MGA Father Son 2012 at Crestwood CC

August 21 - My Dad and I competed in the MGA Father Son Tournament at Crestwood CC in Rehoboth, MA.  Its a selected drive, alternate shot competition.  Our goal coming in was to shoot in the 70s.  We only play this format once per year.  Its a blast!  Since golf is mostly an individual sport, team competition plays with your mindset.  You are not used to hitting shots that the other person is depending upon.  If I hit a bad shot, my Dad is stuck with the result and vice versa.  Also, you might go multiple holes without hitting an iron shot or a chip shot or a putt, which makes it challenging to get in a rhythm.  On the other side, its great to share the adrenaline and success of competition.  

We gained momentum on the 17th hole, when my Dad hit a shot to 6-feet and then I followed with a shot to 2-feet on the 150 yard hole.  We made our first birdie!  Then on 18, we were just short of the 520 yard par-5 in two, after my Dad hit a solid 3-wood.  I hit a poor chip which resulted in us making par.  We were moving in the right direction, birdie-easy par!  But the round ended for us, too late, we shot 81.

The first sixteen holes were a mix of poor chips and putts that cost us at least 5 shots.  Also, I didn't help our momentum on the first hole, by hitting a 106 yard approach shot from the middle of the fairway to the bunker, sorry Dad!  My Dad almost chipped in for birdie on 10 and I almost did the same on 11.  My Dad hit a huge par putt on 13 from 20 feet downhill!

The golf course was in great shape.  The weather conditions were perfect, mid-80s and sunny.  It was our first time playing Crestwood.  It seemed like a lot of doglegs, where knowing your best angles on tee shots would have helped.  Not a long course, firm greens.  Between my length and my Dad's, we should have been much better.  We played the Joyce father-son team from Farm Neck GC in Martha's Vineyard.

Can't beat playing with my Dad!
Kurt

2012 Lexington Club Championship - Character Building Victory

Played over two weekends, July 21-22 and July 28-29, I have waited over a week to write and reflect on my victory at the Lexington Golf Club Club Championship, the coveted title for every low-handicap golfer at the club.  I've been lucky enough to win it four times.  And I can tell you three things: 1) It will never get old; 2) It will never been easy; 3) It always builds character.

I want to focus on #3.  As I sat on the clubhouse porch, shortly after making an incredible par on the 72nd hole to win by one shot, I couldn't get settle down from the emotions I went through during the final round; losing confidence which led to lack of tempo, tighter grip pressure, and tension.  In these situations, the game moves so much faster, you lose rhythm and every shot becomes harder than it would be under non-pressure rounds.  On the porch, I basically felt like I lost the tournament even though I won.  Watching a six shot lead drop to one by the seventh hole.  My Dad kept encouraging me to stay focused and consistently reminded me of my game plan.

When I prepared to hit my third shot into the 72nd hole from 125 yards to the back left pin (i hit a great punch out from the right woods with a 6-iron to get to this spot), I thought about my well-struck approach on the 9th hole earlier that day which came up well short.  There was still a breeze against us.  I looked at my Dad and said, "I don't know the exact leaderboard, but I feel like we need a par.  I need to be aggressive."  I came through with a fantastic shot to 10 feet below the hole and drained the putt for a 1-shot victory over my playing partner S. Geldart!

As I sat there with my parents and fellow members, I really couldn't believe it.  Everything moved so fast, yet I came through with a great finish and my putting was phenomenal.  I never had a doubt I would make the last putt, even after backing off because of a bug and with the green surrounded by a large group of members.  I had one three putt during 72 holes.  I had 30 putts or less in every round.  My friend Mr. Potter said, "This game builds character."  It is a very meaningful statement, especially at the time given I was disappointed in how it unfolded for me.  Every round you play, pressure or not, takes you through different mental and physical exercises.  You learn how your body and mind react under different conditions.  And you will likely be watching others succeed or fail at the same time in a completely different manner.  If you keep persevering and learning from situations, you will keep building on your character.

I am so thrilled the work I put in paid off and grateful for the support of my parents, brother and his girlfriend, and many others.  My Dad caddied three rounds.  My brother caddied one day.  My Mom watched the final three rounds.  And my brother's girlfriend watched a round too.

This was a very memorable championship.  The roller coaster ride was worth it all.  I can sit here and enjoy the victory as much as if I won by 10 shots.

Thanks for reading,
Kurt

p.s.: 1) I also conquered the ninth hole.  First weekend I was +6 on the ninth.  Second weekend I was even par on it, including a winning putt!; 2) I had a share of the lead or outright lead in all rounds.

Golf and Gamble

July 13-14: Great weekend at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun with my parents; we packed in gambling at both casinos, golf, and lots of food in 24 hours; my numbers 11, 26, and 30 were hitting at roulette and the pizza at Frank Pepe's was awesome; also recommend the nachos at Scorpion Bar; I played the Mohegan Sun CC - its a difficult course in that the landing areas are surrounded by fescue lined bunkers and the greens are anything but flat - having not played there before, it was not easy selecting clubs off the tee; course conditions were nice but I bet Lake of Isles is a level or two up from this course - I played okay; I feel I lost a shot on many holes due to lack of knowledge, i made 11 bogeys and 2 birdies to shoot 81 - had a fantastic weekend and I'm not a big gambler!

Aces,
Kurt

Dew Sweepers at LGC

July 7-8: The Annual Mid Summer Classic at LGC; my second favorite tournament at the club.  I teamed up with my stalwart, jovial, awesome partner M. Keegan.  We paired up with S. Keegan and D. Brennan, the team I consider to be our biggest challenge.  However, my idea of one of our teams winning this thing failed again as Team Caruso continued its dominance (three years in row??), shooting a two day total of 125.  Nice going to Paul and Jim!

Steve and Dan finished solo second at 128 and Mike and I claimed a tie for 4th place at 131.  We had perfect weather both days, sunny and 80s.  My morning loving playing partners chose to subject me to 716am tee times both days.  We literally we sweeping the dew of the greens.  Despite that, the greens were rolling great, almost at club championship speeds requiring delicate touch from all angles.

Mike and I shot 63-68.  On Day 1 we had a very strong start to the back nine going (on a best ball net basis) eagle, birdie, birdie, par, birdie, and birdie (last three was bogey, par, birdie).  We shot a back nine 30.  Carrying that momentum into Round 2 (modified Alternate Shot), we made a long birdie putt on 1, bogeyed 4, birdied 5, birdied 7, bogeyed 8, and parred 9...to make a long story short, Mike and I played great for the first 7 holes, then went into a +5 on 6 hole stretch that knocked us out of the running.  While we stumbled, Steve and Dan surged, reversing a poor start and making a solid run on the back nine with well played shots around the greens.

Regardless of the results, this group always has a boatload of laughs.  They even got to me have a Corona!  My shot of the weekend came on the 17th hole in Round 2.  Playing as a 100-yard par-3 into a slight breeze, I opted (after some internal resistance) to play a 3/4 gap wedge to lower trajectory instead of a full SW.  Might sound easy, but it can hard to pull out the longer club!!  I struck it perfect, landing inches from the hole and stopping on a dime to inches, tap in bird for my partner.  If often pays off to take out the extra club, leading to a shorter backswing and better tempo!

Mid Summer lived up to all its greatness.  Awesome weekend!  Two weeks until the LGC Club Championship.  I expect another great tournament.

Cheers to the Dew Sweepers,
Kurt

WCA 2012 - Kettle Brook and Wachusett CC

June 30-July 1: Worcester County Amateur
Day 1: Mid-high 80s, sunny, and breezy at Kettle Brook GC.  At 6,912 yards from the tips, with a strong breeze, and large elevation changes, this course can play havoc.  Most of the holes seemed to be playing into the wind, even the 490 yard par-4 ninth.  Scores were much higher than last year, with 70 as the Round 1 low, compared to 65 last year.  I played with a Mr. 69 years old (W. Cosgrove), who brought his reliable caddie from Worcester CC, Randy.  He and I chatted briefly about the Celtics and didn't know KG would return (for 3 yrs!) until after the round.  We later joined up with J. Frew and H. Hough on the 12th tee because play was sooo slow.  We finished in 5 hours and 30+ minutes.  My golf swing was not comfortable at all, however, my short game was excellent.  I had 7 one putts and 30 putts overall.  I bogeyed 17 and 18 to shoot 77.  My adventure was extra fun today with Zully supporting me and driving the golf cart loaded with PBJs, bananas, cashews, and Lara Bars.  Her first time on the golf course!  If I had to pick a few things to characterize my great putting today, it would be a slow stroke and very good feel for the speed.  Birdies on 7 and 14, both par 5s.  Total putts: 30 (1 three putt); 2 birdies, 1 double, 5 bogeys, 10 pars

Day 2: Tee'd off with K. McCarthy (Harvard) and S. Neidermire (Thorny Lea); good group.  My ball striking was night and day compared to yesterday.  I hit my first 8 greens in regulation, 12 out of the first 14, 10 out of 14 fairways; made 9 straight pars (holes 2-10).  I was very confident off the tee; something about Wachusett fits my eye well.  These greens are some the trickiest I play during the summer; you can easily have an 8 footer and then have a return putt of 20 feet if not careful, one of my playing partners putted off the 13th green and had to chip back up to the pin.  I was +1 thru 14 and finished double, double, bogey, bogey to shoot 79.  37 putts (3 three putts); 2 birdies (#12, #14), 2 doubles, 5 bogeys, 9 pars.  I feel a took a lot of positives out of this weekend.  Today, I really saw that my swing can be great under pressure.  I was in the zone off the tee, picking a line and not even concerned about trouble, as I knew the tee ball wouldn't get far off line.  Great tempo.  Great vision on shots.  Relaxed grips, turn, release.

Both courses were in great shape.  Tricky pin placements on both days.  Wachusett CC greens were faster than Kettle Brook.

Happy 4th of July week,
Kurt

Final Results:
JAKE GREER 72 69 141
DEVIN BIBEAU 70 72 142
RICHARD   POWERS 77 69 146
RICKY   STIMETS 76 71 147
SAM RUSSELL 74 74 148
MATTHEW   LEGER 72 76 148
J.C. GUTHRIE 72 76 148
TAYLOR FONTAINE 76 73 149
JOSHUA   FARMER 76 73 149
BRIAN   HIGGINS 73 77 150
MICHAEL   MERTES 80 71 151
DANIEL   FALCUCCI 75 76 151
RJ FOLEY 75 76 151
DYLAN EVANS 75 76 151
ALEX DALEY 75 76 151
RYAN RILEY 72 79 151
FRANK VANA 78 74 152
CHRIS COREY 79 74 153
MICHAEL   HAGLOF 76 77 153
JEFFERY   SANTORA 75 78 153
STEPHEN   QUARTARONE 78 76 154
DAVID   FALCUCCI 76 78 154
ALEX BURY 79 76 155
BRIAN KELLY 76 79 155
HARRY HOUGH 76 79 155
THOMAS   HENDERSON 75 80 155
DAVID HOLMES 73 82 155
JIM RUSHIONI 81 75 156
TERRY DUNN 81 75 156
KURT FLIONIS 77 79 156

Mass Am Qualifier 2012 - Elmcrest

Felt great about my game coming into this one after a good ball striking round (74) at the Year UP Corporate Event at Weston GC on Monday.  My Dad and I woke up at 430am and made the 1 hr 45 min ride to East Longmeadow.  The weather was excellent, mid 70s and a mix of clouds and sun.  I teed off on 10 at 824am with my 3 wood down the right side into the rough, leaving only a sand-wedge shot to a front middle pin.  I made my best wedge swing of the day, knocking it right below the hole to 6 feet and drained the putt for birdie.  What a start!  I made bogeys on 12 and 13, missed a 3 foot birdie putt on 14, and then unfortunately doubled the par-5 15th after knocking a hybrid into an unplayable lie over the green.  +3 thru 6.  After the double, I felt I lost 4 shots in 2 holes.  The rest of the way I made a mix of pars and bogeys, then doubled 18 for a 78, 5 shots off the cut line.  My lag putting was excellent.  I made some awesome recovery punch shots from the woods, including a punch 5 iron to 6 feet from woods 100 yards out.  (missed the birdie putt :( ).  I left very disappointed because my swing is good right now and my putting is good.  The pressure still got to me on my many shots, just enough to miss greens, fairways, and chips.  That said, I did hit many good shots and continue to see improvement in my tournament play.  Golf course was in great shape.  My best swings continue to be those with a quiet lower body, relaxed shoulders, and a compact back swing.
Perseverance,
Kurt

Sherrill Cup 2012

June 6, 2012 - The "Big Four" were back, not to be confused with Celtics big four, determined to win the Sherrill Cup, a 36-hole competition against 24 other private clubs who send their best players.  The day before, Dan, Steve, Rob, and I played a practice round at Essex CC.  The Scottish starter sent us off at 3pm into what I call the 'field of dreams' of golf.  We had the whole place to ourselves.  The young guys won the match!  The shot of the day (and maybe year?) came from me on the par 3 11th.  I was a few yards short right of the green in the first cut of rough, the pin was about 7 paces on the front right, at the bottom of a severe right to left slope.  I say to the guys, 'watch this, Tiger Woods, (referencing Tiger's recent chip (high flop) in at the Memorial Tournament from a treacherous spot on 16)'.  I flopped it high into the air, carrying most of the slope and landing it a few feet to the right of the pin, it rolled and stopped on the edge.  Couldn't believe it, I paused watching and then started walking to the cup, when I got halfway it dropped in!!  Birdie 2, called it!

Okay, moving to tournament day, we teed off at 750am and 230pm with Pinebrook CC.  The weather was overall good, some showers in the morning and a fair wind.  Rob and I played both rounds together, with Lee S. and Andrew B. on the bags.  They were excellent!!  I played well, a few breaks off of the tee, birdied 14, and shot 78.  My only bad hole was 16, when I made double bogey from the 15th fairway; not a hard place to make par from.  That carried over to a poor bogey on 17, then parred 18.  I stumbled in, which was disappointing.  My other bogeys came from lack of up and downs or three putts.  Essex CC does not allow you any breaks around the greens, you have to study every putt, as you can easily leave yourself 5-10 footers all day for par.  Course was in phenomenal shape...greens were perfect.  It was wet from overnight rain and a lot of rain the previous days.

Rob had 78, Steve 78, and Dan 77.  We finished the morning at 311, 5th place and 9 off the lead.

In the afternoon, Rob took the odd holes and I had the even (alternate shot).  We started nicely with par on 1, bogey on 2, and par on 3.  When we got to 4, the wind was howling down wind, exact opposite as the morning when I hit hybrid (note: wind was exact opposite on every hole in the afternoon!).  I was debating between the 4-iron and hybrid.  I couldn't get myself to hit 4-iron on a 238 yard shot, even though short of the green is a very good spot to be.  I hit the hybrid, trying to take off some of the distance, and blocked it so far right in the fescue...LOST ball.  Rob played a nice iron to just short of the green and we made 6.  Two years in a row, this hole crushed us.  The good news was instead of falling apart, we bounced back quickly with an EAGLE on 5!  I hit a hybrid to 6 feet from 218 yards, dead into the wind.  Thank you thank you for making a shot!  It was a risk to go for it.  We parred through eight.  On nine, Rob hit his drive left off of the trees.  I had 215 yards to the green, needing to hit a draw to get in on.  I confidently swung a 4-iron, hitting the branches of a tree on the backswing (and downswing) and MISSED the golf ball, 3 inches above the ball.  WHAT THE HECK!  It became more laughable, then embarrassing.  Rob had to step up and follow that!  Calmly, he hit a nice shot greenside in the rough, and we got up and down for bogey!  Phew...bogey okay, but my confidence a bit shaken.

We birdied 11 and then had a mix of pars and bogeys, finishing at 77.  Two disappointing bogeys to finish on 17 and 18, after perfect drives.  Steve and Dan shot 80.

Afternoon total of 157.  Team Total of 468.  We finished 4th place, one shot out of third.

This is one of my favorite golf days of the year.  Love the course.  Love the team aspect.  Can't wait for next time.

Cheers,
Kurt