BrizoH71
Tour Rookie
Had my first round of golf in 16 years today, just over the small par-3 local course near to where my parents live. I wanted to break myself back in gently after so long away from the game.
I hooked my opening tee-shot into the trees on the left, and promptly followed it with my provisional ball. However, my first ball was found – and I found another while looking for it – so I was able to pitch towards the green. I failed to get up onto the putting surface with my second shot, and my next shot saw me chip to the back of the green where I then three-putted for an opening 6. That was to be a feature of my day, and my putting was abysmal.
The second hole saw me find the left apron of the green and I putted down to around 10 feet. I then hit the ground before the ball with my par effort, leaving the ball 3 feet short. I holed the next to escape with a 4.
The third hole I found the green off the tee, but another three-putt followed for another 4 on the card. At the fourth, I tried to force a 5-iron and felt it slip in my hand; the ball squirted low to the right into some thing rough. After hacking out, I pitched just short of the green, chipped up and then 3 putted again. An ugly 7 on the card.
I stuck my tee-shot on the 5th to 10 feet, more through luck than any skill, but endured another three-putt to take four, and on the 6th I knocked my drive just short of the green. After thinning my chip to the back of the green, it was yet another 3-putt for a 5. Another decent tee-shot on the 7th left me green-high and a chip onto the green was followed by yet another 3-putt. Another 5, and it was clear where my weakness was… tee-to-green I had been playing quite well for all my 16 years of rustiness, even if all my tee-shots were drifting left; but I couldn’t putt to save my life.
Another pulled tee-shot left on the 8th was followed by a push to the right with my provisional ball; the original was lost, so I chipped my provisional onto the green and made a two-putt! Yesss, the putting was improving for a 4 on the card. Down the last and my drive came up just short of the bunkers; I pitched up relatively close and watched as my par-putt was bang on line, but ran out of steam a few inches short. Another 4.
I felt I did ok for my first round back, despite some severe putting issues. I had set myself a target of breaking 40 and carding at least one par, so a round of 43 wasn’t too bad I suppose; and I gave myself a few chances at par or better, but just couldn’t putt out. Plus, on balance I didn’t lose any golf balls.. I lost two, but gained two back so it evens out.
I’ll definitely have to practice putting in the hall ahead of my next outing, although I’m bound to have cats chasing after the balls… was good to be back on the course though.
I hooked my opening tee-shot into the trees on the left, and promptly followed it with my provisional ball. However, my first ball was found – and I found another while looking for it – so I was able to pitch towards the green. I failed to get up onto the putting surface with my second shot, and my next shot saw me chip to the back of the green where I then three-putted for an opening 6. That was to be a feature of my day, and my putting was abysmal.
The second hole saw me find the left apron of the green and I putted down to around 10 feet. I then hit the ground before the ball with my par effort, leaving the ball 3 feet short. I holed the next to escape with a 4.
The third hole I found the green off the tee, but another three-putt followed for another 4 on the card. At the fourth, I tried to force a 5-iron and felt it slip in my hand; the ball squirted low to the right into some thing rough. After hacking out, I pitched just short of the green, chipped up and then 3 putted again. An ugly 7 on the card.
I stuck my tee-shot on the 5th to 10 feet, more through luck than any skill, but endured another three-putt to take four, and on the 6th I knocked my drive just short of the green. After thinning my chip to the back of the green, it was yet another 3-putt for a 5. Another decent tee-shot on the 7th left me green-high and a chip onto the green was followed by yet another 3-putt. Another 5, and it was clear where my weakness was… tee-to-green I had been playing quite well for all my 16 years of rustiness, even if all my tee-shots were drifting left; but I couldn’t putt to save my life.
Another pulled tee-shot left on the 8th was followed by a push to the right with my provisional ball; the original was lost, so I chipped my provisional onto the green and made a two-putt! Yesss, the putting was improving for a 4 on the card. Down the last and my drive came up just short of the bunkers; I pitched up relatively close and watched as my par-putt was bang on line, but ran out of steam a few inches short. Another 4.
I felt I did ok for my first round back, despite some severe putting issues. I had set myself a target of breaking 40 and carding at least one par, so a round of 43 wasn’t too bad I suppose; and I gave myself a few chances at par or better, but just couldn’t putt out. Plus, on balance I didn’t lose any golf balls.. I lost two, but gained two back so it evens out.
I’ll definitely have to practice putting in the hall ahead of my next outing, although I’m bound to have cats chasing after the balls… was good to be back on the course though.
enjoy...
