My first day out golfing in Australia is in Albert Park Public in Melbourne. It is a nice course, but challenging for a bad drivers, and I ended up in plenty of hazards along the way.
It’s cheap to play at 43 dollars for the morning sessions and 32 for the evening sessions. But it can get a bit crowded. At one stage, there was three groups of us on one hole. There were also groups of six, seven and eight spinning around in carts. I’m not knocking it because that might suit some people, while others could hate it.
I however, will play it again, because it’s convenient for me to get a little e-scooter, as I don’t have a car yet. Tee off for me is 8.30am. There is a group of two and a group of four ahead of me, and I went around in 3 and 1/2 hours. As usual I play with the Nike vapour driver and pro iron combo.
The first hole isn’t in the best condition, but the course improves as you move along. The back nine is particularly nice.
I start the round by blasting my drive into the trees. A tough recovery shot to make from what is essentially gravel. I hit from the gravel into sand for a difficult third shot chip. I made the green in three. Hoping to save par. Alas, I miss the putt and scraped a 5.
Hole 2 is 120 meters. I hit my 9 iron, which draws right and bounces off the back of the green. I have an interesting incline chip, which gives me a chance to save par. Unfortunately my putt comes up short and leaves me with another bogey.
Hole 3 is a short Par 4; 314 meters. I pull my drive into the rough. I play it safe and tap a 5 iron back onto the fairway as the trees blocked my path. My chip lands close, and gives me another par attempt. I misjudge it badly, it tails off. I end up with another bogey.
Hole 4 is a Par 4; 368 meter dog leg left. Like the last hole, it pulls right and ends up in the rough. Trees block my progression. I play sensible again. Set myself up for another chip. It goes close. I miss the putt. It leaves me with yet another bogey.
At this point, I am raged. Four bogeys from four par putts. All because my drives didn’t giving me a chance at scoring. I determine not to pull the next drive left and into the rough. I push it right; into the trees. I lay up because trees block my path. My approach bounces off the back. I chip back from the fringes, skids back from where it came to the other side of the green. I two putt for a double bogey. Typical golf rage karma, I curse myself for missing pars, and ended up with a double bogey the next hole. Lesson learned. It can always get worse.
Hole 6 is a Par 5; 455 meters, and I want to start clawing back a few points. It starts well with a good drive straight down the centre of the fairway. Things are looking up. I snap hook my 3 wood into the trees. I could play it safe and knock it out of the trees. But I went for it, and caught it wrong. Leaving me directly behind a tree with no shot at the hole. I it around the tree. Chip it within five meters, and eventually putt for a six at 6.
Hole 7 is a Par 5 as well. But it’s short. Index 17. I should score here. But I drive it into the rough. Left as usual. I have to lay it up with a 6 iron. But catch it too clean and runs into the sand. I flush my sand wedge over the back of the green. Chip it back where it came from. Another shot at par, but my putt just tailed off, and left me with a 6.
Hole 8 is a Par 3; 141 meters. I hit an eight iron. It landed to the right of the green. That left me with a two put for a par. And now I’m scoring.
Hole 9 is another Par 5. Index 16 at 442metres. At this point all I want is a good drive. I get one. 180 meters from the green, and flush my 4 iron. It catches a branch hanging from a tree. I’m raged. I’m convinced it was heading to the flag. It lands on the fairway. My chip goes close. Pressures on. I to sink the putt for a birdie. Yup for the rapturous applause in my head.
Hole 10 is a Par 3; 171meters. Somehow I duff my 6 iron and it comes up short. I hit a decent chip, which leaves me with a long putt for par. It’s a sweeping right to left. I hit the right line. Not enough juice. I leave it short, starting the back nine with a bogey.
Hole 11 is a long Par 5. Surrounding by trees flank either side. My drive goes down the middle. 200ish from the green. I hook my 3wood into the trees. I lay up again. My chip goes close this time. It’s just a matter of tapping it in for a par.
Hole 12 is Par 3. I’m always hopeful for a score on a par 3. I hit a 6 iron. Short. I chip it well. It hits the flag. Nearly holes out. Tap it in for par.
Hole 13 is a Par 4 with a sharp left turn. Sensibly, I hit a 5 iron, instead of driving it into the trees. It works. I hit the 5 again. It just comes up short leaving me with a 15 meter chip. I catch lovely and nearly hole out again. Another par. Finally. I’m scoring.
Continued in the comments.
19 фев 2024
