Earlier in the year I decided to keep more detailed golf stats. I have kept stats in the past, but I was not very diligent about it. Starting nine games ago, I changed my focus to support my ongoing efforts to be a scratch golfer. I hope these core stats will help indicate where my future training sessions should focus.
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scramble
Golfing With Ben Hogan’s Grandfather
While playing my first men’s night yesterday, my friend Blair and I teamed with Stewart Hogan. The format for the fun event was a 3-4 man scramble with a shotgun start. Blair and I showed up early at the course as twosome as one of our friends dropped out at the last-minute. But, as with all fun events, the coordinator at Osprey Links Golf Course leveled the teams and sent “Hogie” (who was a single) out with us.
The purpose of men’s night is to meet the different members of our course and to have a fun competition. Generally, most nights the same groups play with each other, however, Blair and I are always looking for new players to play a round with because golf is a contact sport. On a side note, Wayne Halm’s golf blog – Golfing on Kauai – exemplifies this aspect of golf. This is how we met Hoggie. Continue reading
Dude, Where’s my Ball!
Fall is an awesome time for golf! As golfers leisurely walk down a leaf filled fairway, the crunch of the fallen gems add to the ambiance of awesomeness on the course. Fall is my favorite time of the year to golf! The colours are spectacular, the air is crisp, and it beckons images of hope all the time. I am always grateful to be golfing in the fall!
However, the fall also poses challenges. The biggest drawback is the dead leaves all over the fairway and rough (I know, I am contradicting myself). They hide the ball as if it was the Treasure of the Knights Templar! I have lost balls in the fairway because of these dreadful offerings of mother nature. Normally, I would be annoyed at losing a ball in the fairway, however, at this time in the season, I am just grateful; so I just drop a ball and move on.
Now, looking for a ball in a jungle of leaves can be challenging; looking for a ball because the driver of a golf cart was not paying attention is another. On Tuesday last, we were playing an 18 hole scramble match play finals for our local intersection golf league. As we made our way down the 12th hole, I looked over at our competition and realized they were looking for their ball.
As a per normal, I made my way over and started to help search out their wayward ball. After about 4 minutes, they worked their way over to their cart. As they jumped in the cart from the passenger’s side I looked over and saw a ball sitting beside the back tire. I calmly asked if it was their ball and by the embarrassed look on the driver’s face, I knew it was.
It is interesting how the driver did not see the ball considering he almost ran it over. I think that it was covered by a leaf and as he drove up to the ball, the leaf was blow away. Regardless, after a quick chuckle (and a few jabs from the driver’s partner), we all went back to playing our match. The match was great fun, the company was excellent, and the results were awesome! Guess who won?
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links.
A Million Dollar View
This is my second installment of my Million Dollar View series. I was golfing in a four-person scramble today and came across one of natures awesome sights. It was worth stopping and watching the cute ducklings make their way in the world. I found it beautiful and inspiring! I am grateful to have stumbled across such a beautiful sight!
I was playing at Highview Golf Course, Powassan, Ontario, and they were on the 11th hole. The ducklings were worth the price of admission to the course.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Modified Scramble
Out of the Sand Like A Pro
I played Men’s Night at Osprey Links golf course and had a blast. As most players know, men’s night is a great time to meet new people and play fun golf games. Yesterday, I played a modified 4-man scramble that I have never heard of before. Here is how it went:
It was a 9-hole 4- man scramble. Each player teed off at every hole. After the drive, the team decided which player would play their own ball alone while the other three played a scramble format.
Side note: for those who do not know, scramble format is where everyone hits off the tee, you pick the best shot, everyone else picks up their ball and goes the the best shot location and hits again. Continue until holed out.
After the singleton and scramble team holed out, we added both scores together for our total score. Each player had to play by themselves for two holes. The ninth hole could be played by anyone. For a par 36, we scored 35 for the scramble and 42 for the singleton. I tell you it was loads of fun! It was interesting because of the strategy we were trying to use to outsmart the game, but it all came down to playing your own ball under pressure.
The weather was great, the course was great and the company was fantastic. I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 