Over the weekend, I played in the Member/Guest at an old club I used to belong. That course, Crystalaire CC have always been known for its good playing conditions and the greens there is such a pleasure to putt on. It used to be much faster as I remember, but it was extra silky smooth over the weekend with the tightly mowed fairways and some healthy rough. The whole place just looks great in its very green color, too. The US Am Qualifiers were there a few days prior so that may have had added to its good conditioning along with some good rain that ended California's drought.
My friend who invited me was playing for nostalgic moments. He's getting much older now and have some health issues. His handicap has gone up to 23 in just a few years, and I haven't been playing as well as I should from all the lessons I've been taking/working on- it just haven't clicked or transferred onto the course... in short, my handicap has gone up to 12, and I wasn't sure that I could play to it on that course. Thank goodness we're on the B group. ha ha..
He asked me to stay for the weekend at his place just up the hill from the course. After our practice round on Friday, he and his wife made dinner for us. It was good times, we all started talking about the past and how much fun it was with all our friends not sparing all silliness but definitely including some of the competitions we all were in. My friend would continue to tell stories of the past and we laughed and cried at the same time in some of the memories. He was once captain of our team and he also asked me to bring a couple of our uniforms which we used for the two days we're in.
On Saturday, 15 minutes prior to teeing off, the committee welcomed everyone and refreshed the entry with the better ball format and some rules including a highlight for any "unusual rounds" being played- they will adjust handicaps accordingly over a PA, although not for anyone who shoots higher than their handicap. :-)
At the end of the first day, my partner would come in with 104. It was almost agonizing to see him struggle let alone walk but his spirits were high never letting up... "This is a two dayer, No'l, just play and hydrate yourself.", he said. I ended up with four bogeys and a birdie, the rest were all pars for a three over for the day. I think my buddy was overly happy about it and we may have over poured ourselves over dinner till almost midnight. I don't even remember what we had for dinner!
The following day, the putting greens were moving under my feet. Not a good sign, followed by the pro and the committee wanting to meet with me for some business, cutting my handicap to an 8. Somehow, I knew it was coming so I just graciously said, ok, and everyone was happy.
But we're 4 strokes ahead in gross score going in to the final round. The format was stableford. After 11 holes, my partner would pick up before he could even get on the green when he's out of the hole in many of the holes because he couldn't walk much from the pain in his right leg, but he would end up with ten strokes better than the day before, but he helped out in some early holes. Me on the other hand were trying for an over the top kind of performance where I don't belong while I hear my buddy tell me to back off and play for par. I would end up with an 80 for the day and we hoped our combined points would be enough...
Our team took 1st gross score in the B group... it was one of the best days we've ever had together in many years.
Thanks for reading, Team Titleist.