Golf, the Universe, and Everything

"Closing time, you don't have to go home, but you can't.... stay.... here!"  The day started well, my team won our first flag football game of the season, too bad it was the last game of the season :).  But something to build on in the summer.  I then went to a friend's barbecue that started at 2:00 PM, I only intended to stay at most an hour and then walk onto the golf course at 3:30 PM.  However the food and the company was way too good for me to just walk away.  Suffice to say I started the round at 5:30 PM.  Plenty of time to finish as long as you have good eyesight and high visibility golf balls :). Date:  Sunday 6/22/2014 Location: Twin Lakes (The Lakes Course) Clifton, VA Score:  83 Excuses:  Walking the course after playing a flag football game and gorging myself at a barbecue (no regrets, just excuses, food was awesome!)    Course Conditions:  Good.  Greens were in amazingly good shape for a mu...

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 th...

This round was brought to you by fathers everywhere, especially mine (RIP).  It was also brought to you in small part by Martin Kaymer, who made the US Open very non-competitive with his thrashing of the field.  Another round with the ultra-long hitting head case known as Clint.  His children didn't take him out to play golf, so I took it upon myself as a good golf buddy to do take on that responsibility.  Good to get out and watch him crush a drive 50 yards past my best effort.  But still managing to beat him in the all important stat of balls not lost :). Date:  Sunday 6/15/2014 Location: Forest Greens , Triangle, VA Score:  85 Excuses:  Swing Change (Round #3), Slow Play...   Course Conditions:  Not bad.  Greens were in pretty good condition, but the greens on the course rolled WAY slower than the practice greens.  Fairways were hit or miss (no pun intended), the rough was extremely penal and the pin po...

It's tournament time again!  This time just North of the Mason-Dixon Line at The Links at Gettysburg.  If you've never played the course, it stunning.  However you do have to enjoy links style golf (as the name would indicate) to fully appreciate it.  Date:  Saturday 6/14/2014 Location: The Links at Gettysburg , Gettysburg, PA Score:  89 Excuses:  Swing Change, Failure to Plan Appropriately (Never played course before), did not practice enough..   Course Conditions:  Phenomenal but wet.  Greens were in excellent condition, but rolled slower than normal due to the rain (thank goodness).  Fairways were in excellent shape, but cart path only :(.  The rough was very penal but not as penal as the fescue, and of course, the water.  Sand had standing water but I didn't land in a bunker all day!            Th...

“Success depends almost entirely on how effectively you learn to manage the game's two ultimate adversaries: the course and yourself.” -Jack Nicklaus There's no shame in punting right?  Well maybe in Football.  In golf, technically the course is always on the defensive and you're on offense.  Maybe I've played too much football and am way too competitive to give up on par.  I feel like the course wins every time I get a bogey or worse.  Not to mention what your playing partners must think, especially if you're the only one laying up.  But I'll put it to you this way.  What will your playing partners think if you take a 9 on a Par 5 versus the worst you could have done if you laid up was a 6?  And that's my story of the day.  Date:  Monday 6/9/2014 Location: Redgate Golf Course , Rockville, MD Score:  91 Excuses:  Swing Change, no warm-up, way too aggressive, poor course management  Course Conditions:  Fair...

As most of you know, I am an incurable perfectionist.  Even though I've learned that golf is not a game of perfect, I just can't help myself.  But, then again I'm not so different from any other golfer.  Every golfer or athlete in general who wants to get better at his or her craft will tinker with his or her mechanics endlessly until they reach raise their performance.  Just remember Padraig Harringon.  In 2007-2008 he won three majors (2007 & 2008 Open Championship and 2008 PGA Championship), then late in 2008 he decided to change his swing.  Why?  He wanted to get better!!!  The same with Martin Kaymer.  He won the 2010 PGA Championship (more truthfully Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson lost it) and soared to #1 in the world, then decided to change his swing so he could win at Augusta.  Didn't work, but he did add the Players Championship and now a US Open to his trophy case...  "Achievement...

This round was brought to you by Booz Allen Hamilton.  More realistically by an ardent BAH employee and friend Alan who put in the winning bid in a silent auction (with a little help from yours truly).  Bottom line, awesome day of golf and dining at a very exclusive resort. Date:  Saturday 6/7/2014 Location: The Golf Club at Landsdowne (Robert Trent Jones Jr. Course), Leesburg, VA Score:  82 Excuses:  None  Course Conditions:  Outstanding!  Fairways, greens, and tee boxes were immaculate.   Everything I expected from a country club course and more.  Excellent experience.          The Good:  Two over par on the front          The Bad:  That I couldn't stay longer           The Ugly : Following up a solid birdie with a triple on a par five tailor made to reach in two (with two great shots th...