Naples Trip - Reuniting the Team

March 20 – 23

Bates, Richards, and Flionis lean back and look at each other with a grin, then a head nod, and the words “lets do this again next year!”  The thought of adding in more downtime crossed our minds as we sat on the 9pm flight home from Ft. Lauderdale.  Yeah good idea, maybe, well see.  We were coming off six rounds of golf in 72 hours.  Each one of us couldn’t have been happier with the time together, golf courses, the competition, and the weather and our gracious hosts over the weekend.  

First host, Mr. Gargiulo; our Bentley Golf teammate, friend, and great golfer.  He has this Shivas Irons mystique, something about him; and he is good, real good.  Prior to the trip, my friend Swen said “enjoy Gargiulo making every 15 footer on u”.  My brother  when thinking about him said, “I didn't realize Gargiulo was the Florida guy you were meeting up with--I would have remembered him by name since I hung out with him in your room in Rhodes at least twice.  I remember you telling me he had a pro-level short game back in the Bentley days.”  Despite the surprise that Gargiulo ended up being the high man on three putts, he was the low man on stroke play over 108 holes.  I’d say the 3 putts is a result of his aggressiveness and confidence…he probably dropped the most 15-20 foot putts.  Gargiulo is now a resident of Naples.  He guided us around the Naples area and got us out on a serious gem and very prestigious Hole in the Wall Golf Club.  Thanks Gargiulo!!  We call this place August National meets Marlborough Country Club.  Its got all the characteristics I like to see in a golf club, including pure golf only, mint greens, walkable, beautiful sand, and requires all the shots from tee to green. 

Second host, my family in Boca, including my Aunt Iris, Uncle Jay, and 98-year old (almost 99) Gram.  We all had dinner together at Brio, enjoying many laughs about life, business, my hair, my dating life, golf, etc.  The time was too short together, but nonetheless worth every effort to find the time we did together.  Boca is a beautiful area.  Bates, Richards, and I kept saying why aren’t we down here when Boston finishes off a record winter of over 105” inches of snow, the majority coming in a 45 day stretch!  Brutal! (and still snowing during this trip)  Lets go with "balance" as why stay; 4 seasons bring a balance of options and opportunities.  Plus another reason to fly to Gargiulo and my family. 

Jumpin to the Non-Stop Trip (btw the four of us love golf, so this is a constant HIGH until we crash to our beds)…oh it was also March Madness time, so no shortage of entertainment and betting.

The Bets: Rotating 18 hole best ball matches, dots (birdies, greenies, sandies), snake (any 3 putt adds $1 to pool), daily low gross, weekend low gross, everyday side match with the relentless Bates (love it), longest hole out…I’m sure I am missing some, we had it all going

The Schedule:

Friday: Land in Ft Lauderdale at 930am; quick brunch; tee off at Boca Lago at 12:30pm; dinner with Flio family at 6pm; 100 mile drive to Naples

Saturday: 8am tee off at Fiddlers Creek; no lunch; 130pm tee off at Wyndemere; dinner at Senor Tequila’s

Sunday:  8am tee off at Vanderbilt; lunch at Vanderbilt clubhouse; 220pm tee off at Old Corkscrew; dinner at Blue Monkey

Monday: 8am tee off Hole in the Wall Golf Club; lunch at Black Eyed Pig BBQ; 100 mile drive to Ft. Lauderdale; Arrive in Boston 11:30pm

The Results:

Gargiulo wins low gross over the weekend with limited big mistakes.  Flio wins overall group bets pool (somehow wins the longest hole out at 44ft! and takes dots with a 10 dot effort at Old Corkscrew).  Bates gets low round of trip at 75 at Vanderbilt (impressive given next best at Vanderbilt was 81).  Richards wins snake pool for least three putts (2).   

The biggest dagger of the weekend was when I drained an 18 foot birdie putt from the apron on the 18^th hole at Old Corkscrew for the Bates/Flio 1up win over Gargiulo/Richards.  This came right after Kyle missed a birdie bomb by inches.  You should have seen the look on everyone’s faces.  Disbelief!  Shock!  Excitement!

Hole in the Wall GC - Look at this place!!

Gargiulo was sweet swinging tempo most of the weekend, ripping drivers down the middle and over trees.  Bates would make hot runs and putted well considering he just gave up the belly putter.  Kyle was a master putter from inside 10 feet and was playing a fade?  I was just trying to take Bates money all weekend, even taking my shoes and socks off at the Hole in the Wall Golf Club to play from the bank of a pond, you ain’t getting me without a fight!  I hit some great iron shots, putted poorly, and showed touch in the bunkers (many dots hea!!).  

What a great time!  We had amazing weather, 80s and sunny everyday.  The golf courses would take too long to write about, but Hole in the Wall was the favorite (perfect, I mean perfect greens) followed by Old Corkscrew (great layout and challenge) and Fiddlers Creek (immaculate condition).  Vanderbilt, Boca Lago, and Wyndemere were all solid.  Each course had nice greens. 

No shoes and socks on!

It was just like old times at Bentley.  We didn't miss a beat and the game, competition, friendship is appreciated even more.

Gargiulo, hope to see you up north later this year! And congrats on the engagement and house!

Ready for warm weather in Boston,

Flio

Golf Channel Am Tour - Kiawah Island

March 13-15:  GCAmTour Kiawah Championship at Ocean Course and Turtle Point
Turtle Point: Par 72 - 6,526 yards (Round 1)
Ocean Course: Par 72 - 6,566 yards (Round 2)

My scores: 84-82 (Overall T17 of 178; Championship Division 13 of 26)

Kiawah Ocean Course Starter

My friend Gavin and I flew into Charleston, SC thru DC on Thursday evening.  We arrived in Charleston after midnight and by chance had a Wendy's right next to our hotel.  The fast food chain never tasted so good (the rare times when bad food choice = great decision is fun).  On Friday morning, we made the one hour drive to the infamous Kiawah Island, stopping along the way at a gem breakfast place called Sunrise Bistro, which had amazing open faced omeletes.

This was my first trip to Kiawah, host of the 2012 PGA Championship and location of the currently ranked #3 course you can play in the U.S. (the Ocean Course).  Given my background in Massachusetts and golf travels, this place had a mix of Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard, combined with the extravagance of a Waldorf Astoria.  The Sanctuary Hotel was to be marveled at, with ridiculously expensive interiors (wish I stayed there) and a steakhouse we couldn't get in because we didn't have the formal attire and the homes along the island spoke Wall Street Wall Street Wall Street.

Kiawah Ocean Course Driving Range

Well, we were here for the golf.  And the golf was something special.  The Ocean Course's putting green and driving range flanked the ocean, literally with bags of sand standing nearby to prepare for a beach reclamation project.  The caddies wore white jump suits, the back nine was one of the prettiest nines of golf I've ever played (can't believe the shots the pros have to hit from back tees, especially the 240 yard+ par-3 17th over water, I mean all water), and the greens were firm, fast, and many turtle back with shaved grass all around.  Wide fairways, no out of bounds, tightly bound grass that looks withered from the ocean salt (aka not perfect green grass),

very tricky greens.  When the wind blows here, its a bear of a course.  We had strong winds in the practice rounds that changed club selection by 2 clubs easily and calm during the tournament.  My caddie Dean was exceptional, great guy that lives in Charleston area with his wife.  His nephew is a rock star.

The other course we played was Turtle Point, a Jack Nicklaus redesign.  This course is New England like with similar grass (less grain), tree lined holes, tight, and not overly long.  Accuracy prevails over distance on most holes.  I really enjoyed this course.  Greens were excellent.  I saw my first 10 foot long alligator here.

My game was rusty as expected and I putted poorly.  6 doubles, 35 putts, and 38 putts are bad numbers.  Hitting 12 greens at the Ocean Course was encouraging.  I'm excited to build on this experience coming home to Boston.

I could see myself coming back here next year and spending a day in Charleston.  Would love to bring more friends and family.  The Southern lifestyle is attractive!  We avoided expected rain all weekend and temperatures reached the 70s on Sunday, the other days were between 50-65.

Thanks Gavin putting together most of the bookings for this trip.

Back to New England snow (100 inches plus this winter!)
Kurt

p.s. snow delayed our flight home on Sunday night (March 15!); we arrived in Boston close to 1am and everyone else too, as the cab line was 45 minutes long!

Season Finish Recap 2 - 3 events

This is a fun time of year when the tournament schedule shifts to team competition:

September 21, 2014: LGC Fall 2-Man
Course: Lexington GC
Scorecard: Par 71 - 6,100 yards
Best Ball - 1 Net Plus 1 Gross: 138 (T5)

Brief Recap: Mikey K and I teed it up with S. Keegan and D. Brennan.  We battled, but did not have our best.  Due to a scorecard mistake by my great friend S.Keegan, we were knocked out of the money.  Good day of golf and laughs.

October 4-5, 2014: LGC Member Member
Course: Lexington GC
Scorecard: Par 71 - 6,100 yards
Best Ball Net: 68-70 = 138 (T18)

Brief Recap: Todd K and I teed it up and played with Mannings (both Peters).  Todd and I have done very well together in the past, but this time was not going for us.  I did not hold up my end, making few gross birdies.  I shot gross 76-74.  Todd's game was not his typical play and he did not make as many net birdies.  We enjoyed the company of the Mannings and was good to catch up with Todd.

October 11-12, 2014: Norfolk County Four Ball
Course: Presidents GC
Scorecard: Par 70 - 5,800 yards
Best Ball Gross: 71-74 = 145 (T43)

Brief Recap: Mecke and I were first time teammates.  Under rainy and cold conditions (got called off course for 60+ minutes during round, it felt close to cancelling whole day), we pulled together a marginal Day 1.  On Day 2, we started on the tough #6 with a bogey, then I birdied #7.  We got to the 10th tee at even and then the wheels fell off.  We proceeded to go bogey, bogey, bogey, double, par, bogey, bogey, bogey on holes 10-17.  +8 thru 12 on best ball!  It was so bad.  Not sure what turned, but the flip switched "on" after 17.  On 18, I stuck a 9-iron to 6 inches and made birdie.  On 1, Mecke chipped in from short left of the green to front left pin for birdie.  We just missed birdie on 2 and 3 and then I birdied 4 and Mecke birdied 5 to go 4 under on last 6 holes and avoid the basement of the leaderboard!  Where was that all weekend!  Really enjoyed competing with Mecke and hope to do so again in the future.  Also, Alberico brothers are cool dudes.  My individual gross scores were 73-78.

Season Finish Recap 1 - 2 events

August 21, 2014 - Massachusetts Mid Amateur Qualifier
Course: Marlborough CC
Scorecard: Par 71 - 6,500 yards
Score: 83 (T43 of 80)

Brief Recap: I felt great about my game coming into this event and the results were very weak.  My energy level was so depleted, physically and mentally, which led to poor tee shots and I recall about seven three-putts!  It was so sluggish out there!  I grinded and couldn't pull it together.  It was great to enjoy dinner with my good friend C. Bates (he shot 80) and his Dad after the round.

September 13-14, 2014 - Dennis Four Ball
Course: Dennis Highlands GC
Scorecard: Par 71 - 6,464 yards
Best Ball Gross Scores: 69-69 = 138 (T9 of ~40 teams)

Brief Recap: M. Murphy and I had a solid showing against a very strong field, with USGA qualifiers and MGA champions.  We were happy with two rounds under par, especially on Day 2 when the winds were blowing hard.  One of my best birdies was Day 2 on Hole #7 Par 3, pin on right side of green and front, leaving little room to get to the hole.  I hit a 6 iron to 10 feet above pin.  Always a great weekend and well run tournament!  I've lost count, but we are probably over 7 consecutive years in this event.

LGC Club Championship - Rd 3 and Rd 4 - 5 time

Aug 2 - 3:
18 hole lead: 1 shot
36 hole lead: 2 shots
54 hole lead: 4 shots
Final: 2 shot victory
Scores: 69-78-74-76 = 297 (+13)

I won my 5th club championship, which I believe is one off tying the club record!  It was no easy feat as I struggled in the final round.  My 4 shot lead was cut to 1 within the first few holes.  I never relinquished the lead and the tension was high as ever during the tournament.  My championship moment when I truly felt like I was in a dream, everything around me was still and non-existent, as I made a hard swinging right to left 20 foot putt to save par on 16 (back right pin putting from crest of ridge).  As I prepared to putt, I envisioned making a very similar putt years back when I previously won in front of friends (Brandin) and family and at that moment the meaning of the putt disappeared and it was laser focus on making a good putt.  This penultimate putt came after my tee shot went into the trees on the 17th tee box, barely giving me enough room to punch out.  It was an incredibly emotional hole, I was shaking after.  I went on the win by 2 shots over S. Keegan and B. Douglass.  Keegan and I played head to head the whole final round.  He is a true competitor and a great friend.  What a rush and I am honored again to have my Dad caddying for me again (and for all the victories!).

And to do it wire-to-wire is special.  You go through so many ups and downs in 72 holes.  My Dad and I are pushing and pulling so hard.  From an almost flawless 69 in Round 1, to battling to shoot mid-70s tests resolve and determination.  We drew on experience and teamwork.  I'll leave it to an excerpt from Pacino to Any Given Sunday (I added golf),

"You find out life's this game of inches, so is football (golf). Because in either game - life or football (golf) - the margin for error is so small. I mean, one half a step (swing) too late or too early and you don't quite make it. One half second too slow, too fast and you don't quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us. They're in every break of the game, every minute, every second. On this team we fight for that inch. On this team we tear ourselves and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our fingernails for that inch. Because we know when add up all those inches, that's gonna make the f*&king difference between winning and losing!" 

As the golfers say on Tour, its culmination of a lot of work that puts you in a position to win.  With a combination of skill, luck, and positive attitude, anything is possible.

Feeling grateful,
K

US Mid Amateur Qualifier - Southwick, MA

July 28 - Ranch GC - Par 72 - 7,174 yards
Score - 74 (T12 out of 60)

It was my third consecutive day of tournament golf!  One day after a disappointing 78 in the second round of the LGC club championship, I had a chance to erase those thoughts.  The day was humbling because I was expecting a wash out (forecast was scattered thunderstorms all day) and it made me realize how excited I was to play and fortunate to have these opportunities.  My ride along the Mass Pike for 90+ miles included consistent, heavy rain, some torrential enough to ruin vision beyond a few yards.  I pulled over in Charlton to call The Ranch about tee time status.  The lady in the pro shop says, "On time, 8am off 10 and 1.  Thanks."

What!? Okay? I thought in disbelief.  When I pulled into the Ranch at 745am, there was no rain and partly sunny.  It stayed that way all day!  I took advantage making birdie on the Par 5 1st and then going out in 37.  I was in the hunt with a strong back nine!

Bogeys at 11 and 12 set me back but I held strong and came in with 37.  I battled all the way to the last putt.  I missed the cut by 3 shots.  I missed 8 putts inside 10 feet.  It is a very fine line out here; if my putter was hot I was in.  Great experience.  Great golf course.  My playing partners J. White and K. Harrington were fun to walk with.  Me and K. Harrington talked a lot of hoops, given his bro is the former trainer of Kevin Durant!

Good luck to the qualifiers at Saucon Valley.  I will be rooting for you.

Savor each experience (good or bad),
K
p.s. Reflecting on a confident mind set, more aggressive play on long 4s and par-5s.

Club Championship at Lexington GC - Rounds 1 and 2

July 26 - 27: First two rounds of 72 hole gross stroke play tournament

Scores: 69-78 = 147

Someone (not close to me) recently said golf seemed very important to me and wished me good luck in the tournaments ahead.  The LGC club championship has a different vibe and meaning to me than others because its "home."  I go through a similar routine each year in preparation (e.g. sleep pattern, pre-round off-site routine).

In Round 1 and Round 2, it was disappointing to see that a few familiar faces were not playing; R. Lynch and L. Smith.  I was paired with S. Keegan and J. Harding.  My Dad was on the bag, a celebrity in his own right at LGC and not even a member.  On the first hole, I scrambled from the rough on the far side of the right greenside bunker to a front left pin to save par.  From there, I rolled along with three consecutive pars, bogeyed #5, birdied #6 and #7, and barely missed birdie at #8.  On the back nine, I birdied #14, #16, and #18 to shoot 69!  S. Keegan shot 70 including a 135 yard hole out on #9 for 3 and a 40 foot birdie on 18 from back fringe to middle pin.  Two incredible shots!  What a fun day.  Weather as mid 70s and sunny.  It was an easy, free flowing round for me.  Good luck was spurred by my Dad's friends Maury and Tommy.  Motto: To beat par; Result: 2up on par and 1st place by 1 shot

Day 2: I felt fantastic and was amped up.  I came out with a shaky bogey on #1 (made a 12 footer); then went par, par, birdie.  After that, the wheels started to loosen...4 bogeys over the next 5 due to bad tee shots on 5,6, and 7.  I was still feeling confident at the turn, making a solid par at 10 and placed a perfect drive at #11; boom here we go.  I proceeded to hit a 4-iron into the right fescue and made 7 :(.  I was up and down the rest of the way for a 78.  The golf course was interesting with the white tees back on #3 (par 4 - 450 yards) and blue tees on fifth tee box for hole #12 (par 4 - 485 yards).  The 12th tee was an idea of a golf course architect who recently visited.  I birdied #12 with a chip-in!  Wish there were skins.  It was the first birdie in LGC history on that hole.  Overall the course was get-able and I felt solid so results were disappointing.  Still, my lead was 2 shots.  

Another heroic hole by S. Keegan on #10.  After shanking his second shot into the right woods and declaring a lost ball, he stiffs his next shot and makes bogey.  There was hard rain over the last 5.5 holes.  We barely finished before conditions were deemed unplayable.  The Ladies Club Championship had to cancel its final 18.  

My take away after Round 2 was to not become overdefensive after a good round, push even more for a great score.  Too much thinking of where not to be, then where I want to go.

Kurt