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), last weekend was it...Without going into any much detail, suffice to say, I had really emotionally draining evening on the Friday night before my match play semi and after arriving at the course late, hooking my opening tee shot left into the trees and being 2 down after 2 holes to a guy I would beat 4 times in 5, this was going to be the game he got me...
Didn't swing well, didn't strike the ball well, didn't score well. 4 down thru the turn was not how I had pictured this match going during the week.
Would lose the 10th to a par and then after giving myself a right talking to on the walk from the green to the 11th tee box, I then won 2 and halved 2 to be only 3 down with 4 to play. Still alive, but only just...
Our 15th is our hardest rated hole and my opponent had got the wobbles. Standing on the tee I told myself, win this hole and the match is yours for the taking.
He sprayed his drive right into the trees and I hit a booming drive straight down the middle, he had recovered to the fairway and was some 50m in front of me. My 2nd was good, but died off left in the breeze to finish about 10m from the green, but lying in some cabbage. His 3rd again went right, finishing about the same distance away as I was.
So, here the match was, I needed to get up and down to win the hole and I have no idea why or where the thought came from, but, my mind took me back to the night before and I would badly duff the chip attempt, only moving the ball about 2m towards the green. I knew the match was gone.
Sitting down with a frothy after the game, I had played 15 holes 15 over the card, not good golf and certainly not good enough to beat a fellow off 18 who was 4 under his handicap.
On the plus side, I played a completely social round on the Sunday and whilst looking in the Pro Shop's "bargain Bin" I found myself the driver I have needed.
A 2nd hand Ping ISI Titanium Driver to match my ISI irons. I asked if I could take the club out and the Pro said sure, hit it about 8-10 times during the round and all but 2 of them were good. The best of them was my drive on the last hole, a 280 yard par 4, straight up hill. Set up to hit a draw and it sailed well on line. Upon arriving at the green, my ball was sitting on the putting surface about 30 feet from the pin. From there is was a 2 putt birdie to finish my disappointing golfing weekend with a sort of mini "high" that will get me back this week.
Have 2 rounds again this coming week. Club Medal Day on Saturday and our first Pennant match of this new season.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers
Sometimes it takes you right out of the emotional doodoo and turmoil, sometimes life's hassles just keep bursting in to spoil the round. Perhaps it' s not the game that's strange but us. Ok philosophical hat off.
A good effort to battle back into the match but you probably left yourself just too much to do - and the dufffed chip didn't help.
Look on the positive side; you made one person, your opponent, very happy and it could, just could, have been the good karma that was created that helped you find the new old driver. Or not.
Oh what would I give to be able to drive a straight 280 yards.
Anyway hope the personal stuff has been resolved.
Robin