Playing golf is one of life’s pleasures. I have many others which include family and friends, however as a past time, golf is at the top of my list….in the summer. 😉 Each time I hit the links I never know what is going to happen. This uncertainty adds to fun of whacking a little white ball over 6000 yards of green space. Regardless of the day, my hopes of playing great golf never diminishes because that is a draw for why I play golf. On Friday past, I played golf at my old stomping grounds of Osprey Links. My old crew (Rick, Blair and Fernando) teed it up for the first time this year and our time at Osprey did not disappoint. Unfortunately, my round was marred by the fact that my putter decided to stay home!

Our round started at the 10th hole. I do not like starting on this hole because I am not warmed up and the tight fairways offer little room for error. Not that it really changed our excitement for playing as a group, starting on the back nine is just something I do not prefer. Anyway, off we went and my game started off very well with a long drive up the middle of the par 5, 10th hole. My second and third shots resulted in my putting for my first birdie of the day. After a smooth 3-putt, I walked off the green with my first bogey of the day. 😠

My putting woes of the first hole did not subside for the rest of the day. My distance control was virtually none existent. I could not get a feel for the greens and as a result I 3-putted four greens. Yup, for the guy who rarely 3-putts, I filled my quota that day. The front nine was the worst. I shot a 5 over 41 with six bogeys, one birdie and two pars. Of the six bogeys, I three putted four times. I could not have sunk a long putt if my life depended on it.

As I wrote in previous articles, I do not intentionally lag putt. I usually have good distance control that results in a lag putt from distance. Well, after my third 3-putt, I would have traded my modern putter for one of the vintage putters in the picture. It was very frustrating to say the least.

After the back nine, my game started to right itself. I shot a comfortable two over 37 for a final score of 78. It was a great score considering my putting woes. What allowed me to still score well was my ball striking. My approach shots were very accurate, especially concerning distance control. I hit my all my mid to short irons with confidence that resulted in a 60% GIR percentage. I would take that any day. If only my putting was on key. Alas, that is the nature of golf and despite my putting woes, it was a great round.

The best part of Friday’s round was hanging with my old crew. It is always a great time to play golf with Rick, Blair and Fernando. We laughed, joked, poked fun, and supported each other throughout the entire round. Golf is a contact sport and playing golf with my friends definitely proves this fact. Although I would have traded my kingdom for a putter, I would not have trade the great times with my friends on the links.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!