Here is some play-by-play of my July benchmark round at the Richmond Country Club with head pro Mark Strong. Remember that my goal is to get to bogey-golf (89) on a full-length course. (Hole – Yards/Par(Score))
#1 – 343/4(5): I punched my drive well but subsequently left it short on the fringe. I followed that with a three-putt, the first of many on the day.
#2 – 307/4(6): The trees make it impossible to not lay up about 125 yards to the hole; not that it matters as I shanked my hybrid into those very trees.
#3 – 400/4(6): My one real miss-hit with my driver. A few “workable” shots later and I’m on the green for another three-putt. A good walk gone bad, already.
#4 – 166/3(4): I took a six-iron well short and to the left, which left me with work to do. The first omen that the Golf Gods were a nasty bunch on such a perfect sunny morning was when my par putt literally sunk into the hole but lipped out. Are you kidding me!?
#5 – 476/5(7): I duffed my hybrid onto a tree trunk, which cost me two strokes.
#6 – 405/4(5): I threw down another three-putt off the fringe with a tricky par putt that lipped out. I wasn’t following through on my putts.
#7 – 478/5(7): After a great drive I got into the woods, somehow. I don’t know how.
#8 – 368/4(4): I told Strong, “Okay, this is where I get it together.” A straight 250-yard drive and a great shot to the fringe led to an up and down for par.
#9 – 138/4(3): I stick the green and put my birdie putt on the lip. Meanwhile, Strong’s just made a rare bogey so I’m making a point of beating him while walking through the gallery, forgetting all about the Golf Gods. (Front-nine:47)
#10 – 470/5(7): We played two balls on this hole to make up for the 18th hole being under repair. Both drives were great but my approach shots were horrendous and my putting was even worse.
#18 – 470/5(8): Lesson: Don’t get cocky or the Golf Gods will rectify the situation.
#11 – 348/4(6): After a smashing drive and great eight-iron approach I duffed my sand wedge on the fringe; why the sand and not the pitching wedge I was so comfortable with? Dummy! Then I three-putted. That’s two shots to get 340 yards and four to get eight.
#12 – 162/3(7): A lovely hole with farmland vistas, a beautiful lake and inspiring bunkers.
#13 – 400/4(5): Staying positive, a dogleg left played into my slight slice that carried into the middle of the fairway.
#14 – 170/3(4): Another shot on the fringe! Another three putt! Take the bogey and move along.
#15 – 370/4(5): After a great drive, short approach and couldn’t stick the up/down.
#16 – 366/4(5): With wind to my back I nearly crushed the ball over a row of trees but caught a branch. Ouch!
#17 – 344/4(4): All I needed was a bogey to make 99. I crushed the drive and plopped my approach onto the green to make a par.
The Golf Gods had given me back my soul.
SCORECARDS:
Month: April / May / June / July
Score: 119 / 112 / 107 / 98
Water balls: 3 / 1 / 1 / 1
Out of bounds: 2 / 2 / 1 / 0
Reg. greens: 2 / 1 / 2 / 3
Pars-Birdies: 0-0 / 0-0 / 3-0 / 3-0
