A Fickle Freaking Game
I had a really rough week last week, but knew that I had a 9:20 tee time on Sunday and the weather report was good.
We all started out well enough, and then on the 4th hole I had a long putt that I needed to get close.
It went in!
Three holes later, I made an even longer one.
Then it got ridiculous.
I knocked it 2 more, really long putts...
...I’m usually a mediocre putter.
We arrived at hole 12.
“I love this one,” I said. “It’s two easy shots to a wide open green.”
Then I proceeded to chunk it.
And the next one.
The one after that wasn’t much better than that.
“What the hell is going on?”
I took a 7 on the par 4.
We have another guy who had either birdies or parred every par 3 for a couple of weeks.
He dribbled a drive on a 165-yard hole.
Tried it again.
Dribble.
We have a long hitter in the group. He can spray it a little. He was lining one up.
“He’s going to clobber this one,” I said.
Just had a feeling.
He hit it and the three of us watching gasped.
It’s a fascinating game.
One little thing gets out of whack and...
...bam.
You’re suddenly scuffling.
We all post pretty similar scores, and are genuinely happy for one another, but I did something weird...
...counted up my score before 18.
“I need to par this to break 90,” I said.
“Stay straight on your drive and follow through,” my cart partner said.
I’d only done that a half dozen times all day.
Hammered it.
145 out.
Hit an 8-iron to the green.
Two putts to finish it.
The first putt was good.
I was now just 3’ away.
“Just have to finish it.”
I’d been putting like a mad man all day, but golf can be cruel.
Everyone else finished.
I was nervous.
Yet, here’s the thing about golf.
It’s a whole lot about technique...
...but confidence may be an even bigger factor.
“It’s in,” I told myself before I brought the club back.
I watched it meet the back of the ball...
...
We all started out well enough, and then on the 4th hole I had a long putt that I needed to get close.
It went in!
Three holes later, I made an even longer one.
Then it got ridiculous.
I knocked it 2 more, really long putts...
...I’m usually a mediocre putter.
We arrived at hole 12.
“I love this one,” I said. “It’s two easy shots to a wide open green.”
Then I proceeded to chunk it.
And the next one.
The one after that wasn’t much better than that.
“What the hell is going on?”
I took a 7 on the par 4.
We have another guy who had either birdies or parred every par 3 for a couple of weeks.
He dribbled a drive on a 165-yard hole.
Tried it again.
Dribble.
We have a long hitter in the group. He can spray it a little. He was lining one up.
“He’s going to clobber this one,” I said.
Just had a feeling.
He hit it and the three of us watching gasped.
It’s a fascinating game.
One little thing gets out of whack and...
...bam.
You’re suddenly scuffling.
We all post pretty similar scores, and are genuinely happy for one another, but I did something weird...
...counted up my score before 18.
“I need to par this to break 90,” I said.
“Stay straight on your drive and follow through,” my cart partner said.
I’d only done that a half dozen times all day.
Hammered it.
145 out.
Hit an 8-iron to the green.
Two putts to finish it.
The first putt was good.
I was now just 3’ away.
“Just have to finish it.”
I’d been putting like a mad man all day, but golf can be cruel.
Everyone else finished.
I was nervous.
Yet, here’s the thing about golf.
It’s a whole lot about technique...
...but confidence may be an even bigger factor.
“It’s in,” I told myself before I brought the club back.
I watched it meet the back of the ball...
...
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