Augustine Golf Club - And Just for a Moment, I Felt Like I Was on the PGA Tour
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 the same about the bunkers, they were packed pretty tight thanks to the rain. The rough was pretty penal but you could still spot your ball at 10 yards (vice Forest Greens where you had to be standing on it).
The Good: Three consecutive Birdies!! 10 out of 14 fairways
The Bad: Three 3-Jacks
The Ugly: After talking myself out of going for a par 5 in two, I shank my "smart golf shot."
I've been at this game for over 10 years, and I've achieved a lot of milestones (both good and bad). But this I must say felt awesome.
It started on hole #5. After an incredible drive, the fairway didn't do me any favors by putting me on a downward lie at the 100 yard marker. I put a little too much juice in the wedge and put the ball over the pin with a treacherous downhill putt. I wimp out and leave the downhill putt short giving me another downhill putt. I was a little less wimpy on the second but pushed it past the hole and made the comeback.
On the 6th hole (long par 3), I talked myself into hitting a great 6 iron instead of an average 5 iron. Suffice to say I mishit the ball and left myself way short of the green. The chip was pretty good and left myself inside 5 feet, sadly I push the putt and earn another bogey.
On the 7th hole I had a decision. I could lay up short of the trap on the left and leave myself a 150 yard shot to a well-defended green, or I could hit a great drive with a slight fade and leave myself 100 yards in but risk being blocked by the trees to the right or in the bunker on the left. I was 5 over at the moment and not having a great round, so I went for it. I hit a beautiful drive that nestled even with the trap at around 110 yards. The approach was uphill so I decide to take 50% of a 9 iron. I hit it a shade thin but magically it lands short and hits the hillside and nestles 5 feet from the cup. I make the putt. Birdie!
On the 8th hole (par 3, 130 yards) I take that same 9 iron and put it 7 feet from the cup. I sink the putt again! Birdie #2. I've only gotten two consecutive birdies a handful of times in my life so it felt great.
On the 9th hole (par 4, 380 yards) I take my 3-wood and blast a great shot 225 yards to the middle of the fairway. I then take an 8 iron and place it 8 feet just below the cup. I make the uphill putt. Birdie #3!
At this point I'm feeling awesome. My only regret was that it was hole 9 and the long drive to #10 might cool me off.
I hit this awesome tee shot on #10 (Par 4, 412 yards) and left myself 160 yards from the pin. I hit a very thin 7 iron into the bunker in front of the green. Magically I get up and down for a great sand save. Right now I'm 3 under in my last four holes.
Sadly the streak ended on the 11th hole (Par 5, 477 yards). I stare at the tee shot and notice the trees encroaching on the left and the water and more trees on the right at around the 200 yard marker, where I wanted to end up to try to go for the green in two. I was only hitting a fade that day and that shot required a draw. So after about a couple of minutes of deliberation, mainly talking myself off the ledge, I decide to lay up to the edge of the trees. Sadly, my "play it smart" shot ended up launching off the heel of my club and going 50 yards into the deep rough just below the forward tees. I ended up with a crowd pleasing 7 after refusing to give up on birdie. You think one day I'd learn!!! C'est La Vie!
I did make a nice bounce back on the 12th hole (414 yard par 4), which is a longer copy of the 9th hole. I hit a great drive to 160 yards, this time I crush my 7 iron to 7 feet below the cup, but this time I got caught up in the line of the putt and forgot about the speed and left it a few inches short.
Just when I got my mojo back, then it started to rain. I powered through the conditions but finished 6 over in the final 6 holes. It was a good griding effort but only netted one par. Overall it was a good round. Full of memorable moments and forgettable moments. But special because it had a positive milestone. This is definitely something I'll remember the next time I'm down on myself and earned a few too many extra strokes. I have greatness within and at any time, it can come out!
Until the next time: Back to the RANGE, PRACTICE GREEN, and the GYM!
Next Stop: Twin Lakes (The Lakes Course)
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 the same about the bunkers, they were packed pretty tight thanks to the rain. The rough was pretty penal but you could still spot your ball at 10 yards (vice Forest Greens where you had to be standing on it).
The Good: Three consecutive Birdies!! 10 out of 14 fairways
The Bad: Three 3-Jacks
The Ugly: After talking myself out of going for a par 5 in two, I shank my "smart golf shot."
I've been at this game for over 10 years, and I've achieved a lot of milestones (both good and bad). But this I must say felt awesome.
It started on hole #5. After an incredible drive, the fairway didn't do me any favors by putting me on a downward lie at the 100 yard marker. I put a little too much juice in the wedge and put the ball over the pin with a treacherous downhill putt. I wimp out and leave the downhill putt short giving me another downhill putt. I was a little less wimpy on the second but pushed it past the hole and made the comeback.
On the 6th hole (long par 3), I talked myself into hitting a great 6 iron instead of an average 5 iron. Suffice to say I mishit the ball and left myself way short of the green. The chip was pretty good and left myself inside 5 feet, sadly I push the putt and earn another bogey.
On the 7th hole I had a decision. I could lay up short of the trap on the left and leave myself a 150 yard shot to a well-defended green, or I could hit a great drive with a slight fade and leave myself 100 yards in but risk being blocked by the trees to the right or in the bunker on the left. I was 5 over at the moment and not having a great round, so I went for it. I hit a beautiful drive that nestled even with the trap at around 110 yards. The approach was uphill so I decide to take 50% of a 9 iron. I hit it a shade thin but magically it lands short and hits the hillside and nestles 5 feet from the cup. I make the putt. Birdie!
On the 8th hole (par 3, 130 yards) I take that same 9 iron and put it 7 feet from the cup. I sink the putt again! Birdie #2. I've only gotten two consecutive birdies a handful of times in my life so it felt great.
On the 9th hole (par 4, 380 yards) I take my 3-wood and blast a great shot 225 yards to the middle of the fairway. I then take an 8 iron and place it 8 feet just below the cup. I make the uphill putt. Birdie #3!
At this point I'm feeling awesome. My only regret was that it was hole 9 and the long drive to #10 might cool me off.
I hit this awesome tee shot on #10 (Par 4, 412 yards) and left myself 160 yards from the pin. I hit a very thin 7 iron into the bunker in front of the green. Magically I get up and down for a great sand save. Right now I'm 3 under in my last four holes.
Sadly the streak ended on the 11th hole (Par 5, 477 yards). I stare at the tee shot and notice the trees encroaching on the left and the water and more trees on the right at around the 200 yard marker, where I wanted to end up to try to go for the green in two. I was only hitting a fade that day and that shot required a draw. So after about a couple of minutes of deliberation, mainly talking myself off the ledge, I decide to lay up to the edge of the trees. Sadly, my "play it smart" shot ended up launching off the heel of my club and going 50 yards into the deep rough just below the forward tees. I ended up with a crowd pleasing 7 after refusing to give up on birdie. You think one day I'd learn!!! C'est La Vie!
I did make a nice bounce back on the 12th hole (414 yard par 4), which is a longer copy of the 9th hole. I hit a great drive to 160 yards, this time I crush my 7 iron to 7 feet below the cup, but this time I got caught up in the line of the putt and forgot about the speed and left it a few inches short.
Just when I got my mojo back, then it started to rain. I powered through the conditions but finished 6 over in the final 6 holes. It was a good griding effort but only netted one par. Overall it was a good round. Full of memorable moments and forgettable moments. But special because it had a positive milestone. This is definitely something I'll remember the next time I'm down on myself and earned a few too many extra strokes. I have greatness within and at any time, it can come out!
Until the next time: Back to the RANGE, PRACTICE GREEN, and the GYM!
Next Stop: Twin Lakes (The Lakes Course)
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