Orange County National

April 3-8: Coming off the Horseshoe Bay trip, I was psyched to rebound with my performance at the Golf Channel Am Tour Event in Orlando at Orange County National, host of many PGA Tour Q-School Finals.  I definitely came with less expectations and an attitude of building confidence, not the expectations to shoot 72s.  My Dad and I arrived a few days early to play the Waldorf Astoria GC and a practice round at Orange County National - Panther Lake.  Both days were overcast, windy, and mixed rain.  There was severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings that ended up moving south of us, so we were pleasantly surprised to easily get in our rounds.

Day 1: Waldorf Astoria is a top shelf, well manicured, fair and fun layout.  The two of us cruised around, scraping off some rust.  I almost had a hole in one on number 7 from 181, landing inches from the cup.  I made a sliding 4 footer for birdie.  My Dad found himself in a plethora of sand traps throughout the course.  He is now well-skilled from fairway traps, including hitting a 3 wood out!  After the round, we spent an hour or so at the immaculate driving range and putting green, running into Christina Kim, who practices here regularly.  We settled inside during the afternoon rains and then had an amazing dinner at the hotel's steakhouse.  Lastly, we surprisingly ran into the Arthur Murray World Dance Competition being held at the resort's conference center.  Talk about fun!  We watched pretty woman in glitzy dresses dance the ramba, swing, mambo, etc. like you see on tv.  It was a four day competition.  We watched a few times during our stay.  I almost tripped a few times in awe of some of the women.

Me at first hole of Waldorf Astoria

Day 2: Tee'd it up at Orange County Panther Lake with my Dad and another father/son duo, the father was competing in the Golf Channel event.  They were from Virginia.  It was a very slow round, over 5 hours.  The conditions were sunny, but heavy winds - difficult to control distances.  My Dad made a fantastic birdie on number 9 from 170 yards, ball well below his feet, and water lurking right.  He carved a beautiful iron into a tucked right pin and made a 10 footer for bird.  My shot of the day was a 3-wood from 250 into the par-5 7th over water into wind.  We cancelled out steak dinner bets on those shots!  Before the round, we practiced a lot at the nation's largest driving range at Orange County and huge short game areas.  A disappointing driving range, not generous of giving golf balls, no distance markers, and almost no flags.  Then, we checked into the Orange County lodge, disgusted by the chemical laden and dirty tub room.  We immediately cancelled out after my Dad claimed heart problems.  We luckily found a room back in Disney where we stayed the prior two nights.  Do not stay at Orange County Lodge!

Day 3 (Tournament Round 1): I played Round 1 at Crooked Cat course on Orange County.  The morning tee off was cold for Orlando, low 50s and a crisp, cool wind.  I was shivering at the first tee.  Throughout the round, I was striking it well, but couldn't judge distances well in the wind and my short game was below average.  The middle of my round was strong, even par on nine holes (holes 14 through 4).  My driver was great.  I was greenside in two on every par 5, birdieing 2 of 4.  I finished by bogeying 4 out of 5 holes to shoot 80.  Played with a guy in his 50s from Wisconsin and a guy in his 30s who owned an electrical contracting company in Florida.  Post round: Got some pool time, watched a great Louisville-Michigan final

Orange County Panther Lake - Par 5 14th

four game over Italian dinner with my Dad.

My Dad - Waldorf Astoria fairway bunker

Day 4 (Final Tournament Round): Early morning tee off at Panther Lake.  My playing partner was a middle aged guy from PA and a 22 year old from FL.  The PA withdrew after nine holes, was at least 9 over par and said he ran out of golf balls!  I was on fire out of the gates, almost landing my first approach shot in the hole.  My ball striking was the best its been in a long time, I hit the first 12 greens in regulation, made 1 birdie and 1 bogey.  Numerous birdie putts edging the cups.  On holes 13-18, I finished six over par, 4 straight bogeys, 1 double, and 1 par.  Frustrating! I three-putted 14,15, and 16, not taking advantage of good shots.  My birdie putts just missed and ran by 4 feet as the greens sped up.  Once I missed a short one, it got in my head.  16 of 18 GIRs and I shoot 78.  Looking back, I'm thrilled with how I managed my game and it gives me great confidence going into the Massachusetts season, knowing if I keep this going, I'll have great success.

My goals are high and can't wait to play more.  My Dad and I had superb weather on the weekend in Orlando, high 70s and sunny.  I cherish these times and so grateful for the opportunity to have these experiences.  We finished the trip with pool time, range time again with Christina Kim, and more Italian food.  We both dislike the Orlando airport, nothing is easy there.

To confident and fun golf,
Kurt

Horseshoe Bay

Mar 2-3:
My Dad and I visited Austin and Horseshoe Bay, TX for a Golf Channel Amateur event.  It was a quick trip.  We flew in Friday morning and left Sunday evening.  In the middle 54 hours, we packed in a trip to Whole Foods' flagship store for lunch, 54 holes at Horseshoe Bay Resort, and some Texas barbeque.

The golf courses we played, Ram Rock and Apple Rock were both very difficult courses, with significant elevation changes, small greens, firm fairways, and many hazards.  With the Texas winds blowing all weekend and temperatures mostly in the 50s (low 40s in the morning and climbing to mid-60s on Sunday), my golf ball was traveling all over the place.  I actually could have used winter gloves to drive the golf cart in the am, it was that cold.

In the first round, my ball striking was excellent and I barely broke 90.  Hour glass greens were brutal.  My first hole of the tournament was the par-3 image below.  I won a skin on a different par-3, hitting a 7-iron to inches from the hole.  Hit a few drives 350 yards with the firm fairways.  The second course, Apple Rock, was one notch lower in difficulty, but still harder than most.  I shot worse, struggling off the tee and poor ball striking overall.  My expectations were not met.  Only one player broke 80 in my division over 36 holes.  There were only 12 birdies on the first day across the entire championship field.  I think I made 3 of them.  Clearly, most players struggled.  You needed to have complete control of your golf ball and feel comfortable playing different trajectories and shot shapes.  I didn't have that feel, let alone short game, coming out of the winter.

Hotel experience was mediocre.  The Marriott at Horseshoe Bay is nice, (cool putting course, nice wedding reception area), but the general area is lacking energy and the Horseshoe Bay community appears to face financial challenges, with mostly underdeveloped real estate lots, short staff, limited food options (and not that good), etc.  Don't plan on going back.  Austin looks like a great party city.

Best food might have been nacho dip at Slick Rock Golf Club.  Biggest mishap, beside my golf scores, was following the rental car GPS from the airport, took us in a loop that added one hour to our commute and left us scrambling to make our practice round tee time (showed up a few minutes late, no warmup time).  Biggest upset was my Dad beating me in a game of horse at the hotel.

2013 Season Underway!
Kurt

Range Visit

February 24 - Hit up McGolf Driving Range in the snow/rain with my new 913 D3, 6 iron, and PW.  I couldn't see the ball past 50 yards, but it was well worth the trip to swing and feel the feedback.  I continue to find I hit it the best when I am fresh and unhindered by near-term experiences...need to bring this relaxed concentration to the tournament scene.  Ran into my friend Tony and he told me his wife Lisa was expecting their first baby!  He was excited to be swinging his new Nike driver and was jealous of my upcoming Texas trip.  The game brings so many good people together and always makes me smile.  The weather is looking like low-to-mid 60s in Texas.  I'm off this weekend to Horseshoe Bay!

Namaste

Back Injury

Hurt my back on January 5th playing basketball.  Its believed to be pinched nerve.  It took a solid two weeks to get through very uncomfortable days and spasms.  Now I'm moving good, but the injury is still present.  No gym or exercises yet.  Glad its the winter time and not golf season!  Hope all my golfing buddies are having a healthy, fun, and active winter.

Everyone take care of their backs.  A little strengthening and stretching everyday helps!  Also, I recommend Genius of Flexibility in Boston if you are looking for a new direction in health and fitness.  Its pricey, but worth it in my opinion.

Kurt

Innisbrook - Humbling end to 2012

Dec 1-2: Trip to Innisbrook Golf Resort in Tampa, FL

Innisbrook is home to 4 championship golf courses including the Copperhead, host of the annual PGA Tour event called Transitions Championship.  The second most notable course is Island, host of an LPGA event.

I was in town to compete in the Golf Channel Am Tour Winter Championship at Copperhead and Island.  The format was 36 holes stroke play.  I arrived to the resort at 11pm on Friday November 30 with little time to prepare for my 813am first round tee time at Copperhead.  I geared up as best as I could, rising at 6am, having a full breakfast, hitting the driving range and practice putting green.  My first tee shot was a 3-wood right down the middle, setting up an 8-iron to the green and 2 putt par.  On the second hole, a tight par 5, a ripped 3-wood down the middle (not worth hitting driver but tempting given its a par-5, i was smart about it), laid up with a 6-iron, hit a wedge to pin high and made par.  The third hole has the signature copperhead logo cut out from bushes (you see on TV for the PGA tour), a 380 yard par 4 that requires a 200-yard shot to avoid water.  I hit 5-iron right down the middle then hit a solid 7-iron, but pulled it over the green (hit cart path).  With a chance to hit a flop shot and save par, I proceeded to thin the shot into a bunker.  Okay my bunker play is good, so I hit a great bunker shot to 5 feet.  What do I do? 3 PUTT!!  Ran the first putt by 5 feet and missed it coming back.  UGH! TRIPLE BOGEY, +3 after 3 just like that.

Copperhead course is a narrow track, however if you miss the fairways you can still play a shot back to fairway or possibly to the green.  Its a long course too.  We played at 6,800 yards, par 71.  This is long considering 5 par 3s.  Its got a lot of elevation changes.  You need to accept hitting 3-woods on par 5s and sometimes hybrids on long par-4s.  You will have long irons in your hands.  No gimmie holes.  The challenge for me was not keeping the ball in play, it was the short game.  If you were on the wrong side of the green, the putting was very challenging.  I had 6 three putts, 40 putts in total.  I did not lose a ball all day and shot 91.  I couldn't figure out the speeds (must have been the grain!) and I had no feel with the Florida rough chip shots!  Most greens were well surrounded by bunkers, making precision iron shots important.  I was hitting them greenside all day, but couldn't get up and down or I would three putt.

Day 2 at Island.  Folks were telling me this was the harder course!  Great, coming off a 91 and I have to deal with a harder course.  I was ready for a challenge.  Here we go!  First tee shot - COLD TOP at 730am.  Okay really, do you know how to play golf anymore!?  I made a nice bogey and then birdied number 2; phew.  Some momentum?  Nope.  Missed a 5 footer for par on 3, then 3 putt number 4 for bogey.  I shoot 87.  Another disaster day on the greens, 39 putts, including one 4 putt.

Island Course had many water hazards and thick wooded areas with Cypress trees.  If you went in there, you weren't finding the ball or if you did, you were not playing it.  See picture.  Greens were nicer than Copperhead.  I didn't get a bad lie in the fairway on either course.

I would recommend this place.  The resort was very peaceful, good food, very nice staff and service, and great courses.  I didn't see the other 2 courses, but were told they are each unique, one of them actually being wide open.

The weather was perfect, 80 and sunny both days.

Very humbling golf experience.

I'll tell ya, I got my money's worth on the course and even a little bit of a tan at the pool.  I hope to be back next year!

This wraps up my 2012 season.  Time to recharge.

Happy Winter,
Kurt

Bentley Battle

Nov 4 - First weekend in November, turn back the clocks, sunny and 50 degrees, and playing golf with my college teammates Bates and Richards.  Makes me extra happy I chose to play golf in college, an unbreakable bond of teammates and good friends for life.  That said, when it comes to our annual/bi-annual/other matches, a simple $5 Nassau, automatic press on the back, automatic presses after 2 down, and $1 junk brings as much motivation and pressure as tournament golf, especially in a tight match.

Bates and Richards vs. Flionis and Leary (Batesy's buddy from Marlborough)...Flionis/Leary win the front 1 up after Flio drains a 10 footer for par on 9...Flionis/Leary take a 2up lead on the back side through 13 (birdie by Leary on 11 and Flionis on 13), automatic press hits and Bates/Richards see the green light, they make par on 14 for a win, halve 15, Bates birdies 16 and 17 to win the press, square the overall match, and take the lead on the back nine, S&%T...all comes down to 18...Flionis makes par on 18, which squeaks out the win after Bates's slick downhill 10 footer rims out.  Squash the back nine, Bates/Richards win one press, Flionis/Leary win front nine and overall, Bates/Richards win the dots..net damage to Bates/Richards is $3...Bates beats Flio in side match 2 and 1 (crap)

Couple of key memories:

• Bates uses belly putter and drains multiple big putts, including a dagger on 17 for birdie (sharp right to left breaker from 15 feet), which he follows by saying "these greens are very similar to Marlborough"...nice of him to soften the blow...great putting...hopefully these things are illegal soon so I have a better chance of winning next time
• Bates brings half of his closet in his bag...very fashionable, alongside Richards with the lightly checked slacks
• Flionis/Leary win match 

Course was in great shape.  Looking forward to the next Bentley Battle.

Lata,
Flio

2012 Norfolk County Four Ball

October 13-14 – Another year at the Norfolk County, a 2-day best ball tournament with approximately 80 two-man teams.  The field is always strong and showed no different this year, with a number of the Massachusetts Tri-State players joining off their 9^th straight victory at Old Sandwich.  Its like when the PGA Tour says how many Ryder Cup players are showing up for a tour event.  Added competitive juices and hype.

My focus was to put up a better showing at Presidents, a course that doesn’t fit my eye and gives me problems every year.   That, or either my ball striking is off, and the wind plays havoc with poor ball striking here.  The tournament got off to a slow start.  There was a 90 minute frost delay, pushing back my tee time to 2:15pm off the tenth tee.  Weather was sunny, but cold…mid 50s and dropping by the hour.  Paired with good friends S.Keegan and D.Brennan

Murphy and I gave ourselves a number of opportunities, but failed to make putts all day.  I swear the greens were bumpy from the morning frost followed by a lot of golfers walking over them in the morning, couldn’t get a good roll.  My best shot was a 5-iron to 10 feet below the hole on 13.  Missed the putt.  Fifteen killed us, Murph hit his drive and third shot in the water, I hit a perfect drive, had 180 yards and plunked it…we made double (thanks Keegan and Brennan for still giving us the hole with your 8).  Only one team birdie on 5.  +2 thru 16 holes, then darkness hit.  We had eight and nine left to play.  After Dana calculated most of scores, the cut was projected at +2.  We had to finish our round in the AM and have balls in the air at 730, so the course could be cleared for 10:30 shotgun.  What!?  730!  We needed to wake and make two pars cold turkey or we are going home.   Keegan and Brennan were in good shape with even par. 

Next morning we wake up to sideways rain and cold!  48-50 degrees, windy, rainy.  No warmup.  Eighth tee Murph goes first, cold top…I hit it in 6^th fairway; Murph out of hole after 3 shots, I hit a 7-iron into the wind from 160 to front of green, great spot, wet green, slow right to left putt, right?  Nope, blew it by 6 feet.  Left to right putt downhill to make par, gotta have it.  Made it!  On nine, I missed a 10 footer for par, Mike has 20 feet for birdie, manageable speed, right?  Think twice, blows it by 6 feet.  This is a must make.  Got it!  I can’t remember working so hard to make two pars as a team.  We used up a lot of energy to avoid going home.

Two hours later we start on the 12^th hole with D.Evans and R.Friel.  Good guys.  Weather is cloudy, cold, windy, rainy…temperature rises and falls, rain starts and stop, last 6 holes are sunny and decent weather in 60s…we make birdies on 16, 2, 4, and 8; bogeys on 12,15,1,6, and 11.  My two shots of the day: 1) #4 – 6 iron to 8 inches above hole, ball stayed in its own ball mark; 2) #15 – another perfect drive, 190 yards to pin, I plunk 4-iron in water, drop and hit next shot with 5-iron plunk in water…Mike gets on green in 5 after two water balls…as we walk up to green, spotter marks my second ball in the water, half underwater; Hit it? Okay you never know – I take off my right shoe and sock, right foot is fully underwater, thinking Bill Haas, I play like bunker shot, I open the 60 degree and swing just like a bunker shot, don’t see anything and I hear Murph say that’s great, high lofting shot lands 12 feet past pin, then I make the putt half barefoot for bogey!!!  I went from disgust to excitement making a freaking bogey. 

We shoot 71.  Team Total = 143.  Brennan and Keegan shoot 65.  Excellent. 

Higgins and Falcucci dominate.  See below.

Great to see Swen and B. Murph!  Parka and Stova were the best of Bentley crew.  Thanks to my Dad for caddying in Round 1.  

This year the putter let us down as well as inability to hit a good second shot on 15.  No doubt we will be back next year.  Awesome event.

Fli

Results:

1st Brian Higgins-Dan Falcucci 62-64-126
2nd Andy Drohen-Chris Congdon 63-66-129
T-3rd Andrew Diramio-Ryan Riley 65-65-130
Paul Mitchell-Sean Fitzpatrick 64-66-130
Mike Riley-Arthur Fitzgerald 66-64-130
T-6th Jim Forsgard-Mark Elbery 65-66-131
Matt Bianchini-John Arcure 63-68-131
Greg Chalas-Steve Neidermire 64-67-131
T-9th Michael Haglof-Andy Loconto 68-64-132
Herbie Aikens-Bob Mancini 69-63-132
Steven Kuhn-Michael Butts 67-65-132
Michael Willock-Dan Najarian 67-65-132
Bob Avellino-Ron Harwood 64-68-132

Kurt Flionis - Mike Murphy 72-71-143