Centenary Week

I have just had a 2 week holiday in Spain and a complete break from golf, I returned in time for Centenary Week at Ellesmere. In my absence there were mixed results for the club teams I play on. The mixed team won our match against Saddleworth 5-2 which puts us in the last 8 of the competition, however sadly the ladies shield team, having qualified for the knockout stage, failed to reach the last 8, losing 5-2 to Rochdale.

Monday evening had me and my partner playing in the final of the clubs Hebblethwaite Cup, the 4BBB knockout, we were playing a girl of 6 and another off 12, so playing off 3/4 handicap was going to be tough. We couldn't have got off to a better start, when I holed a putt from off the green for a birdie 2 on the first for an early lead, I had shots on both 2 and 3 but on both holes after good drives I scuffed fairway woods and we lost both holes to pars. A good putt for a par on the 4th by one of our opponents, put us 2 down, I had a 5 net 4 to half the 5th but we lost the 6th when my par was beaten by a birdie. I 3 putted the 7th after being on for 2 and lost that hole to a par. I took 3 from just short of the 8th green for a bogey and lost the hole to a par which left us 5 down. My partner parred the 9th for a half, then I had a net par on the 10th for another half. Another scuffed fairway wood when in range of the green meant we lost that hole to another par, when my partner missed for a net par laving us 6 down with only 7 holes left. A net par by my partner won the 12th, when our opponents failed to get par or better for the first time. A net par by me on the 13th gave us another half and left us dormie 5 down. I hit the green and holed a 20 foot putt to birdie the 14th but that was matched when one of our partner followed me in from 15 feet to secure a 5&4 win for them.
Although it was disappointing to lose the 6 handicapper played really well and was a gross 1 under par after the 14 holes, the match would have been a lot closer  if I had capitalised on some good driving.

On to Wednesday and the Centenary Am-Am, I was playing with our lady Captain and 2 others and on paper we should have been a good team. Golf however is played on grass not on paper and it would be fair to say that none of us played with any consistency. For myself, I was pleased to hit 5 of the 6 par 3 greens with my tee shots, however, I struggled on most of the other holes. My driving was poor to begin with, and then when I did hit decent drives, my fairway woods were very erratic chipping was poor too. It was a lovely afternoon and it was a shame that the golf did not match the weather.

So Thursday arrived and so did the Ladies Centenary Trophy. I was hoping for more consistency and started well with a bogey on the first followed by a par on the second but sadly it started to go down hill after that, thinned wood into ditch at the 3rd, bad bounces into bunkers at the 4th & 5th. Then my short game fell apart and 3 putt followed 3 putt, I was getting to close to the green ok put poor chips and 3 putts cost me dear, another bad bounce into a bunker, another wood into a ditch. At least  I finished well with a birdie 2 on the last. A gross 94 net 79 meant another 0.1 handicap increase and  now I am at 15.0. Overall my long game was steadier despite the odd hiccup but my short game was really woeful. I did spend a hour on the chipping green after the round and began to get a better feel for chips, I will have to see if I can carry that into my game next week.

This weeks round.

Hole 1, pulled my 5 iron left but a chip on and 2 putts gave my a bogey 4.

Hole 2, A good drive followed by a slighty thinned 3 wood left 50yards to the green, I pitched to 15 feet and holed the putt for a par 4.

Hole 3, A good drive and then a pitch short of the ditch left 150 yds to the green, I mishit a 5 wood and found the ditch, a penalty drop then a wedge to the green 2 putts for a double bogey 7.

Hole 4, pulled 6 iron left and found a bunker, came out a bit thin and over the green, a poor chip then 2 putts for a double bogey 5.

Hole 5, A decent drive then a good 3 wood, which bounced at right angles on landing right into a bunker, out in one but just short of the green, another weak chip then 2 putts for the third double on the run, this time a 6.

Hole 6, A good drive and good 3 wood left 40 yds to the green, under hit my pitch which just found the green but over hit my putt and missed the return, so a bogey 6.

Hole 7, a decent drive then a 5 iron to the fringe of the green, left putt way short and missed the next so a bogey 5.

Hole 8, A good drive and good 3 wood left a 20 yds chip, just failed to reach the green and left my putt 6 ft short ,fortunately holed it for a par 5.

Hole 9, under hit a 9 iron off the tee which finished on the edge  of the ditch, tricky lie but chipped on the green and 2 putts for a bogey 4.

So 46 shots for the first nine, should have been better but 3 putting cost my a couple of shots.

Hole 10, Good drive and good 3 wood left me 10 yds from the green, woeful chip and 3 putts for a double bogey 6.

Hole 11, A reasonable drive and a 9 iron left another 9 iron to the green, sadly it landed on an upslope and stopped dead just short, another poor chip and 2 putts for a bogey 6.

Hole 12, Drive was a little short, but pitched on and 2 putts for a bogey 4.

Hole 13, Decent drive and a good 3 wood which again took a bad bounce and found a bunker, I got out first time but then another poor chip and 3 putts meant a triple bogey 7.

Hole 14, A poor tee shot then chipped on but another 3 putt for a double bogey 5.

Hole 15, A decent drive and nice 3 wood left 70 yds to the green but an under hit wedge meant a long putt, left it 5 feet away and missed so another 3 putt and a bogey 6.

Hole 16, My drive went right and I had overhanging branches in the way, played a reasonable 6 iron that finished 10yds off the green but in a poor lie, I failed to reach the green then chipped on and holed a 10 foot putt for a bogey 5.

Hole 17, A great drive meant I could take on the ditch, but I hit it to the right and found the water, so a penalty drop then a decent 6 iron that just failed to run down the bank onto the green, I hit a nice wedge to 3 feet but missed the putt so a double bogey 7.

Hole 18, A good 6 iron that ran to 8 feet from the pin, I holed the putt for a birdie 2 to finish.

48 shots for the back nine for a total of 94 for the round.

So several poor chips and six 3 putts, left me very frustrated, I just hope the chipping practice after the round will help my in future rounds as I still have a lot of golf to play this month and next.