My Impetus

I woke up on Thursday, to absolute perfect weather. I had plans to meet my friend Sue after work for golf, and I couldn’t believe how nice it was. All day long visions of the golf course drifted through my head. I was meeting her at Green Knoll Golf Course at 5:00pm hoping we might be able to get 18 in. However, the starter was in a pissy mood to begin with (not the first time I might add that this starter has been in a bad mood) and was not very helpful in when we might be able to tee off. I put my name on the board and walked over to the practice green to work on chips/putts. Sue arrived shortly after, and we practiced a bit. At 5:40 we were able to tee off.

We were partnered with two singles, David and Ken. Ken had already played the back 9, and was hesitant about finishing this round, as he had to wait 15 minutes between 18 and 1, which forebode some time-play problems. I hit a 5 iron off the first tee. I hit it a bit fat, but it went straight and about 150 yds landing in the fairway. I was pretty happy with the first shot, and was already visually marking down the ‘Y’ for fairway hit on my scorecard on oobgolf. I seemed to push the second shot, however it was in a very playable spot about 200 from the green on the far right of the hole (almost near the pitch-n-putt). My third shot I pushed into the woods on the right. So, now mentally, I know I am pushing shots, and am combating my mind to stop trying to perfect the new grip on the course. I drop a ball, take a penalty shot, and shank it into the woods - however, it hits a small sapling and kicks out next to the green with a sand trap in the way. Pretty lucky. I place a nice chip shot about 5 ft from the pin, and it rolls 12 more ft down. I two-putt and take an 8 on the hole. Now, at each shot, I had to wait for the foursome in front of us, and I could already feel the frustration setting in. Golf is such a mind game.

So, we wait about 5 mins on the second hole, and I have an excellent tee shot with the 5 iron. Straight, but a bit into the wind, and it lands about 160ish. Second shot was deja vu - I push it right, and it lands about 25 ft from the hole, just shy of the correct distance if I hadn’t pushed it. I chip on, 9 ft from the pin and three putt…. My friend Sean’s wife Valerie always says ‘three putts are for nuts’ when she three putts. I don’t really know what it means, but it cracked me up, and has stuck, and I was saying it to myself as I recorded the score. Now, +5 over par after 2.

As we were walking up to the second green, I looked over at the third hole and I could see that there were two sets of foursomes waiting to tee off and a third group on the green in the putting stance. When we finished at our second green and walked over, that group was still putting and taking 4 practice putts per shot, and weren’t clear of the green yet. Ken shook his head, and decided he had had enough. So, David, Sue, and I walked over and waited. And waited. And waited. 25 minutes later, it’s our turn.

The rest of the round was like this. Almost impossible to get into a rhythm when it takes longer in between holes then the hole itself. I try not to make excuses. I was playing poorly, struggling with the grip change I had made at the driving range the other day. However, it was compounded with pace of play. At 8:50 we finished and walked over to the parking lot. It was still better than working….almost.

I am playing again there tonight at 4:30 with Sean, Val, and Sue. Hopefully tonight will be much better. I am going to hit the range soon and try and work out the golf grip.

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