Today was a long day! The course allowed some extra public play to go out in front of our tee times, pushing us back nearly 30 minutes! Plus, mid morning tee times always seem to move slower anyways. Also, a last minute change caused us to start on #10.
My warm up wasn't that great, and I was a little anxious about my ball striking. However, when we were informed that our tee time was delayed, I went back to the range just to stay loose. My attitude was much more casual & relaxed since I had been joking around with another player in my group. For whatever reason, I hit the ball significantly better than I had earlier in my warm up. That positive momentum continued on the course, and while I still wasn't completely comfortable over the ball, I was able to put myself in good positions. In fact, I had four good looks at birdie on the first nine!
A really ridiculous miss cost me a bogey on #16. The frustration was compounded because I had hit a really great drive leaving only 90 yards into the green. I missed to the right, and had a really slick, short sided chip. My par putt just grazed the low side of the hole & I tapped in for bogey. I hit a great drive on the next hole, but my approach was badly pulled & moving left. I landed short of the green in the water hazard. I could see my ball & it was halfway in the water. There was just enough of my ball showing to tempt me to try and hit it. I took off a shoe and drenched myself, swinging through the water only to advance my ball about one foot onto the wet sand in the hazard. I caught the next shot thin. I hit it over the pin & to the back fringe. I elected to try to bump & run the next shot to the hole, but it didn't catch the right side of the slope & I was left with about a 12' putt for double. I made it! It was a double, but felt like I saved a par. In hindsight, I really should have dropped out of the hazard. Even though my drop would have left me with about a 60 yard shot, that would have made my double considerably easier! I left my birdie putt on #18 short...three inches short & dead center. Ugh!
I made the turn at 3 over, and with a little frustration lingering. I tried to settle down & refocus on fairways & greens. I would have birdie putts on the next two holes, both inside 15' but neither fell! The putt on #2 was a heartbreaking lip out! Thankfully, two putts did fall though, starting with the short par 5, #4. My second shot found the left green side bunker & I hit a great shot out to 5 feet...that birdie fell! I hit another good approach shot on #7 & made another 5' putt for birdie! I hit a great drive & approach shot on the last hole to give myself another short opportunity for birdie. The putt was over a subtle hump that pushed my ball the opposite way I thought it would break...I missed it & tapped in for par.
I carded a 73 for the day. Although that last putt left me steaming, I was proud of playing the front nine (our second nine) at two under. It was clearly not a day for me where you're making a lot of putts, but I was proud that I stayed focused, calm, & kept giving myself chances. I did make some great putts to save par today as well. I hit 14 greens, had eight chances at birdie that were 15' or less, & made two good saves for par. I was thankful that I was able to finish strong!
After grabbing lunch, I hit balls for a while, working on tempo and trying to build some confidence. Then I worked on putting a long time. I don't think I'm making bad strokes, and I don't think my line or speed are bad, but it's just mixing the two together. I was having a hard time today putting the right speed with my read. So, I worked for a while hitting lots of putts totally focused on speed. Hopefully, that will help & I will be able to keep giving myself chances tomorrow!
I tee off #1 (maybe...haha) at 11:44 EST tomorrow morning! Thanks again for keeping up with me, and I am so thankful for your encouragement as well as the opportunity to play!!! Have a great night!
Soli Deo Gloria
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