Friday, July 15, 2011
Single digits again!
After climbing back out of single digits to a 10.2 and then 10.5 the last two handicap revisions, today I fell back to a 9.3, an all time low!!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Columbia Golf League Week 12
After last night we have three more weeks to go in the regular season. Before last night we were in third place back 4 points. This week we took on Gary Kjos and Scott Barnes.
Mike had a rough start of the round but I played well enough to win the first half points. We took the holes 3 to 1. On the back side it came down to the last hole, the dreaded 9th. I don't know what it is about that hole but every time I play it I hit a good drive to the fairway, am sitting 100 yards out and every time so far I have skulled my approach shot. This time was no different but fortunately this time, I hit it so thin that I did not fly the green. Instead I ended up rolling just to the front edge of the green. I had a fairly good chip to about 3 feet. My putt for par was to hard and I hit through the break, missing the hole. Mike managed to get on in 2 and got down in 2 for his par. We took the hole, and with that the back half and the total holes points, for a clean sweep 5.
I shot a 41 and Mike had a 46. It was good to finally win all 5 points again. Hopefully we will have gained some points on the leaders this week.
Mike had a rough start of the round but I played well enough to win the first half points. We took the holes 3 to 1. On the back side it came down to the last hole, the dreaded 9th. I don't know what it is about that hole but every time I play it I hit a good drive to the fairway, am sitting 100 yards out and every time so far I have skulled my approach shot. This time was no different but fortunately this time, I hit it so thin that I did not fly the green. Instead I ended up rolling just to the front edge of the green. I had a fairly good chip to about 3 feet. My putt for par was to hard and I hit through the break, missing the hole. Mike managed to get on in 2 and got down in 2 for his par. We took the hole, and with that the back half and the total holes points, for a clean sweep 5.
I shot a 41 and Mike had a 46. It was good to finally win all 5 points again. Hopefully we will have gained some points on the leaders this week.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Golf Golf Golf- A weekend at the Links at Northfork
This weekend I went on a bit of a golf binge. The annual Girard memorial calcutta was this weekend at The Links at Northfork in Ramsey. I was able to work some extra hours Monday-Wednesday so that I could take Thursday afternoon and Friday off to play some warm up rounds at The Links.
On Thursday I went out to the course by myself and had gorgeous weather to play. The course was not too busy but unfortunately I got stuck behind the slowest twosome around. Apparently they had money on the round and kept apologizing for their slowness, but never offering to let me play through until the ninth hole. Because of the slow play in front of us a single caught me after only the first hole while I was waiting on the second tee. We decided to pair up. I forget the gentleman's last name but his first name was jay and he was a member at the course. he said he plays every day, at least nine holes after work. On Thursday he was off for the week so he thought he would come out and play a quick round. Too bad we were not able to play that quickly. Despite the putrid slowness of our round, I must have been inspired by Jay's excellent play. I shot a 41 on the front with nothing worse than a bogey on the card. 4 pars and 5 bogeys. On the back I ended up nearly eagling the short par 5 10th and had a tap in bird. I parred 11 and then chipped in on 12 for another bird. On 13 I had another easy regulation par. So through 4 on the back I was 2 under for the side. Unfortunately I ended up going on a bogey train after that and finished with 5 straight for a back 39, giving me an 80.
Feeling confident from my first round I returned on Friday with my friends Trent, Kris, and Keith. Keith was a last second confirmation as he had been diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg earlier in the week. After tests revealed the clot vanished he was cleared to play. We had another great day on the course. Usually the winds on the links style course can be pretty fierce and it was very unusual to have 2 days in a row with little to no wind. Everyone kind of hacked it around on the front. I managed to shoot the low round of the group with 42. I had 3 pars and 6 bogeys. On the back nine I had some problems controlling my drives and ended up taking a 44. I could not repeat any of my previous day's birdies and that compounded with the poor tee play resulted in at least one double on the back.
After the round we headed to NE Minneapolis where the calcutta team drawing and auctioning were happening at Jax Cafe. The draft was not bad but the auction seemed to last forever. We did not get done for over 4 hours. This year we set an all time purse record from the auction at $44,000. A couple of teams for the first time broke the $4000 mark. Including at team that had the best player in the tournament's history with a +2 handicap. He was a member of the Nike tour and could hit the ball a country mile and dead straight. We had the privileged of watching him play, as we were the team behind them in the tournament.
Our team went for $1800, third lowest in the tournament. My friends Trent and Kris were A players on two teams and went for the lowest of any teams at $1500 and $1600.
I guess you could say this year was the year of the bargains as Trent and Kris' teams finished 1st and 2nd, tied at -11. We finished at -10 tied with another team but lost in a sudden death playoff to finish in fourth place. It was my first time in the money circle and a pretty fun time. Certainly better than last year when we finished at even par and dead last.
On Thursday I went out to the course by myself and had gorgeous weather to play. The course was not too busy but unfortunately I got stuck behind the slowest twosome around. Apparently they had money on the round and kept apologizing for their slowness, but never offering to let me play through until the ninth hole. Because of the slow play in front of us a single caught me after only the first hole while I was waiting on the second tee. We decided to pair up. I forget the gentleman's last name but his first name was jay and he was a member at the course. he said he plays every day, at least nine holes after work. On Thursday he was off for the week so he thought he would come out and play a quick round. Too bad we were not able to play that quickly. Despite the putrid slowness of our round, I must have been inspired by Jay's excellent play. I shot a 41 on the front with nothing worse than a bogey on the card. 4 pars and 5 bogeys. On the back I ended up nearly eagling the short par 5 10th and had a tap in bird. I parred 11 and then chipped in on 12 for another bird. On 13 I had another easy regulation par. So through 4 on the back I was 2 under for the side. Unfortunately I ended up going on a bogey train after that and finished with 5 straight for a back 39, giving me an 80.
Feeling confident from my first round I returned on Friday with my friends Trent, Kris, and Keith. Keith was a last second confirmation as he had been diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg earlier in the week. After tests revealed the clot vanished he was cleared to play. We had another great day on the course. Usually the winds on the links style course can be pretty fierce and it was very unusual to have 2 days in a row with little to no wind. Everyone kind of hacked it around on the front. I managed to shoot the low round of the group with 42. I had 3 pars and 6 bogeys. On the back nine I had some problems controlling my drives and ended up taking a 44. I could not repeat any of my previous day's birdies and that compounded with the poor tee play resulted in at least one double on the back.
After the round we headed to NE Minneapolis where the calcutta team drawing and auctioning were happening at Jax Cafe. The draft was not bad but the auction seemed to last forever. We did not get done for over 4 hours. This year we set an all time purse record from the auction at $44,000. A couple of teams for the first time broke the $4000 mark. Including at team that had the best player in the tournament's history with a +2 handicap. He was a member of the Nike tour and could hit the ball a country mile and dead straight. We had the privileged of watching him play, as we were the team behind them in the tournament.
Our team went for $1800, third lowest in the tournament. My friends Trent and Kris were A players on two teams and went for the lowest of any teams at $1500 and $1600.
I guess you could say this year was the year of the bargains as Trent and Kris' teams finished 1st and 2nd, tied at -11. We finished at -10 tied with another team but lost in a sudden death playoff to finish in fourth place. It was my first time in the money circle and a pretty fun time. Certainly better than last year when we finished at even par and dead last.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Columbia Golf League Week 11
Last weeks golf league was a disaster for me. I ended up playing the worst round of the year and shot a 49. I played so badly that on one hole I sh@nked the ball so badly it left the course and landed on Central Avenue. Luckily Mike had a good week and carried our team to split the round's points at 2.5. We lost the first 4 holes 2-1 and then won the last 5 2-1.
Hopefully that is not a sign of things to come for this weekend.
Hopefully that is not a sign of things to come for this weekend.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Golfing the Thief River Golf Course.
Over the 4th of July I went back to Lisa's home town of Thief River again. W e were able to play 2 rounds at the local course there.
On the first round, early Saturday morning it was just Jeremy and I. We got around very quickly (2.75 hours) as no one was on the course. best yet, I had my best round ever shooting a 76! I had 3 birdies, one front and 2 on the back.
The next day I played with Lisa, Jeremy, and Bob. It was Bob's first round of the year. I did not get the the birdies like the day before but still managed to shoot an 80.
Take a look at the sweet old school cart I saw on the course.
On the first round, early Saturday morning it was just Jeremy and I. We got around very quickly (2.75 hours) as no one was on the course. best yet, I had my best round ever shooting a 76! I had 3 birdies, one front and 2 on the back.
The next day I played with Lisa, Jeremy, and Bob. It was Bob's first round of the year. I did not get the the birdies like the day before but still managed to shoot an 80.
Take a look at the sweet old school cart I saw on the course.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Columbia Golf League Week 10
This week we took on team 15 Chris Neher and Jay Nelson. I showed up to the course on time for the first time in a couple of weeks but Mike was a little late and showed up right before we teed off. This week mike gave me some incentives to golf good:
1 drink if I got 2 birdies or an eagle
1 drink if I shot under 39
1 drink if we won all 5 points
This week we played the front half.
I had tree trouble on the first 2 holes and got bogeys on both. On the third hole I three putted for yet another bogey. Then on hole 4 I finally got it together and made birdie. Hole 5 I had a great one putt for another birdie. back to back! So one of the drinks was won.! We also took the first half of the points so things were looking good.
On hole 6, I hit a high tee shot that left me 220 yards out. I hit a good 4 iron but it ballooned in the wind and ended up short and right of the green. I was unable to get up and down from there so I recorded another bogey.
Hole 7 I had a tap in par after just missing what would have been my third birdie.
So going into 8 I was 2 over. I hit my tee shot on 8 onto the green but was left of the hole had a fairly long putt. I ended up leaving it terribly short and missed the next giving me another three putt bogey. Mike also was on in one and missed his par putt, causing us to push the hole. This cost us as we were then even on the back instead of being up one.
So onto 9, and 3 over. All I need to do is to make par to shoot a 39. I hit a good tee shot and was 100 yards out in the middle of the fairway. Unfortunately I skulled my second over the green and down the massive hill that is behind the green. With a bad third shot I was on the fringe. Another chip onto the green and two putts gave me a 6 for the hole.
No celebratory 39 drink for me. Also Mike was inspired by my putrid shot and also skulled his shot over the green. He also got a 6 on the hole. We ended up loosing the back half to our opponents and split the total holes won, so we only received 2.5 points.
All in all I played well with a 41 but it felt worse with that awful last hole.
We did drop out of first place and were 1 point back going into this week so with only 2.5 points there is no guarantee we did not fall further behind.
1 drink if I got 2 birdies or an eagle
1 drink if I shot under 39
1 drink if we won all 5 points
This week we played the front half.
I had tree trouble on the first 2 holes and got bogeys on both. On the third hole I three putted for yet another bogey. Then on hole 4 I finally got it together and made birdie. Hole 5 I had a great one putt for another birdie. back to back! So one of the drinks was won.! We also took the first half of the points so things were looking good.
On hole 6, I hit a high tee shot that left me 220 yards out. I hit a good 4 iron but it ballooned in the wind and ended up short and right of the green. I was unable to get up and down from there so I recorded another bogey.
Hole 7 I had a tap in par after just missing what would have been my third birdie.
So going into 8 I was 2 over. I hit my tee shot on 8 onto the green but was left of the hole had a fairly long putt. I ended up leaving it terribly short and missed the next giving me another three putt bogey. Mike also was on in one and missed his par putt, causing us to push the hole. This cost us as we were then even on the back instead of being up one.
So onto 9, and 3 over. All I need to do is to make par to shoot a 39. I hit a good tee shot and was 100 yards out in the middle of the fairway. Unfortunately I skulled my second over the green and down the massive hill that is behind the green. With a bad third shot I was on the fringe. Another chip onto the green and two putts gave me a 6 for the hole.
No celebratory 39 drink for me. Also Mike was inspired by my putrid shot and also skulled his shot over the green. He also got a 6 on the hole. We ended up loosing the back half to our opponents and split the total holes won, so we only received 2.5 points.
All in all I played well with a 41 but it felt worse with that awful last hole.
We did drop out of first place and were 1 point back going into this week so with only 2.5 points there is no guarantee we did not fall further behind.
Golfing Crystal Lake Golf Course
This last weekend I played Crystal Lake golf Course in Lakeville. I had played this course a couple of times last year and remembered thinking they kept it in great shape.
It was a beautiful day out and the course was absolutely packed. The course has rather close tee times so it seems like common practice to have people stacked up to start.
The first hole is a 490 yard par 5. The hole has a slight dogleg right initially. At the corner a large pond prevents cutting off distance. The second shot must carry the water and set up for a shot to a rather small, elevated green. Not the easiest hole to warm up on.
One thing you will find if you play here is that though there are a fair number of hazards in play, they also do a great job of using the rough as a hazard. The second cut of rough is really thick grass and hitting your ball out of it cleanly is not easy.
The second hole is a downhill par 3 at 180 yards. The tee is elevated and you have a pretty good vista of the surrounding neighborhood from here. A large bunker protects the front of the green.
The third is a dogleg left par 4 at 397 yards. It is best to hit to the 150 stake and then play a mid iron in rather than try to be too long off the tee. This hole has OB on each side where houses are. At the dogleg several bunkers on either side are in play, as is one short-right of the green.
4 is another par 4 at 396 yards. Water is in play to the right where a beach bunker lines the hazard. Left is OK but too far left and you can run out of room. The green is bunkered to the right.
The 5th is similar to 4, a slight dogleg right par 4 at 329 yards with water on the right. Hitting the ball left is the better option but you will need to negotiate the bunkers short left of the green on your second.
Hole 6 is a slight dogleg left with water right off the tee and bunkers to the left of the fairway. hit over the bunkers and you'll have a short shot to a green bunkered on both sides.
Hole 7 is a straight ahead uphill par 4 at 334 yards. Hitting to the green is not the best approach and laying up to the left side of the fairway is probably the best play. S tay away from the right where trees will eat your ball.
Hole 8 is a straight forward par 3 at 127 yards. The green has some undulations so placement is key.
Hole 9 is a par 5 at 525 yards. The best play is to split the fairway bunkers on either side off the tee. If you can make it over the hill you will have 220 yards to a green slightly down hill. Water protects the green short and a large bunker complex prevents an easy miss left of the green. The green is reachable in two but it is risky.
Hole 10 is a straight ahead par 4 at 366 yards. Water is in play along the right side.
Hole 11 is a frightening tee shot. You must carry marsh to what looks like no fairway. The hole doglegs left and there is actually a fair amount of room to land. There is more room right then you might think too. The hole is 374 yards and there are bunkers at the dogleg on the left side. The green is relatively open, except for some bunkers right.
Hole 12 is a 168yard par 3 with bunkers protecting the green both sort left and right. You must also carry the tee as long grass will get any balls flubbed off the tee.
Hole 13 is a tough par 5 at 516 yards that requires three good straight shots to reach the green in regulation. The first landing area ends within reach of driver. From there you must hit a good long iron to the left side of the fairway to avoid trees right that can block your shot of the green on your third. Trees line both sides of this hole.
Hole 14 is a 145 yard par 3 with more bunkering on either side of the green.
Hole 15 is a dogleg left at 364 yards. The best play is a long iron out to the center or right of the fairway. From there play a good approach to the green.
Hole 16 is another par 4 at 380 yards. The best play is over the small tree on the left of the hole as the fairway turns left of the tee. Be aware that the fairway is split in two on this hole and a drainage ditch separates the two fairway areas. This is a reachable ditch off the tee and is trouble if your ball lands there.
Hole 17 is a dead straight 379 yard par 4. Just hit it straight and long. Tough to get in trouble off the tee here. Hitting long over the green can leave a tricky downhill shot back to the putting surface.
Hole 18 is another fairly straight par 4 at 374 yards. Bunkers are in play left and right off the tee. The green also has bunkers right. The parking lot can come into play if you hit left on your second shot. I remember once hitting into the parking lot as a wedding party was congregating out there. Luckily no one was hit and no cars were damaged but be aware of the danger there!
My memory of the course was correct. This course is in really nice conditions. it is fairly easy and short. You really don't ever need to hit driver here. From the tips it is only 6300 yards. From there it has a slope and rating of 70.8/132.
I played fairly well after the first hole and shot an 84 on my outing.
It was a beautiful day out and the course was absolutely packed. The course has rather close tee times so it seems like common practice to have people stacked up to start.
The first hole is a 490 yard par 5. The hole has a slight dogleg right initially. At the corner a large pond prevents cutting off distance. The second shot must carry the water and set up for a shot to a rather small, elevated green. Not the easiest hole to warm up on.
One thing you will find if you play here is that though there are a fair number of hazards in play, they also do a great job of using the rough as a hazard. The second cut of rough is really thick grass and hitting your ball out of it cleanly is not easy.
The second hole is a downhill par 3 at 180 yards. The tee is elevated and you have a pretty good vista of the surrounding neighborhood from here. A large bunker protects the front of the green.
The third is a dogleg left par 4 at 397 yards. It is best to hit to the 150 stake and then play a mid iron in rather than try to be too long off the tee. This hole has OB on each side where houses are. At the dogleg several bunkers on either side are in play, as is one short-right of the green.
4 is another par 4 at 396 yards. Water is in play to the right where a beach bunker lines the hazard. Left is OK but too far left and you can run out of room. The green is bunkered to the right.
The 5th is similar to 4, a slight dogleg right par 4 at 329 yards with water on the right. Hitting the ball left is the better option but you will need to negotiate the bunkers short left of the green on your second.
Hole 6 is a slight dogleg left with water right off the tee and bunkers to the left of the fairway. hit over the bunkers and you'll have a short shot to a green bunkered on both sides.
Hole 7 is a straight ahead uphill par 4 at 334 yards. Hitting to the green is not the best approach and laying up to the left side of the fairway is probably the best play. S tay away from the right where trees will eat your ball.
Hole 8 is a straight forward par 3 at 127 yards. The green has some undulations so placement is key.
Hole 9 is a par 5 at 525 yards. The best play is to split the fairway bunkers on either side off the tee. If you can make it over the hill you will have 220 yards to a green slightly down hill. Water protects the green short and a large bunker complex prevents an easy miss left of the green. The green is reachable in two but it is risky.
Hole 10 is a straight ahead par 4 at 366 yards. Water is in play along the right side.
Hole 11 is a frightening tee shot. You must carry marsh to what looks like no fairway. The hole doglegs left and there is actually a fair amount of room to land. There is more room right then you might think too. The hole is 374 yards and there are bunkers at the dogleg on the left side. The green is relatively open, except for some bunkers right.
Hole 12 is a 168yard par 3 with bunkers protecting the green both sort left and right. You must also carry the tee as long grass will get any balls flubbed off the tee.
Hole 13 is a tough par 5 at 516 yards that requires three good straight shots to reach the green in regulation. The first landing area ends within reach of driver. From there you must hit a good long iron to the left side of the fairway to avoid trees right that can block your shot of the green on your third. Trees line both sides of this hole.
Hole 14 is a 145 yard par 3 with more bunkering on either side of the green.
Hole 15 is a dogleg left at 364 yards. The best play is a long iron out to the center or right of the fairway. From there play a good approach to the green.
Hole 16 is another par 4 at 380 yards. The best play is over the small tree on the left of the hole as the fairway turns left of the tee. Be aware that the fairway is split in two on this hole and a drainage ditch separates the two fairway areas. This is a reachable ditch off the tee and is trouble if your ball lands there.
Hole 17 is a dead straight 379 yard par 4. Just hit it straight and long. Tough to get in trouble off the tee here. Hitting long over the green can leave a tricky downhill shot back to the putting surface.
Hole 18 is another fairly straight par 4 at 374 yards. Bunkers are in play left and right off the tee. The green also has bunkers right. The parking lot can come into play if you hit left on your second shot. I remember once hitting into the parking lot as a wedding party was congregating out there. Luckily no one was hit and no cars were damaged but be aware of the danger there!
My memory of the course was correct. This course is in really nice conditions. it is fairly easy and short. You really don't ever need to hit driver here. From the tips it is only 6300 yards. From there it has a slope and rating of 70.8/132.
I played fairly well after the first hole and shot an 84 on my outing.
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