Golf Tour 2007
Thursday, Dec. 6 -- This round almost didn't happen. It was quite cold, and there was no rush to get out, and Gail wasn't planning on playing anyway. On the spur of the moment, we decided to head west to Uwharrie National Forest so I could go for a hilly trail run and Gail, as it turned out, could go for a hilly trail walk. My plan was that we would be back by 1:30 or 1:45, and with darkness about 5, there would still be time. But there was an accident on the way back and the road was closed, and we had to make a long detour, and by the time we got to Talamore it was 2:20.
Talamore, a Rees Jones course about 15 years old, gets good ratings though nothing special, but it seemed worth giving it a try. The pro shop processed me through in a flash, the bill was just $25, the cart guy was happy to see somebody, so far that day there had only been 4 other players. And I was off, time for some speed golf (with a cart), but also hopefully trying to play well despite the rush.
Played from the white tees, 6,025, par 71, 68.7/126. The blues (6,534) seemed a little long and under the circumstances -- very cold, in a hurry -- the whites seemed the clear choice. A wise move as it turned out, because for the most part my driver was not behaving well and it would have been a long afternoon from the blues.
1. Par 5, 564. Two practice swings, time to get going. The book said stay left, my drive was solid but right, short way to the green, stopped just short of the marsh. 6 iron over the marsh, pretty good, then a 7 iron from 150 uphill, well hit but not enough club. A pitch a little strong, 2 putts from 30'. Greens were in good shape and fast. And since I had to park the cart usually 30-40 yards from the green, I both kept warm and moved faster by running to and from every shot.
2. Par 3, 164. Excellent 6 iron, 2 putts from 20'.
3. Par 4, 372. First of many drives that was low and right. Just didn't have the timing. Perfect 5 wood out of the fairway bunker to just short of the green, good chip stiff.
4. Par 5, 463. Something wrong with the yardage book here -- it said 259 to the fairway bunker and then another 230 to the green, which makes about 490. I assume the 259 was wrong. Hit my drive perfect, was well into the bunker, and I don't come close to 270. But in the bunker it was. Thinking back to the previous hole, out came the 5 wood again, not a smart move -- why hit a less reliable club that might get me 40 yards from the pin, when a more reliable iron that would get my 75 yards from the hole (an easier shot)? Anyway, this time I hit a wicked hook. Found it, lots of pines in the way but had an opening. Bad swing with the sand wedge, off line, hit a tree, bounced straight back over my head, fortunately still in play. Only play now was low, punched a 7 iron, rolled over the green but could have been much much worse. Good chip, sank curler from 4'. Happy to get bogey after all that.
5. Par 3, 140 downhill. Solid 9 iron, but 3 putts from 25'.
6. Par 4, 320 uphill. Good drive, 9 iron from 110 to back pin, excellent, 2 putts from 25'. Good hole, and I was moving well too, 6 holes in 45 minutes!
7. Par 4, 402, dogleg left. Book said stay right, drive was low and left, the short way home but only barely in play. Ok 6 iron from 160, sloping lie in rough, just short of green, chip to 10', 2 putts.
8. Par 4, 373. Drive was ok, low and a little left, but kicked back in the fairway. Perfect 6 iron from 155, 2 putts from 18'.
9. Par 4, 350. Solid drive but in the right rough. Perfect 8 iron sharply uphill from 115 to back pin, hit hole high but bounced to back fringe, 2 putts from 15'. So 40 for the front side, 5 pars, 4 bogies, and the most important number, 1 hour 7 minutes. Looked like getting in all 18 would be no problem. Cool.
10. Par 4, 330. Solid drive but right, fairway bunker. Second shot was sharply uphill, 8 iron from 110, very solid to front fringe, 2 putts from 30'.
11. Par 5, 494 dogleg left. The third and final par 5, and I messed up all three of them. Lousy drive, smothered hook. Hit pretty good 6 iron over the trees, just enough to get a clear shot for the next one. Ok 3 iron off hardpan, chip to 15', 2 putts.
12. Par 4, 379 dogleg right. Drive low and left but not bad. 6 iron high and right, no trouble but not an easy pitch. Pitch to 18', 2 putts.
13. Par 3, 130, front pin. Perfect 9 iron to 10', made putt, birdie!
14. Par 4, 333. Perfect drive, wedge from 105. Pin was left, behind deep bunker, I played safe to center of green, hit it just right, 35'. But pin was down in a little bowl, very close to the slope, no hope of stopping the putt unless it went in. It didn't. 2 more putts from 15'. If I'd known the green contours, the only play was too fire at the pin.
15. Par 3, 175. Pretty solid 5 iron but just a touch too far right and caught bunker. Good sand shot! 2 putts from 15'.
16. Par 4, 398. So three holes to go, this and 18 the hardest on the back side, and I needed two pars to break 80. Another drive low and left. Excellent 5 wood off a sidehill lie from 200, just short of green, good chip to 7', made putt, par! Nice surprise.
17. Par 4, 302. Good drive, right to the end of the fairway. Lob wedge from 70, pin same as 14, way left behind deep bunker, went right at it, shot was just a little right, caught slope going the other way, ended up 30' away. But 2 putts and another par.
18. Par 4, 368. Just needed a bogey. Drive over water, farther left was a longer carry but shorter to the hole. Another drive low and left, and this time I got burned. Splash. Damn. Reload, low and left again, but this one just stayed dry. Perfect 6 iron off a slope from 155. Had a putt from 45' for 79, not close, still 4'. Lining it up, the phone rang. It's Ivar, Gail's stepdad. And it's starting to get dark. I'll call you back in 5 minutes, I said. Drained the putt, 40 for the back side, 80 for the 18. Not bad, a lot of good shots, just not many with the driver. 5 fairways, 7 greens, 8 pars and a birdie.
And 2 hours 20 for the 18. Didn't see a soul, kept warm, legs felt good. Just fine.
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Talamore, Pinehurst, NC
