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Played Rio Secco – Henderson, NV (82)

The Course

I feel like Rio was in better shape this year than last year. It was pretty wet, which helped us on the greens, but that also mean the fairways, tees a rough were thicker and longer. The greens are more marked up than Cascata, but that’s not surprising given they have caddies. That said, Rio gives everyone a divot tool in the cart, I use it (year round) so it’s disappointing people don’t use it. Whenever I could I tried to fix other marks while i was waiting for others to putt. The conditions allowed me to take some awesome full divots, which is always something fun to do.

My Round

Chris asked me before the round if I would be able to handle shoot anything but less than 79. That thought had crossed my mind but was easily ignored because Cascata is harder and ive only broken 80 once.

I just wanted to go out and appreciate the course and have fun. I also wanted to shoot well, no doubt. The round started well, with a crushed drive, great approach and par. We went to the second hole and i hit a great drive down the right 285. It was downhill slightly but my ball also was only a foot from its pitch mark so it was great distance. It also left me with a 7i into the green one 450y+ hole.

Knock down 9i over the ravine and a nice chip led to a par and a string of 3 putts put some bogies on the board. I didn’t tally my front 9 score until after 9. My driver was not as on today’s yesterday, but I was still getting distance and cent accuracy. What’s great about my driver confidence right now is that I can go all out. After a string of bogies I let some frustration out by making a good turn and letting loose. I’ve never had that confidence before. I tried to drive a 265y par 4, but ended up about 10 yards left but pin high. Would’ve been in the fairway. But it was awesome to swing all out. I took a big full shoulder turn, something I should probably do everytime but don’t. I was able to give a couple par 5s a go at it in 2.

I had some nice irons but also some bad ones. I really think my transition was weaker today, due mostly to being tired, playing yesterday and having an early tee time today. I hit some hooks and pulls and a couple push slices. My alignment wasn’t as good today and I didn’t trust it. But mostly I think I wasn’t completing my shoulder turn, and wasn’t moving aggressively enough during the downswing. I know I can work out that. I hit 11 greens today. Still really confident.

I went 34 holes in a row without a triple bogey and only had a handful of doubles. I managed to make par on 9 despite going a bit right and takin a penalty. i hit a 7i to 6 feet and rolled a confident putt. I thought there was no way I could break 80 again, since I felt like I had more bogeys today, but until 16 on the back, I actually had a good chance. The triple really hurt.

But still a great round, on a great course. I really enjoyed the last couple of days on the course. I’ve wanted to hit solid, consistent, accurate shots on the course, like I do on the range, and this weekend I did that, awesome.

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Broke 80! Played Cascata – Boulder City, NV (79)

I Broke 80!

I did it. I broke 80. And I did it on an awesome course.

The Course

If its possible, Cascata was in even better shape this year than last even with a ton of rain. The greens were super smooth, the rough nice and thick and the fairways and tees and were going in nicely. This course is unbelievable. It’s an oasis in the middle of the desert. I feel so lucky to have played it twice now and have to thank Andy for a great round. Incredible.

My Round

This was my greatest round yet. And not just because I broke 80, although that helps. This was my best round yet because I played better tee to green than I ever have. My drives were long, confident and in the fairway. My approach shots, even from uneven lies, we’re struck crisply and accurately. It was a blast.

From a swing perspective, i tried to stay consistent. Take the club back (don’t worry that I’m really inside on takeaway), transition with the hips, and most importantly, fire through the ball. With the driver, I was focusing on ball forward. Square up the shoulders and hips and feet, keeping my left arm more off my left leg and trying to keep the club face square. Then move the club back with the shoulders and when I really want to hammer the ball, make certain to complete a full shoulder turn.

It’s hard to pick out certain holes or shots to comment on because in this round, there were a lot of them. But I think the consistency is what is most shocking. On the front, I had 7 GIRs. And many of those gave me legitimate looks at birdies. I didn’t convert them, but I had them. But I was hitting the green and it was excellent.

There are a few shots, like a 120 yard, uphill approach from a sidehill lie where I hit a knock down PW to within 4 feet. Or my 8i off the tee on the par 3. The caddie gave a yardage of 160 and hit flushed an 8i. Since I was teed up, I could see the divot about an inch past the ball and perfectly straight at the target. The ball had a beautiful ball flight.

I got some nice breaks too, which allowed me to have a chance, but I also had 2 3-putts and a 4-put, so those evened out.

I needed to par out 16-18 to break 80. I parred 16. On 17, I blew it with bad putts and put up a bogey. So I went to the 18th, a par 5, needing birdie to break 80. The 18th is a dogleg left and since I was playing for a score, Mitch (awesome caddy) suggested I not y to cut the corner requiring a 265y carry, and instead play the hole hybrid, hybrid, 60d and “birdie” with the wedge. To have the confidence to go hybrid hybrid on a par 5 shows how I felt today. I hit my drive straight down the middle to pretty much where we wanted it. With water right, the play was to hit hybrid down the left and avoid having to hit wedge over the water to the green. I don’t know if ipushed it or lined up wrong, but I got dangerously close to the water, fortunately having a bit of draw on the shot to bring me back left. But I ended up 95 yards with a sidehill, downhill lie,forced to carry my shot over water to a middle pin. I needed birdie so I went right for it and hit a great wedge to 9 feet. Mitch really helped with the line, spending a lot of time looking from all angles and we decided it just needed to be firm right edge. I’d been long all day so there was no way I was leaving it short. Stood over the ball and felt real confident, took it back and rolled in th center with pace. It was awesome.

The whole day was incredible and playing golf like that is exactly why I spend so much time trying to improve. Having a great caddy like Mitch on the bag gave me so much confidence knowing that the numbers and the line were right.

Now my next big goal is to become a single digit handicap player. I dropped from a 12 to and 11 (10.7) on this trip. If I keep playing like this, I might have a chance to get to single digits by the end of the year.

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Played Heritage Golf Club – Tucker, GA (83)

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The Course

Heritage is a great golf course. Big golf course that feels very natural. The fairways and rough were in good shape and some of the greens were excellent. But then others were marked up, kinda dead and very uneven. The tee boxes were beat up, especially on the holes where driver isn’t needed.

That aside, this is a course I’ll play again for sure. Not a level lie on this course and even in the fairway we ended up with sidehill/downhill lies and not subtle ones, big ones. But the layout is excellent. Its a tough golf course. The tees were up a but, which helped but the greens were insane. Double and triple breakers and big! Anything outside of 10 feet and you’re hoping not to 3 putt. I’ll definitely play again.

My Round

I played really well today. Going into the round, I just wanted to make good swings but I wanted those swings to look and feel similar to my practice swings. I’m really trying to break my bad habit of taking the club inside by rolling my wrists and instead felling my hands pass my thigh then hinge up and at the top, start the hips and pull my right arm to my side and swing through. On video and on the Swingbyte, that swing produces some great plane lines and even an increase in swing speed. On the range I was hitting some solid shots with a bit of a draw when I did this right. On the course I drew a few but mostly I was hitting fades, especially with my driver. But I hit some nice iron shots, like the 9i on #2 which hit the slope, bounced, then used the slope and spin to come all the back down to hole high for par. Or the knock down 3/4 PW from 115 on par 3 #16 which I hit to within 6 feet. I had some solid 7is and a solid 5i from an awkward uphill/sidehill lie.

My driver produced a couple decent drives but my confidence is low since this is a new club. Even with the weights set 12g in the heel, I’m fading and even slicing a bit. When I try to just let it loose, I usually hit it more solid and further. But I tried that on the front and duffed it about 15 yards in front (not even the ladies tee). But when I did connect, I was getting 270-280 which is exactly what I expected when I purchased this club. I need to go to the range and work on the setup and just trust going full out. AND I have to release the club properly. Without that, I’m going to keep frustrating myself.

My 5W is now a go to club for me, although it let me down on #17. Prior to hitting my tee shot, I realized my score was 73 with 17 and 18 left, both par 4s. The numbers werent in my favor to birdie both for a 79, but I was confident. I took 5W off the tee, which I did 2X earlier both with great results. This time, I pushed/lined up right and the ball ended on pine bark. I had 158 and took an 8i out. I needed to fly it just past a tree to avoid the water left and my ball was resting on a big piece of bark. I stayed down and hit a nice shot, but right, hit the tree and went into the fairway. My 78 yard pitch was short, my next chip was good but still short. That was the story of today and last round around the greens, not confidence with the chipping.

I need to work on my driver and my chipping, especially around the greens. I need to keep working on the full swing too, but at the range I need to focus on the Driver. When I hit that club well, I can score well. And I just really want to hit that new club as well as I can.

Other Photos
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#2 at Heritage (Legacy). Tough par 4 but really cool hole tucked along the woods

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Not a level lie on this course, but some cool views

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Unfortunate break. That bark is in the way of the club. Put a good swing on it, but was a bit right. Led to double.

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Approach shot into #18. Didn’t mean to go that long and flirt with water off the tee. Went at the flag with SW, landed on the green but short, prob 20 footer. Made par.

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Played Cobblestone Golf Club – Acworth, GA (86)

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The Course

Cobblestone is awesome. One of the best tracks around Atlanta. The design of the course has you hitting numerous different clubs of the tee, the par 3s vary in length, reachable par 5s that really make you weigh risk/reward, and the maintenance is excellent. The greens were some of the smoothest, truest rolling greens I’ve played around Atlanta. And unlike some other courses that claim to be on/around water, Cobblestone is very much on Lake Acworth. Multiple holes back up or ride along the lake making for some very cool holes. I’d play it again anytime.

My Round

My round was mixed. I shot an 86 on a great course which is nice, but it wasn’t one of those rounds where I was just “on” but I had some great recoveries. Rolled some one putts, had some decent chips. I had 7 pars and 2 birdies, but also had 5 doubles (or worse) including a duffed drive on #1 that led to an 8. I went on a five hole stretch of 4 pars and a birdie, that was fantastic. I hit some nice irons and I had a couple big drives. My drive on #2 was the best I’ve had with my new driver. Over 300 yards (I did get a nice roll off a small hill), with a high straight flight. But I need more time with my driver because it was inconsistent. When I hit it, I hit it great.

My putting and chipping need work. 3 putting and duffing chip shots is not going to let me score well. But Casey ad I were out having a good time on a good course and thats really what matters.

Scorecard

Other Photos
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Great Par 3 on the Lake. Went at flag, ended up bailing right, wonder why??

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#18 at Cobblestone. Great hole

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Pretty tough par 3. Long and plenty of danger.

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Played City Club – Marietta, GA (86)

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My Round

Tough round. This course is short but can be brutal if you’re not accurate. It was great to be out there, but I let the front the 9 get to me. I need to stay more controlled of my emotions on the course, but its very challenging when you get out there and dont feel like you’re even close to making the same swings as on the practice tee.

But shocker, when I’m more positive and just let bad shots go, I play better. Confidence is key. Jokingly on 17 I said I was going to “Tiger Woods this tee shot” meaning I’m going to compress it and knock it close. I hit it to within 8 feet.

I also noticed that when my tempo is slower, I play worse. I need to just take it back and let it go, but I don’t do that on the course. Next time I play I need to focus on that.

Other Photos
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Greens were recently aerated. My SW from 110 embedded right into the green

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Par 3 #17. Use the soft greens to back up a 9i from 145

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Played Wolf Creek -Atlanta, GA (89)

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My Round

My first round from the Tips at any course. It wasn’t my choice, I would’ve played blues. But I was playing a match in the Atlanta Golf League and that is where my opponent wanted to play. I was on fire today. I hit 86% of the fairways and 50% of the greens. For 5 holes in a row on the front, I hit both FWY and GIR. My driver was working thankfully and my irons were solid.

I also won my match against a better player not having a great round. I had a 2 shot lead going into the last 2 holes and really feel good about how I played them. Those are tough holes and I knew I needed a good drive. I stepped up and thought, just get the ball in the fairway and I did. Then I thought just lay up in the fairway, and I did. Then I thought, just put this somewhere on the green, and I was in the fringe pin high. Rolled it close, par and I shot in the 80s from the tips. Really happy with the way I played but also how I managed the course and managed my nervousness about hitting from the Golds. It was a great round.

Scorecard

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Played Wolf Creek – Quick 9 (44)

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Played a quick 9 and the score doesn’t really reflect the swings. Two bad holes on 8 and 9 (lack of focus, doesn’t matter) turned a sub 40 round into a 44.

I hit 5 of the first 7 greens with one of those missed just on the front. My driver was mixed, I really need to focus on the driver and especially the driver setup. When I’m setup correctly and feel solid and square, the drives end up where I want them.

I continued to think about staying quiet with my head, keep the right arm tight, but driving with my legs on the transition. Doing this keeps me grounded and I hit solid shots. I hit a couple nice 7i, a really nice 9i from the rough to pin high. A few good wedges as well. Hit my hybrid a bit and loved it.

The putter failed me. 2 3-putts from within 12 feet.

All in all, I can be upset about a round like this one. Just need to learn from 8 and 9.

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Played RiverPines – Alpharetta, GA (83)

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My Round

I had a chance to play RiverPines after work for my first match in the Atlanta Golf League. This is the second time I’ve played RiverPines and this 83 is the best round I’ve ever posted. The course is still in excellent shale. I felt completely in control of this round the entire time. I was focused, I hit great shots with the irons, driver, rolled some putts and recovered well. I wanted to go out and hit the same shots I’ve hit on the range, but actually do it on the course for a change. I did.

There are a lot of positives to this round and a many holes where something fairly significant happened. I had a few main swing thoughts, take the club back inside not outside, then at the top bump the hip left keeping my head still and feet planted and just let it go. I hit some very pure irons, mostly straight flight with a slight draw, but a couple fades too. Contact was excellent. Same with the driver. I was hitting a fade today and went within. I know I’m not closing the face and releasing properly and also coming out to in a bit. Ryan, my playing partner, also noticed i was taking the club back outside a bit as well. By the end of the round I had a nice ball size dark mark in the center of my driver. I hit almost 80% of the fairways.

My chipping and putting wasn’t strong. Too many 3 putts and too many short chip. I could’ve easily shot a 77-79 if I simply made a couple better strokes. But my irons and my driver were saving me.

But the mental game was critical. I applied a suggestion from Chris – take the course 3 holes at a time and have a goal for those 3. For 1-3, we set a +3 goal and I went +1. And then forgot about it and moved on to the next 3. That’s easy to do when you’re playing well, but critical when not. And it really worked well. The mental approach helped me to make a pretty great up and down. Gat drive ended in the trap by the lip. 98 out so I tried a SW which hit the lip. I stayed calm, looked at my options and knew I had to go over a bunker and get the ball to stop close to save par. I ignored the bunker and approached the shot with confidence. My SW flew over the bunker, hit and stopped within 8 feet and I rolled the par.

Standing on 17 with water right, I had complete confidence to let it go. A little draw ended up right in the middle of the fairway with 165 to clear the creek and get home in two. I hit 6i with 182 to the pin, a little short, chipped up, and rolled in the birdie. I almost played that hole as perfectly as I could have.

This was definitely one of my best rounds and I need to take the positives with me going forward.

Scorecard

Other photos

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Played Smoke Rise Country Club – Stone Mtn., GA (83)

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The Course

Smoke Rise CC is a excellent course. I knew from looking at the scorecard that it would be a challenging course, but challenging not because it’s long (it’s not) but because it requires finesse. The fairways are tight in places, requiring irons off the tee and every green is protected by bunkers. Unfortunately, we played while they were renovating the greens. So we played to temporary greens cut into the fairways in front of the real greens. Even so, The course was in excellent condition and I’m excited to play again in late Aug or early September once the new greens are in play. Because of the greens and chance of poor weather, we were the only two on the course and that was awesome.

My Round

Played with Casey, and that’s always a lot of fun. He played the best round of his life and we ended up shooting the same score. Definitely a fun round.

My round was a good one. Snce I’m working on a few things, my goal was to go out and hit some solid shots with the new techniques like grip, backswing and impact position. And I did. Starting at the driving range before I was just focusing on making smooth swings, Smooth tempo, keeping grip weaker, dropping the club down in front, staying planted. I was flushing my irons on the range and felt great.

On the course, when I focused on the new pieces, I hit great shots. But I have to focus, because I’m breaking old habits. A good example was on a par 5 on the front. I was going for the green with a 5i. My first shot, when I wasn’t quite focused, was ok, but a bit thin and kind of a fade. But then I put another ball doesn’t since we were the only ones there. I focused on my grip, posture and followed up that shot by hitting a perfect 5i when i remembered to get to the top of backswing and then transition with my hips before dropping club. 205-210 yards with a penetrating ball flight with a slight draw and balanced finish. It felt easy.

I hit some great drives when I let go. Focusing again on the new pieces, and then really transitioning with my hips keeping head at or slightly behind the ball (so I’m not leaning forward) and dropping the club down in front, I hit some straight and long drives. I need to let go and trust my swing with the driver.

Also had fun playing shots at the temp pins instead of just shooting to middle of the green. I had to focus on landing spots, read fairway break, and think about how the ball will travel once it hits the ground instead of playing to the middle of the green and hoping the ball backs up. I felt more focused because I was playing to something other than a front, middle or back number. Not that I should fire at pins, but I should incorporate that into my rounds.

Keep working on the same things: grip, takeaway, transition, tempo, low hands and letting everything happen. Also, for the first time in a while I didn’t trust my alignment. Just need to trust it.

Sorecard

Other Photos

With a range full of golf balls, I could’ve stayed here all day


Divot shot. The consistency on the range was nice. Figured the pic would remind me


Nice starting hole. Bunkers staring you in the face and little dogleg right


Par 3 210 yards. Gorgeous hole if we were playing to the real green. Temp green tucked to the left

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