Played CeeBee's regular track. Smells like cows, cows grazing close by, it's pretty flat, a true cow pasture. But, frankly, it was in pretty good shape. Greens were in very good shape, albeit not as fast as I am sure they are in season. They were however, pretty quick, relatively speaking, which was a little surprising. Probably lost a stroke or two as a result.
Played with a guy from Myrtle Beach, who lived here in Walkersville for 35 years and played this track as a member for many years, so he was able to help me out. Not that there is much local knowledge necessary to play this track---it is pretty WYSIWYG---but I had lots of questions for him just the same. A third, somewhat older guy---a regular here---played with us on the front nine and gave me good advice on how to play the greens and where to be for best approach.
Got in trouble on the 5th by pulling my shot left and into trees. Had no real direct shot at the pin, with a huge tree in my way, so aimed in front of the green. Hit a good shot, but not being comfortable with the course distances here, went a little long and through the fairway up alongside the green, but behind another tree. Tried to hit a 60 degree wedge over the top of the tree and almost pulled it off. But, alas, caught one branch at the very top of the tree and it fell to the ground and rolled back to almost where I was, but with some overhanging branches now forcing a low shot (my 4th) to the green. Made the shot but caught just enough of a branch to stop it short of the green. Chipped on for 5th and two-putted for triple.
Otherwise, played the front okay.
On the back played pretty well. Greens got me a couple times and had a bad 3W off the tee at 14 which got hung up in branches left and fell short of the fairway. Had 205 in. Hit a decent 4W, but it ended up just right of green on hard dirt. Probably should have moved it to grass, since it was an out of season round, but elected to play it, confident I could get it close in spite of the lie. I didn't. Wasn't bad, but rolled through and well into the fringe. Misjudged the speed of the fringe on the putt and blew by the hole. Made the comebacker for a 5. But, it felt worse than 5.
Played the new Titleist 816H hybrid for the first time. Hit it twice. Both well.
Paid $15 for 18 including a cart. Fantastic deal. Course was in good shape for this early in the season. It was a beautiful day, over 70 degrees and sunny, so it was busy, but still played in under 4 hours, only waiting here or there for a minute or two at a time. Not unhappy at all, though it will take a few days before I can get the cow pasture smell out of my memory.
CeeBee says:Ah yes, the smell of farm fresh air. Won't be like that in another month and the greens will quicken. The fairways will be smooth and mowed. But you can't beat their prices for some decent golf. Hole 14 is really getting narrow off the tee.
3/9/16
CeeBee says: