Lake Ridge - Or "I try Knockdown, but I can't get up and down again!"
Saturday 6 April 2019: I managed to squeeze a 45 minute, 9 hole round while running errands.
Lake Ridge Golf Course is a 9 hole pitch and putt course nestled in Lake Ridge Park near the marina. Despite the proximity to water, there is none on the course. But unfortunately for me, there were plenty of bunkers... Including this beauty with its own water hazard!
Included in that 45 minutes was a spirited 10 minute warm-up on the "range." Or more adequately, the large hitting net. Which for a course this size, does the job.
Overall I really like the course, it's a nice walk through nature, the greens are well kept, and the holes range from a mere 50 yards to a whopping 173 yards.
Sadly my play was not up to par, it was up to 7 over par!
The good: One birdie. Also a beautiful morning.
The bad: Two bunkers, 0-2 in sand saves
The ugly: Yanking (not just pulling) a pitching wedge out of bounds
Hole 1: 115 yards. Played to about 110. Pulled out my 50 degree wedge, didn't get a great hit but ended up on the fringe to the left. Putted from the fringe to 3 feet. Result: Par (Running Total: 0)
Hole 2: 87 yards. Played to the number. Hit my 54 degree wedge and pulled it way left but still on the green but a long 30 foot tricky putt that had to go through the fringe and down an incline to get near the hole. Hit the lag putt barely enough to get through the fringe and left myself a testy 12 footer. Did not convert. Result: Bogey (+1)
Hole 3: 102 yards. Played roughly 105. Decided to try a knockdown shot with my pitching wedge. It would have worked if I hadn't pulled it slightly. Got over one bunker but got buried in the other bunker. Might have made a good save if there was some good sand in the bunker. Could not get any spin from the dirt in the bunker and left myself a 20 footer. Did not convert. Result: Bogey (+2)
Hole 4: 173 yards. Played 180. Pin tucked nicely in the back. Pulled out my 6-iron but did not remind myself that I should let the club do the work and not hit it as hard as I can with the misguided assumption that the club needed extra umph to get the required yardage. I clip the top of the ball and send it flying about 100 yards into the deep rough just short of a hazard. Due to the hazard and ground under repair, I couldn't get a good stance and ended up advancing the ball just over the hazard. I then attempt to feather a good flop shot near the back of the green but ended up putting it on the front. I did make a heck of a 30 foot lag putt in order to save: Double Bogey (+4)
Hole 5: 61 yards. Shortest hole on the course. Didn't bother measuring the distance, just eyeballed it and pulled out my 58 degree wedge. Put it 7 feet from the cup, made the putt. Birdie!! (+3)
Hole 6: 113 yards. Played roughly 105. Pulled out my Pitching Wedge and tried to play a knockdown, but didn't get enough on it to put it pin high, but just enough to get it on the green and get a decent 20 foot look at birdie. Alas missed it a few inches left but good effort. Par (+3)
Hole 7: 172 yards. Played 176, but all downhill. I take the knockdown approach with my 5 hybrid but should have taken a better cut at it. Landed to the left of the green on the fringe. Misread the putt in both speed and line and left myself a 10 footer which I did not convert. The bright side, it wasn't a 3 putt... Result: Bogey (+4)
Hole 8: 136 yards. Played 130. Keeping with the knockdown theme I decide to pull out my 8 iron. Sadly I hit it really thin and it sails into the back right bunker. Good news, I got out of the bunker. Bad news, the ball didn't hold the green. However, the short game kicked back in and I got up and down for the: Bogey (+5)
Hole 9: 115 yards. Played 110. Last knockdown shot of the day was a doozy. Took an extra couple of practice swings to make sure I wouldn't hit the ball thin. Good news, I didn't hit it thin. Bad news, I catch it flush and send it WAY WAY left. Ended up taking the drop but could not get up and down. Sad result: Double Bogey (+7)
Need to really figure out how I keep pulling my short irons so far left. Don't know if it's the clubface at address, my angle of attack, my stance, or my downswing. The good news, I have video!!! Now I just have to get some time to attack the video like I used to in high school football. But, in the meantime, continue to improve the short game. Until then peoples, the journey continues!
Next Stop: Prince William Golf Club
Lake Ridge Golf Course is a 9 hole pitch and putt course nestled in Lake Ridge Park near the marina. Despite the proximity to water, there is none on the course. But unfortunately for me, there were plenty of bunkers... Including this beauty with its own water hazard!
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| You can see the top of my Driver Head Cover. Go Hokies! |
Overall I really like the course, it's a nice walk through nature, the greens are well kept, and the holes range from a mere 50 yards to a whopping 173 yards.
Sadly my play was not up to par, it was up to 7 over par!
The good: One birdie. Also a beautiful morning.
The bad: Two bunkers, 0-2 in sand saves
The ugly: Yanking (not just pulling) a pitching wedge out of bounds
Hole 1: 115 yards. Played to about 110. Pulled out my 50 degree wedge, didn't get a great hit but ended up on the fringe to the left. Putted from the fringe to 3 feet. Result: Par (Running Total: 0)
Hole 2: 87 yards. Played to the number. Hit my 54 degree wedge and pulled it way left but still on the green but a long 30 foot tricky putt that had to go through the fringe and down an incline to get near the hole. Hit the lag putt barely enough to get through the fringe and left myself a testy 12 footer. Did not convert. Result: Bogey (+1)
Hole 3: 102 yards. Played roughly 105. Decided to try a knockdown shot with my pitching wedge. It would have worked if I hadn't pulled it slightly. Got over one bunker but got buried in the other bunker. Might have made a good save if there was some good sand in the bunker. Could not get any spin from the dirt in the bunker and left myself a 20 footer. Did not convert. Result: Bogey (+2)
Hole 4: 173 yards. Played 180. Pin tucked nicely in the back. Pulled out my 6-iron but did not remind myself that I should let the club do the work and not hit it as hard as I can with the misguided assumption that the club needed extra umph to get the required yardage. I clip the top of the ball and send it flying about 100 yards into the deep rough just short of a hazard. Due to the hazard and ground under repair, I couldn't get a good stance and ended up advancing the ball just over the hazard. I then attempt to feather a good flop shot near the back of the green but ended up putting it on the front. I did make a heck of a 30 foot lag putt in order to save: Double Bogey (+4)
Hole 5: 61 yards. Shortest hole on the course. Didn't bother measuring the distance, just eyeballed it and pulled out my 58 degree wedge. Put it 7 feet from the cup, made the putt. Birdie!! (+3)
Hole 6: 113 yards. Played roughly 105. Pulled out my Pitching Wedge and tried to play a knockdown, but didn't get enough on it to put it pin high, but just enough to get it on the green and get a decent 20 foot look at birdie. Alas missed it a few inches left but good effort. Par (+3)
Hole 7: 172 yards. Played 176, but all downhill. I take the knockdown approach with my 5 hybrid but should have taken a better cut at it. Landed to the left of the green on the fringe. Misread the putt in both speed and line and left myself a 10 footer which I did not convert. The bright side, it wasn't a 3 putt... Result: Bogey (+4)
Hole 8: 136 yards. Played 130. Keeping with the knockdown theme I decide to pull out my 8 iron. Sadly I hit it really thin and it sails into the back right bunker. Good news, I got out of the bunker. Bad news, the ball didn't hold the green. However, the short game kicked back in and I got up and down for the: Bogey (+5)
Hole 9: 115 yards. Played 110. Last knockdown shot of the day was a doozy. Took an extra couple of practice swings to make sure I wouldn't hit the ball thin. Good news, I didn't hit it thin. Bad news, I catch it flush and send it WAY WAY left. Ended up taking the drop but could not get up and down. Sad result: Double Bogey (+7)
Need to really figure out how I keep pulling my short irons so far left. Don't know if it's the clubface at address, my angle of attack, my stance, or my downswing. The good news, I have video!!! Now I just have to get some time to attack the video like I used to in high school football. But, in the meantime, continue to improve the short game. Until then peoples, the journey continues!
Next Stop: Prince William Golf Club
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