Played with Ben, Keith and Bill. Great start. Four straight pars and just missed the putt for 5 in a row, but 3 putted instead. 39 on the front. Had more trouble on the back and couldn't get any putts to fall. Battery went dead in my rangefinder and the replacement I had didn't fit. So had to go without all day and it hurt me on more than one occasion. Went long on a couple greens that I think I would have done better had I had my rangefinder. Hit drive on 6th mostly straight, but high and breeze pushed it right into deep crap. Found the ball, but could hardly get a club on it. Moved it with a 7 iron about 6 ft. Then had a better lie and was able to get it out to a decent position. It was better than the penalty I would have had to take had I not found it. Still carded a double. Then took a penalty on 8th after a monster drive that I pulled a bit left into the lateral hazard. Otherwise driver was damn good most of the day. long and straight. Had a bunch of small issues on the back which left me on the bogey train most of the back. Unfortunately bogey was not as bad as it got. Made a mess of the par 3 12th, carding a 6 after missing the green right, then pitching up and over the green, then pitchin back on and 3 putting. Sickening. This after a double on the previous hole which included a poor 2nd shot, then a 9i approach which landed on, but rolled off into the rough behind the green. A good chip left me 4 ft away from saving bogey, but I missed the simple putt. That was the story of my back 9. 2 3 putts and a bunch of others I should have easily made. These greens were not so much tough as they were different from what I am used to. They were fast, for sure, but lots of subtle breaks that, with more familiarity, wouldn't be that bad. I didn't dislike them, just could quite get the hang of them. All in all, not a bad day. Good company for sure.
DougEly says:Green at Wintonbury is the blue/men's equivalent at OG.
8/18/12
