Grudge match review?
Or has that been overlooked due to the result....
No mate.... I've been crook as a dog since Saturday arvo. Shocking head cold, and bronchitis. Just out of bed for the first time this morning.
Hidden Valley. Course presented in excellent condition. We were off at 10.30am, they did have senior pennant comp on earlier in the morning. We basically had the front 9 to ourselves. Hit a bit of traffic on the back nine, but nothing to cause any issue.
The lad wanted to hit bucket of balls to warm up. We shared them, I probably hit 25, he hit the remaining 50.
I invited him to open proceedings on the first hole, and having pretty well smashed driver on the range, he duck hooks it into the junk. Lost ball on the first! I popped one out right a bit. I make bogey, he makes double. I am 1 up after the first! I stone cold top my drive off the 2nd, much to the mirth of Junior. I then top, or stuff the next 2 as well, take a 9 on the par 5, and we are back to square. The 3rd hole halved in bogies.
The 4th is a nice little par 3, 145M slightly downhill to a large green. bunkers right. Junior is away, sticks it pin high right, avoiding the bunker but on edge of the green. I hit mine with a little pull. Pin high left. Get down to the green I am am looking to repair my pitch mark. Can't find it, what the..... then I can see I have landed on the replaced hole (yesterdays pin) bang in the centre. I claim its a hole in one. Just one day late! We halve in pars.
Junior makes par on the 5th, to my double to take the lead. We both stuff the 6th with doubles.
The 7th hole is a 295M slight uphill Par 4. Junior crunches it, 15M short of green. I drag left off the tee, under trees. His par, beats my bogey.
8th hole is a 523M par 5.... that's from the white tees (It would have to be 540-550 from the Blues).... I have a horrow show - 2 rocks in the drink. Junior doubles but that 3 shots better than me.
9th hole - Par 3 120M water carry. I miss the green right, he sticks it on. He pars, I bogey. He is 4 up. I'm in all sorts. As he will miss his cricket clubs preso night while in Melbourne, he records a message to be played Sat night (he won the club champ award) on the 9th tee.....
10th hole, par 5 - halved in bogeys. I had him too, he blew his second shot way right, but recovered.
11th hole, 317M downhill par 4. I hit a decent drive, he blows it 50 M past mine. I hit the green, he misses (hah). My birdie putt lips out... he bogies I get 1 back.
12th hole, 444M par 5. I remember this hole from last time, I am not going for it in 2. It really narrows around the green, and it guarded by some bloody deep bunkers. Junior in a bit of trouble left. I am just short for 3. I chip up, and take a piece of the hole (another birdie missed). My par to his double - I am on a comeback.......As you leave the 12th green there is a sign "Amen Corner"..... we are about to enter the toughest stretch of holes on the course.
13th hole. 359 Par 4 - Water Carry, bite off as much as you like. Junior bites of a fair chunk, ball is dry. I find the water comfortably... really comfortably, missed land by 50 M. His double beats my quadruple.
14th, lovely par 4, water left and short of the green. He find water, but hits a great second (third) shot, we halve in bogeys.
15th 495M par 5 - Double water carry. This hole has got me both times. Junior makes a good Par here. My 8 is unsurprising.
16th Straight forward Par 3. Junior hits green & 3 putts. I am coming home in an ambulance by this stage, double bogey.
17th - 385M Par 4. We both hit good drives, mine is 250, he has me covered by 40. I miss green left, he misses green right. Hole halved in bogeys.
18th - 128M Par 3. Island Green. Playing into a slight head wind. Junior drowns his first ball, Junior drowns his second ball, eventually finds dry land (bunker). I pull off tee, but somehow find the island. The island is mainly green, bunkers left, centre short & right. Also on the left a few small palms. I am in them, dead. I make 5, to his 8. Junior wins the day comfortably. Who'd of thought the young athlete, would beat the fat old drunk!
All in all, not particularly great golf by either of us, but we had a great day. Junior says best course he has ever played. It's in my top 15 or so. Adjourned for a bevvie and a late lunch. Said it before on here, if you come to Melbourne, try to get onto Hidden Valley, its worth a look.
I am playing Cape Schank this Sunday, so long as this head cold clears up some time soon.