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Yeah RR, it's exciting that first time back, I always feel like a little kid playing for the first time. Everything that happened last year is in the past and there's always hope that this might be the year that you put it all together. You might shoot that career round, hit that monster drive, or learn to pull off the near-impossible shot with regularity. Always something that keeps you coming back...

Well gg, don't you love the course as well? It's the only place where you can not think about your homework or next exam for a few hours, and stroll around on the finely manicured turf chasing that little white ball where only you have an effect on its placement, not your parents or teachers or anyone else. Great isn't it?

Besides, the tall rough hasn't grown in yet, the greens are soft and slow, the ball won't roll forward into that water hazard like it might in summer.. ...what more could you ask for?

We play pretty much year-round here - last season the course did not close once, although we use temporary greens on a few holes, and a lot of the tees are closed in favour of mats. But winter golf is great because (a) you are outside (b) you can stop balls on greens and (c) preferred lies (clean and replace) are in operation for six months! And of course the rough is cut short in October and doesn't really grow until April.

My most memorable shot of '04 was on a 460 yd. Par 4 hard dogleg right, with your classic tree at the turn. One of those holes where you can try to take a "shortcut" (but a huge lake on the right side if you do) or play smart and hit down the middle (but you GOT TO hit it straight or your looking at another shot..ugh). I particularly like this hole because, if you decide to play it down the middle, you HAVE to hit it 250 so you have an open approach to the green. But also if your long then you got some cabbage to deal with. Good hole.

Anyway I hit my drive about 240, not quite enough to get around the tree on the right guarding the corner. My approach had to be a high cut 140 to the front and 148 to the center. My lie was slightly in the rough too.ugh.

Anyway, I decide to go with a 7 iron (taking in the rough and that the green is elevated also). I line everything up, slighlty open stance, played the ball toward my left heel. Took a full swing. I didn't see it because I was playing into the sun. It felt horrible, very fat.

I walk up and see a ball on the green. I was so STOKED. It was mine too..lol. Par'ed it but it was a solid par considering where I was at.

I shot a 76 (lowest round of my life).

One of the more memorable days golfing today......I didn't have a game

Ohhh and just missed by 0.2 from dropping 2 shots on my handicap

Cheers,
Jim

95 - 52/43 with 2 quads and a 10(1st of the year) on the front. O/B, water, many bunkers... you name it. Other than that a good round for me. A couple of birds & an absolutely beautiful day. We played 20 & I parred the last 3... hopefully not my last 3 of the season.

Where did you play?

Willow Metropark. Easily the most demanding of the Metroparks for us directionally challenged. Usual 4-some. 2-6 always give me trouble there & I refuse to play them safe(did someone say smart ? ). They bit me bad yesterday... payback for breaking 90 the last 2 times out there, I guess At least that's my story...

I'll keep this info in mind the next time I'm traveling North on I-275 and I'll cautiously watch out for your "not so safe" shots!

Hi all,

87 (nett 70) in a howling Nor'wester, more than happy with that given it's my first game under a shot a hole........YET AGAIN

Christchurch tomorrow, followed by Waitikiri on Monday and Templeton on Sunday week.......not to mention the odd game in between....

Cheers,
Jim

I believe my uncle played in/at Christchurch.
Is that the name of the course or the town?

Hi Robert,

Christchurch is the name of the city, the course itself is called Shirley Golf Course and the club is called the Christchurch Golf Club....at least that's my impression. It's where all the "good" golfers go Your uncle wouldn't have happened to be in the Navy by any chance?

Cheers,
Jim

played my first good round in a few months today, had a 79 ((nett 67)par 72). Was happy with the way I played, and i missed some stupid putts, like a 3 foot birdie attempt on the par-5 16th! but i played solid.

I won a turkey for the Christmas dinner!

first round in 2 weeks today
wasnt hitting it terribly well , a good shot would be followed with bad etc
a couple of regulation pars and 3 up and downs from 40 - 50 - 60 yards , one of which was for birdie
3 times i FAILED to get up and down for par from the fringe , generally bread and butter stuff , but missed 3-4foot putts, each time after chipping past the hole
in hindsight it was the ball i was using , unfamiliarity "see thread ' a stroke of luck' "
on hole #9 i went left off the tee finishing on a bare / loose sand lie and rather dead
figuring i was up against it i had to be agressive with my 2nd shot - all or nothing type of shot .lol
only chance of getting close enuff to the green to assure par "stroke 1 hole" was a 7wood , send it OB and draw it back over a row of trees and past the green
aimed the clubface at a lamp post about 50 yards in front of me .....swung way outside the line and the ball came off perfect
TOO perfect in fact , the thwang as it richocheted off the lamp post was so cool 2 inches thick and I had to hit it
it shot inbounds , but sideways
after that i just followed the ball around , dropping shots left right and center ....like one does when they want their handicap to go out .......hahaha

Tried a new course today.. didn't even think about it being wet and left my golf shoes at home. Lets just say when you sink down in the fairway when you walk.. golf shoes might be a little helpful. Ended up shooting a 91.. shortgame was all-over as well.

Drove to the course, saw frost greens and a no trolleys sign , had breakfast and came home.No point in risky bad back in conditions like that.Finished sulking three hours later.