Being the last group on the back nine last night at one of my home courses was quite nice. The temperature had dropped down from 100 to a reasonable 87. The lighting was nice and the wind had died down. I’m such a quick draw on my portable aerial photo/video helicopter that I was able to catch some pictures and video around the par-3 12th hole while waiting for the green to clear!
Left to right: River Oaks hole 11, 2, 1, 12 green – click to enlarge
For more pics of River Oaks, go here: https://www.hookedongolfblog.com/gallery/courses/usa/Utah/RiverOaks
Because I’m a blogger and not necessarily a “journalist” I’m giving myself the artistic permission to contradict myself. Two posts ago I wrote about the great people I’ve met through this blog, and also said that what keeps me in golf is the great friends I enjoy the game with. The power of those friendships is stronger than my frustration with not getting better. But what if I got worse?
While chopping cucumbers for last night’s dinner a thought popped into my cranium. I thought it a high possibility that I would quit the game if I could not play at a certain level. That level is either where I am now, or perhaps just a little better. If I were to fall to a higher handicap, I doubt I’d be excited about playing. I would not be enjoying the feel of those great shots, at least not as often. I liken it to my old days of being a high roller in Vegas. I used to play $25 minimum blackjack, with some of my bets exceeding $1000 on one hand. The thrill and adrenaline at that level is crazy. Going back down to say a $5 or $2 bet is downright boring and not exciting at all. Playing scratch is like playing those big and exciting bets in Vegas. Playing to a 12 handicap would be like the $2 bet, not thrilling and no excitement. I might even say it would feel like a waste of time.
As it sits now I’m golfing three times per week, with a short practice session before each round. Through the course of the summer I’ve managed to knock my handicap down from the spring blowup 5.7 to a 2.8. I’ve hovered around a 2 for many years. I shoot about half my rounds in the low 70’s and few times per year might break into the 60’s. The other 45% is the “other” category, where the scores are higher and do not count against the handicap.
Statistically I’m an above average amateur golfer. Like most, I want to improve my game and I try to get better. I doubt I can improve very much though, because I’m not on the course enough or logging enough practice time to make a difference. When I was a scratch player years ago I was playing five times per week, or even more.
I realize that every golfer who plays long enough will face the reality that their abilities will decrease with age. I’m not old enough to use that as an excuse, yet. I have a family, a day job, night job, do web programming on the side, and have taken up a new hobby which I hope to turn into a business (unmanned aerial vehicles for photography/videography). All of those demand quite a bit of time. If I’m on the golf course feeling like I’m wasting time I could spend doing those other things, that’s not good. I’m afraid that’s what playing a lower level of golf would be to me. Even now I’m frustrated with golf’s “time” factor.
Tiger Woods has said that he will quit playing golf when he feels like he can’t win or is not competitive. No Champions Tour for him. I totally understand that and feel the same way with my own game, albeit a much lower level than his. I’m very competitive and hold myself to high standards with regards to the quality of my play. I’m not sure I can enjoy golfing while hitting poor quality shots or shooting bad scores. Many tell me to forget the numbers and enjoy being in the outdoors with friends. I totally get that. But I can enjoy the outdoors by taking a hike or visiting the mountains, all without the frustration of a crappy short game, having to hit out of someone else’s divot, five hour rounds, or choking away a great score. Add the considerable expense of playing golf to the mix too.
I think I just figured out why the game of golf and the golf industry is struggling.
2014 Open Championship
Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Hoylake, England
Media Coverage
I was stuck in my office for the first two rounds of the Open Championship with only a pair of headphones and an internet connection to keep me in tune with the happenings. It was actually quite enjoyable to listen to the Open’s radio crew, a nice perspective from some fine chaps. I’d much rather have this commentary than american golf announcers.
Television coverage here in the USA of the Open was okay. Fortunately less of the golf-unknowing ESPN announcers were on the call this time around. One announcer, I think Scott Van Pelt, was so informative in letting me know that Rory McIlory was hitting an iron off the tee. Yeah, like I couldn’t see that myself. Thanks man.
One thing they did manage well was not covering Tiger, who was not a factor at any point. So for that I’m thankful. The one bit of Tiger coverage I did see was him digging in a gorse bush!
Rory McIlory
Why not start my player commentary with the winner? McIlory’s ball striking was “on” this week. When he is on, nobody on the planet can beat Rory in my opinion, not even Tiger at his best. Rory’s swing is a thing of beauty when his timing is great, like this week. After the first two 66’s I thought we were in for another lapping of the field like in Rory’s U.S. Open and PGA Championship wins. He did make it interesting by not going much lower on Sunday, combined with Sergio Garcia making a run.
I was a Tiger fan, call me a bandwagon jumper if you want, during his peak and I’m certainly a Rory fan now. I guess I’m a fan of good golf when it comes down to it.
I was very impressed and happy for Rory. Well played young lad.
Tiger Woods
I posted last week the question, “will Tiger Woods make the cut?” I asked it because I had doubts that he would, while others were asking whether he would win. In fact, Tiger did barely make it with a birdie on the 18th Friday to hit it on the number.
Tiger’s first round 69 was a good round, but one good round does not a tournament make. He followed up the 69 with rounds of 77-73-75 and finished 4th from last place.
Tiger is not “back,” at least not yet. His finish this week moved him down in the world rankings from #7 to #9. Realistically, he’s not playing even top 50 golf right now.
Missed Cut
Two-time Masters champ Bubba Watson missed the cut and was apparently not polite to the fans and not complementary to the course or event. See this article: http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/bubba-watson-2014-british-open
Somehow I’ve become a semi-fan of Ian Poulter. I dig his candidness and honesty on his social networks. He wants to be a world class player. I’m sure he’d be the first to admit that his performance in the majors isn’t up to what he aspires to. Perhaps he needs to pretend it is the Ryder Cup?
Perhaps the most disappointing cut missed was Miguel Angel Jimenez. The color and fun he adds to an event is unmatched. Someday I hope to meet him and smoke a cigar with him!
Other notable cut-missers: Webb Simpson, Luke Donald K.J. Choi, Ernie Els, and Lee Westwood.
Perhaps the major train has left the building for Westwood?
Luke Donald was once ranked #1 in the world. His performance in majors is awful. It has to be all in his head. His golf swing is so good.
Rickie Fowler
Guess what player is the only one in the Open to have shot all four rounds in the 60’s? I’ve poked a lot of fun at Rickie Fowler and his traffic cone orange outfits he wears on Sunday, but he has gained total respect from me in the majors this year. He has been right there, quite close to breaking through. It may just be a matter of time before he gets his first major win.
Fowler finished tied for 2nd with Sergio Garcia.
Sergio Garcia
Speaking of Sergio Garcia, he put on quite a run Sunday. He put some pressure on Rory. I think he was far enough back that he didn’t feel any pressure.
The cynic in me says Sergio will never win a major, but maybe I’m still ticked at him for the spitting in the hole incident many years ago.
Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson made the cut and finished a solid tie for 23rd. Not much going on for Phil this week, except some fun videos of him hitting flops shots at the Scottish Open the week before.
The Venue
Royal Liverpool looked soft and green, not exactly the “links” golf conditions I’d hoped for. Players were actually backing up shots, which on a links course is not common. There was very little wind, and a tiny bit of rain on Saturday. The course had no teeth, producing 45 players with under-par scores.
I’m sure it is a great links course, but this week Royal Liverpool was a little too easy in my opinion. A little more solid wind would have made the event a little more riveting. Mother nature failed on this one.
¾
Now that the Open is over my heart is a little sunk. The golf season is ¾ of the way over, for the pros and for myself. Winter will be coming here and pretty soon I’ll be staring out the window at snow on the ground.
Guess I’d better get in as much golf as I can between now and then.
Me (left) and Rich Hodge, a.k.a. EatGolf/EatPool
Today was a great day because I got to visit with an old friend who I met as a result of starting this golf blog. Back in 2004 I became friends with Rich Hodge, who mentored me in the worlds of golf blogging and PHP programming. Rich was one of the web’s first golf bloggers, having founded the site EatGolf.com. Eat Golf has been long gone, but Rich and I have stayed in touch over many years.
Rich happened to be in town, touring on his latest passion for pool. Rich’s latest cool gig is traveling the entire country and shooting pictures of EVERY pool hall.
Rich is a great example of what is the biggest and best benefit for me and my golf blog, the people I’ve met. Sure I get to try lots of golf gear, wear lots of golf apparel, and play many great golf courses. Those things do not suck at all. That said, the PEOPLE I’ve met and the friendships I’ve made around the world as a result of this golf blog are what mean the most to me.
The same applies to the golf course. I’ve established and nurtured many great friendships on the links. Those friends and interacting with them is far more important to me than the scores I shoot. Those friendships are what keep me coming back, even during times when the game has beaten me to the point of wanting to quit.
Cheers to all of you, my friends and associates who I’ve met as a result of this blog and as a result of playing this game. I stick around because of you.
Have a great weekend.
DVR ALERT! Below is the TV schedule for the Open Championship, know to some less informed as the “British” Open.
JULY 17 First Round 4 a.m. – 3 p.m. — ESPN
JULY 18 Second Round 4 a.m. – 3 p.m. — ESPN
JULY 19 Third Round 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. — ESPN
JULY 20 Final Round 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. — ESPN
All times eastern.
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