Prince William - Where I Left All of my Good Shots on the Range and Other News
4/15/2019 - Quite a lot has happened since my last post, I won three and a half flag football games (half being a scrimmage), Tiger Woods won his fifth Masters!!! And lastly, Game of Thrones started its eighth and final season.
This post is a bit late but wanted to get it out there for pure learning purposes:
Course: Prince William
Date: 4/8/2019
The Good: Great weather, great people that work there, awesome pre-round range session
The Bad: The 50 I put on the front nine followed by the 45 I put on the back nine without losing a ball
The Ugly: An abysmal one for nine (11%) in par saves
Driving Range: In a departure from standard Harry Sherman procedure, I actually made it to the course an entire 45 minutes early. Possibly hoping I would get on to the course early but evidently everyone else had the same idea and decided to come out. But no problem, I had plenty of time to hit the range and the practice green!
Ever had that driving range session where you're making great contact with the ball and getting great distance and repeatability?? That was me. I incorporated the 9 to 3 drill and concentrated on getting my weight off my back foot and on to my front foot. I was striking the ball better than I have in a long time!! I was pumped to get on the course and show it a thing or two... And then the White Raven shows up and reminded me my game is still in winter mode...
#1 - Hit a great drive to the right rough less than 80 yards from the center of the green. Hit a great 54 degree wedge to about 20 feet. Rocketed my first putt past the hole and didn't make the comeback.
#2 - While I would love to blame it on the wind, I only manage to hit my drive roughly 180 yards to the center of the fairway. Sadly the hole was playing a mean 420 yards which left me (insert math here) a whopping 240 yards to the hole. Smart golf told me to lay up to a comfortable wedge range and get up and down. Sadly I snap hook the hybrid and end up under a tree. The lie forced me to hit a low runner that ran a little too far and went over the green, forcing me to hit a blind chip back onto the green. Sadly that one didn't hold the green either... Finally I hit a shot that landed on the green. Two putts later I'm in with the 7... Lesson: You can be too aggressive with a layup...
#3 - Not a long hole but I respond with a short hit. I tried to keep the ball away from the right side so I could get a good look at the green and kept it left but didn't get it far enough to bounce it into the fairway. Couldn't get enough of my 5 Hybrid onto the ball and landed short of the green. Luckily the hazard was partially drained and I found my ball. Sadly couldn't get up and down and ended up with the 6. Lesson: It was only a 10% shot at the green from that lie and distance. Should have layed up and escaped with bogey.
#4 - Not my best effort with my 6-iron but actually missed the green right instead of short. Tried to feather the chip onto the back of the green to have the ball roll down the steep incline towards the ball. Sadly too much finesse and not enough power so I end up having to chip the ball again. Two putts later, in with the 5... Lesson: Too early in the season for finesse! Get the ball on the green and putt your way out!
#5 - Hit an incredible drive to inside 150 which is saying something due to there being water on both sides of the fairway. Sadly didn't get enough on the 8 iron on the uphill approach. Managed to put a decent chip on the ball but not close enough to one putt. Escaped with Bogey. Lesson: Elevation!!
#6 - Hit a 9-Iron on the screws, unfortunately reminiscent of the PW I put on #9 at Lake Ridge, I hit it way left. Magically I found the ball but shortsided myself. Again tried more finesse than I was currently capable of and ended up taking two chips to get to the other side of the green, but not quite on the green. Putted from the fringe to three feet, didn't sink the putt. The lesson: Don't miss where you can't miss!
#7 - Absolutely murdered the drive. Unfortunately I pulled the drive so far left that I ended up on the wrong fairway. Magically I was inside 180 yards with a decent look at the fairway. Sadly the tree I was aiming away from jumped in front of my shot and my ball only managed to make it 30 yards. Undaunted, I pull out my 7 iron and try to make up the distance. Sadly a bit of embarrassment and frustration coupled with four extra set of eyes on the teebox of the hole I was interrupting crept into my swing and I advance the ball another 30 yards. The walk of shame continued until I put a good wedge onto the ball and deposit it 15 feet from the cup. Two putts later the hole was over.
#8 - Shortest par 4 on the course. And after stinking it up for the past seven holes, I attempted to gird the loins and go for glory. Sadly I swung for the fences when I really didn't have to and end up with a savage mishit that only goes 120 yards and ends up in the left rough. Magically I still had a shot at the green, sadly I pull the shot too far left (sound familiar?). I actually pulled off a decent finesse shot to get the ball over a trap and to stay on the green. Sadly a one putt wasn't in the cards.
#9 - Long, downhill, but not a driver hole due to the cruelly placed creek at the bottom of the hill. I smartly take out my three wood, sadly I shank the three wood onto the front of the fairway. My next shot was a decent rescue shot to 89 yards. I then crush a wedge over the green. And true to form, I get up but down in two.
#10 - With a hot dog and a soda to down my front nine sorrows, I open with another mishit, hitting the heel of my driver and sending the ball around 70 yards down the left side of the fairway, nearly nestling under a tree. I hit a decent recovery shot to the right rough about 150 yards away. I put a meaty 6 iron onto it but it wasn't enough to get to the green. Then magically, I get a great chip to nestle within 2 feet of the cup and made the cup. Bogey!!
#11 - Long Par 3. Put a good but not great 4 hybrid onto the ball and landed just short of the green. Subpar chip resulted in a heroic putt that did not find the mark. Tapped in for bogey.
#12 - Hit an angry and awesome drive where I needed it the most. On a very long par 5. Ended up on the fairway around 300 yards to the hole. Decided to put the 3 wood to use and try to get at least 200+ yards down the fairway. Sadly I should have just opted for 150 yards and a more sure club as I manage to smother it and send it 100 yards down the left side of the fairway. I put a meaty six iron onto the resulting mishit and end up at 110 yards from the pin. I yank the pitching wedge WAY LEFT of the green. So far left I'm close to the tee box of the next hole. The resulting pitch didn't quite make the green but the chip wasn't bad, but not good enough to produce a one putt. Double...
#13 - Hit another awesome drive. The green light was on to go for it in two. Didn't get 100% of the shot but ended up just short of the greenside bunker. Sadly bladed the chip across the green and the cart path. I did manage to hit the second chip back onto the green but gave myself a 30 footer for par. Gave it a good effort but no avail. Bogey.
#14 - Did not hit a good 5 Hybrid and ended up short of the green. Put a decent chip on it but it settles 10 feet above the hole. Did not give the putt enough despite it being downhill and ended up with a Bogey.
#15 - Put a good but not excellent hit on the ball with my driver. Tried way too hard with my 6-iron and sustained another mishit. I then put a good wedge to about 15 feet. Did not make the putt.
#16 - Pushed my drive a little to far right for the approach to this hole. Tried to work a six iron left to right in order to make the green, but it stayed left and bounced off the cart path and settles on the right level behind the green. Due to the treacherous nature of this green I puckered on the chip and left it in the rough near the pin. I putted from the rough and got it close but no cigar. But not a horrible bogey considering the challenge.
#17 - Great drive to the left rough. Terrible 8 iron to the rough just to the left of the green. A miracle chip to one foot. PAR!!! Note, my only par of the day...
#18 - Good drive to get it across the water hazard (penalty area, whatever), not enough with the 5 hybrid to get it to the green. Decent pitch to get it past the pin, but didn't make the comeback. Bogey...
Ultimate lesson learned: The short game needs to improve. Also the ability to bring the range game to the course would be nice. But undaunted, I lick the wounds, learn from the mistakes, drill, practice, and play on!
Next Stop - MARATHON RANGE SESSION / LESSON!
This post is a bit late but wanted to get it out there for pure learning purposes:
Course: Prince William
Date: 4/8/2019
 |
| #1 - My only GIR of the Day |
The Bad: The 50 I put on the front nine followed by the 45 I put on the back nine without losing a ball
The Ugly: An abysmal one for nine (11%) in par saves
Driving Range: In a departure from standard Harry Sherman procedure, I actually made it to the course an entire 45 minutes early. Possibly hoping I would get on to the course early but evidently everyone else had the same idea and decided to come out. But no problem, I had plenty of time to hit the range and the practice green!
 |
| The Damage |
#1 - Hit a great drive to the right rough less than 80 yards from the center of the green. Hit a great 54 degree wedge to about 20 feet. Rocketed my first putt past the hole and didn't make the comeback.
#2 - While I would love to blame it on the wind, I only manage to hit my drive roughly 180 yards to the center of the fairway. Sadly the hole was playing a mean 420 yards which left me (insert math here) a whopping 240 yards to the hole. Smart golf told me to lay up to a comfortable wedge range and get up and down. Sadly I snap hook the hybrid and end up under a tree. The lie forced me to hit a low runner that ran a little too far and went over the green, forcing me to hit a blind chip back onto the green. Sadly that one didn't hold the green either... Finally I hit a shot that landed on the green. Two putts later I'm in with the 7... Lesson: You can be too aggressive with a layup...
#3 - Not a long hole but I respond with a short hit. I tried to keep the ball away from the right side so I could get a good look at the green and kept it left but didn't get it far enough to bounce it into the fairway. Couldn't get enough of my 5 Hybrid onto the ball and landed short of the green. Luckily the hazard was partially drained and I found my ball. Sadly couldn't get up and down and ended up with the 6. Lesson: It was only a 10% shot at the green from that lie and distance. Should have layed up and escaped with bogey.
#4 - Not my best effort with my 6-iron but actually missed the green right instead of short. Tried to feather the chip onto the back of the green to have the ball roll down the steep incline towards the ball. Sadly too much finesse and not enough power so I end up having to chip the ball again. Two putts later, in with the 5... Lesson: Too early in the season for finesse! Get the ball on the green and putt your way out!
#5 - Hit an incredible drive to inside 150 which is saying something due to there being water on both sides of the fairway. Sadly didn't get enough on the 8 iron on the uphill approach. Managed to put a decent chip on the ball but not close enough to one putt. Escaped with Bogey. Lesson: Elevation!!
#6 - Hit a 9-Iron on the screws, unfortunately reminiscent of the PW I put on #9 at Lake Ridge, I hit it way left. Magically I found the ball but shortsided myself. Again tried more finesse than I was currently capable of and ended up taking two chips to get to the other side of the green, but not quite on the green. Putted from the fringe to three feet, didn't sink the putt. The lesson: Don't miss where you can't miss!
#7 - Absolutely murdered the drive. Unfortunately I pulled the drive so far left that I ended up on the wrong fairway. Magically I was inside 180 yards with a decent look at the fairway. Sadly the tree I was aiming away from jumped in front of my shot and my ball only managed to make it 30 yards. Undaunted, I pull out my 7 iron and try to make up the distance. Sadly a bit of embarrassment and frustration coupled with four extra set of eyes on the teebox of the hole I was interrupting crept into my swing and I advance the ball another 30 yards. The walk of shame continued until I put a good wedge onto the ball and deposit it 15 feet from the cup. Two putts later the hole was over.
#8 - Shortest par 4 on the course. And after stinking it up for the past seven holes, I attempted to gird the loins and go for glory. Sadly I swung for the fences when I really didn't have to and end up with a savage mishit that only goes 120 yards and ends up in the left rough. Magically I still had a shot at the green, sadly I pull the shot too far left (sound familiar?). I actually pulled off a decent finesse shot to get the ball over a trap and to stay on the green. Sadly a one putt wasn't in the cards.
#9 - Long, downhill, but not a driver hole due to the cruelly placed creek at the bottom of the hill. I smartly take out my three wood, sadly I shank the three wood onto the front of the fairway. My next shot was a decent rescue shot to 89 yards. I then crush a wedge over the green. And true to form, I get up but down in two.
#10 - With a hot dog and a soda to down my front nine sorrows, I open with another mishit, hitting the heel of my driver and sending the ball around 70 yards down the left side of the fairway, nearly nestling under a tree. I hit a decent recovery shot to the right rough about 150 yards away. I put a meaty 6 iron onto it but it wasn't enough to get to the green. Then magically, I get a great chip to nestle within 2 feet of the cup and made the cup. Bogey!!
#11 - Long Par 3. Put a good but not great 4 hybrid onto the ball and landed just short of the green. Subpar chip resulted in a heroic putt that did not find the mark. Tapped in for bogey.
#12 - Hit an angry and awesome drive where I needed it the most. On a very long par 5. Ended up on the fairway around 300 yards to the hole. Decided to put the 3 wood to use and try to get at least 200+ yards down the fairway. Sadly I should have just opted for 150 yards and a more sure club as I manage to smother it and send it 100 yards down the left side of the fairway. I put a meaty six iron onto the resulting mishit and end up at 110 yards from the pin. I yank the pitching wedge WAY LEFT of the green. So far left I'm close to the tee box of the next hole. The resulting pitch didn't quite make the green but the chip wasn't bad, but not good enough to produce a one putt. Double...
#13 - Hit another awesome drive. The green light was on to go for it in two. Didn't get 100% of the shot but ended up just short of the greenside bunker. Sadly bladed the chip across the green and the cart path. I did manage to hit the second chip back onto the green but gave myself a 30 footer for par. Gave it a good effort but no avail. Bogey.
#14 - Did not hit a good 5 Hybrid and ended up short of the green. Put a decent chip on it but it settles 10 feet above the hole. Did not give the putt enough despite it being downhill and ended up with a Bogey.
#15 - Put a good but not excellent hit on the ball with my driver. Tried way too hard with my 6-iron and sustained another mishit. I then put a good wedge to about 15 feet. Did not make the putt.
#16 - Pushed my drive a little to far right for the approach to this hole. Tried to work a six iron left to right in order to make the green, but it stayed left and bounced off the cart path and settles on the right level behind the green. Due to the treacherous nature of this green I puckered on the chip and left it in the rough near the pin. I putted from the rough and got it close but no cigar. But not a horrible bogey considering the challenge.
#17 - Great drive to the left rough. Terrible 8 iron to the rough just to the left of the green. A miracle chip to one foot. PAR!!! Note, my only par of the day...
#18 - Good drive to get it across the water hazard (penalty area, whatever), not enough with the 5 hybrid to get it to the green. Decent pitch to get it past the pin, but didn't make the comeback. Bogey...
Ultimate lesson learned: The short game needs to improve. Also the ability to bring the range game to the course would be nice. But undaunted, I lick the wounds, learn from the mistakes, drill, practice, and play on!
Next Stop - MARATHON RANGE SESSION / LESSON!
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