On #1, I hit a Tommyknocker 52 yds from the green, then pitched up to 5 ft, for a birdie putt I have missed before, left short, even tho' it's a downhill slider, or because it is a downhill slider . . . In the meantime, Joe hit his driver over the creek (where he has always used a 4 hybrid instead, laying up) then his approach skipped hard forward, instead of checking up, wound up on the top tier of the green - the pin is on the front right, but after consultation he made the 45 ft putt, then I made my little putt, and we both had birdies on the first hole. A very rare accomplishment.
On # 3, Joe birdied again, in straightforward style, while I did not, with the greens still healing from the aeration, it's not surprising . . .
It is noteworthy also that Joe parred 5-6-7, the back-to-back par 3s and the following par 4 infamous for the tree guarding the fairway. We both were able to hit shots that narrowly flew under the tree limbs, with easy and short approaches. Joe got his into a very favorable chance for birdie, left of the pin on the right side of the green, where it's flattish . . . while I pulled mine into the tough rough left of the green. Joe 2putted easily, and I flopped my shot 4 feet away, but missed the comebacker.
on #8, I pulled my drive into the trees on the left, worrying about the stiff breezes blowing left-to-right (same as at Shinnecock this week), with OB looming there. I saftied a 3iron over the trap, and over the green (trying to skip thru the trap, instead), chipped down the length of the green, and missed the 5 footer for par, again, I SAY, because of the aeration holes. Playing well, but not scoring.
on # 9, free at last from the cramped conditions of 7 & 8, I let loose a driver, high, straight and far, flying over the sandtrap in the middle of the fairway, into some tall rough. The wind was right to left and GUSTY , and I keep pulling this particular approach left for some reason, so I aimed as far right as I could make myself, but still pulled it again to the wrong side of the green, 45 feet away. But when it was my turn to putt, I made a confident putt (I seem to have a knack over the big hump in the middle of the green) with just enough speed to get over the top of the hump, before it rolled into the big bowl where the pin was. I was pleased, but still just hoping for a 2putt, watching it like a hawk as the ball turned left over the hump then trickled down the side of the bowl, bouncing left and right off the aeration holes, till it went in. So Joe & I both made 45 foot putts to score.
Joe wound up with a 37-net 27, which was best that day.
