England Golf Regional Medal Final, Eaton Golf Club 23rd May 2013

The first tee at Eaton

I qualified for this event by winning the English golf medal at Ellesmere last season, and being in the top 120 qualifiers from the North Region. The top 10 finishers would qualify for the National Grand Medal Final to be played next month.

I had played a practice round a 3 weeks ago on a lovely warm windless day, today was nothing like that. It was very windy and we had rain and hail for the first 10 holes.

I couldn't have started better a good drive and a 3 wood to the green gave me 2 putts for a nice opening par 4.

On the second I hit a decent drive then put a 5 iron into a bunker at the front of the green, I came out too well and had to chip back on from over the green and I holed a 3 foot putt for a bogey 5.

A good drive on the 3rd, but I then hit a 3 wood into rough front and right of the green, my chip ran off the back, I chipped back on and 2 putted for a double bogey 6.

My tee shot to the 4th was short and right, I chipped to 20 feet then holes the putt for a par 3.

A good drive and a nice 3 wood left me a pitch to the 5th green, I missed the green but chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 6.

I found the back of the 6th green with a 3 wood off the tee but left my birdie putt 6 feet short, but I holed that for a par 3.

Not so good a drive on the 7th left me in the left hand rough, with trees blocking out the green, I  knocked it out onto the fairway, but then I hit the ground 6 inches behind the ball to waste a shot, I missed the green with my 4th shot, then chipped on and 2 two putts gave me a triple bogey 7.

A nice drive but a not so good 3 wood left about 150 to the 8th green, and I left my 3rd just short of the green, a chip and 2 putts gave me a bogey 6.

A good drive on the 9th but my 3 wood was too far right, a thinned pitch from the rough over shot the green, I chipped on and  2 putted for a double bogey 6.

So despite early pars, the triple bogey in particular meant, I finished the first 9 on 46, which wa bangf on my handicap.

On the 10th I drove into the right hand rough but hit a nice wood to 40 yds short of the green, a chip on  and 2 putts for a bogey 5.

I hit  a nice 5 wood to the par 3 11th which ran just off the back of the green, I pitched to 10 feet and holed the putt for a par 3.

The 12th has a raised green over a water hazard, I hit a nice drive which left 80 yds to the green, a nice pitch found the green and my 20 foot curling putt brushed the hole and I tapped in for a par 4.

A slightly wayward drive on the 13th found the right hand rough, I knocked it onto the fairway but then overhit my pitch over the green, I pitched back on and 2 putted for a double bogey 6.

A nice drive on the 14th but then I scuffed a  wood, I then hit a nice  3 wood to just short of the green, my chip was a little short of the hole and a knocked the first putt 3 feet past the hole, then missed the return so 3 putts for a double bogey 7.

Another drive that went right on the 15th and I knocked it out of the rough then hit a pitch to 4 feet, sadly missed the par putt so a bogey 5.

I hit the fairway with my drive on 16 and a decent 3 wood left 150 yds to the green, I hit a 5 wood left of the green and chipped on but way short, a poor first putt left another 4 footer, fortunately this one went in for a bogey 6.

Not the best 6 iron from the tee to the par 3 17th but I chipped on and 2 putted for a bogey 4.

So onto the 18th, 1 under handicap, I hit my drive to the left to avoid a pond on the right hand side of the fairway and found the rough, I went to just knock the ball down the fairway but hit a shank or whatever it was right across the fairway and into the right hand rough, I knocked that onto to the fairway about 120 yds from the green and then shanked a 7 iron into deep rough, I hacked it out with a wedge and then chipped onto the green, the first putt was poor and I missed with the 2nd for a disastrous 9!

So after holding it together for most of the 2nd nine the disaster on the 18th meant I scored 49 for a gross 95, net 75.

I have to say I was gutted, although I was surprised to see that my score was the best score in so far, I waited around to see what other scores came in and when after about half the scores were in and I was lying in 4th place I decided to leave, After dwelling on the 18th all the way home, I was surprised to find that with another 30 scores in I was still in 4th place. Eventually all the scores came in and I was delighted to find that I finished with the 4th best score although I was in 6th place after card playoffs but it was good enough to see me into the final at the end of June. It also earned me a 0.6 handicap reduction so I am now down to 19.1, my lowest so far.

Despite my pleasure at qualifying for the grand final, I still have to look at the shots my irons cost me, granted I did hit some decent irons but the miss on the 7th and the 2 shanks on the 18th could have proved costlier, a bogey on the last would have seen me with the joint top score! I really think I am going to have to go back to my teaching pro to try and rectify the problem yet again, either that or  I need to buy a 7 wood.

Matchplay weekend

This weekend I have played 2 matchplay games, the first in the club challenge and the second for the Ellesmere team in the Archie Preston, an interclub mixed foursomes knockout run by the Manchester and District Golf Alliance. Due to the fact that there was a 2 day men's board competition on at the weekend, both games were played late in the afternoon.

Firstly on Saturday I played my first match in the club challenge, my opponent plays off 21 so I had to give her one shot. I won the first hole with a bogey but then lost the second to a bogey, a bogey won me the 3rd and a par won me the 4th, My opponent then struggled over the next few holes and I won 4 in a row to reach the 9th hole 6 up. My opponents game started to improve and she won the 9th so I was 5 up at the turn, we halved the next 4, including the hole I was giving a shot on, and I won the 14th to win the match 6&4. My opponent in the next round is the most improved player at the club this season, so I think I will need to be at my best especially as I will be giving her a couple of shots.

So onto Sunday and the Archie Preston against Shaw Hill, we were drawn at home and so had to start each match 1 down. My partner, Colin, had played in the 2 day competition so had already played 18 holes in the morning, he had also had a very good round and had received a 2 shot handicap reduction, we were still however receiving to shots from our opponents Brian and Debby.

We won the first hole with a par, so we immediately got back the one hole start, we halved the 2nd and 3rd holes, I found the green with my tee shot on the par 3 4th and a par put us 1up.
 After halving the 5th and 6th we came to the 7th, we were on the fringe of the green in 3, while our opponents were over the back in a deep hazard about 15 feet below the level of the green, also in 3, it was looking like we were going to go 2 up but then Debby hit a fantastic recovery from the hazard to within 15 feet, and Brian holed the putt for a 5. my chip from the fringe was 6 feet short and Colin missed so instead of 2 up we were back to level.

We received our first shot on the 8th, but unfortunately my drive was  in light rough but too close to a tree to give a full swing, Brian chipped out but I didn't hit a great 3rd and we ended up taking 7 losing the hole to a par 5 to go 1 down. The 9th is a par 3, 170yds from the men's tee and a pretty scary tee shot, however both men hit the green, my 20 foot putt just slipped by on the right, but Debby left her 15 footer short so the hole was halved and we turned 1 down.

My drive on the 10th was a bit short and Colin couldn't reach the green, however Brian hit a great shot to within 20 feet of the pin, my chip wasn't near enough and we lost the hole to a par 4, to go 2 down.

So we arrived at the 11th and Colin's drive looked to be heading into trees, however the shot was right into to the sun so we couldn't see very well, when we got down to look for it, there was a ball in the middle of the fairway, the same type and number as Colin's, however as it wasn't where it had been heading, our opponents asked what distinguishing marks Colin had on his ball and he replied that he had not put any on it. They then said that how could he be sure it was his ball, as his shot was clearing heading for the trees. As a result I was made to walk back to the tee as the ball had to be declared lost, and so I was playing 3 of the tee. Needless to say we lost the hole to go 3 down.

So onto the par 3 12th, 191 yards from the ladies tee, Debbie was short and right and I hit a great drive right at the flag, but it  just ran off the back of the green, Brian  put his shot 15 feet away on the fringe and Colin putted to 18 inches, Debby missed and I had a short put to get a hole back but I missed it!

Colin's drive on the 13th when way left and hit a tree, I couldn't hit up the fairway so tried to hit the ball up the adjacent one but I also hit a tree. Colin hit a decent shot which left me 80 yards over a bunker, I hit out 4th shot to the fringe of the green, with our opponents safely on the green in 3, Debby hit a long downhill putt about 4 feet past and the hole was looking lost, until Colin holed from off the green and Brian missed and we scrambled a half.

On the 14th, Debby's tee shot went right into some young trees, while mine found a bunker in front of the green, Brian's recovery hit a tree and bounce back  into the rough and up against a small bush, Debby's attempt just hit it deeper into the rough and they conceded the hole so we were 2 down.

Two good shots by both teams on the 15th left the men with long shots to the green, Colin found the bank in front of the green but Brian was way to the left on the other side of a lateral hazard and when Debbie address the ball it rolled so that was counted as a shot, Brian found the fringe, then I chipped it close for a conceded par and a win to bring it back to 1 down.

I hit a good long straight drive on the 16th, Debby also found the fairway but was shorter and to the right, Brian was left of the green in a row of trees and Colin safely put our ball on the green about 30 feet from the hole, Debby could only knock the ball out and Brian put it onto the green but it meant we had 2 putts to win the hole. I holed the 30 footer for a birdie and we were back to all square.

Colin's drive on the 17th found trees and all I could do was knock it onto the fairway whereas our opponent's had hit 2 decent shots but were down the right. Colin it a nice 3rd which cleared the ditch and finished up on the edge of a fairway bunker, Brian went for the green but just caught the branches of the tree and fell into the water hazard, Debby took a drop then hit the ball into rough to  left of the green. although I had to stand in the bunker I manage to knock our ball 80 yards onto the green and when our opponents ball couldn't be found, the hole was conceded to see us go 1 up with just the 18th left.

My tee shot on the 18th hit the bank in front of the green and rolled right back down to the bottom while Debby hit a lovely shot which found the front of the green, Colin played a lovely chip which just ran off the fringe, then Brian left his putt 5 feet short of the hole, I didn't hit a great chip from the fringe but Colin holed the 10 foot putt, leaving Debby with a 5 foot to win the hole and halve the match and she duly popped it in. We went to shake hands on a half when we were told we had to go to the first as there had to be a winner in each individual match.

Brian's tee hooked his tee shot into the trees and although Colin didn't hit the best of shots, it was straight and ran to the left of the green. As Brian's ball was lost they had to play 3 off the tee, Debby didn't reach the green and after Brian's chip they had taken 4, I hit my chip to a couple of feet and the match was conceded.

I have to say that it was the most draining round of golf I have had both physically and mentally and I was very pleased that we hung in there and fought back to eventually win, although in fairness our opponents did go off a bit when they appeared to nearly have the match won. It just goes to prove that a match isn't over until its definitely been won.

The win proved to be vital as the final match score was 4-3 to Ellesmere. There was a nice dinner after the match and we now look forward to seeing who our opponents will be in the next round.

Another busy week

 

On Sunday I went to play at Davyhulme, at part of our "Flat cap order of merit" The afternoon didn't start well as the minute I got into the car to drive to the course, the rain started and didn't really stop for the next 4 hours. I met up with the guys I was playing with and we set off  on a pretty deserted course. I have play Davyhulme before and my memories of it were not good as in my mind I remembered it as a bit flat and boring. In fairness my memory was being a little unfair, it is flat but does have some interesting holes, as doglegs, water and trees add to the challenge.
Despite the weather I played pretty well and although I messed up a couple of holes on the back nine I finished with 36 points off full handicap, which was pleasing.

Monday saw a return to Blackley, this time for a Shield match, I got off to a great start and I was 3 up after 3 holes, however a couple of indifferent holes saw us back to all square after 7. I won the next 2, so went to the turn 2up but  forgot to claim my shot on the 10th so went back to 1 up but 2 pars over the next few holes saw me 3 up with 4 play and when my partner went into the water on the 15th I won the hole to win the match 4 and 3. Ellesmere also won the match 4-3when we won the last game which went right down to the 18th green. So we have won two and drawn one of the three matches we have played so far.

During the round we had a rules query, the ground was wet in places and when opponents ball finished in an old divot hole, she press the ground near it causing water to rise. She then claimed she could have a free drop as the ball was in casual water. I had to point out that if the water wasn't visible when she took her stance then she was not entitled to a free drop, she did accept my ruling, but it is strange that people do not know some of the basic rules. Things like this tend to happen more frequently then they should, I don't know all the rules myself but I will ask when I am in doubt not just assume.

On Tuesday I managed t o  get a practice round in and I hit the ball pretty well, except again with my irons, I have been more and more trying to improvise with long irons and I decided it wasn't the best way. After the round I was chatting to Steve, the guy I have played in mixed events with and he had a look at my swing and made a couple of suggestions. I decided to play a few more holes to try them out and I did see an improvement.

Thursday, and the club completion was a Foursomes qualifier, in Foursomes you take alternate shots and also drive at alternate holes. My partner and I did play some good holes but hade 2 many poor ones, even so we only finished 5 shots behind the winners. On one hole, where  I was on the tee, my bad iron play came back, and I hit the ball almost sideways, to add insult to injury, the ball hit my bag, so a 2 shot penalty was added to an already terrible shot.

Finally this week, on Friday  I played in a four ball better ball pairs open  at Warrington, a course I had not played before, I was playing with a lady from Davyhulme who plays off 16 and although we played reasonably well between us we only managed to score 33 points, the winners having 40. In a 4BBB you only play off 3/4 of your handicap and its the best score of the pair on each hole that counts, unfortunately we seemed to have our bad holes together.
I did enjoy Warrington it is an interesting course which winds around a hill and had some very nice holes on it. The hole pictured at the top of the blog is the 7th where you drive  from a elevated tee.

This coming week I have the regional medal final at Eaton on Thursday, fingers crossed I will play as well as when I went for practice a couple of weeks ago. A report next week.

A bit of everything this week

The week started on Sunday with the Dearden Trophy a mixed 4 ball better ball, I played with the husband of one of the lady members who was injured and couldn't play. We didn't play too badly but nothing special and scored a total of 37 points, 8 behind the winners who had 45 points.

Monday  I was out again on glorious weather, playing a fun round, typically without a card in my hand I scored 39 points, I had 35 after 15 but dropped a few over the last 3 holes. It was just nice to play some decent golf in lovely weather.

On Wednesday I was part of Ellesmere's team in the Regional qualifier for the Lancashire Ladies Handicap Competition, the best 3 medal scores from 4 were used and the top 2 teams would qualify for the final later in the year. I didn't play too badly but did drop some silly shots and finished with a net 78, or other scores were 74, another 78 and an 81 and our total of 230 was good enough for 2nd  and a place in the final. The competition was played at Blackley and I was shocked at the state of the course, lots of GUR on the fairways and the greens were very patchy and multi-paced, quite disappointing considering the fine condition Ellesmere is in at the moment. I  will be playing there again next week when Ellesmere take on Blackley in the Shield league.

So on to Thursday and a medal competition at Ellesmere, it wasn't the best of conditions quite windy and also wet for most of the round. I didn't start too well with 4 double bogeys in the first 5 holes, but I got it together and 3 pars over the next 7 holes pull me back on track, unfortunately my problem with longer irons came o the fore on the next 2 holes where bad shanks (or whatever they are) put me in bad lies and I had 2 consecutive quad bogies. I did finish well with 3 more pars over the last 4 holes. Well it would have been 3 pars if I hadn't had a moment of stupidity. After I hit a lovely shot to 2 inches off the green, I only went and marked my ball on the fringe of the green, my playing partner didn't see it so I called the penalty on myself, turning what would have been a very good par into a bogey. So I finished with a  nett76, which after Stableford adjustments left me in my buffer at least. The competition was won by an excellent net 67 by what is the most improved member of the year, She has finished top 2 nearly every completion this year and has seen her handicap drop by 4 shots already this season.

Today (Friday) I played in the team open at Gatley golf club with girls from Chorlton and Davyhulme. Gatley is a nice little 9 hole course, so you play each hole twice, although there are some variations in tee position. It was another wet morning when we started out, but I personally started really well paring 5 of the first 8 holes, unfortunately I  misjudged the distance of the par 3 9th and badly under-clubbed then over flew the green from a bunker and blobbed the hole, but I still had a personal score of 21 for the first 9. I didn't play quite as well the second time around, I also did have much luck with 3 putts rolling round the hole and staying out and a couple of shots slightly off line ending in awful lies, I also played the 9th identically to the first time albeit from a different tee position and blobbed it again, so I only scored 14 points for this 9. Our team total, best 2 scores to count on each hole, was 74 and we finished just one point behind the winners.

Gatley is a course that seems to suits my game, you didn't have to lay up at all and could go for all your shots and I only had to use longer than a 7 iron once in the whole round so that meant I wasn't too worried about my dodgy mid iron play. as most holes were drivers, fairway woods and pitches. I think the 9th/18th is deceptive to visitors but I would think if I played the course again I would play this hole better.

So onto the detail of Thursday's round.

Hole 1, A reasonable 6 iron finished short of the green but a chip and 2 putts gave me a bogey 4.

Hole 2, A decent drive but a  topped 2nd still left me with a 5 wood to the green I hit it pin high but in a bunker, got out in one and 2 putted for a  double bogey 6.

Hole 3, The Drive was a little off line and caught the trees, but I had a decent lie and played a wood to short of the ditch about 110yds from the green, I hit a nice 7 iron, but it ran through the green into deep rough, I chopped it out then chipped onto the green but 2 putts gave me another double bogey 7.

Hole 4, Pulled a 7 iron left of the green and chip down to the green finished short, a chip and 2 putts for a double bogey 5.

Hole 5, A reasonable drive but I then hit a wood into a bunker short of the green, I got out but didn't reach the green, so a chip and 2 putts for another double bogey 6.

Hole 6 Another decent drive and 3 wood left me a pitch to the green, unfortunately it over ran but a chip back on and 2 putts gave me a bogey6.

Hole 7, A good drive but into the wind left a 3 wood to the green, I hit it well but into a bunker, but out first time and 2 putts for a bogey 5.

Hole 8, A decent drive and a nice 3 wood left a 60 yds pitch, it just ran off the back of the green but 2 putts gave me a 5, my first par.

Hole 9, A nine iron to the fringe of the green but 2 putts gave me a 3 and another par.

So I finished the nine in 48 shots, not bad after the poor start.

Hole 10, A slightly short drive followed by a nice 3 wood, left about 70 yds, My pitch was slightly left of the green but a chip and a 8 foot putt gave me a bogey 5.

Hole 11, A decent drive and a reasonable  5 iron for once left me a 120 from the green, a 7 iron just missed the bunker and 2 putts form the fringe gave me a par 5.

Hole 12, My drive was a little short and right, but I chipped to 15 feet but just missed the putt so a bogey 4.

Hole 13, My drive went way right into a stand of trees but I moved the ball 80 yards to leave a 6 iron to the green, sadly I shanks it across the fairway to the base of a tree, I couldn't chip onto the green so I knocked it to the side of the green but then over chipped into a bunker, got it out then 2 putts for a quadruple bogey 8.

Hole 14, I shanked 5 iron into deep rough, got a good contact but hit a tree and it bounced back into the rough, it took 2 more to get me out then a chip to the green and 2 putts for another quad bogey 7.

Hole 15 A lovely drive and a nice 3 wood found a bunker just short of the green, I it got out but didn't reach the green, a chip on and 2 putts for a bogey 6.

Hole 16, A decent drive but I scuffed  a 5 wood, I hit a nice pitch to 6 feet and holed the putt for a par 4.

Hole 17, I hit a good drive then laid up before the ditch with an 8 iron,  A lovely 3 wood finished just a couple of inches off the green and 2 putts gave me a par 5, or it would have done if it hadn't been for me stupidly marking my ball on the fringe, so a bogey 6.

Hole 18, I hit a nice 7 iron pin high about 20 feet from the hole, missed the birdie but safely in for a par 3.

So another 48 for a total of 96 and a nett 76, needless to say I was very annoyed at the penalty shot but I am sure I would do it again.

So again , 6 pars (well ok 5) but the card spoilt by the 2 quad bogeys. I am so close to having a really good round, but I just need to sort the mid irons out, I am not playing over the weekend but I might find time for a little practice with my irons at the range.

Still inconsistant

On Monday this week, I took a couple of newer members out on the course as a mentor. The idea was to acquainted them with the basic rules and etiquette. It was a rather cold and windy morning but we stuck it out  and managed 9 holes although it did take us 3 hours, So it was a bit of a slog. I just hope that they both found it useful. In the afternoon there was a divot party, with the intention of tidying and refilling a lot of the divots on the course. This was quite hard work and today I still have a sore back.

Tuesday saw a senior men's open at Ellesmere and so the course was closed all day. I decided to go and play Eaton near Chester, a course that I will be playing in 3 weeks in the EWGA regional final. Unlike Monday it was a glorious day and even though I followed 3 fourballs round the first 9, I didn't let it disturb me and I ended up with 22 points. I had a clear run for the second 9 and despite a couple of iffy shots added another 17 points for a total of 39. I was very pleased that I had played consistently well all round, although in the benign conditions the course was not that difficult. I just hope I play as well when I am there again in 3 weeks time.

So I was feeling confident coming in to this weeks competition, a Stableford. It was another lovely day with very little wind and for the first time this year, the winter clothes were put away and I was able to go out in a polo shirt.  After a bit of practice I headed for the first tee.
The first shot set the tone for the first part of the round, a horrible mishit squirted into a bank just right of the tee resulted in a lost ball. This continued for the first ten holes, I took four from the fringe, on more than one occasion, There was bad luck too, when a shot hit some stones and ricocheted out of bounds.Then on the 11th things changed completely, and for the last 8 holes I played and scored well and finished with a respectable score if not a good one. 

The round.

Hole 1, Awful 6 iron off the tee, shot into a bank to the right of the tee, couldn't find it so teed up again, this time I hit it well and the ball finished 8 feet from the flag, I missed the putt so a  double bogey 5 for 1 point.

Hole 2, Not a great drive but it reached the fairway, I hit a nice 3 wood to about 80yds short of the green, chipped pin high but just off the green, two putts for a bogey 5 and 2 points.

Hole 3, A good drive and an 8 iron to short of the ditch left 130 to the green, pulled a 5 iron and it finished under a tree, I couldn't play a proper chip due to over hanging branches and a bunker between me and the hole, knocked it to the side of the green, but over hit the chip on, missed from 12 feet and then missed the 12nch tap in! so a triple bogey 8, I got 2 shots though so 1 point.

Hole 4, A pulled tee shot, so had to chip down to the green, only found the fringe and 3 putted for a double bogey 5 and 1 point.

Hole 5, Pushed tee shot right into rough but had a lie, thinned a 3 wood, which luckily the ball headed towards a little bridge over a ditch, but it hit the little wall by the bridge and bounced sharp right and out of bounds, played another ball and hit it to just short of the green but chipped too long, missed with the chip back so a blob and no points.

Hole 6, Tee shot again went right, took 3 wood but hit it way right into the rough, hit a 7 iron which finished level with the green but to the left, chipped to the fringe and again took 3 more, for a double bogey 7  for 1 point.

Hole 7, A good drive a little right, didn't quite hit 2nd fully but it finished just short of the green, a chip on and 2 putts for a bogey 5 and 2 points.

Hole 8, Hit the drive way right so couldn't clear the ditch and had to lay up, mishit my 3rd and it only just cleared the ditch a pitch from the rough was short, a chip on and 2 putts for a double bogey 7.

Hole 9, For the first time this season, I hit a good tee shot here, a 9 iron that just ran off the back of the green, left my putt way short but holed from about 12 feet for a par and 3 points.

So thanks to the par at the 9th, I finished the first nine 12 points.

Hole 10, a good drive and a decent 3 wood, left me just to the right of the green but in a hollow, underhit the chip, then overran the hole with the next, first putt to less than 2 feet but I missed the next, so a triple bogey 7 and no points.

Hole 11, A nice long straight drive left about 170 to the green, but as there is a ditch in front and its a par 5 I normally lay up, hoping to leave a nice pitch onto the green, this time however I was frustrated with the round and decided to have a go, I hit a really good 3 wood and it cleared the ditch and finished at the top of the ban, ak chip on and 2 putts for a par 5 and 3 points.

Hole 12, A decent tee shot, but with bunker between the ball and the hole, played a nice chip onto the green and 2 putts for a bogey 4 and 2 points.

Hole 13, Drive went right and behind a stand of trees so could only knock it sideways onto the fairway, a 3 wood finished just short of the green and another chip over a bunker and 2 putts for a double bogey 6, but this was the other hole I get 2 shots on so 2 points.

Hole 14, Hit a 5 iron that landed short and ran to the back of the green, 2 putts for a par 3 and 3 points.

Hole 15, A decent drive and a nice 3 wood, left about 120 to the green, an 8 iron just failed to make the top tier of the green where the hole was but 2 putts for another par and 3 points.

Hole 16, A good long drive but thinned an 8 iron through the green, chipped on and 2 putts for a bogey 5 and  2 points.

Hole 17, A decent drive and a 5 iron left 180 to the green, a good 3 wood stopped just at the top of the bank that leads down to the green, chipped on and 2 putts for a bogey 6 and 2 points.

Hole 18, A mishit tee shot finished at the bottom of the steep bank in front of the green, chipped to the front and 2 putts for a bogey 4 and 2 points.

So despite not scoring on the 10th, I scored 19 points on the back nine for a grand total of 31.

As usual consistency let me down although this time it was mostly on the first nine, instead of scattered throughout the round. The score gave me another 0.1 increase in handicap to 19.7.

The last 8 holes is the standard that I can play to and I should be able to do it throughout a competitive round, instead of just in practice rounds like Tuesday. I am sure that one day I will and I can finally get my handicap moving in the right direction.