1st time breaking par!

[DaveGoodrich]

Sorry if I sound like I'm bragging, but I just want to "memorialize" my first sub-par round somehow:

 

I've shot even par 72 four times in the past, but I finally finished a round under par for the first time. I shot 70 (33-37) from the white tees at the Champions Course at the Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon in Beaumont, CA yesterday. I wish I had been keeping good stats for the round, but I do know that I didn't miss any putts inside of 10 feet, and made a couple in the 15 foot range as well. Saved par with 6-10 footers 3 or 4 times. Made 5 birdies, 1 bogie and one double bogie. After that double on 14, I somehow never let the "now I've screwed up my round" thought into my head, and I came back and made birdies on 15 and 16. I had a 20 foot birdie put for 69 on 18, but it wasn't to be. Hopefully, I've "broken the seal" now.

[ThinkingPlus]

Congrats DG. Well done!

[Steele47]

Know the Champions course well. Par 5's are not push over's on that course. Congrats!

[Ferguson]

Well done. Well done.

 

 

[ChristopherMcDonald]

Well done! Would the course warrant an hour drive? I live in Southern California and used to gamble at Morongo back in my pre-21 days. Always wanted to play the course but always concerned about the temperature and quality of the course. Congrats again

[DaveGoodrich]

> @ChristopherMcDonald said:

> Well done! Would the course warrant an hour drive? I live in Southern California and used to gamble at Morongo back in my pre-21 days. Always wanted to play the course but always concerned about the temperature and quality of the course. Congrats again

 

Yes, I'd say its worth a 1 hour drive. I play with lots of folks from LA and Orange County looking for cheaper tee times and a less crowded course. The Morongo courses aren't at the casino in Cabazon, they are actually about 20 miles to the west, in Beaumont. Their two courses are in nice shape right now, after overseeding a few weeks back. The greens were quick, but receptive, which probably contributed to my good score. Oak Valley, across the 10 freeway, is also worth a drive.

[ThinkingPlus]

> @DaveGoodrich said:

> > @ChristopherMcDonald said:

> > Well done! Would the course warrant an hour drive? I live in Southern California and used to gamble at Morongo back in my pre-21 days. Always wanted to play the course but always concerned about the temperature and quality of the course. Congrats again

>

> Yes, I'd say its worth a 1 hour drive. I play with lots of folks from LA and Orange County looking for cheaper tee times and a less crowded course. The Morongo courses aren't at the casino in Cabazon, they are actually about 20 miles to the west, in Beaumont. Their two courses are in nice shape right now, after overseeding a few weeks back. The greens were quick, but receptive, which probably contributed to my good score. Oak Valley, across the 10 freeway, is also worth a drive.

 

The SCPGA courses just up the road used to be great as well. I assume they still are, but haven't been there in many years.

[DaveGoodrich]

> @Steele47 said:

> Know the Champions course well. Par 5's are not push over's on that course. Congrats!

 

I agree. Like a lot of other holes on these two courses, the designers use visual sight lines as one of their primary means of defending the course. On many holes, the fairways are reasonably wide, but if you aren't on the correct side of the fairway, you have trouble seeing your target for the next shot because of doglegs, and/or ridgelines which protrude into the fairways. On many of the Par 5's, even after a perfect drive, it is not obvious where your layup is because of bunker complexes that, from your location in the fairway, look like they are everywhere you might want to be for your 3rd shot. Of course, the designers did provided layup locations, but they often require some precision to hit, especially if you are out of position off the tee.

[DaveGoodrich]

> @ThinkingPlus said:

> > @DaveGoodrich said:

> > > @ChristopherMcDonald said:

> > > Well done! Would the course warrant an hour drive? I live in Southern California and used to gamble at Morongo back in my pre-21 days. Always wanted to play the course but always concerned about the temperature and quality of the course. Congrats again

> >

> > Yes, I'd say its worth a 1 hour drive. I play with lots of folks from LA and Orange County looking for cheaper tee times and a less crowded course. The Morongo courses aren't at the casino in Cabazon, they are actually about 20 miles to the west, in Beaumont. Their two courses are in nice shape right now, after overseeding a few weeks back. The greens were quick, but receptive, which probably contributed to my good score. Oak Valley, across the 10 freeway, is also worth a drive.

>

> The SCPGA courses just up the road used to be great as well. I assume they still are, but haven't been there in many years.

 

The Tukwet (Champions and Legends) courses are the same courses you are speaking of. They were originally developed by the SCPGA, but were purchased by the Morongo tribe a few years back. I think there was another owner in between.

[Moonlightgrm]

Congratulations! Here’s to many more sub par rounds.

[Celebros]

Congrats! I'm at a 1.8 and still haven't broken par on 18, lol. Hopefully I'll be joining you soon.

[Bebsport678]

So awesome dude. Congrats!

 

Hope to join you soon, I’ve hit pat twice and most recently in May.

[mschantz]

Well done!

 

I plan to hit that mark early next year.

[rxk9fan]

Congrats!!! That is a big one. I don't think many of us forget that experience for a VERY long time.

Great job!!

[Paddy_2_Iron]

Well done, now it's time to step up to the blues. ;)

[dokex]

Was it a casual round, or was there something on the line? If it wasn 't a tourney round, or with a decent bet on the line, the score doesn't mean much.

[ThinkingPlus]

> @dokex said:

> Was it a casual round, or was there something on the line? If it wasn 't a tourney round, or with a decent bet on the line, the score doesn't mean much.

 

Clueless much...

[dokex]

> @ThinkingPlus said:

> > @dokex said:

> > Was it a casual round, or was there something on the line? If it wasn 't a tourney round, or with a decent bet on the line, the score doesn't mean much.

>

> Clueless much...

 

To paraphrase Bobby Jones, there is golf, and there is tournament golf.

[LeoLeo99]

> @ThinkingPlus said:

> > @dokex said:

> > Was it a casual round, or was there something on the line? If it wasn 't a tourney round, or with a decent bet on the line, the score doesn't mean much.

>

> Clueless much...

 

Well, ain't that a wet blanket. Under par is good golf. Doesn't matter the circumstances.

[dokex]

I worked with a guy at a golf store that reported low seventies scores every time he played. He then competed in a 36 hole Publinx qualifier where he shot 94-95.

 

[slimreaper30]

caongrats man! very nice

[jc88]

Congrats! That first time, popping that cherry, always feels nice. Oh yeahhhhhhh ;)

[ThinkingPlus]

> @dokex said:

> > @ThinkingPlus said:

> > > @dokex said:

> > > Was it a casual round, or was there something on the line? If it wasn 't a tourney round, or with a decent bet on the line, the score doesn't mean much.

> >

> > Clueless much...

>

> To paraphrase Bobby Jones, there is golf, and there is tournament golf.

 

It is never appropriate to use the insights of a great man to justify the petty comments of a small one.

[DaveGoodrich]

> @dokex said:

> Was it a casual round, or was there something on the line? If it wasn't a tourney round, or with a decent bet on the line, the score doesn't mean much.

 

I've haven't checked in to wrx in a few days, so I just saw this. Its hard to imagine why someone would feel the need to post something like this in a stranger's thread. Did it seem like I was asking anyone what they think my score "means?"

 

Anyway, to the rest of you all, thanks for the positive comments.

[Hawkeye77]

> @dokex said:

> Was it a casual round, or was there something on the line? If it wasn 't a tourney round, or with a decent bet on the line, the score doesn't mean much.

 

Are you a casual d__k or also on formal occasions?

[Hawkeye77]

> @DaveGoodrich said:

> > @dokex said:

> > Was it a casual round, or was there something on the line? If it wasn't a tourney round, or with a decent bet on the line, the score doesn't mean much.

>

> I've haven't checked in to wrx in a few days, so I just saw this. Its hard to imagine why someone would feel the need to post something like this in a stranger's thread. Did it seem like I was asking anyone what they think my score "means?"

>

> Anyway, to the rest of you all, thanks for the positive comments.

 

 

 

Dave - this is awesome and congrats!!!!

 

Having broken par on individual nines (the time I did it this summer there wasn't enough light left to play even 2 more holes, or I'd have headed for the next 9, lol), I'm still chasing breaking par for 18 and I'm excited to hear folks reach those kinds of milestones!

 

Who cares about "bets" or tournaments - it's not just you vs. the course, sometimes the biggest hurdle is simply you vs. you out there no matter the circumstances - last I knew golf is a sport with a wide range of ways to enjoy its many gifts.

 

Now you can wait for the day when that personal best starts with a "6" - I'm guessing that is also a goal and if so, good luck with that as well!

 

Now where is my copy of "Golf Is Only What I Deem It To Be", by the Frenchman Hugh G. Dildeaux.

[birdie30]

congrats brotha! def break the seal

[spezza11]

congrats.......I've never had the pleasure. Shot par only twice. Fingers crossed.

[The7thLetter]

Congrats OP. Not sure why the comment re tourney golf was warranted - just makes the poster seem petty and bitter.

[RSinSG]

Nice! Your great putting confirms my belief that this is how you break through. You can be striking the ball great all day and have lots of GIR’s but those can just as easily result in an average round if you can’t make the par-saving longer putts.