The one that got away
Not sure how to feel having had time to reflect on my round today. Finished with 37 points which will give my handicap a small shaving but having gone out in 21 I guess it has o go down as a missed opportunity.
Played very steady on the opening two holes and then hit a great drive down three and and a 7 iron into the wind from 135 to 5 foot and rolled in the bidie for four points. However I missed the green from 118 yards (just a poor swing) on the next for a bogey and then chipped stone dead to make par on the 5th (another 3 points). I then came to my nemesis hole. Anyone who has played at Royal Ascot will tell you (and those coming next week will understand once they've played it) that it looks an innocent little par 3 of 178 yards but the number of times I've lost balls or been OB tells a different story!!!. Tee was forward to about 168 but into a breeze so hit 4 iron and put it on the green. Two putts and I'm out of there like a shot. Steady then to the turn although I dropped a point with a bogey 4 at 8 (poor tee shot).
So there I am going well. Caned a drive down the 10th to only leave an 8 iron. Pulled it left. Duffed chip, chipped on and two putts for a single point. Double on the card from nowhere. Redeemed myself on 12. Hit my 2nd left. It landed right on the lip of the bunker. Not quite in and not very securely seated on the lip. Made sure I made contact with the ball and not the ground and only put it to 6 inches to save par. Flushed with success I proceeded to blow out on the par 3 13th after the worst hybrid in memeory (right, and going right with a bit of right hand spin) into loads of cabbage. Found it but could only make a 6 (and no shot anyway). Hit one OB down 16 (very tight driving hole and just over drew the shot) but made a great par with my 2nd ball to rescue a point. Finished with a good par in front of a busy clubhouse. That always looks good.
So, plenty to be pleased about but a nagging sense of frustration. Two real bad drives, one mediocre tee shot,a duffed chip and couple of poor approaches. Other than that it was steady and with NO three putts and 32 putts in total I shouldn't really complain. For those coming on Friday the course was in pretty good order and the greens were putting well. Not pretty to look at but putting nice and true.
Not sure how to feel having had time to reflect on my round today. Finished with 37 points which will give my handicap a small shaving but having gone out in 21 I guess it has o go down as a missed opportunity.
Played very steady on the opening two holes and then hit a great drive down three and and a 7 iron into the wind from 135 to 5 foot and rolled in the bidie for four points. However I missed the green from 118 yards (just a poor swing) on the next for a bogey and then chipped stone dead to make par on the 5th (another 3 points). I then came to my nemesis hole. Anyone who has played at Royal Ascot will tell you (and those coming next week will understand once they've played it) that it looks an innocent little par 3 of 178 yards but the number of times I've lost balls or been OB tells a different story!!!. Tee was forward to about 168 but into a breeze so hit 4 iron and put it on the green. Two putts and I'm out of there like a shot. Steady then to the turn although I dropped a point with a bogey 4 at 8 (poor tee shot).
So there I am going well. Caned a drive down the 10th to only leave an 8 iron. Pulled it left. Duffed chip, chipped on and two putts for a single point. Double on the card from nowhere. Redeemed myself on 12. Hit my 2nd left. It landed right on the lip of the bunker. Not quite in and not very securely seated on the lip. Made sure I made contact with the ball and not the ground and only put it to 6 inches to save par. Flushed with success I proceeded to blow out on the par 3 13th after the worst hybrid in memeory (right, and going right with a bit of right hand spin) into loads of cabbage. Found it but could only make a 6 (and no shot anyway). Hit one OB down 16 (very tight driving hole and just over drew the shot) but made a great par with my 2nd ball to rescue a point. Finished with a good par in front of a busy clubhouse. That always looks good.
So, plenty to be pleased about but a nagging sense of frustration. Two real bad drives, one mediocre tee shot,a duffed chip and couple of poor approaches. Other than that it was steady and with NO three putts and 32 putts in total I shouldn't really complain. For those coming on Friday the course was in pretty good order and the greens were putting well. Not pretty to look at but putting nice and true.
