65 degrees, cloudy, occasional mist/drizzle and windy (10-12 mph)
The course was soft and played long. On a number of holes the tees were moved up about 10 yards so that helped offset the soggy fairways. Rough was dense but a manageable length. Greens smooth and moderately rolling.
My best overall round of 2018. I started out with my game in control. Missed a 5-6 foot putt on #1 for par but got the stroke back on the next hole with a 3 foot birdie putt. I played #1-4 and then jumped to #7 to get around a 5-some and two other groups who were not pushing the 5-some. Finished up at #18 and had a decision to make - walk out to #6 tee and play #6 and #5 in reverse order or just put par/bogey in for the holes I skipped. Frankly, it was no decision as I had to see what I could do.
I waited on #6 tee box as a couple of 2-somes and 3-somes came along. I explained I was waiting for a gap to play #6 and then #5. No one asked me to join them but no one gave me crap, either. Eventually there was an opening. My tee shot was weak after sitting around for 20+ minutes. I struck the approach well but pushed it a bit and had a 50 foot, severely breaking downhill putt for "birdie". Let's face it, all I wanted was to get it to 3 feet or so. Good read and speed - 3 footer for par. On to #5. 421 yards, into the wind with soft fairways. A good tee shot left me about 200 yards to go and a well struck 3-wood had me on the upslope to the green, 20 yards away. A short pitch left me a slicing 12 footer, which I made. Down the stretch (#16, 17, 18, 6, 5) I made 4 up & downs with a total of 6 putts in 5 holes.
I seemed to have solved my push/slice with the driver. My ball striking was decent and short game was great, along with my putting. I am pumped. Maybe I can still play a little.
