Today’s round at Riverbend Golf Course in Kent, WA, was my first round out with my Wilson FG49 irons. It was also some of the best playing conditions I have had this season. Our 6:30 tee time had us out so early that there wasn’t time to warm up properly, but that didn’t stop me from breaking out the 1 iron on the first tee and giving it a run down the fairway. Little did I know what the rest of the round would have in store for me, but I was really anxious to find out.
Reaching the first tee cold, I pulled the 1 iron from my bag. I caught it a bit thin, but a 230 yard shot that landed right center of the fairway was a much better start than the last few rounds. A quick 54 degree wedge to the green and a three putt later, and I had dropped to 1 over after 1. The par 4 second got under way with a 1 iron down the left side that drifted into the rough. The ball ended up on a bit of a downhill-side hill lie. My 8 iron from the rough took about 3” of turf before it got to the ball and it ended up placing me down in the hole on the left of the fairway. A punch 3 iron for my third put me just right of the green. A chip on and two putts left me 3 over after 2. The par 5 third hole started out much better than the last few rounds. A shorter (230 yard) 1 iron found the fairway. A perfectly placed 8 iron left me 100 yards to the center of the green. Unfortunately I listed to the craziness in my head and went after a flag stick on the back of the green. I flew the green and the ball was lost behind it in some tall grass. I chipped on, and putted out for bogey.
Moving on to the 4th hole, I blasted a 315 yard drive, dead center in the fairway. A 54 degree wedge landed on the right front of the green and a two putt gave me a par. The par 3 5th killed me with a 3 putt bogey. I hit a gorgeous shot into the hole, right over the bunker to a tough pin placement. Unfortunately, the putt I had was a slick downhill one that ran a good 4 free past the hole. The combacker missed by about 2 inches and I was moving up further over par. The 6th hole actually yielded a par for me for the first time in a while. My driver drifted left into the trees, but a great 7 iron over the corner saved me. A 54 degree wedge to the back edge of the green and a 2 putt finished out the hole. I was now 5 over after 6.
The 7th played out well for me today. A great 1 iron down the middle and a smooth 54 degree wedge into the hole set me up for a 2 putt par. The par 3 8th happened to get me today though, My 7 iron landed pin high from 175, but it was off to the left of the green. A good chip left me a tricky downhill breaking putt that just missed the hole. I carded another bogey to take me to 6 over par before moving to the 9th. The 9th played out very well for me with a scorching 1 iron hitting the center of the fairway. That was followed by a gorgeous 54 degree approach shot that settled on the green about 10 feet away. I nailed the birdie putt to bring me back to 40 on the front.
We started off the backside on the par 4 10th. I pulled my 1 iron slightly left off the tee, which then caught the cart path and bounced left on to a side hill lie. I caught my 8 iron heavy and left myself about 50 yards to the pin. I managed to get the ball close, but missed the par save and settled for a bogey. The 11th went without much fanfare. 1 iron to the middle of the fairway and an approach shot that fell on the right front of the green. Two putts later, I was away with a par. Number 12 was definitely a bit more exciting though. My tee shot turned left a bit more than I wanted it to and found the water. I knocked my approach stiff and putted out for my par. It was a great save and left me 5 over after 12.
13 is still one of those pesky short holes that never seems to play to one of the clubs in my bag. Today was no different as they had the flag at 135, which would normally be a pitching wedge, but I was blasting everything about 5 yards longer today, so I had to improvise. I decided to play a fading pitching wedge in to see if i could cut that yardage off just a touch. I hit a perfect shot in and it finished just short right of the green. I didn’t start the ball far enough left due to the fact I didn’t want to pull it and get in trouble. Either way, the up and down for par was ok in my book. With memories of the last time I played 14 still stuck in my head, I pulled driver again and played my comfy draw off the tee. Just like last time, the ball sailed off the face on a great line, but the ball never moved left. Fortunately, I found the area right in front of the 12th tee box and had a decent line in to the hole from 230 out. My 3 iron found a landing spot just left of the green. A chip and a two putt had me finishing out the hole with a par. 15 wasn’t as kind. My 1 iron caught the trees to the right of the hole. I had to take enough club to clear them, which left me about 100 yards to the green. A 54 degree wedge parked me pretty close to the hole, but not close enough to save par. A 2 putt bogey had me moving on to 16.
16 was playing darn near 155, which was right in-between clubs once again. I decided with my extra distance, I would club down to a 9 iron off the tee. It was the right club, but I left it slightly open which left me right of the green. My first putt was close, but I left it a few inches short and ended up with a tap in bogey. 17 had to be the hole of the day. I blasted a 1 iron off the tee on a perfect flight path, landing about 270 yards in the middle of the fairway. A perfect 54 degree wedge landed me 6 feet from the pin, which netted me a birdie 3. After coming off that high, I decided to play 18 safe and hit the 1 iron again. This time, I wasn’t so lucky an any shape or form. I caught it very thin and rolled it out about 100 yards to the right, and it just kept rolling… right into the water. From there, a stunning 3 iron made up for quite a bit of the damage, but the length of the 18th was just too much to cover from so far back. a bogey 6 ended my round with a total of 7 over, 79.
So, just like that, my first season goal was destroyed in 7 rounds. From not having played since 2007 to today, I have gotten myself back in position to be a single digit handicapper. I know I left a few shots out there, but honestly, I’m not 100% sure that I could play much better than I did today without investing a serious amount of time and money into it. The FG49’s performed better than I could have dreamed, and maybe with a bit of fine tuning, I could get them a bit sharper, but I see somewhere in the neighborhood of 75 being my best play at this point. Which is where my next season goal is going to take me – 75 or bust!
No comments:
Post a Comment