Yes, I actually played golf again on Saturday, this time with Lee and Shaun at Dobson Ranch in Mesa. $20 with a cart on a Saturday morning, tough to beat that. Other than a trip to the driving range earlier in the week, I hadn't played in several months, and it showed. The first hole was a good indication, with my drive nailing a tree about 30 yards out, shooting straight across the fairway, and ending up in the rough next to the 9th green. Solid start.
The front nine in general wasn't so hot. Really, it wasn't the entire front nine, just the par 5's. Being a fairly long hitter, those are usually my best holes, but not that morning. I was +8 on the par 5's on the front nine, +10 on the side for a 47 (so +2 for the other 6 holes, not bad).
The back nine was better, but I still had some difficulties. I put two balls out of bounds (had one OB on the front as well), but my driving was a little better. As it turns out, I just needed to swing a lot harder, and that fixed everything. The first par 5 on the back is 488 yards, I cut the corner around some trees and had 175 to the center of the green. I put it on, and after a horrible first put, made about an 8ft putt for my only birdie of the day. After the 14th hole I realized I had to play the last four holes in +1 or better to break 90. I never play those holes well, but this time I finally did, and in fact I missed some really good chances. On 15 I hid a sand wedge to about 5 feet, missed the birdie putt. On 16 I was on in two, and 3-putted from about 25 feet, so there was my one bogey. 17 was a 190-yard par 3, and I hit my best-feeling iron shot of the day, a 5 iron that was headed right at the pin. Finished about 6 feet away, again missed the birdie. 18th hole, 490 yard straight par 5. I take a big swing and hit it perfect, leaving me 160 yards to the green. I kind of chunk my 8 iron, but I'm still on, leaving about 25 feet for eagle. I manage to 3-putt that one, for another par. So I did finish with my 89, but I had 3 great birdie chances in the last 4 holes, I lost 6 shots to out-of-bounds penalties, and the +8 on the front 9 par 5's really hurt. Other than that though, not bad. ;-)
Thought I'd mention Lee's round, just becuase of its general nature. He somehow managed a great round through 14 holes, I think he was only 3 over. Played the last four with double, double, double, birdie, for an 80. Ouch.
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