Once, back in 2001, at the peak of my golfing ability I quit the game of golf. Today I am ashamed to say that I was reminded as to why. I was playing 18 at Cedar Hills Golf Course with Derek and Ted Ashton. I think I was even after the front 9 and even through 14. 14 is a hole I will not soon remember. I hit a great drive (distance,) but not quite in the right direction. My second shot was from 85 yds (center pin left of the fairway on a side hill.) I hit a perfect shot, well almost, only to see it drop 20 yard short of the green into the hillside underbrush. Drop, chip on two-put double bogey. The problem was that I was NOT 85 yds from the pin. I glanced at a yardage marker and saw 67, counted 20 additional and hit an 85 yd shot. After coming up a confusing 20+ short, I walked past the 100 yd marker on the way to the green. Ahha. I saw 67, but what I really saw was 97. One of the biggest mental mistakes I have made in a round in a long time. What made it even worse was an eagle on 18 that would have had me finish -1. I finished +1. So why would this make me want to quit you may ask? +1 is the best round I have had in years. I shot one over par and was stil literally overcome with anger (fury Derek would have said) over the double. I let one bad hole not just ruin a hole, but ruin an entire round, and most of the day. Back when I quit in highschool it was for the same reason. How could a game I loved so much make me so angry? And even more important, how could a round of +1, +2, +3 make me misserable? I was playing for the wrong reasons. My round today should have been all about enjoyng a few hours with two good friends. Embarrassing, and sad. Something I need to work on becase I am not quitting golf again!
I finally did it! And it is only July 2
My goal this year was to shoot under par at least ONE time, and I did it this morning. I tee’d-off at Hobble Creek at 6:40 a.m. with Dan Capel, trying to get one more round off before our July 4th weekend adventure to Boulder, CO. First shot was a 125 yd. pitching wedge downhill, pin-high 15 feet. That turned out to be a familiar place all day. Three birdies and two bogies, and a three putt on 18 for a par that would have made the round 2 under. Two of the three birdies were 10ft+ puts that I don’t normally make, but hey, I did today!
The only problem is that I could only play 9 holes. We played-off of the back and only had time to get in nine. I would love go out and finish the rest later today, but I can’t. But I will next week.
I was on fire today. I wish I could have played this well with Derek and his dad at Gladstan on Monday.
