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It was played at an unfamilar course to me - a course with 4 x loops of 9, with a new one, that most there hadn't played. The 1st nine were the parkland style ones, and the back were the new links-style ones.
What did I want to achieve?
I wanted to win it. But I always thought I'd struggle; I haven't played well on new courses, but on the other hand, having recently read Dr Bob Rotella, I knew I didn't have to think like this.
So - my amended target - bogey golf. That would result in nett -4, and I'm more than capable of shooting it. The tournement was also Stableford, which I've had some success in this year.
In the morning, I prepared by a quick 9 at my home club, shooting bogey, bogey, bogey, par, par, treble, bogey, par, birdie for a pleasing +6; one off my 9 hole PB. Then I went to the driving range, and by the time I was on the first tee for the Ferebee shield, I was knackered
The other thing to remember is how little I'm used to playing long holes and long courses. The long par 4's at my course at 300 yards
I was under the 1s driver a bit, but it's always good to get it away and I was short of the bunker. Good contact with the following hybrid, and a pitch on and a 2 putt for a bogey. I was delighted to par the difficult 3rd par 3 over the water, and things were looking good (also worth saying that I wasn't allowed to take my mobile phone on the course so haven't yet had a chance to input my stats in to my usual web service - I'll do it later)
The out 9 were good; on the par 5 9th, following a good drive, and good contact on my 2nd shot, I found a fairway bunker, but clipped away a great 7I well down the fairway, setting up my bogey well, but missing it for a 7, an outward 48 (3 over my target) and 16 points. I was a little outside where I wanted to be, but it was alright.
On the back nine, I started to hit my stride a little more. I liked the links-style feel, and a couple of early pars set the tone.
I still had a couple of blowouts; on one par 4, I got great contact away, but hit a bunker I didn't know was there - couldn't see it off the tee. Heartened by my earlier success, I tried an 8I and emarassingly missed the ball. The 3rd was out, and the 4th was sliced right into the thick rough. I could barely get a club behind it, and succeeded in improving my lie but little else. The 6th was on the green and I did well to two putt for an 8.
I had a similar melt down for an eight on the 16th par 5, despite driving well, and putting a strong 2nd shot well down there.
The Si 2 17th though was a thing of beauty - 550 yard par 5. One thing I'd done way better was course management Dr Bob style. Whenever I felt I wasn't 100% certain I'd hit the fairway, I'd go down a club, and if I wasn't certain about that I'd go down another, until I felt sure I'd hit it.
I hit a good 3H off the tee, a great 2H off the deck, and a third great 4H to find the green albeit by 2 inches! I still had a 50 foot putt, which somehow I lipped and left myself a 1 foot par. 4 points! Get in!
Similarly, the 140 yard 18th - though my drive was pin high, it was off the green left, but the putt off the green finished 2 foot from the hole, drained for par.
Back in 45, giving me gross 93, nett 71 on a par 70. +1 was all in pretty good, and I was content with that. The 35 Stableford seemed to me to be respectable if not earth-shattering, but turned out to be 2nd - the winner scoring 36.
2nd place was enough to win a bottle of wine, but - again - two shots off the required to do my ultimate target of dropping my HC. Hey ho - I'll keep plugging away.
Just to cap it all, on the way out, the Captain called me back and asked for my phone number. I might be being hopelessly optimistic, but I suspect it's in case he needs me as reserve for the team
A good day; draining, but great for my self-esteem and confidence. Long live Dr Bob!
Very pleasant course, though I suppose every says that about every course when they get a score they're happy with...