Finally after a good while hunting...

[theeaglehunter]

Hi folks. I played a round of golf on my own today and regardless of all else that went wrong/ right I am ecstatic because I bagged my first eagle on a 485 yard par 5, the fourth hole on the course. I hit a superb drive that with the help of a backwind cleared a bunker about 220 yards away and then bounced and rolled on down the slope to a point about 290 yards from the tee 195 yards from the green. I proceeded to hit my 24* hybrid and it pitched just short of the green onto an upslope taking most of the momentum away and then proceed to roll out towards the hole (I could only just see it as it is a raised green) and I thought it would be close as it just seemed good all the way. When I got to the green it had run past the hole by about 5 foot, leaving me a slight downhill putt with a touch of left to right break. I looked at the putt from all angles once it had registered that this would be a very makeable eagle putt and I hit it very nicely making sure that I did not quit on the stroke- something I usually do with short birdie putts. It left the putter and didn't break as much as I expected but still sneaked into the left side of the cup. I have never celebrated a good shot before but a low fist pump sort of came naturally after this. I then parred the next two holes having started with 2 pars and a bogey on my first 3 holes. I was therefor one under par through 6 holes.

The trouble was I counted up my scores and realised that I was on this score and proceeded to get all nervy at the prospect of shooting a good round having not played to my handicap for a good couple of weeks. I shot a double bogey on the 7th a bogey on the 8th and a treble on the 9th and never really regained my momentum until the 16th hole which I parred, and then I ended with a bogey par finish. Overall I was happy with my performance though and played to 14 over par- complete with getting an eagle. It has made my weekend to be honest. I haven't been as happy coming off the course for a long while as I have really been struggling with my ball striking recently and it seems to be coming back. Heres to a long summer of golf and the prospect of a few good rounds.

 

[barb]

Well done eagle,
nothing can beat that feeling (other than a hole in one I would imagine) so hold onto that and may it continue.
Again well done.

 

[haplesshacker]

Glad to here it's coming together for you, this game can be such a cruel mistress.

 

[nomadpaul]

Good work fella but does this mean a name change to , maybe , The albatross hunter ?

 

[theeaglehunter]

I had thought about that Paul, but I think I'll wait tell I make one on a par 3 before I contemplate a change.

Thanks for the positive responses people.

 

[AliB]

The trouble was I counted up my scores and realised that I was on this score and proceeded to get all nervy at the prospect of shooting a good round

Ah, you didn't want to do that, did you? Next hardest thing to playing well is keeping going.
But well done. Enjoy a celebratory drink - if you haven't already.

AliB

 

[Nico]

Come on The Eagle!!

That has to be your new name. No longer a Hunter!

 

[RGuk]

Well done eagle.....splendid stuff.

I'd like to say I'm hot on your heels, but sadly not. Can I swap your par 5 for one of mine?!!!

Let's hear of you hunting down some more soon.

 

[USER1999]

Congrats mate. Eagles are cool. need to live in the present with scoring. Never contemplate the scores done. just look at what comes next.

Easier said than done tho'.

Could still hunt for more eagles so name is still valid. One is never enough.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Top man. Hope you celebrate long and hard. It does get the old posterior twitching doesn't it when you suddenly tot the score up and realise just how well you are doing. Maybe next time just keep putting the numbers down and leave the maths until the end.

I would assume that perhaps the reason you suddenly had a run of bad holes was because you came out of the now moment and starting thinking about what you need to score and what might happen. Then when shots start dribbling away the tendency is to push harder and more errors creep in.

At the end of the day we have all done it and it isn't the time to worry about improvments. Its all about celebrating a fantastic achievement. Talk me through that celebration again. Had visions of that Seve celelbration at the Open with the fist punch

 

[USER1999]

Celebrations (of whatever sort) are never embarassing when they happen naturally. It is the idiots who feel the need to fist pump (because they have seen it on tv) who are berks.

An eagle deserves some kind of war dance really,

 

[HTL]

Well done mate, what a great feeling! enjoy + milk it for all its worth.

 

[OldWindy]

Well done and a great account of the hole!

 

[theeaglehunter]

Thanks for all the great comments guys much appreciated.

Dave you say about the par 5, it may be short (512 off the whites, 485 off the yellows) but it really is quite tricky. Usually I can't carry the first bunker well enough to catch the downslope which gave me the distance I needed, I can get over it but it stops on the immediate flat ground usually. The first party of the hole drops down from the raised tee by about 50 foot, and then you have a raised green about 60 ft up from this low point. It's hard to describe- you just have to play it to truly understand it. If you hit two solid shots though you usually are around the green so I see what your saying but its still not as easy as it may sound. I bet most people would be very happy with a birdie there let alone an eagle. I'll try and take a photo if I remember but I doubt that will do it justice.

And murph I agree entirely a natural celebration should not be embarrassing although I did look round to see who was watching me once I'd done it - It sort of just came over me, if I'd have thought about it I would have probably looked a right mug! You'll have to work on a war dance and video yourself doing it though so the rest of the forum can copy. But for clarification homer it was just a one punch fist clench sort of "get in there" type thing- I don't quite have the charisma of Seve but if I ever win the open I'll try and out do him!

 

[Gazzery]

Well done mate, it sounded very satisfiying,I am still waiting for my first Eagle,but like you im sure it will come.
Re the score counting i have learnt my lesson and never add mine up now till im off the 18th, i know if im having a good round and dont want to put extra pressure on the last 6 holes

 

[mboy1980]

No disrespect mate but you can't really class that as an eagle.

At 485 yards the hole should be a Par 4.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

mboy1980

I think the classifications are 245 is the max for a par 3 and 475 for a par 5 for normal golf courses. Obviously these are changed to suit the pro game but for mere mortals it would be classed as a par 5

 

[forefortheday]

Congratulations mate it's a feeling I've never had so I'm not in anyway jealous no not me!

 

[TonyN]

No disrespect mate but you can't really class that as an eagle.

At 485 yards the hole should be a Par 4.

Course it is, Even with a 300 yard drive you would be left with a 185 approach for regulation. Its prob a high S.I for a par 5 making it an 'easier' par 5.

Eagle, do you know what the S.I is?

 

[theeaglehunter]

No disrespect mate but you can't really class that as an eagle.

At 485 yards the hole should be a Par 4.

Fair enough but the fact of the matter is it is a par 5 and I am usually happy to par it. And I am pretty sure that stood on the tee you would not fancy your chances of making a 4 on the hole. If someone told you it was a par 4 you would check the card and want an extra shot trust me.

Try as you might you will not burst my bubble