As I’ve previously stated in these columns my main goal with golf is not centred around any one target score or handicap number, it is simply to play the game and steadily improve along the way so I can enjoy it for the rest of time on this planet.
That said, there were two concrete goals in mind that I hoped to achieve this season. The first was to break 100, which happened back in June on my first 18 of the year, with a 95 at Trickle Creek. I then shot a 92 at St. Eugene two days later, but then fell into a bit of a slump, through which I was shooting around 110, had a couple rounds of exactly 100 and somehow managed to get a hole in one.
I then finally got back into the 90s a couple weeks ago, tying my personal best (PB) at Trickle with another round of 95.
My other goal for the year was to break 40 from the white tees at Bootleg Gap’s Rec 9. Located just a few good driver shots from my house in Marysville this track is my most frequently played, and I am profoundly grateful for its existence. Not only is it extremely close to my house, but at around 22 bucks to play and featuring a punch card that gives you a free round after you play five, my wallet is also a big fan.
In addition to being nearby and a great deal the course, while not long by any means, has its fair share of challenges. It requires accuracy off the tee and errant shots often result in opportunities to practice your scramble game, or lost balls.
I usually only hit driver once, on the par five fourth, though sometimes try and get my ball up around the green on one and nine, both short par fours.
Holes three, seven and eight are par threes and from the white tees, though not as long as the black, still have me hitting depending on pin placement and wind, nine, seven and eight iron, respectively, and danger lurks on all of them, especially hole seven.
I love playing this course right after work, and try to go at least twice a week. While I love playing it with friends or family, I’ve also really been enjoying playing it on my own. I carry my bag and walk so it’s a bit of exercise and a great chance to be out in the beautiful local landscape and focus on my game. It's also great that I’m usually done in just over an hour.
Over the past seven days or so I played it four times, with abysmal scores on the first three. Two years ago I set my PB on the track with a score or 42 and haven’t touched it since. A blowup hole or two always sends my score into the high 40s.
After two of those three lousy rounds I went to the range and practice green to work some things out. That’s another amazing thing about Bootleg — without even mentioning their stunning Championship 18 course — they have a fantastic practice area. With a full range, two putting greens and a practice sand trap it’s pretty much everything you need. On top of all that, in the winter they've got indoor golf simulators.
I decided to go back out for a round on Monday and I’m glad I did. I played the first four holes in one over par, with a three putt on the second hole preventing me from sitting at even. The family ahead of me let me play through, which was very nice, but I put a three wood into the right trees on the dogleg right fifth hole, my worst tee shot so far. A chip out, a wedge on and two putts gave me a good bogey.
On the next hole I was on the green in regulation and a three putt netted me a bad bogey. The same would happen on the next hole, bringing me to four over. On the par three eighth hole I hit a decent eight iron onto the fringe, hit a pretty week approach putt, but drained an eight-footer to save par and give myself some positive momentum heading into the last.
I hit one of my best tee shots of the day with my three wood, leaving a short wedge onto the elevated green, which I unfortunately hit fat, leaving myself a huge putt to a back pin. I hit a decent putt, but missed the second for a tap-in bogey.
I knew I had a good score going but couldn’t quite remember if plus five was sub 40 or not, so I was pretty pleased when I hit submit on the Golf Canada app to see that it was a 39 and I’d beat my long-standing PB, while also accomplishing my second goal for the season. Is it a short track and only a par 34? Sure, but it's still pretty cool to see a number in the 30s on a scorecard.
With August having arrived my plan now is to book my first lesson of 2024 with the intent of assessing where my swing is at and hopefully finishing out this season strong.