40 degrees, partly cloudy, wind 5-15 mph. Winter storm begins tonight. Had to get one more round in before the course closes. When I left today, I said to everyone, "Have a great winter! See you in the spring....next week."
Played very well today. Continued to drive the ball excellent. Irons were good. Short game too. Even putted well on the very sandy, freshly aerated greens. Birdie on 4th was from 15'.
Two realistic shots at bird on both 1st and 2nd, got me off to a good start even though neither dropped.
Nice downhill chip on 5th, from just off the fringe left of the green, to 2 feet and a par save. Considered putting through the foot of dormant rough, but felt I could control the speed downhill better with my 58*. It was the right choice.
Disappointing chip on 9th from a few yards short of the green. Thinned it a bit and sent it 20 feet past the pin, leaving me a very tough downhiller. Almost pulled it off. The sanded greens helped to slow the pace coming back down, but as the ball approached the hole, something in the sand sent it just a hair off line. It had been tracking perfectly.
Wind kicked up a bit on the back. Got my drive up in the air too high, against the wind on 10th and barely made it over the right bunker. Still had 143 to the back pin, but over the water. Took extra club. Hit it well. At least I thought I did. It landed just right of the green and bounced right, down into the hazard, but still playable as the water has receded quite a bit. Could not get up and down, but came very close and did save a bogey with a two inch tap-in.
On 11th with the tees up, hit driver to pin high, just right of the green. Made a decent chip to about 5 feet and lipped the putt for birdie.
On 14th had a great drive that left me with only 40 yards to the pin, over the right greenside bunker. 58* 1/2 swing pitch to 6 feet but missed the bird.
Birdie on 17th was from 5 feet, through heavily sanded green.
Best full shot of the day was approach on the 18th into the wind from the lower fairway, about 148 yards out. Played a hybrid to account for the uphill angle, cold and wind. Hit it perfectly, landed softly and rolled out to about 10 feet past the pin. Another realistic birdie opportunity, but this one I blew 3 feet by. Made the testy comebacker.
Very nice round for my final round before posting season technically starts here on Wednesday, which seems a bit off. Winter is just beginning. The ground will be covered in a foot of snow.
