Turkey Shoot! Woburn CC

November 24 -Thanksgiving Day Turkey Shoot at Woburn CC! My brother played in it last year for the first time and he invited me to play this year. The event is a 9-hole scramble with an ABCD team. Each player's drive must be used once. You cannot make worse than a par. Also, you can make up to 4 birdie putts on a hole. For example, if you have a 5 footer for birdie and all team members make the putt, you score 4 under for the hole. Its a great format for the cold conditions and gives every team a chance if they have 1 or 2 good holes.

The atmosphere was even more fun than I expected. Barky (the golf pro) had a table set up near the first tee with bloody marys and shots of anisette! Players were tailgating in the parking lot with beer and cigarettes. I thought people were getting ready for the Pats game! It actually was a bunch of locals in jeans, red sox jackets, winter hats, winter gloves, hoodies, and work boots getting ready for a golf tournament. Who would have thought this has taken place for the last X number of year right down the street from my parent's home?? Where have I been?

My team started on the sixth hole. My partners (K. Winter, J. Gallagher and brother K. Gallagher) each shanked it right or pulled it left into the woods leaving me stranded. I striped a drive down the fairway, 60 yards from the pin, hit my approach to 7 feet (after my partners shanked or duffed their shots). None of us made the birdie putt. So, two good shots and we end up no better than anyone else in the field (because par is worst score you can get)! After many chances, we succeeded by making 3 under on the first hole. I hit a 7-iron approach to 4 feet. Then, I made a 15 footer for birdie on number 3 on Winter's approach shot from 100 yards. We finished 4 under, thinking that would put us in the running.

Who else was out there??.....

My brother and TC. They fired a solid 5 under to take home the Turkey Cup. Derek hit a 15 footer for birdie on the 2nd hole, the group's final hole of the day. A clutch performance by my brother and the former State High School champion went down. Should I return for a rematch?

I think so, but this time I hope I get my brother on my team!

Some other moments of note

-TC handing out 20 dollar bills to Derek after the round saying 'barky gave me extra, you made the winning birdie, so take some more money'

-Barky opening a bottle of goldschlager to take shots after the tournament finished

-My partner spilling beer all over myself. Still feeling the effects of a late night at the bar.

-Barky driving around the course with a bucket full of beers

By the way, the weather is great right now. I played 9 holes the next day with my Dad and 18 the following day at Lexington. It reached mid-60s on 11/26/11!

Looking forward to the next Shoot.

Congrats Derek!

Kurt