Today I am playing in a two person scramble with my friend Blair. This is not the first time we teed it up in a tournament and hopefully, it will not be our last. We compliment each others game, however this year there is a new wrinkle that could help or hinder our success. The senior scramble hosted by Osprey Links Golf Course in Callander, Ontario, is a must attend event. Jeff and his team always run a great event and I looking forward to a great golf experience. With the new wrinkle, our strategy will change in order to accommodate for the possibility of something magical happening.
The major change to our situation is that Blair is playing from the forward tees. I have one more year on the white tees, but Blair is playing off the gold tees this year. This change does impact how far we can go off the tee as Blair can poke his tee shot out quite a distance. Additionally, this will allow Blair to use higher irons on par threes thus improving his chances to hitting the greens in regulation. Having Blair play off the gold tees should improve our chances of being in the prizes.
As an example of what I am excited about, the picture on the left shows Blair hitting the ball off the white tees (this is an old picture). You can see the gold tees 25 yards forward. This 25 yard advantage allows Blair to easily clear the pond in the distance which in turn allows for a shorter approach shot. Advantages in distance, like the one in the picture, are common around Osprey Links. I hope we can take advantage of changes in distances.
The other strategies we like to employ are very simple. Blair hit first for all shots. We do this for several reasons, first I can hit the ball a bit farther with my fairway woods and hybrids. This extra distance (if I hit the ball well) will allow us to reach the green more often or at least have a short approach shot.
With our irons, Blair and I are on par for accuracy and distance. If Blair hits one on the green, I can go pin hunting. If not, I can play a bit more conservatively. This particular strategy has worked very well in the past. Hitting the ball within 12 feet on approach shots will be the key to a low round.
Lastly, Blair goes first for putting. If he does not sink the putt, he shows me the line very well. On a side note, our friend Rick was awesome at going first in previous scrambles; but alas, he moved a few years back and we miss his expertise. Having a strong putter leading off in a scramble is very important. Blair is up to the challenge and hopefully I can go to school and sink a few putts.
Well, that is our strategy for the senior two person scramble this year. Regardless of how well we score (which I hope is very well), this is always a great event. Stay tuned for the results in a few days.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
I assume you can move up at 65 then? On my home course they make make you wait till 70. Not that it matters all that much to me since there’s only one hole I can’t reach and two I’d rather not have to try though they are in my range from the tips. It’s just that the hazards are just too penal and too close on those two. I either hit 8 iron and pw or 7 wood and clip a 52. Depends on where the flag is.
We’re playing up on the gold tees tomorrow. The whites are just a bit much for a couple of the guys at 6400+ yards. The gold is just shy of 5900 and gives them a fighting chance on the hardest holes.
The course has hazards galore. Lots of water and marsh areas that you need to hit over. And the rough itself is more penal as well. It’s low ground and thae summers rains have it growing thick and keeping crews from being able to cut it down often enough.
I shot 39 on the front and then had some struggles and shot 43 on the back. Just good enough to tie the lead who shot 43-39. Lol He had a flawless last 5 holes.
I’ve shot that from the whites and blues in the past so I was disappointed but not terribly so. I know well enough that missing in the wrong places costs strokes and I did it anyway more than once.
Sometimes you just gotta go for it. Lol. Besides, the new irons are working well on full shots but I still need work on controlling distance on the off speed stuff and it cost me a few of those bogies. I should have been able to get up and down and save a few more pars than I did on the back. So can you guess where I put more practice in this week?😂
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Kevin,
I move up next year at Osprey Links. My home course of Mattawa requires you to be 70 to move up tees. You round of 82 does not sound that bad, however I understand about leaving a few stokes on the course. I hope your practice went well.
Cheers Jim
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