogeys: 5
Doubles: 5
Others : 2 (both triples)
Penalties: 3
Fairways hit: 35% (5/14)
Greens in regulation: 16% (3/18)
Highlights: Had a great first 4 holes. 3 pars one bogey. Then went and tripled #5. Shot a respectable 44 on the front. Also, after a pathetic drive on #10, I crushed my 3 wood ~230+ yards just short of the green. For the most part, driving was good (except on 10!) chipping was good too. Putting was respectable today, although I missed a few short ones.
Lowlights: The back nine. 4 doubles and a triple. 49 total. The sand was wet, and inconsistent, so most of my bunker shots basically stunk. A few of my approach irons were pushed right, which is unusual for my natural draw. Gave three balls to the water gods today.
Golf might be hard to come by in the next few weeks. Rain is in the forecast for the next few days, then I'm off to Saskatchewan for ten days on business. I have a day off while traveling from Regina to Saskatoon, and I'm hoping to get a round in at Dakota Dunes. I was supposed to play with a few friends last month while I was there, but the weather was very poor.
Round Totals:
Gross Score: 93
Net Score: 79
Stats:
Putts: 30
3 putts: 0
Birdies: 0
Pars: 6
Bogeys: 5
Doubles: 5
Others : 2 (both triples)
Penalties: 3
Fairways hit: 35% (5/14)
Greens in regulation: 16% (3/18)
Highlights: Had a great first 4 holes. 3 pars one bogey. Then went and tripled #5. Shot a respectable 44 on the front. Also, after a pathetic drive on #10, I crushed my 3 wood ~230+ yards just short of the green. For the most part, driving was good (except on 10!) chipping was good too. Putting was respectable today, although I missed a few short ones.
Lowlights: The back nine. 4 doubles and a triple. 49 total. The sand was wet, and inconsistent, so most of my bunker shots basically stunk. A few of my approach irons were pushed right, which is unusual for my natural draw. Gave three balls to the water gods today.
Golf might be hard to come by in the next few weeks. Rain is in the forecast for the next few days, then I'm off to Saskatchewan for ten days on business. I have a day off while traveling from Regina to Saskatoon, and I'm hoping to get a round in at Dakota Dunes. I was supposed to play with a few friends last month while I was there, but the weather was very poor.
Change of name
So, it's only my third post - but I've decided on a title change for the blog.
It is now "Chipping from the Brough".
That way, you should all now know how to pronounce my last name!
It is now "Chipping from the Brough".
That way, you should all now know how to pronounce my last name!
The year thus far
Here's where I'm at this year so far.
I started my golf season at a 11.2 index based on a few low rounds at the end of last fall. In the last few months, my index has risen to a 11.8, which puts me at about a 14 handicap form the blue tee box on most courses. My home course, by the way, is Coloniale Golf and County Club in Beaumont Alberta (I'll highlight the course on a future post). Coloniale's rating is 71.8/132. I'll probably play about 50 rounds on that course this spring, summer and fall. Our golf season runs from late April through late October. And if we're lucky, we'll get a few games in November.
Here are some of my round totals so far this year (unadjusted).
April 16th - Coloniale - 94
April 20th - Innisfail Golf Club - 97 (with the flu!)
May 10th - Coloniale - 89
May 11th - Coloniale - 92
May 13th - Coloniale - 88
May 14th - Northern Bear - 92 (Jack's northern course - in really rough shape!)
May 17th - Legends (Traditions/Champions) - 88
May 19th - Coloniale - 91
May 25th - Coloniale - 96
May 26th - Coloniale - 87 (Last 13 holes - +5 - first 5 holes - +10...)
June 1st - Coloniale - 103 (ugh. 5 hours and 3/4s on the course ... not fun)
June 2nd - Coloniale - 90
June 3rd - Coloniale - 94
June 5th - Legends (Traditions/Champions) - 89
Not a stellar start - and my current 14 handicap of course uses adjusted scores (nothing over double bogey on any hole), as well as two 82s I shot last fall. My modus operandi for this year has been to go along getting pars and bogeys, the occasional birdie, and then suddenly a triple, quad, or quint, which don't show on the adjusted card. My best round this year was May 26th - where I had a fantastic last 13 holes, shooting like I was a single digit handicapper. So I know I'm close. I'm swinging well, my chipping game is getting very strong (under 50 yards) my driving is reasonably consistent, and from about 130-155, I'm really quite solid.
Places I know I need to work: approaching between 50 and 130 yards and PUTTING. Two rounds ago I was putting for birdie under 2 feet on two par threes, and I promptly 3-putted for bogey.
Anyhow, we're off at 1:12 today for men's league. Where I traditionally play poorly (I blame SLOW PLAY on the course). It's also raining, which could be good or bad. No roll on the drives, but the greens should hold!
Now to think up a catchy little tag line for my blog posts ...
Keep it on the short grass?
Grip it and rip it?
I started my golf season at a 11.2 index based on a few low rounds at the end of last fall. In the last few months, my index has risen to a 11.8, which puts me at about a 14 handicap form the blue tee box on most courses. My home course, by the way, is Coloniale Golf and County Club in Beaumont Alberta (I'll highlight the course on a future post). Coloniale's rating is 71.8/132. I'll probably play about 50 rounds on that course this spring, summer and fall. Our golf season runs from late April through late October. And if we're lucky, we'll get a few games in November.
Here are some of my round totals so far this year (unadjusted).
April 16th - Coloniale - 94
April 20th - Innisfail Golf Club - 97 (with the flu!)
May 10th - Coloniale - 89
May 11th - Coloniale - 92
May 13th - Coloniale - 88
May 14th - Northern Bear - 92 (Jack's northern course - in really rough shape!)
May 17th - Legends (Traditions/Champions) - 88
May 19th - Coloniale - 91
May 25th - Coloniale - 96
May 26th - Coloniale - 87 (Last 13 holes - +5 - first 5 holes - +10...)
June 1st - Coloniale - 103 (ugh. 5 hours and 3/4s on the course ... not fun)
June 2nd - Coloniale - 90
June 3rd - Coloniale - 94
June 5th - Legends (Traditions/Champions) - 89
Not a stellar start - and my current 14 handicap of course uses adjusted scores (nothing over double bogey on any hole), as well as two 82s I shot last fall. My modus operandi for this year has been to go along getting pars and bogeys, the occasional birdie, and then suddenly a triple, quad, or quint, which don't show on the adjusted card. My best round this year was May 26th - where I had a fantastic last 13 holes, shooting like I was a single digit handicapper. So I know I'm close. I'm swinging well, my chipping game is getting very strong (under 50 yards) my driving is reasonably consistent, and from about 130-155, I'm really quite solid.
Places I know I need to work: approaching between 50 and 130 yards and PUTTING. Two rounds ago I was putting for birdie under 2 feet on two par threes, and I promptly 3-putted for bogey.
Anyhow, we're off at 1:12 today for men's league. Where I traditionally play poorly (I blame SLOW PLAY on the course). It's also raining, which could be good or bad. No roll on the drives, but the greens should hold!
Now to think up a catchy little tag line for my blog posts ...
Keep it on the short grass?
Grip it and rip it?
My New Golf Blog
In order to alleviate and organize some of my blogging subjects, I figured as I blog enough about my golf game on Podium Speak, which should be reserved for talk about choral music, that I should just start my own little golf blog. It may not be interesting for anyone to read regularly, but I want a place where I can track my thoughts and progress as I strive to break 80 in my golf game.
I'll post my round scores here, some fun facts about my rounds, what felt good, what felt bad, and maybe link to sites that might have tips on how to improve my game.
I'll also from time to time discuss professional golf, equipment trends, and courses throughout the world. As well as posting the anecdotes and humour from the world of golf.
I'll post my round scores here, some fun facts about my rounds, what felt good, what felt bad, and maybe link to sites that might have tips on how to improve my game.
I'll also from time to time discuss professional golf, equipment trends, and courses throughout the world. As well as posting the anecdotes and humour from the world of golf.
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