A round to remember

[southplains]

Every year on my birthday, I try to get in a full round of golf. I can't afford to play much, so that round is usually after a long layoff and I don't worry about scoring. I just want to get outside for a couple of hours and hope to hit one good shot. That sweet shot that keeps you coming back to this silly game. The usual 100-degree summer heat drops to 90-95 in September here and if I'm lucky, there is a breeze. This year, I had to ride a cart and still got exhausted. BUT I got to ride alone, the course was deserted, and the breeze kicked up. I had a few old Hogan PC irons and a speed-slot persimmon driver and an old Hogan center-shafted blade putter. No distractions except a few mowers on the front nine. My usually awkward post-layoff swing began to smooth out and the ball-striking became dead-solid. My normal short-game yips even vanished. I moved from the front tees to the back tees and played even better (still old-age distance, though). At my age, when every round could be the last one, it was fun to make it a good one!

 

[wkuo3]

Happy birthday and many more rounds on your favorite golf courses.

The most memorable golf rounds for me was not the lowest score, not the near 300 yards drive and not the trips I had taken with buddies.

They were several rounds I played with my father. Out of some Country Club and resort golf courses. I vividly remembered one round at a local goat track ( now closed ) with my Dad. A late Summer round and by the time we hit the back nine, it was near dusk and most the golfers had left for dinner. We finished the last hole in the dark and that was the round I kept remembering.

I'd give all the golf belongs I own to have that round again. Okay , I'd give up the only thing I love next to my family. I'd give up golf to have that round again with my father, on that goat track which I had never played again before it turned into a neighborhood park.

[southplains]

I grew up learning to play on hardpan Texas muni goat tracks. I can still play them in my mind to relax, remembering every hole clearly, including the first tee ball racks and tee box benches - both long gone. This game has so much to offer, beyond mere scores.

[James the Hogan Fan]

> @wkuo3 said:

> Happy birthday and many more rounds on your favorite golf courses.

> The most memorable golf rounds for me was not the lowest score, not the near 300 yards drive and not the trips I had taken with buddies.

> They were several rounds I played with my father. Out of some Country Club and resort golf courses. I vividly remembered one round at a local goat track ( now closed ) with my Dad. A late Summer round and by the time we hit the back nine, it was near dusk and most the golfers had left for dinner. We finished the last hole in the dark and that was the round I kept remembering.

> I'd give all the golf belongs I own to have that round again. Okay , I'd give up the only thing I love next to my family. I'd give up golf to have that round again with my father, on that goat track which I had never played again before it turned into a neighborhood park.

 

Part of me is hoping this goat track was The Wayne in Bothell, WA, a goat track of goat tracks that I only got one round on, but boy did I enjoy it.

[wkuo3]

> @"James the Hogan Fan" said:

> > @wkuo3 said:

> > Happy birthday and many more rounds on your favorite golf courses.

> > The most memorable golf rounds for me was not the lowest score, not the near 300 yards drive and not the trips I had taken with buddies.

> > They were several rounds I played with my father. Out of some Country Club and resort golf courses. I vividly remembered one round at a local goat track ( now closed ) with my Dad. A late Summer round and by the time we hit the back nine, it was near dusk and most the golfers had left for dinner. We finished the last hole in the dark and that was the round I kept remembering.

> > I'd give all the golf belongs I own to have that round again. Okay , I'd give up the only thing I love next to my family. I'd give up golf to have that round again with my father, on that goat track which I had never played again before it turned into a neighborhood park.

>

> Part of me is hoping this goat track was The Wayne in Bothell, WA, a goat track of goat tracks that I only got one round on, but boy did I enjoy it.

 

Yes, it was.

The only reason we were at that golf course was the proximity and the price for the green fees. Plus it was very difficult to get a tee time at any golf courses back then.

 

[BIG STU]

I am glad to know that there are others that like goat tracks like I do. Just something about playing a goat track with vintage stuff that brings me back to my youth. Sadly golf has changed here most of our goat tracks are gone. I have one near me but they want a preminum price for playing it and if you are not one of the regulars they sorta shun you.

[James the Hogan Fan]

Well you would have loved the Wayne, 18 holes crammed on to a piece of land large enough for about 12, a 180 yard par 4, a 230 yard par 3, and grass that grew or didn't on it's own initiative. Holes with character: the tee shot on the 4th required hitting a shot with 150 yards of straight and 150 of slice up about 80 feet of hill.

The 5th was blind along the side of a hill. 9 was the 230 yard par 3. The back nine had the 180 yard par 4, a hard dogleg right at 150, but the green was such that you had to be within like a 30 yard window to see it, and trees made driving it dicey enough I layed up. The last couple of holes were too dark to see, but 18 was stuffed where it didn't fit, a 100 yard par 3 I doubled with a 4 putt.

 

It was sad that it had to close

[BIG STU]

James they have a "high end" course on the South end of the beach that the 9th hole is a 100 yard par 3 stuffed in there. Never figured that deal out. Oh it is a great course otherwise and they know it. Bear and the boys played it last Saturday and even with our group membership it cost them $75. No thanks I can not justify it. The only time I played it was back when I played the Minis and we had a tournament there. I can remember even with out tour discount for a practice round 15 years ago it was $55 or so. I played that 36 hole event. Next time the event rolled around there I passed. Most courses as long as you had your card and ID the week before the event usually did not charge you if they did it was only $15 cart fee. But you talking about that stuffed in hole reminded me of that course