Archive for category Golf
Back from New Mexico Golf
This past week I got together with two brothers-in-law for a few days of golf around Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM. I played the Paa-Ko Ridge and Black Mesa courses I had visited in 2008 and also got in two rounds at the University of New Mexico course. All three were superb. We had great weather on Tuesday and Wednesday but our Thursday round at Black Mesa was cut short by a rain shower accompanied by winds gusts of over 40 mph.
Paa Ko Ridge – 12th Hole
Beautiful Fall Morning for Golf
Mt. Si sunrise.
Apple Tree Golf Course
One of my primary destinations for our short trip along the Columbia River was the famous Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima. Thus I was up early Sunday morning for a 7:05 tee time. I enjoyed the course a lot although the heavy overnight watering made for short driving distances. In spite of some inconsistency off the tees, I managed a respectable 89 score.
Ready to tee off at the iconic 17th hole. (I got a par.)
Skamania Lodge Golf Course
I didn’t know what to expect from the Skamania Lodge course. Based on photos and the short yardage (just 5378 yards from the white tees) I thought it might be kind of a toy-ish track. However, the very narrow fairways, challenging greens and woodland setting provided a pleasant outing. I inevitably lost several balls along the incapacious fairways but an uncanny number of extraordinary chips and a birdie of the 182-yard par 3 16th yielded a very satisfying 83 score for the morning.
Skamania Lodge golf course, 7th fairway
Breaking 80 Again!
Golf is a new adventure every time out. I had no special expectations when I teed off on a lovely Saturday morning. After playing in a charity event scramble on Wednesday I just wanted to get out and play my own ball for eighteen holes and enjoy the weather and the scenery at Mt. Si. Starting with a nice 10-foot par putt on the first hole and a bogey on number two didn’t suggest an especially memorable score. But pars on three, four and five and a tap-in birdie on number six got me pretty excited. I managed a super bunker shot on number eight that led to another tap-in par and recovered from an errant tee shot for a par on nine to finish the front at an even par 36!
As is so often the case I struggled on the Devil’s Triangle of holes 10, 11 and 12 but ended the back nine at six over 42 for a very satisfying 78; my third time under 80 in the past five weeks.
Great Start to Summer Golf
My performance on the golf course has been ever so erratic this year but at least there are days like today.
July 1 – 77
Ten fairways hit and nine greens in regulation made for a very enjoyable morning. The slightly frustrating thing is…. it could have been better. I two-putted from six feet on #1 and #11, had a twelve-foot birdie putt lip out on #3, and nearly holed my approach shot for eagle on #16. I’m hoping I can better last year’s mark of six rounds in the 70s.
Beautiful Mt. Si Sunset
I don’t usually play golf in the afternoon; the pace of place is just too slow for me. But with the gloomy weather forecast for the rest of the week, I decided to squeeze in a round late this afternoon. And it was a dreadfully slow second nine holes. But I still managed to shoot 40 over the back nine for a respectable 85. And the sun peeked below the overcast as we stood on the 17th green for a stunning view of the south-west face of Mt. Si.
Sunset on Mt. Si
77! Finally a Solid Round of Golf
My golf game has been very inconsistent this year so I had no expectations when I headed out to Mt. Si this morning. After difficult rounds at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge and Prospector at Suncadia I anticipated nothing but more mediocre golf. Instead I was treated to an effortless 77. Go figure! It seemed like nearly every shot was just right. Things started well with a 30-foot putt to save par on the first hole. After a bogey at #2 I went through the next eleven holes at even par. I ended up with twelve pars and ten one-putt holes: a super steady round of golf.
Great Week of Golf (and Weather)
We’ve had an entire week of summer-like weather with high temps in the 70s every day. I took advantage of the beautiful mornings to play Mt. Si Tuesday, Thursday and today. After struggling so much over the winter and early spring I was pleasantly surprised to shoot 84, 79 and 80. This is the earliest in the season I’ve ever broken 80. In addition to the fun golf, I’ve immensely enjoyed the lovely mornings with views like this one from the second fairway on Thursday. The experienced was enhanced by rare birdie I recorded on this, the number one handicap hole on the course.
Mt. Si second fairway
Winter Golf
I’ve been struggling with consistency all winter, since October or so really. I played three consecutive days this weekend and it felt like things might be coming together again. Friday, I shot 92 at Bellevue where, as usual, the greens befuddled me and I had 38 putts. Saturday at Mt. Si I had an easy 80 followed by an 83 on Sunday. As much as the golf, I enjoyed the mild weather and this interesting sight of a goose perched on a big tree branch near the 11th green at Mt. Si.
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