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...