First 2 Days of Club Championship

July 23-24: The first two days of Club Championship are complete. I shot 80-73, leaving me 6 shots off the pace going into the final 36 holes. Course and weather conditions were great. Day 1: We had a 2-hour rain delay in the morning before any participants tee'd off. The rain was so strong that the practice green had puddles. Once the rain moved, it was 90s and hot. Pin locations were very fair (hardest pin was front left on 5). Day 2: There was a 20 minute rain delay, then cloudy and high 70s/low 80s for remainder of the day. Difficult pin locations on 9 (front middle) and 4 (front left).

My game was weak on Day 1 with three 3 putts and an 8 on the 9th hole. My sole birdie was on the 13th. The second day was much better with zero 3 putts, birdies on 1 and 11, and steady play. Again the 9th hole bit me with two bogeys. I was pin high right on 18 and hit one the best close call chip shots of my career. I had to play it extremely soft and about 30 feet right of the pin to accommodate for speed and break. It took about 10 seconds for the ball to roll to the hole, everyone saying 'go in' before it rimmed the edge and still rolled past the pin 6 feet. I missed the par attempt in disgust. Went from birdie thought to bogey in a hurry. I would have been happy with par.

Looking forward to the final two rounds. Thanks to my Mom, Derek, and Carolina for watching me in Round 2! Pace of play was good both days due to threesomes, roughly 4 hour rounds.

Notable shots:

-Round 2 - S. Keegan hit his approach shot on 6th from the face of a rock in the right rough. He knocked it on the green and took a chunk off his wedge. What a shot!

Leader is R. Lynch at 147.

Good luck everyone,

Kurt

LGC Mid Summer Classic

July 9-10: My favorite tournament at LGC behind the Club Championship. We had excellent weather and great course conditions. The greens were rolling quick, especially on Sunday with treacherous pins on 3 (middle right) and 9 (front middle). Many people were putting it off the green from above the pin on both these holes.

I teamed up with Mike Keegan and we played with Dan Brennan and Steve Keegan. As usual, a boatload of laughs and good golf shots. Good memories of Mike finishing birdie and birdie in Round 1, including an almost impossible chip shot on 17. Mike was WAY right (almost to the woods) of the right-hand greenside bunker and the pin was back right, leaving 10-12 feet of green to work with, forget about having to fly the bunker. Mike's flop shot took two bounces and dropped in the hole. The second bounce hit my ball mark from my tee shot 1 foot from the hole. It was incredible that could hit the mark pop straight up and into the hole.

We shot 65 on Day 1, leaving us 5 back of the lead. On Day 2, we shot 69 for a 2-Day Total of 134. The winning team of Gary Bianco and Steve Geldart shot 130. We finished in the Top 10. A respect showing my Mike and I despite not playing all that great. Enjoyed it very much!

Shout out to Mike's 99 restaurant hat, Dan using his R11 driver as a hammer on the tee box, and Steve throwing Dan's golf ball from the 16th tee down to the 1st tee box.

Members and tournament participants enjoyed the new LGC deck, lead by the fearless Jack F.

Next up the Club Championship!!

Practice well and get your rest,

Kurt

My First Worcester County

July 2-3: The Worcester County draws a strong field on July 4th weekend with Vana, Higgins, Riley, Falcucci, and many more. Its 36 holes of stroke play with Round 1 at Kettle Brook in Paxton, MA and Round 2 at Wachusett CC in West Boylston, MA. The winner shot 65-69 for 10 under par!! Incredible golf. He won by 7 shots. I shot 82-76, good for a middle of the pack finish and a respectable second round. I had never seen Wachusett CC before. Both of these tracks are public and conditions are as good as many private clubs. Kettle Brook is 6,900 yards from the tips, wide fairways, big greens, and some significant elevation changes. Wachusett CC is 6,600 yards from the tips, a Donald Ross design with small greens, average fairway width, hilly, and fast greens.

Round 1: I was nervous at the start (still ripped driver down the middle on 1) and gave away multiple strokes. My confidence declined quickly and I finished the front nine bogey, double bogey, bogey for a 43. On the back, I started well going even par thru six holes and then finished with three bogeys. I had 37 putts. The scoring conditions were ideal, sunny and 80s and minimal wind. I drove it fairly well. My iron play and putting was atrocious. Also, rode a golf cart because I had no caddie and its not an easy walking course. It was good for the energy, but poor for my tempo. I was always well ahead of the rest of the group as they walked and did not find myself getting in a rhythm. My fellow competitors were 18 and 22 years old. I was the old man! 43-39=82

Round 2: Got there 2 hours early to practice. My range session was terrible. Very stiff and hit it like I was not a golfer. When I got to the first tee, I ripped a bomb with a driver down the middle, focusing on my alignment and relaxed arms. Then, stuck a wedge to 6 feet and made birdie. Opposite to yesterday, this got my confidence up. I cruised around the first 7 holes with 2 birdies and 2 bogeys (both of par-3s as my irons continue to struggle). Then, another poor finish to the nine with a double and a bogey. On the back nine I made 2 birdies, one double, and one bogey. I birdied 2 par 5s (#5 and #10) and 2 par 4s (#1 and #12). Finally started to play the power fade and hit beautiful drives. Then on 18, I hit my best long iron shot in a while, hitting a 5-iron 180 yards to 12 feet on the par-3. The reason it worked is because I played the fade by aiming at the left edge of the green. 32 putts, still need work here. I think I am aiming more left than I think. Missing mostly on the low side. 39-37=76

Great tournament. I look forward to playing again next year. And I played with 'coolest guy in the amateur golf', Mark Goodridge.

Swing thoughts: Practice swing with intention, commit to alignment, relaxed arms, and don't be shy in playing a fade.

Rock on,
Kurt

Golf Channel - Indian Pond

June 26 - Played at the immaculate Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston, MA. At 6,800 yards, Indian Pond requires some length and good putting. The fairways are fairly generous, but the greens do not leave you anything easy. They are undulating and quick. I had 4 three putts during the round. Overall, I struck it well, specifically my driver. I felt very confident when I committed to my alignment and took away the club low and slow with width and a short backswing (feels about 3/4, but really is close to parallel at top). When my swing gets long, my timing fails and I can get quick.

I hit a few special shots out there, including a punch out cut shot from under a tree with a 6 iron on number 15. I was roughly 130 yards and I knocked it to 5 feet. I made the putt for birdie. Also, hit a beautiful low, draw 8 iron from 120 yards on number 11 to pin high. My drive went down the left side of the fairway and I was blocked out from hitting a normal shot by trees (note again my drive was in the fairway)! Ridiculous. The bad news was I three putted for bogey after a great approach. I three putted 3 out of 4 holes in a row on the back nine (11,12, and 14) and missed an 8 footer for bird on 13. I finished with a miraculous up and down from behind the green on 18 to a back right pin. Huge flop shot.

I shot 78 (+6). My Dad was there to caddy. We enjoyed the golf course and amenities. Indian Pond's clubhouse is enormous and a great spot for a wedding. They had one going on as we played the course. Also, noticed some mansions on the course, particularly a house on the 10th hole. The deck could hold more people than a typical golf clubhouse.

Weather was very good. Sunny and 80s. Would recommend this course to those that have the opportunity. It is private.

To keeping a good tempo,

Kurt