Hey Spankit. We did go to B'ham. Due to time constraints and last minute plans we ended up just playing Highland Park both days. I'm really dissapointed with the greens there. They are in absolutely horrible shape. But I enjoyed the course. I shoot 85-95 depending on how things are working out, so I don't mind the shorter courses. It builds confidence. My buddy and I played best ball as he would shoot about 120 if left to play his own ball. We shot 91 the first day (sad I know) and 79 on Sunday. It's almost like playing alone. My ball is played about 90 percent of the time. I wish we'd played individually on Sunday as I feel like it might have been one of my best rounds ever. I'm bored so I'll give you something to read. I imagine you've been there at least once.
Starting everyone on number 10.
10. Par 4 365 Yards - Starter says it's 260 to the water. It doesn't look nearly that far. I avg 225. I'm more accurate with driver than any club in the bag. Doesn't make sense, but that's how it goes. I decide to hit a little draw and take a nice relaxed swing. I catch it absolutely perfect and roll through the fairway 10 feet from the water. Got what I guessed to be about 100 to center of green. Hit a horrible pitching wedge to bunker on right side. Play a decent sand shot. Two putt for bogey. +1
11. Par 3 179 Yards - 5 Iron about 165. Didn't catch it flush. Well short of green but dead center. Horrible pitch. Parter gets within 10 feet. We play his ball. He misses putt, but I make it. Par. +1
12. Par 5 485 Yards - Partner in the weeds. I hit a solid drive. Didn't get all of it, but goes about 215. I attempt to kill a 3 wood with a very poor result. Still don't know where the ball is. Partner lays up about to 150. We both hit nice 6
irons onto the green. Three putt Bogey +2
13. Par 3 89 Yards - I havn't hit this green in three rounds. I miss to the right. Partner off the left edge. Play his ball. Up and down for par. +2
14. Par 4 252 Yards - Way uphill. Probably 40 ft climb. Bunkers at top of hill. Hidden green on other side. Beautiful drive over the hill. Just off left edge of green. Pitch within 10 feet and two putt for par. +3
15. Pat 4 287 Yards - Back down the hill. Drive the ball pin high about 30 feet right of the green. Have to pitch off a slope over a bunker with pin only about 15 feet from the edge. Try to get cute out of thick rough and don't make the green. Try again and hit it well past hole. 3 Putt Double Bogey +5
16. Par 4 324 Yards - Severe uphill again. Got under the ball and skyed it. Only drove about 180. 125 to the hole plus a bit uphill. 8 Iron just short of green. Beautiful chip to 4 feet. Par +5
17. Par 3 106 Yards - I hit a nice PW to 15 feet. 2 Putt Par +5
18. Par 4 361 - Fairway well below tee boxes. Skyed the driver a bit again. But about 230 total. 130 to green back uphill a bit. 8 Iron about 10 yards short of green. Bladed the PW and sent ball over green. Pitched back to 12 feet. Two putt Double. +7
Not feeling so good right now. Partner contributed about 3 shots in all.
Off to number 1.
1. Par 4 291 Severe downhill. Hit pin high 30 feet right of the green. Nice pitch. One Putt for birdie. -1 (+6 overall)
2. Par 5 443 - Nice Driver 250. 185ish to the green. Tried to hit a 5wood and topped the ball horribly. Partner hits a nice 5 iron leaving about 30 yards to green. Nice pitch. I miss birdie putt put partner holes it. -2 (+5 overall)
3. Par 3 106 - Two horrible tee shots. We play my ball from about 25 yards short and right of green. Beautiful shot to about 10 feet. Par putt. -2 (+5 Overall)
4. Par 4 363 - Booming drive. Best of the day. Either the yardages are wrong or I killed it. Cause we only had 85 to the green making the drive 270ish total. 3/4 PW to six feet. Birdie putt. My best hole on the day. -3 (+4 overall)
5. Par 3 178 Water from 145-165. Five iron to front bunker. Dead straight. Two more yards and it would've been perfect. Partner hits much worse shot, but clears the water and had a better shot to flag so we play his ball. Pitch and two putt for bogey. -2 (+5 Overall)
Basically we bogey 6-9 with less than spectacular play to end up +9.
Had a great time with a great friend though. Hopefully he will be improved enough soon to feel comfortable playing on his own.