Golf, the Universe, and Everything

Another round at Reston National.  Not the fastest of courses but has a soft spot in my heart after living 3 blocks away from here when I first moved to Northern Virginia.  I've always battled this course to finish in the 70's and finally achieved that milestone earlier this year.  This day, I did it one better. Date:  Sunday 7/13/2014 Location:  Reston National , Reston, VA Score:  77  Excuses:  None. Course Conditions:  Good.  Fairways were in good shape, greens rolled well but still tricked up slightly, rough was not penal.  Ideal scoring conditions.          The Good:  Solid birdie on #2, 9 greens in regulation, 61% of my scores at par or below.          The Bad:  30% on Par saves          The Ugly : Nothing really Good birdie on #2 had me at even par until a bogey on #5....

Tournament Time!  This week's Golfweek AM tour stop brings us to lovely Glen Rock, PA.  A mere 20 miles south of York to a well kept but slightly quirky Bon Air Country Club.  The course definitely favored the golfer who played the course before or talked to a few members before the round.  What side of the fairway mattered to your approach, and what side of the pin mattered to your putt.  And most importantly, the grain mattered.  That's right, if you were putting with the grain, it was at least 2 notches on the stimpmeter faster than if you were putting against the grain.  Date:  Saturday 7/12/2014 Location:  Bon Air Country Club , Glen Rock, PA Score:  83  Excuses:  A touch aggressive on some holes, not enough on others, one severe mental mistake.  Course Conditions:  Excellent, greens rolled very well, course was in beautiful shape.          The G...

After a solid July 4th weekend with mom and the rest of my family in lovely Roanoke, VA (where I didn't play a single round of golf).  I sneak out of Roanoke early Sunday morning for a 12:00PM tee time at Kiskiack.  Always a pleasurable round on a extremely well maintained course. Date:  Sunday 7/06/2014 Location:  Kiskiack Golf Course , Williamsburg, VA Score:  81 & 77  Excuses:  Didn't hit the range before I started the first round.  Otherwise, none. Course Conditions:  Ideal, gorgeous weather, nice rolling fairways, greens in spectacular shape.          The Good:  Two rounds for the price of one, friendly golfers always willing to let you play through if you're a single          The Bad:  That I couldn't stay for another round          The Ugly : The 3 hour drive home   ...

Round 2 of the 36 Hole day.  Saw an awesome deal on GolfNow for a 2PM tee time at Forest Greens for $39.  Almost a no-brainer.  So I invite Mean Gene out and we hit the links.  When we arrived, there were no carts at the staging area (red flag).  When we finally checked in, they were at least 45 minutes behind.  When we dug into it, there was a tournament in the morning and they discounted all of the tee times that followed.  But, it's golf, make the best of it. Date:  Sunday 6/29/2014 Location:  Forest Greens Golf Club , Triangle, VA Score:  82 Excuses:  Slow Play, delayed start, practice green way faster than any green on the course.    Course Conditions:  Not bad.  Greens rolled nice albeit much slower than the practice green (think I should know that by now as much as I've played this course), fairways were in pretty good shape, some of the tournament hacks left divots that should have bee...

Round 1 of a 36 hole day.  First Stop: Prince William.  Just like my earlier posts on Prince William, nice place to play, not very long, but the people are very nice. Date:  Sunday 6/29/2014 Location:  Prince William Golf Course, Nokesville, VA Score:  79 Excuses:  None really, seriously early to be playing in Nokesville, but got to hit a few balls on the range.    Course Conditions:  Not bad.  Greens rolled nice, fairways were in good shape, I only hit 5 of them so it really didn't matter...          The Good:  Two birdies          The Bad:  33% GIRs, not hitting a single par 3 in regulation (recurring theme).           The Ugly : Back to back doubles on a short par 3 and a short par 4  Two birdies, two doubles, and only 5 fairways hit.  Noteworthy:  All...

I seriously doubt that Nelly, in his semi-iconic (not really) song "Flap Your Wings" was referencing golf.  But scoring an eagle on a golf course does give reason to start dancing and break into song.  Date:  Saturday 6/28/2014 Location:  Old Hickory , Woodbridge, VA Score:  78 Excuses:  None    Course Conditions:  Awesome.  Greens rolled well, traps were raked, rough was slightly penal.            The Good:  The weather, 67% in par saves, 28 putts, oh yeah, and the EAGLE!          The Bad:  28% GIRs, not hitting a single par 3 in regulation.           The Ugly : Giving the eagle back to the course in the next two holes. I have 6 eagles in my golfing career. #1) 9/15/2010 - Redstone Arsenal Golf Course, Huntsville, AL - #14.  Par 5.  Drove the ball int...

The first of many training rounds leading up to the next GolfWeek AM Tour Major.  Psyched! Date:  Friday 6/27/2014 Location: Laurel Hill , Lorton, VA Score:  84 Excuses:  No range time before the round    Course Conditions:  Awesome.  Best municipal course in all of Virginia.            The Good:  The weather, 8/18 Greens in Regulation          The Bad:  1 for 8 in par saves, only 46% of fairways          The Ugly : Crushing a ball out of bounds on #9, and getting the bogey (should have been birdie) Hopefully I will have figured out by tournament time that I need to work on the following: Hole #5: Only go for it in two from pin position two. Hole #6: If I'm more than 210 yards out, lay up! Hole #9: Just get it on the fairway. Hole #17: If I'm more than 210 out, lay up! Hole #18: Keep it out o...

"Closing time, you don't have to go home, but you can't.... stay.... here!"  The day started well, my team won our first flag football game of the season, too bad it was the last game of the season :).  But something to build on in the summer.  I then went to a friend's barbecue that started at 2:00 PM, I only intended to stay at most an hour and then walk onto the golf course at 3:30 PM.  However the food and the company was way too good for me to just walk away.  Suffice to say I started the round at 5:30 PM.  Plenty of time to finish as long as you have good eyesight and high visibility golf balls :). Date:  Sunday 6/22/2014 Location: Twin Lakes (The Lakes Course) Clifton, VA Score:  83 Excuses:  Walking the course after playing a flag football game and gorging myself at a barbecue (no regrets, just excuses, food was awesome!)    Course Conditions:  Good.  Greens were in amazingly good shape for a mu...

This round was brought to you by Groupon.  Every once in a while a good deal on a good course lands in my inbox.  I'm always glad to return to Augustine, a good track that would be so much better if it were closer to where I live.  But then again, if it were closer, it would get tons more play and maintenance wouldn't be able to keep up with the inconsiderate hacks that patrol the courses and don't replace or fill divots, drive on cart path only holes, and don't repair ball marks.  Come to think of it, I hope it has a long and healthy life.  Date:  Saturday 6/21/2014 Location: Augustine Golf Club , Stafford, VA Score:  81 Excuses:  Played too aggressively on a few holes, badly timed rain, not enough practice time...    Course Conditions:  Acceptable.  Greens were in great condition, they rolled very well but slowed down by the occasional rain.  Fairways were in good shape.  Can't say th...

This round was brought to you by fathers everywhere, especially mine (RIP).  It was also brought to you in small part by Martin Kaymer, who made the US Open very non-competitive with his thrashing of the field.  Another round with the ultra-long hitting head case known as Clint.  His children didn't take him out to play golf, so I took it upon myself as a good golf buddy to do take on that responsibility.  Good to get out and watch him crush a drive 50 yards past my best effort.  But still managing to beat him in the all important stat of balls not lost :). Date:  Sunday 6/15/2014 Location: Forest Greens , Triangle, VA Score:  85 Excuses:  Swing Change (Round #3), Slow Play...   Course Conditions:  Not bad.  Greens were in pretty good condition, but the greens on the course rolled WAY slower than the practice greens.  Fairways were hit or miss (no pun intended), the rough was extremely penal and the pin po...

It's tournament time again!  This time just North of the Mason-Dixon Line at The Links at Gettysburg.  If you've never played the course, it stunning.  However you do have to enjoy links style golf (as the name would indicate) to fully appreciate it.  Date:  Saturday 6/14/2014 Location: The Links at Gettysburg , Gettysburg, PA Score:  89 Excuses:  Swing Change, Failure to Plan Appropriately (Never played course before), did not practice enough..   Course Conditions:  Phenomenal but wet.  Greens were in excellent condition, but rolled slower than normal due to the rain (thank goodness).  Fairways were in excellent shape, but cart path only :(.  The rough was very penal but not as penal as the fescue, and of course, the water.  Sand had standing water but I didn't land in a bunker all day!            Th...

“Success depends almost entirely on how effectively you learn to manage the game's two ultimate adversaries: the course and yourself.” -Jack Nicklaus There's no shame in punting right?  Well maybe in Football.  In golf, technically the course is always on the defensive and you're on offense.  Maybe I've played too much football and am way too competitive to give up on par.  I feel like the course wins every time I get a bogey or worse.  Not to mention what your playing partners must think, especially if you're the only one laying up.  But I'll put it to you this way.  What will your playing partners think if you take a 9 on a Par 5 versus the worst you could have done if you laid up was a 6?  And that's my story of the day.  Date:  Monday 6/9/2014 Location: Redgate Golf Course , Rockville, MD Score:  91 Excuses:  Swing Change, no warm-up, way too aggressive, poor course management  Course Conditions:  Fair...

As most of you know, I am an incurable perfectionist.  Even though I've learned that golf is not a game of perfect, I just can't help myself.  But, then again I'm not so different from any other golfer.  Every golfer or athlete in general who wants to get better at his or her craft will tinker with his or her mechanics endlessly until they reach raise their performance.  Just remember Padraig Harringon.  In 2007-2008 he won three majors (2007 & 2008 Open Championship and 2008 PGA Championship), then late in 2008 he decided to change his swing.  Why?  He wanted to get better!!!  The same with Martin Kaymer.  He won the 2010 PGA Championship (more truthfully Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson lost it) and soared to #1 in the world, then decided to change his swing so he could win at Augusta.  Didn't work, but he did add the Players Championship and now a US Open to his trophy case...  "Achievement...

This round was brought to you by Booz Allen Hamilton.  More realistically by an ardent BAH employee and friend Alan who put in the winning bid in a silent auction (with a little help from yours truly).  Bottom line, awesome day of golf and dining at a very exclusive resort. Date:  Saturday 6/7/2014 Location: The Golf Club at Landsdowne (Robert Trent Jones Jr. Course), Leesburg, VA Score:  82 Excuses:  None  Course Conditions:  Outstanding!  Fairways, greens, and tee boxes were immaculate.   Everything I expected from a country club course and more.  Excellent experience.          The Good:  Two over par on the front          The Bad:  That I couldn't stay longer           The Ugly : Following up a solid birdie with a triple on a par five tailor made to reach in two (with two great shots th...