Yup, I Did It Again

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No, these are not trinary code numbers. These are the numbers of strokes over par that I shot on 18 holes, on 2 separate days at Pine Ridge, the tougher of the two golf courses that are within a 10-minute drive from my house. Each day, I totaled 17 strokes over par, for a score of 89 each time. This is the lowest score I have ever shot at this course. The first time was two days ago, and before that, 91 was the lowest. And that time, I had to play twice in a row to get there. Today, I didn't even have time to warm up and got to the tee with about 10 minutes to do some stretches. And I forgot to bring the laser rangefinder, but it turned out I did just fine without it.

I played with the Defectress and two LOLGs (little old lady golfers) who were both 80-plus years old. The Defectress isn't a spring chicken either. She just turned 60 last week, though she doesn't look a day over 50. I am 46, and people still say I look like I'm in my 30s. Although a teenage cashier at another golf course once asked me if I was a senior, so I guess it's all relative. Despite, their age, the LOLGs got around the course quickly, even though they didn't hit very far. I was quite impressed, actually, and I can only hope I am still swinging a club when I am their age.

Anyway, I was full of confidence from Sunday's record-breaking 89, and I had fixed something with my drive, so my big bopper tee shots were in full force. One of the LOLGs remarked, "Power is wasted on the young. It's when you're my age that you can really use it."

Miraculously, my putting was not pitiful. After the round, the Defectress told me that she'd been counting my putts, and I made only 14 putts on the front nine. Though I do recall three-putting more than once on, I guess I made up for it with one-putts. I got annoyed at one point when one of the LOLGs was standing in my line of sight on a putt, and then she moved just as I was about to take my shot. I actually said quite loudly, "Would you mind not moving, please?" And I felt instantly guilty, the way I do when I have to repeat something to my mother that she didn't hear the first time, and it always comes out sounding irritated. Of course I missed that putt.

On the next hole, I hit my drive into the rough, near a 100-yard marker post, inside the top of which a young bluebird was nesting. He poked his little head out, and just as I got out my phone camera and snapped a quick picture, he jumped out and flew away. After I took my shot and landed the green, I looked back and the bluebird was flying around, making figure-eights in the sky. He circled close, and I almost wondered if he was going to land on me. But I think he was just a curious bird, and a sign that I should take my focus off my score once in awhile and notice the pretty things in nature on the golf course.

But I do like scoring. In the dozens of times I have played Pine Ridge, I think I've parred every hole at one time or another. So I know shooting a scratch game is theoretically possible. But I am getting ahead of myself. For now, my immediate goal is to score consistently in the 80s, and maybe make a birdie once in awhile too.