While it only ties my best score, since I've been playing again, I am very happy with a round I played last week at Poolsville Golf Course in Maryland.

I shot an 83 (par 71 - rated: 71/120).

I've shot my handicap two other times, but unlike those other times, I wasn't scrambling all through the round.

I finally figured out my driver and hit 10 of 14 fairways and 2 were barely in the short rough. I hit a 340 yd. drive! We actually measured it from the green ). And my putting was decent (32 putts), although I missed 2 4-footers, and 3-putted twice . But I did sink a couple long ones.

I used my hybred 3 iron for chipping for the first time, holed a curving R-L 30 footer for birdie! And hit the stick on another curving 20 footer (bounced out).

I birdied one hole, had only one double bogey. It was a good day.

Not that my next round will be the same situation, but what I need to work on is my fairway irons (still not hitting many greens in regulation. But more importantly my wedges: Pitching to the green from under 90 yards out! Hitting my driver so well, I had a lot of sub-wedges into par 4 greens, and missed them all! Usually too short, but online. I guess I have to find a local course that offers a practice hole, that you can work those shots. Practicing those shots on a range mat doesn't work for me.

I think I also need a gap wedge. I had a 125 yard shot (center of green) out of short rough, to a back pin, I hit a smooth PW, but connected so well with it, it sailed 20 yards over the green (yep, and under a tree branch...my double).

Even with the short putts I missed, and bogeying a par 3 over water after hitting my 3I-hybred 20 feet from the hole... I still made some nice shots around the green and off the tee. I think I had a pretty magical round.

One of those, once in awhile, keeps the faith alive!