...the par in party

Golf is pretty much finished this year. The last round, 113. Honestly, I was a little disappointed. Not in the course. Copper Creek, great. But I had high expectations of myself. I really wanted to shoot 110 tops. Instead, a nervous 54 on the front, and then the blow up on ten – errant tee shot, OB; subsequently dump the third into the pond and then a couple of toppers (lifted my head) and a three-putt (anger). Didn’t regain my composure until the 14th(though on the 12th I got lucky and got out with a bogey, which I'll take). So, 113. A terrible score, but not one of those angry 113s. It was great. Even with five lost balls. Two on one hole. In the same pond. I don’t really keep GIRs, fairways, or putts on my card. It’s enough right now just to keep track of the number of strokes, there are so many. As evidenced*:But, as far as the overall game, this was a good year. Sixteen-and-a-half rounds. Seven different courses. Three countries. One new golf bag. Plus, the new woods, that, as long as I remember to choke up to control the fade, will really help us hit more fairways, with distance, than ever before. When I look at them even, they just fill me with fierce happiness. And my butter knife putter, too, should get a bit of a mention. I know there has been miraculous innovation in putter technology, but i feel strong with the old-school blade. I will admit that I lipped a few out at first, and i admit there have been doubts. But together, we one-putted the first three holes at Copper Creek, didn’t we my friend? Yes we did.

Anyways, to say goodbye to the season, one last fling with the clubs, we drove out to Andy Bathgate with C a few days later. Most of the range has been closed down but we hit a couple hundred on the remaining piece. Gusty conditions, but mild with top-shelf visibility. The soothing thrum of traffic off the 410.

Felt real easy with the high irons, even rusty gap wedge. I don’t know why, but there is a tendency to chicken out with the wedges around the green during play. The same shots (we visualize them in our mind when we practice) come off the club soft, with sober distance at the range. But then on the course we don't trust it, and so it dies or flies. It's hell. So, that’s my goal for next year: become deadly, in close around the green. I’m sick of giving up strokes because of my short game. This should be my specialty.

Afterwards, we went through the carwash. Improved Regular Wash, $8.99. There’s also The Basic and The Works. But there's just something about the phrase “Improved Regular” that feels comfortable to me. Maybe it has something to do with the drinking. Or second-hand jean jackets. I'm not sure.

*card unsigned!