1757 - The Number of Bodies of Water on the Course
I know I'm pretty absent minded at times, but this really isn't a complete faux pas on my part. I know my next round was supposed to be Westfields, however the staff at Westfields applied the screw job to the organizer of my Meetup group (NOVA Beginner & Intermediate Golfers).
Before I describe the details of the "screw job" let me give a quick blurb on the Meetup Group. If you've never heard of Meetup.com, I suggest you at least give it a quick lookup. If you're looking to get into anything and want anywhere between 5-100 people looking to do it with you, Meetup is your place. I've logged on and found flag football teammates, good restaurant locations, and most importantly, great golf buddies. This particular meetup group (linked above) meets just about every weekend at great golf courses, and because the organizers can get upwards of 24-40 golfers at a drop of a hat, they get great rates at local golf courses. Being a rabid golfer, playing great courses at minimum investment is always a plus. And even better, someone else does the work of making tee times..
But back to the screw job. One of our beloved organizers shows up early to Westfields to check in. The pro shop attendant informs the organizer that a mistake must have been made (of course not by Westfields) and that all the tee times were full. Even after talking (maybe some yelling, screaming, accusing, etc.) neither side would budge. Therefore in disgust, the event at Westfields was cancelled. This sucks on many levels:
1) The negotiated rate was $42. If you've never played Westfields, the full rack rate on weekends is $109... At twilight (2:00PM) it drops to $69. Our tee times (24 players in all) started at 2:04PM. So being able to play a course the quality of Westfields for $42 is a no brainer.
2) Included in the green and cart fees are range balls. As many as you care to hit. Also a great short game area.
My thought. A lot of golf courses are hurting for money. As a result, Westfields probably was able to fill most or all of our tee slots with golfers willing to pay the usual twilight rate. So using simple math, 24 golfers x $42 = $1008. At $69, all you would have to do to break even is find 14 golfers willing to pay that amount. I'm guessing they did. Will I boycott Westfields? Maybe. I will seriously consider other courses when I'm in the mood to pony up $70 for a round. But if another great deal comes along (golfnow) I'll make an exception. However, when I make a tee time there, I'm going to get the name of the attendant or if I do it online, I'll print out the receipt and have it ready...
But enough of the round that wasn't, let's go to the round that was. Our organizer then called around to a few other golf courses and landed those of us still jonesing to play a few tee times at 1757. Not my favorite course, but I'm always up for a round with some cool people, and an opportunity to sharpen the iron game.
Date: Saturday 4/26/2014
Location: 1757 Golf Club, Sterling, VA
Score: 80
Excuses: Slowest Threesome Ever!
Course Conditions: Very good. Greens rolled very well, fairways were nice and green, the water was very blue. And you can't miss the water, it's everywhere...
The Good: 300+ YARD DRIVE! 12 Greens in Regulation!
The Bad: Windy conditions
The Ugly: 37 putts, inconsistent pace of play
If you've never played 1757, your main takeaways are:
1) Best practice area in Northern Virginia. No contest, hands down. Huge driving range, including a grass range area. Huge putting green. Multiple chipping and pitching greens, and even a practice hole. If I lived near here, I'd be a scratch golfer in a year. I could literally spend 2+ hours every day chipping, pitching, and putting and wouldn't have to even hit the range.
2) Water, water everwhere. 15 out of the 18 holes have some form of water hazard.
3) Tight. If you spray your driver or any other wood, this probably isn't the course for you. Fairways are narrow, the rough is sparse, and of course, there's water everywhere... Hybrids and Irons are your friends..
Due to the debacle at Westfields, I had plenty of time to arrive at 1757 to practice before the 3:18PM tee time. Great time practicing.
My chief complaint about the round was the slow threesome in front of us. Techincally, we were on pace and finished the round in 4 hours and 17 minutes (had to switch to high-visibility yellow balls). However, there was no one in front of the threesome and we were waiting on every hole.
Memorable Moments:
1) Hole #5 is a decently long par 4. As much as you want to take out a driver, there is a huge body of water on the right, and to the left is out of bounds and a large sand trap at around the 150 yard marker. Basically you aim for the trap and hope you don't slice it enough to end up in the water, or don't accidently duck hook it out of bounds. I decide to be bold and take out a driver, even though the wind was behind me a touch. I hit what I thought was a pretty average drive. I aimed at the trap and played a high fade. That high fade bounced in the right location and rolled about 50-75 yards. I ended up 70 yards from the hole. I waited around 10 minutes for the group behind us to get to the tee box so I could measure it. 305 yards!!! (don't ask what I finally got on the hole).
2) Hole #9 is a short par 5 that has large traps on the left and water on the right. An accurate driver or 3 Wood in the middle of the fairway can set you up to go for it in 2. I crush a driver straight down the pike and end up 140 yards from the green... Yes it was ballsy but the payoff was great. I slightly pulled a 9 Iron but still ended up on the green to set up a 25 foot eagle putt. Sadly I left it short but did make the birdie putt.
3) Hole #18. Closing Par 3 entirely over water. I hit my 9 iron extremely thin and just expected it to go in the water or in the trap right behind the green. Amazingly I hit the bank near the top of the retaining wall, the ball pops up, and lands perfectly 15 feet from the pin. I lip out the birdie putt but close with a solid par.
Overall, can't complain about how I played, but still need to work on the putting. Great weather, great conditions, and great company. Good times.
BACK TO THE RANGE, THE GYM, AND THE PRACTICE GREEN!!
Next Stop: Raspberry Falls
Before I describe the details of the "screw job" let me give a quick blurb on the Meetup Group. If you've never heard of Meetup.com, I suggest you at least give it a quick lookup. If you're looking to get into anything and want anywhere between 5-100 people looking to do it with you, Meetup is your place. I've logged on and found flag football teammates, good restaurant locations, and most importantly, great golf buddies. This particular meetup group (linked above) meets just about every weekend at great golf courses, and because the organizers can get upwards of 24-40 golfers at a drop of a hat, they get great rates at local golf courses. Being a rabid golfer, playing great courses at minimum investment is always a plus. And even better, someone else does the work of making tee times..
But back to the screw job. One of our beloved organizers shows up early to Westfields to check in. The pro shop attendant informs the organizer that a mistake must have been made (of course not by Westfields) and that all the tee times were full. Even after talking (maybe some yelling, screaming, accusing, etc.) neither side would budge. Therefore in disgust, the event at Westfields was cancelled. This sucks on many levels:
1) The negotiated rate was $42. If you've never played Westfields, the full rack rate on weekends is $109... At twilight (2:00PM) it drops to $69. Our tee times (24 players in all) started at 2:04PM. So being able to play a course the quality of Westfields for $42 is a no brainer.
2) Included in the green and cart fees are range balls. As many as you care to hit. Also a great short game area.
My thought. A lot of golf courses are hurting for money. As a result, Westfields probably was able to fill most or all of our tee slots with golfers willing to pay the usual twilight rate. So using simple math, 24 golfers x $42 = $1008. At $69, all you would have to do to break even is find 14 golfers willing to pay that amount. I'm guessing they did. Will I boycott Westfields? Maybe. I will seriously consider other courses when I'm in the mood to pony up $70 for a round. But if another great deal comes along (golfnow) I'll make an exception. However, when I make a tee time there, I'm going to get the name of the attendant or if I do it online, I'll print out the receipt and have it ready...
But enough of the round that wasn't, let's go to the round that was. Our organizer then called around to a few other golf courses and landed those of us still jonesing to play a few tee times at 1757. Not my favorite course, but I'm always up for a round with some cool people, and an opportunity to sharpen the iron game.
Date: Saturday 4/26/2014
Location: 1757 Golf Club, Sterling, VA
Score: 80
Excuses: Slowest Threesome Ever!
Course Conditions: Very good. Greens rolled very well, fairways were nice and green, the water was very blue. And you can't miss the water, it's everywhere...
The Good: 300+ YARD DRIVE! 12 Greens in Regulation!
The Bad: Windy conditions
The Ugly: 37 putts, inconsistent pace of play
If you've never played 1757, your main takeaways are:
1) Best practice area in Northern Virginia. No contest, hands down. Huge driving range, including a grass range area. Huge putting green. Multiple chipping and pitching greens, and even a practice hole. If I lived near here, I'd be a scratch golfer in a year. I could literally spend 2+ hours every day chipping, pitching, and putting and wouldn't have to even hit the range.
2) Water, water everwhere. 15 out of the 18 holes have some form of water hazard.
3) Tight. If you spray your driver or any other wood, this probably isn't the course for you. Fairways are narrow, the rough is sparse, and of course, there's water everywhere... Hybrids and Irons are your friends..
Due to the debacle at Westfields, I had plenty of time to arrive at 1757 to practice before the 3:18PM tee time. Great time practicing.
My chief complaint about the round was the slow threesome in front of us. Techincally, we were on pace and finished the round in 4 hours and 17 minutes (had to switch to high-visibility yellow balls). However, there was no one in front of the threesome and we were waiting on every hole.
Memorable Moments:
1) Hole #5 is a decently long par 4. As much as you want to take out a driver, there is a huge body of water on the right, and to the left is out of bounds and a large sand trap at around the 150 yard marker. Basically you aim for the trap and hope you don't slice it enough to end up in the water, or don't accidently duck hook it out of bounds. I decide to be bold and take out a driver, even though the wind was behind me a touch. I hit what I thought was a pretty average drive. I aimed at the trap and played a high fade. That high fade bounced in the right location and rolled about 50-75 yards. I ended up 70 yards from the hole. I waited around 10 minutes for the group behind us to get to the tee box so I could measure it. 305 yards!!! (don't ask what I finally got on the hole).
2) Hole #9 is a short par 5 that has large traps on the left and water on the right. An accurate driver or 3 Wood in the middle of the fairway can set you up to go for it in 2. I crush a driver straight down the pike and end up 140 yards from the green... Yes it was ballsy but the payoff was great. I slightly pulled a 9 Iron but still ended up on the green to set up a 25 foot eagle putt. Sadly I left it short but did make the birdie putt.
3) Hole #18. Closing Par 3 entirely over water. I hit my 9 iron extremely thin and just expected it to go in the water or in the trap right behind the green. Amazingly I hit the bank near the top of the retaining wall, the ball pops up, and lands perfectly 15 feet from the pin. I lip out the birdie putt but close with a solid par.
Overall, can't complain about how I played, but still need to work on the putting. Great weather, great conditions, and great company. Good times.
BACK TO THE RANGE, THE GYM, AND THE PRACTICE GREEN!!
Next Stop: Raspberry Falls
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