Having fun with friends (as well as some comments on the latest changes).
Tonight started rather lackluster. I was playing with knuckle and my meter was going crazy. I think i visited every rough spot on every hole. I was done after 12th, grabbed a cold one and saw that Avatarlee and
Ncviz popped on. I invited them for a game: 18 holes on the Ocean course.
My friends call tell you, I usually perform much better in multiplayer. Most people find it weird, but I say, the reason I tend to perform better is because I have fun chatting and putting. Since I only been
doing 18 holes on this course for last few days, my goal was to consistenly shoot below 66 while attaining 63 or lower in a lucky round. I was hoping that tonight would be that round.
All of us have the same drivers but everything else is different: I use the raptures, Ncviz uses wgt pro starters, and Lee I think, uses the ping 10 masters. In the end, you will see that it's not that
important what clubs you use, what is important is you know how they perform and play to each clubs strengths!
We started out strong and birdied first hole and then I proceeded to screw up. My approach was too close on #2, so my punch left me with a 7ft hook, which I lipped out. On #3 i drove into right rough with wind
being 11 mph sideways to the left (ya, lol). My approach left me with 20fter uphill which I left 3 inches short (blah). Lee birdied first 3 holes (he is a machine, he rarely makes mistakes), and Ncviz had
lipout on #3 as well to stay at -1
As we were playing, we were commenting generally on new additions, particulary the driver, how much fun it is and how many options it opens up. We were standing on on #4, with downwind, you have to choke there
to stay in the fairway. I choked too much, had 182 left and my approach was 30ft by. Lee and Viz were at ~170 yardage and lee's approach got stuck on top lip while NcViz hit inside 10ft. Even mighty Lee, could
not chip it in hitting pin on his chip, while Ncviz birdied it and I made par.
#5 was Luckluster, we had 12 head wind, so one would assume we could get close...Nah..our 2nd shots got inside 3ft, we parred and moved on. ON 6 we got into good yardage and downwind, we were hoping for close
shots. Lee was off first, flew it by 12ft. I saw Lee cursing, choked on my 8iron and left it 15ft short. Ncviz saw me being short and cursing, and even hit behind Lee. Both Lee and I made crappy putt and
settled for par while Ncviz made a nice breaking birdie.
So, I am -1 after 6 holes, thinking...here we go again, you were hoping for 63, and gonna end up with 69...Here came #7, it was good, our drives all left us with about 245-240 the hole and carrying the new 3
wood allowed us go for the green. Some people commented that the new 3 wood made the game easy; I disagree. I think it allowed the good player who makes good shots to shoot lower as he/she executes good shots.
That's what it is about; how holing it out for eagle from 90 yards but practicing hitting 3 wood to 20-30ft and then making a putt for eagle.
Anyway, Lee and Ncviz both had same yardage and having gentle downwind I thought they be right by the holes (I was closest and had to choke to stay on green). But, they both hit to the right with lee finding a
foot of fairway between green and the mulch while Ncviz was denied on the knob in front. I choked by 5 yards, hit full bs and landed on edge of the green and trickled by the hole into fringe 20ft behind. Not
bad I thought (as some of you know, I am OK as chips, and If i had to chose between a 20fter on #7 and a 20ft chip, I chose chip everytime). They both got close, with Ncviz missing her birdie putt and Lee
making his. I made the chip, missed the meter by a little right, but because my speed was perfect, the ball curved at the end and dropped in for an eagle . Woohoo, after lackluster 6 holes, I am back in the
saddle at -3.
#8 and #9 were lackluster, with me missing 5fter from left (that thing broke left!) and on #9 both of my friends being 15 yards short, made me be 15 yards long; in the end we settled for pars.
On #10, we all drank a beverage of our choice (this space in open for sponsors of an bevarage, they can contact me if they would like to sponsor my blog) and we were ready for the back 9. Everyone knows that
back 9 probably plays 2 shorts lower than front. Having been here since day one, I can tell you that front 9 was never like that before. #1 was literally flat; one could hit 20fter from anywhere without
changing aim and making it in. #2 always was breaking. #3 was much easier, the nasty knob on front left was always there but from other views it was relativly flat or had a soft break. #4 was always a PITA and
#5 has a special ability. I think in the last year, it changed 4 or 5 times. First it started very hard with literally no one getting inside 30ft, then when they lessened the bounce, we quickly adjusted and got
inside 10ft on a regular basis. The it went back and fourth and now, it's very hard to get inside 10ft, no matter on the wind. #6 was similar as before, except that the left side played much gentler than now. I
think biggest change occured on #7 (after #1). That green is plain nasty. It breaks every which way and before it only broke little right to left from left side and left to right from right/top side. Now...god,
it'll break 3 times in 5 ft! 8 and 9 were always a PITA!
Anyway, I digress, so let's get back to our regularly scheduled programming!
On 10 we had downwind and hit to 100-105 yards and our approach stunk. We overplayed them and I was long, Lee was short/low and Ncviz short. She made her birdie while we made pathetic pars! On #11 we started to
drool; the wind showed 11down and we knew we could have some fun here. Nc was off first and she hit to about 230, I was second, I took better like but I carried the good bump and got stuck at 240 to the hole.
Lee's shot deviated left and while he had about 245 left, he had to carry the nasty stuff while we had clear sailing. Lee was off first, he hit very short and started to curse. He hit 5wood instead of 3w..I be
bitching as well! I choked some yards and hit perf swing. It landed in front, checked twice and rolled 12ft by the hole! Nc's shot was similar except it stayed right on frint about 18ft from the hole. Lee was
in rough and hit hit shot (thanx buddy) right behind me. He putted and was short (started saying some curses that I never heard off!!!) Nc was gonna putt but then she changed her mind (I would as well) and she
made perfect chip for an Eagle! Both Le and I were happy for her and when I saw lee's line, I added speed, perfect read I made my second eagle! At this point Lee was depressed; he made par while we both mad
eagles. Now think about this, I after 11 holes I was -5 having made only 1 birdie and Lee was -4 having birdied first 3 holes.
Then, Ncviz said, "Whats more rare, me making 2 eagles in 1 game or being ahead of Lee?" I obviously said, "Being ahead of Lee, of course!"
On #12 we were downwind as well. I had 174 left, I hit full 4i with will bs, and LIPPED out. I then said, "now, if I made back to back eagles, I would have to rethink my previous statement". Both Lee and I
birdied it. #13 was head wind, I was shortest from the drive, which allowed me to see Lee's punch being short. I hit my punch same way, added topspin and with better kick I had 18inches left. Birdied that and
moved on.
#13 was very interesting. It was 12 mph head wind and being 202, it presented challenges for us. Being 202 and head wind, and my irons capping out at 190, I had to hit 205 3w (old school). Well, that 3w has no
spin and even using full bs, it landed good but ran like hell...i had 25ft to go...Lee, had 4i that was 205 (Lee, using the best irons (rating wise), which are much harder to swing but offer options which are
not available to Ncviz and I. He hit his 3iron, full bs, it landed just about where I did, and stopped 3 ft near the hole (mine was 25ft more). Ncviz hit her wood, but short. I missed my putt, and they made
theirs with Viz hitting a perfect backdoor 20fter.
Here is the difference between Clubs Lee uses and we use. Lee's are harder to swing, but on that hole, they offered him a way to make a perfect shot using full swing (only way I would have gotten closer if I
choked alot more, which you cannot do because it simply does not get there (well, one says, how does it get by then? simple...you cannot count for 30+ft roll hitting a club full bs, into 12 head wind...)).
His club's stats are much superior (being more precise, more spin, etc), but they are harder to swing. He mastered that, hence he has an advantage.
Next hole we played downwind and with my arrant drive landing me in light rough I was off first. Rough actually helped me, because I had 120y left, I added 5, then used bs and added 2 because green was
elevated. Hit it perfect, within 5ft. Both of my friends had 100-105 left, they his their wedges inside 8ft and made birdies.
#16, is the hole we all wanted to birdie. Ncviz was way right, so her birdie was improbable. Her 3rd short landed 15ft right (great approach from 190), but it was a hard putt, so she settled for par. Both Lee
and I hit perf drive/2nd shots and both had Perfect 65/68 yards left for approaches. Lee misclicked left and had about 14ft left. I, somehow clicked left also landing 2ft in front of Lee. Lee commented that I
just wanted a read and I said, "not really, i'd much rather be inside 2ft, no read needed there.". Lee was 3inches short, I heard his mouse hitting the wall from 2000 miles away. I missed the meter right and we
all wasted a good opprotunity with pars.
#17 was uneventful. It was 194, 8into the wind, We all had putts outside 12ft and made pars...on #18, We all overanalyzed the situation and only Lee drained his 20fter for birdie to tie us at -8.
In the end, we spent 2 hours of chat, jokes, game discussion, ranting, cursing, breaking mice and just enjoying ourselves. Having been friends and playing together for close to a year, really allowed us to have
fun tonight.I could say that I missed a birdie on 8 and 16 but having made 2 eagles, I will shutup about it!
My overall thoughts of the latest changes are these: Grade A for everything (awesome MP options, great driver, new irons, putter). To get an A+ front me, introduce better, not different balls, and bring a nice
wedge for us, something in the 45-50 range, with max bs and max precision.
I am not sure how I feel about being able to swap irons from a set, but I think as long as irons are the same speed, why not? I also, would then swap the wedge in iron set for the pro wedge. Since both around
same distance, the pro wedge gives me better flop option and better precision!
I think my friends would concur!
I hope you enjoyed this longwinded entry. Don't you worry, I don't write them often and If you are still reading this, feel free to comment on it! Our card are below; Lee had perfect 100% driving while NCviz
and I were at 86%.
