I’ve finally gotten around to reviewing last year’s golf activities.
- I played the fewest rounds — 91 — since 2006.
- My average score of 87.42 was better than last year but not as good as 2012 (86.14). I managed to break 80 five times, the same as last year but one less than 2012.
- I had my highest birdie percentage ever, 3.7% but I was also up slightly on, sadly, triple bogeys, a reflection of playing more rounds on harder courses. Twenty-four (26%) of my outings were at courses with a slope rating greater than 120 and 10 (11%) with rating higher than 133. In 2012 only 11% of rounds at slope over 120 and 29% in 2013.
- It was an odd year for putting. I made 77% of putts within 10 feet (by far my best ever) but recorded most three-putts per round (1.51) since 2009 and fewest 1-putts per round in three years.
- By one measure, slope minus stroke, I had my best round ever with an 89 at Bandon Dunes with its 139 slope rating from the green tees. I also shot an 87 and Old Macdonald on my final round of the year.
- Maybe best, I got to seven new courses last year. Most notably, the wonderful Gamble Sands track right here in Washington, rated by some as the best new course in America for 2013.
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