WRXers Scratch Amateur Tournaments Thread: Commitments, Results, etc....

[ThinkingPlus]

6 minutes ago, Obee said:

Played my very first official national senior event qualifier yesterday. I turn 55 today. Qualifier was for the US senior amateur. My back is in an awful state, but I have been taking a new medication, meloxicam, that seems to be helping. I was able to get through my entire round. With only the last four or five holes being in extreme pain.

 

Made 16 pars a birdie and a bogey. Just wasn't hitting the ball quite close enough to get good birdie looks. I converted only one of the four I had inside 12 feet, but the rest I was hitting it to 20 a - 30 feet all day And the pins were all in tough positions. I also could not capitalize on the short par 5's due to my shortness (235-245) off the tee.

 

Still, though, very pleased with the round.

 

https://scga-2022ussenioramateurqualifyingsoulep.golfgenius.com/pages/3368804

Solid play.  Saw a former co-worker tried to qualify as well.  Didn't know he was still trying to play tournament golf. Minus 3 to qualify is pretty stout.  No freebies there.

[Obee]

4 minutes ago, ThinkingPlus said:

Solid play.  Saw a former co-worker tried to qualify as well.  Didn't know he was still trying to play tournament golf. Minus 3 to qualify is pretty stout.  No freebies there.

Never a freebie in California. Just too many good golfers. Was fun to compete again. Been a while. 

[allparz]

Obee,

 

Nice playing - but never easy....

 

Also tried to Qualify for USGA SR Am yesterday in South Carolina- played about as good as I can and still missed by 4.  USGA setup was 6800yds on damp, healthy, no roll Bermuda - Played super long, only one hole was driver wedge.... 3 par 4's over 440.

 

https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/3424903

 

Got Senior North/South next week at Pinehurst - all good...

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by allparz

[CSagan]

On 8/9/2022 at 9:13 AM, Obee said:

Never a freebie in California. Just too many good golfers. Was fun to compete again. Been a while. 

 

Watching a Tiger video today he was saying he had to get out of California because it was too easy to play on the grasses there. Are you guys cheating? I'm over here buried in 2 inch bermuda with the ball sitting on hardpan underneath it!

[Obee]

3 hours ago, allparz said:

Obee,

 

Nice playing - but never easy....

 

Also tried to Qualify for USGA SR Am yesterday in South Carolina- played about as good as I can and still missed by 4.  USGA setup was 6800yds on damp, healthy, no roll Bermuda - Played super long, only one hole was driver wedge.... 3 par 4's over 440.

 

https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/3424903

 

Got Senior North/South next week at Pinehurst - all good...

 

I was signed up for that and WD'd. Just not ready to play three rounds in a row...

 

Good Luck!!

[Obee]

3 hours ago, CSagan said:

 

Watching a Tiger video today he was saying he had to get out of California because it was too easy to play on the grasses there. Are you guys cheating? I'm over here buried in 2 inch bermuda with the ball sitting on hardpan underneath it!

it can certainly be easy here at times. Totally depends on the season. And if it is easy, then the qualifying score for 9 spots can be even or lower because there are so many good players. 

[Obee]

Saturday was first day of Southern California Golf Association "Scratch League." Absolutely fantastic format where you don't have to worry about playing some sandbagging ****** in an inter-club match because all groups are played at scratch. 😜 

 

There are three teams in our "Group" this year (usually four): My club (Victoria Club), Redlands CC, and Soboba CC. Saturday's Group Opener was at Redlands. Shot a nice 3-under 67 (70.3/125) and had an absolute blast, paired with my dear friend, Paul, who also shot 67. He's a many-time club champ there and the course fits both of our games well. We ended up being the two lowest scores of the day and we battled until the very last shot where I made a huge breaking 20-footer to save par and then he poured in a 5-footer to nip me by 2-points in the very cool and "plays relatively quickly" 9-point format (see deails in the "Manual" section, below, if interested).

 

If your golf association doesn't do a format like this and you're around scratch or below, you should get on them to create one. So much fun. Click here for rules, etc: http://www.scga.org/tournaments/scratch

 

And, yes, my back is feeling much, much better. The Meloxicam and Tylenol Arthritis Formula are combining to allow me to attack the ball for the first time in almost two years. So relieved. 🙂

[TLUBulldogGolf]

Didn't play how I wanted in the qualifier for the city amateur. Greens were terrible and I think I let it get to me mentally, was +2 through 10 without really missing a shot, couldn't make anything and chips weren't reacting the way I expected. Caught a terrible break on 11 and went double-bogey-bogey. Had a 3 putt at 16 but reached the 18th, a par 5, in two and 2-putted for 78, which places me as an alternate surprisingly, with a decent chance to get in with WDs. Fingers crossed, I feel like my mentality in a qualifier where I don't have to shoot low but just can't blow up is not quite right. 

[mneumann]

Played us 4 ball qualifying yesterday in nor cal, usually we play in December so it was nice to get it in season this time.

 

Usually don't feel the first tee jitters anymore but I guess in a lesson of anything can happen on the first tee I completely cold topped my tee shot. Luckily downhill to the fairway so I got maybe 100 yards out of it. Walked out and topped my second as well still short of the groups drives. 3rd was hooked into the rough about 85 yards to the flag and casually hit wedge to 3 feet and made par.

 

Ball striking was obviously not up to par but made the turn with 11 putts on 3 gir for a -1 so that was a definite win. Couple birdies couple bogies on the back and still -1 through 16. Unfortunately partner gave me nothing all day and we were 1 under as a team as well. 

 

17 is a little 8 iron par 3 and I hit a shot about 15 feet right of the flag that looks like it's going to land right on the front edge. Lands about a yard short of the green right on top of a sprinkler and shoots back 70 yards straight toward us into a lake that's not even in play. Kind of deflated the day and posted x and then double to finish. 

 

Have to be happy with being 1 under through 16 in a usga qualifier but as obee says California is a beast trying to get through these things. Qualifiers finished 10 and 9 under. As old dudes with jobs and families me and my buddy just have to have a year where we both show up on the same day and catch lightning to get through. Always fun though.

[Obee]

11 hours ago, mneumann said:

Played us 4 ball qualifying yesterday in nor cal, usually we play in December so it was nice to get it in season this time.

 

Usually don't feel the first tee jitters anymore but I guess in a lesson of anything can happen on the first tee I completely cold topped my tee shot. Luckily downhill to the fairway so I got maybe 100 yards out of it. Walked out and topped my second as well still short of the groups drives. 3rd was hooked into the rough about 85 yards to the flag and casually hit wedge to 3 feet and made par.

 

Ball striking was obviously not up to par but made the turn with 11 putts on 3 gir for a -1 so that was a definite win. Couple birdies couple bogies on the back and still -1 through 16. Unfortunately partner gave me nothing all day and we were 1 under as a team as well. 

 

17 is a little 8 iron par 3 and I hit a shot about 15 feet right of the flag that looks like it's going to land right on the front edge. Lands about a yard short of the green right on top of a sprinkler and shoots back 70 yards straight toward us into a lake that's not even in play. Kind of deflated the day and posted x and then double to finish. 

 

Have to be happy with being 1 under through 16 in a usga qualifier but as obee says California is a beast trying to get through these things. Qualifiers finished 10 and 9 under. As old dudes with jobs and families me and my buddy just have to have a year where we both show up on the same day and catch lightning to get through. Always fun though.

Where was the qual, bud?

 

and, WELL DONE!!!

[mneumann]

3 minutes ago, Obee said:

Where was the qual, bud?

 

and, WELL DONE!!!

Northridge cc, sac area.

 

Usually we play del Paso cc in December. Hosted the us senior open about 10 years ago, but they pulled that qualifier this year. December in the rain and cold up here I usually just say we can't keep up with the kids distance wise, wet rough and all. Kept 

up fine this time distance wise, but the kids are good, as you know.

[MattyO1984]

Had completely forgotten about this thread. Nice to see guys still out there competing. Frustratingly, my golf this year has largely been curtailed by issues that I have had with the tendons in and around my hand. I have still played some but not anywhere near as much as I would have wanted to and certainly nowhere near the standard that I would want to play at. That said, I have for the first and second time ever been able to play in events which were offering WAGR points. Not something that I have ever done before and I have not gotten anywhere near picking up any of the points which were on offer but it was such a cool thought being able to do that. 

 

The two events for the King Open at Nairn and then the David Blair, North of Scotland Open Amatuer. My golf particularly in the David Blair due to having played 9, 12, 12 and 18 holes in the two months prior was not great but I was able to get it round and I made the cut in both events thanks in part to KT and Zinc Oxide tape. I got to play with some pretty top notch players who competed on a national level and I was able to see that whilst they were better than me, the difference between I and them was not insurmountable (if I was able to play and practice with less pain). 

 

Whilst I have not been able to play a huge amount, bar the odd club competition or open somewhere around our season is now real done, I have been able to get back into the gym and get he head and body into the Fit for Golf App. Still some ways to go with it all but getting back into doing some more physical work and with a positive meeting with a specialist yesterday, I hopeful of a good autumn and winter to get my head done, get fit, get practicing and adding in a silver bullet of getting the new TSR when it comes out, next year, I am going to be that bit better and that more able to compete.

 

Hopefully, you guys with longer seasons and more competitive golf will be able to provide extra motivation as well. 

[Mike_C]

This past weekend played my first "real", outside of my club, stoke play event of the year, the Texas State Senior.  Was going to play more this year, but work and life got in the way.

 

I have been playing pretty well all year, handicap is about as low as it has ever been, but that is just playing in our little money game with guys at the club mostly. 

 

Anyway, missed the cut by 2 as I couldn't hit a driver in play for 2 days, 80-74.  I needed a birdie on 18 to make it, and after another drive in the left rough, (almost blocked by a tree), I hit a PW from 150 dead at the pin, but was expecting a flyer, but didn't get it, hit the ridge on the front edge and rolled back 20 yards down in a terrible spot, almost no way to get up and down.   

 

Iron play was almost spectacular for me, but too many tee shots out of play.   Nerves were a bit part of it, I just need to play more tournaments.   I almost had a mental block with my driver, just couldn't make a normal swing, but I could hit 3 wood all day in play.   I am fairly long for a senior off the tee, when I am hitting it well I'll be out there 275+.  I just hate giving up that advantage, I can carry my 3 wood 230-240, which is just about up to the guys I was paired with with their driver.   

 

As bad as I was hitting my driver, my iron play was the opposite, hit 24/29 greens where I had a clear shot to the green, and the few I missed were mostly just off a bit, and half of those I did hit were inside 18-15 feet, just couldn't make any 10-15 footers, but did convert some shorter ones.   Didn't putt bad at all really, but a lot of slight misreads......

 

Oh well, there is always next year. 

 

 

Edited September 13, 2022 by Mike_C
spelling

[chichi72]

Does anyone have interesting competitive fall golf plans? Have a couple of MGA or New York area four balls I am looking for a partner in. Might play in a mixed tournament back home if I can find a partner for it. Had a good summer but looking for some stuff in the fall or winter to play in. Anyone excited ab

out anything they are playing in?

[TLUBulldogGolf]

On 8/24/2022 at 8:33 AM, TLUBulldogGolf said:

Didn't play how I wanted in the qualifier for the city amateur. Greens were terrible and I think I let it get to me mentally, was +2 through 10 without really missing a shot, couldn't make anything and chips weren't reacting the way I expected. Caught a terrible break on 11 and went double-bogey-bogey. Had a 3 putt at 16 but reached the 18th, a par 5, in two and 2-putted for 78, which places me as an alternate surprisingly, with a decent chance to get in with WDs. Fingers crossed, I feel like my mentality in a qualifier where I don't have to shoot low but just can't blow up is not quite right. 

Got in after all, starts Friday, two rounds then a cut and 36 Sunday. I went to see my old swing coach after about 3 years and feel really good about the direction I was going and have a good swing key that will get put to the test this weekend. Should be fun.

Edited September 21, 2022 by TLUBulldogGolf

[TLUBulldogGolf]

On 9/21/2022 at 1:15 PM, TLUBulldogGolf said:

Got in after all, starts Friday, two rounds then a cut and 36 Sunday. I went to see my old swing coach after about 3 years and feel really good about the direction I was going and have a good swing key that will get put to the test this weekend. Should be fun.

Turned out better than I hoped, some sloppy mistakes but made the cut and shot 287 (+7) across 4 rounds to finish T20th. Best I have hit it in a long time and left a lot of shots out there especially on the greens, but overall happy with how I played.

[Obee]

2 hours ago, TLUBulldogGolf said:

Turned out better than I hoped, some sloppy mistakes but made the cut and shot 287 (+7) across 4 rounds to finish T20th. Best I have hit it in a long time and left a lot of shots out there especially on the greens, but overall happy with how I played.

 

That's fantastic. Qualify with a 78 as an alternate and then play solid golf and nab a T-20! Well done!!!

What was low score for the qualifier? Greens were bad, you said. How about wind, etc.?

[Obee]

I have a big qualifier and then a nice senior event coming up, both in late October.

 

First is a qualifier for the California State Senior at La Purisima. 18-hole Qualifier is Thursday, October 20 at Soule Park, followed immediately by the Ojai Senior Cup on Friday, Saturday, Sunday with 18 at Ojai Valley Inn and 36 at Soule Park.

 

Wish I didn't have to play 4 days in a row, but oh well.

 

After a nice 5 or 6-wee run with my back feeling decent on a new medication (Meloxicam), I'm back to my same old issues with sciatica and searing pain. We'll see ...

[TLUBulldogGolf]

1 hour ago, Obee said:

 

That's fantastic. Qualify with a 78 as an alternate and then play solid golf and nab a T-20! Well done!!!

What was low score for the qualifier? Greens were bad, you said. How about wind, etc.?

-2 was low, there was some breeze but it was pretty ideal, really I should have been no worse than a couple over the way I hit it. I guess the format of the qualifier messes with me, you don’t have to go get it but you can’t shoot too high obviously.

 

The years I’ve played the actual tournament I typically make the cut but I was still really pleased with my play.

Edited September 28, 2022 by TLUBulldogGolf

[dmecca2]

Played in my last serious event of the year. The “Coal Scuttle”. All of the clubs in northeast PA send their best 5 players to play an event, college style (5 players and 4 scores count). The first day is at the club that finished 2nd the year prior, and the second day is at the club that won. I won this event 5 years ago and have had some close scares recently, so I tend to bring solid golf with me at this event. 
 

This year I came out solid in the first round. Some small mistakes, but overall good play. An eagle late got me to -3, but I missed a drive right on the last hole and took a double to shoot 71(-1) in round 1. 2 leaders at -4. Our team played well and we took a 6 shot lead into round 2. 
 

I started the second round slow and after 12 holes, I was losing by 4 to a guy in my group. I made a couple birdies and he slipped, and after a birdie on 17, I had a 1 shot lead. Unfortunately, I 3 putted 18 (highlighted by a made 15 footer) and had to go to a 4 man playoff. Myself and another player both made eagle on the second playoff hole, and he made a 25 foot birdie putt on the 4th playoff hole to beat me. BUT more importantly, our team was able to win the event to beat the home club who had won the event 7 years in a row. 

https://gapgolf.org/72nd-gap-aga-mens-coal-scuttle/

 

[TLUBulldogGolf]

16 minutes ago, dmecca2 said:

Played in my last serious event of the year. The “Coal Scuttle”. All of the clubs in northeast PA send their best 5 players to play an event, college style (5 players and 4 scores count). The first day is at the club that finished 2nd the year prior, and the second day is at the club that won. I won this event 5 years ago and have had some close scares recently, so I tend to bring solid golf with me at this event. 
 

This year I came out solid in the first round. Some small mistakes, but overall good play. An eagle late got me to -3, but I missed a drive right on the last hole and took a double to shoot 71(-1) in round 1. 2 leaders at -4. Our team played well and we took a 6 shot lead into round 2. 
 

I started the second round slow and after 12 holes, I was losing by 4 to a guy in my group. I made a couple birdies and he slipped, and after a birdie on 17, I had a 1 shot lead. Unfortunately, I 3 putted 18 (highlighted by a made 15 footer) and had to go to a 4 man playoff. Myself and another player both made eagle on the second playoff hole, and he made a 25 foot birdie putt on the 4th playoff hole to beat me. BUT more importantly, our team was able to win the event to beat the home club who had won the event 7 years in a row. 

https://gapgolf.org/72nd-gap-aga-mens-coal-scuttle/

 

Good playing, that event sounds like a lot of fun. 

[ThinkingPlus]

Playing in our state senior women's stroke play event starting on Tuesday.  Monday is the practice round. Course is Shady Valley in Arlington.

 

I know nothing about the course although usually we can expect the greens to run around 10 - 11 and the course tends to be tight off the tee. Interestingly we will be playing the course at a little over 5700 yards par 72 which is pretty long for us old ladies (US Women's Open typically plays around 6000 yards for comparison). Course rating is 75 with a slope of 137. Generally that isn't all that long for me, but there appear to be a couple of longish par 4s that will get my attention.

 

Weather is expected to be good (big thanks for that).  Will spend the practice round verifying the correct club to hit off each tee and how well the greens hold approach shots.  Game is not in great shape, but just glad to be playing after the lower back issues I have struggled with.  Will update y'all with results once play is complete.

[getitdaily]

Golfweek am nationals next week...fri-sun. 100 guys who are 3.9 or lower. Finished t-7 last year out of 120 guys. Different course this year. Gonna have to be under par over 3 days to win it. I'd bet 3 to 5 under takes it.

[Obee]

On 9/28/2022 at 10:43 AM, dmecca2 said:

Played in my last serious event of the year. The “Coal Scuttle”. All of the clubs in northeast PA send their best 5 players to play an event, college style (5 players and 4 scores count). The first day is at the club that finished 2nd the year prior, and the second day is at the club that won. I won this event 5 years ago and have had some close scares recently, so I tend to bring solid golf with me at this event. 
 

This year I came out solid in the first round. Some small mistakes, but overall good play. An eagle late got me to -3, but I missed a drive right on the last hole and took a double to shoot 71(-1) in round 1. 2 leaders at -4. Our team played well and we took a 6 shot lead into round 2. 
 

I started the second round slow and after 12 holes, I was losing by 4 to a guy in my group. I made a couple birdies and he slipped, and after a birdie on 17, I had a 1 shot lead. Unfortunately, I 3 putted 18 (highlighted by a made 15 footer) and had to go to a 4 man playoff. Myself and another player both made eagle on the second playoff hole, and he made a 25 foot birdie putt on the 4th playoff hole to beat me. BUT more importantly, our team was able to win the event to beat the home club who had won the event 7 years in a row. 

https://gapgolf.org/72nd-gap-aga-mens-coal-scuttle/

 

Which one are you?

[Obee]

23 hours ago, getitdaily said:

Golfweek am nationals next week...fri-sun. 100 guys who are 3.9 or lower. Finished t-7 last year out of 120 guys. Different course this year. Gonna have to be under par over 3 days to win it. I'd bet 3 to 5 under takes it.

How's it going???

[Obee]

On 10/7/2022 at 10:04 AM, ThinkingPlus said:

Playing in our state senior women's stroke play event starting on Tuesday.  Monday is the practice round. Course is Shady Valley in Arlington.

 

I know nothing about the course although usually we can expect the greens to run around 10 - 11 and the course tends to be tight off the tee. Interestingly we will be playing the course at a little over 5700 yards par 72 which is pretty long for us old ladies (US Women's Open typically plays around 6000 yards for comparison). Course rating is 75 with a slope of 137. Generally that isn't all that long for me, but there appear to be a couple of longish par 4s that will get my attention.

 

Weather is expected to be good (big thanks for that).  Will spend the practice round verifying the correct club to hit off each tee and how well the greens hold approach shots.  Game is not in great shape, but just glad to be playing after the lower back issues I have struggled with.  Will update y'all with results once play is complete.

Let's go!!

[getitdaily]

5 minutes ago, Obee said:

How's it going???

Next week. I feel good about my swing. Putting is there, I just have to trust it. 

[dmecca2]

On 10/8/2022 at 4:07 PM, Obee said:

Which one are you?

2nd from the right. Only one without a hat

[getitdaily]

On 10/8/2022 at 4:08 PM, Obee said:

How's it going???

Shot even today. What should have been kind of round. -3 thru 7. Leaked a couple on 8 and 10. Made a bad swing on 15. Near green in 2 on all the par 5s and made 1 birdie. 27 putts. Didn't score well today. 

 

Tied 14. 2 guys at -5. 1 guy at -3. Bunch of -2 and -1. 

[ThinkingPlus]

On 10/7/2022 at 12:04 PM, ThinkingPlus said:

Playing in our state senior women's stroke play event starting on Tuesday.  Monday is the practice round. Course is Shady Valley in Arlington.

 

I know nothing about the course although usually we can expect the greens to run around 10 - 11 and the course tends to be tight off the tee. Interestingly we will be playing the course at a little over 5700 yards par 72 which is pretty long for us old ladies (US Women's Open typically plays around 6000 yards for comparison). Course rating is 75 with a slope of 137. Generally that isn't all that long for me, but there appear to be a couple of longish par 4s that will get my attention.

 

Weather is expected to be good (big thanks for that).  Will spend the practice round verifying the correct club to hit off each tee and how well the greens hold approach shots.  Game is not in great shape, but just glad to be playing after the lower back issues I have struggled with.  Will update y'all with results once play is complete.

Well, I stank up the place.  Chunking chips off sticky bermuda, blading sand shots into brush piles, and too many tee shots outside the ample tree lines leads to big numbers.  In my defense the fairways were somewhat narrow with 11 of 14 needing/wanting a fade which was not ideal for my draw.  Greens were small, slopey, and somewhere around 10 - 11 as a guess. 

 

Basically if you got out of position anywhere (including the greens) it was bogey and counting unless you hit a fantastic recovery shot.  If you stayed clean and had clear shots to the greens, you could score.  Lady who got 2nd had 5 birds in the first round.  I had 2 birds and an eagle in the final round and shot 80 (ugghh).

 

I got lots to work on.  Need to detune the draw/hook and build a reliable cut. It was a must have this week and I didn't have one. Short game always needs work, but the sticky bermuda issue needs a resolution even if it's an emergency "get it somewhere puttable" solution.  Got a year to figure it out.