Monday was a break through round for me. Once, long ago in a land called Texas, I shot a 78. That was and is still my best round ever. But I think I can do better. I shot that 78 at Jimmy Clay golf course in Austin, Texas. It was a course that I played often, but not as much as the next door Roy Kizer Texas links style course. I don’t remember the details of that round all these years later, but I do know it was the only time I’ve ever broken 80. That is until Monday.
Monday I shot a 79 at Campbell’s Scottish Highlands, my home course. My handicap calculator tells me that course is 1 stroke easier than Campbell’s, but to my memory it is pretty close in difficulty. I started on fire on the first 9 (which was the back 9) with 2 birdies 3 pars and 4 bogeys for 2 over 37. Things got a little shakier on the second 9 (which was the front 9). A low point came on the second to last hole (8th). It is a drivable par 4, and I made a mess of it. After landing about 20 yards short of the green, I chunked my second shot, chipped the third to 20 feet and then promptly 3 putted for my only double bogey of the round. I took a deep breath and made a standard fairway, green in regulation, 2 putt par on the last for a 42 coming in.
A few things I’m learning, which aren’t earth shattering revelations or anything, I need to hit more greens in regulation, and I need to not 3 putt. My putting is getting better, as is my chipping. I just need to find the green a bit quicker.