On the GEA board, there is a poster who likes to give updates on his tournament play. I've always liked his reports, and the format, so here's one from the first round of a three day local tournament that I'm playing in. Comments, criticisms, and questions are always welcome. Updates from other folks on their tournament play are especially welcome! Let's hear from other players out there.
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Tournament: 81st Annual W. C. Sherman Invitational For a long time this was one of the more well known amateur tournaments in the deep south, attracting a field of players from hundreds of miles. In recent years it has lost some of its luster, and they have had to extend general invitations to help fill the field. This year's field seems to be quite a bit smaller than last year's.



Course: Panama Country Club, Lynn Haven FL

Tees: White 6289 / 69.8 / 122

Originally laid out by Donald Ross in 1927, it underwent an extensive renovation & re-routing in the 1980s, in no small part to provide expensive bayfront home lots in places where the course used to be. Hurricane Ivan was not kind, and in 2005 they redid their greens with Champion Bermuda. Right now it's in decent shape, and the greens are much improved over last year, although some of them still have the same problem areas.


Hole Yard Par

10 334 4 A nice three wood left me 115 out, with a 9 iron in my hand. But I came out of the shot and dumped it in the right bunker. I splashed out to about 12 feet. My par putt was well stroked, with a good speed, and on the correct line. Naturally, it missed, and wound up 6" directly behind the hole. +1

11 177 3 I hit a 4 iron just a touch thin, and was 5' short of the green. A nice chip left me a tap in par. +1

12 367 4 A good drive to the right part of the fairway left me hitting a 9 iron from 120, wanting to make sure that I was below the hole. But I hit it a touch fat, and a mediocre chip left me 10' for par. It hit the lip, turned a little, and wound up a foot past. +2

13 401 4 A drive down the left side caught the left rough, leaving me 200 yards into a decent breeze. Everyone in the group wound up short and right, and none of us could get up & down. +3

14 470 5 A well struck drive left me about 250 out, so I tried to position a 3 wood on the left side for the easiest chip to a right pin. But I hit the hard pan and rolled into the pine straw, from where I chipped just over the green. An easy pitch left me a 3' putt, which I drained. +3

15 364 4 A terrible slice left in the woods, so I punched a 3 iron out to safety, 100 yards from the green, and left myself about 15' for par. The putt was across and down the green, and I thought it was going to break about 3' rather than the 6" that it did. But really good pace left me with a tap in for bogey. +4

16 389 4 A good drive into the wind left me 200 yards out, and my second shot was just shy of the fringe. But it was an easy up and down to a front pin. +4

17 194 3 From 185 and into a good breeze I tried to hit an easy 3 wood, and it wasn't enough. My shot from the sand stopped about 12' away, and I pulled my first putt. +5

18 501 5 A good drive left me about 240 out, and I put a 3 wood in the left bunker. A nice sand shot left me 10' for birdie, but it was not to be. +5

1 415 4 I flared my drive to the right, and tried to hit an easy 3 iron, but I should have gone after it. Then I hit a poor chip, and again just missed a par putt from 12'. +6

2 374 4 A perfect drive left me with a 9 iron from 120, but I thinned it to the back of the green. Two putts later I had an easy par. +6

3 184 3 I flushed a 3 iron, which hit in the middle of the green and bounced to the back edge. Two careful putts later, I had another par. +6

4 300 4 Another flushed 3 iron, only this one went too far and left me with a narrow opening through the trees. So I punched another 3 iron onto the green, about 10' right of the hole. I got too aggressive with the birdie and missed the 4' comeback, again overreading the break. +7

5 457 5 Two three woods left me 40 yards out, and I pitched to 10' directly below the hole. Again my birdie just wouldn't go. This long ago got old! +7

6 333 4 A smooth three wood off the tee left me 105 to a pin where I wanted to be below the hole, because that's where the best part of the green is. So I tried to hit a soft 9 iron that would sit, only it backed up 12' off the green anyway. One more mediocre chip, and one more 10' putt that runs over the edge without ever considering actually going in. +8

7 140 3 A nice 7 iron to the wrong part of the green left me with a 40' cross country breaker, but I nestled it up to 2' for an easy par. +8

8 365 4 I tried to lay up with a 3 wood to the left half of the fairway. Instead I completely blocked it to the right, in the high grass. Another three wood left me with a terrible lie in the left bunker. I made a great shot to get within 12', and made a terrific putt. But it again wiggled away in the last foot, mocking me with another bogey. +9

9 524 5 A perfect drive left me in the middle of the fairway, 235 yards from the center of the green. I nutted a three wood, leaving me a 12' downhiller for eagle. Once again, the combination of a perfect stroke, speed, and read wasn't enough, as the ball rolled over the edge and a foot past. After I tapped in for bird I drowned the ball. +8


All in all, I got less out of a decent round than I can remember in a long time. By my count I had 10 putts roll over or by the edge of the hole without taking the plunge, and if the one on 9 had dropped I would have collected $115 from the skins pool! The best round in my flight was 74, and there were only 1/2 dozen or so rounds below 80, so if I can just go out on Saturday and make something I might still have a chance. Just for grins I have a 730 tee time on Saturday, so my alarm clock is set for 5 AM. Yay!

This isn't quite the same but about 5 miles away the PAC-10 mens golf tournament was held at the Seattle G&C. Should have gone, it is the only way I would have got into that place. The locals wern't very hospitable and ran away with the tournament by 18 strokes. They had the first and second place finishers also.

Great recap Duffer, !!! I enjoyed the read and how your doing in the tourney. I agree with ya, if the putter comes to life your in there. The main thing is it sounds like your having fun so "Enjoy", relax a little and it should be great !!!! Will be pulling for ya today, let us know how ya do !!!!!

Go get em,,,,,,,,,, !!!!

Well, The only comment I have is:

Tiger, You ain't!!!!! :-}

Looks like you play the same type of game I do. Some days might be good and some days might be FUGLY!

A fun read, I enjoyed playing the round with you. Hang in there and have fun today.

Later,

Round 2: I played a little worse, and the greens continue to stymie me. I just can't seem to get a proper read. Outside of one par 5, I think my foursome had three birdies today, and we're at least nominally all single digit players.

Hole Yard Par

1 415 4 Driver to the middle of the fairway, from where I thought a three iron was enough. It wasn't, and I wound up in an old, partially healed divot. I pitched to 15 fee, and two putts later had a bogey. +1

2 374 4 Driver to the middle of the fairway, and a 9 iron to 12 feet below the hole. The birdie putt refused to break. +1

3 184 3 Four iron to about 10, mostly below the hole. The birdie putt snickered as it missed. +1

4 300 4 Three iron to the center of the fairway, leaving me 110 to a back hole location. But it was a back left hole location, and I hit it to the back right. Then I forgot about pace, missed the putt long, and missed the comebacker, too. +2

5 457 5 Driver to the right edge of the fairway, where my only play was to punch a low iron under the trees and through the corner. Another punch left me in the left bunker, but a great sand shot got me a tap in par. +2

6 333 4 Just as I started my downswing with a three wood, some spectators on an adjacent green applauded the play of someone in the other morning flight. I jerked the tee shot into the sand short and right, and played my next shot towards the left bunker. There I had an atrocious lie; one foot in the bunker one foot out, and the ball resting just one lip of the bunker. I couldn't even ground the club for fear that the ball would move, so I chipped it 15' right and two putted for another bogey. +3

7 140 3 I hit a seven iron right over the top of the flag, leaving me a downhill right to left breaker. But it didn't break as much as I thought, and it went 4' by. Steamed, I let my concentration lapse and pulled the par putt. +4

8 365 4 A perfect three wood off the tee left me about 175 to a back hole location. So I put a terrible swing on it, and wound up long, left, and behind a bunker. Then I added on a mediocre pitch and an ugly three putt for a double bogey. +61

9 524 5 My drive faded off into the pine straw right, and I pulled my second shot way left, almost into the #18 fairway. Then I had to nearly shout to get some Championship flight spectators to get out of my way and shut up. Once they finally did, I duffed a pitch from 40 yards into the sand. Then I couldn't get up & down. +7

10 334 4 A perfect three wood left me 120 out, but I was in the front of a sand filled divot. But the club hit the divot first, the ball squirted left, and once again my short game was nowhere to be found. +8

11 177 3 A well struck four iron got me pin high, but another terrible bounce left me off the green. Then I stubbed a chip, three putted, and walked away mad again. +10

12 367 4 A terrific drive left me a soft 9 iron in, and I hit it to within 10 feet. But the putt just wouldn't drop. +10

13 401 4 Another terrific drive left me with a 5 iron into the wind, and I hit it 15 feet above and to the right of the hole. I put perfect pace on the ball, but it just wouldn't break. +10

14 470 5 A nice drive left me just in front of the bunkers, and I played a three wood to just shy of the green. I chipped to 10', and actually made a putt! +9

15 364 4 A drive to the right side of the fairway and a pitching wedge left me just on the fringe, 20' from the hole. So I three putted, just for variety's sake. +10

16 389 4 Another great drive left me trying to hit a six iron to the front of the green. But I struck it just a touch thin, and was short. Another poor chip left me with another bogey. +11

17 194 3 A full 3 iron wasn't enough from 190, and I couldn't make a 5' par putt. +12

18 501 5 Driver - three wood left me about 135 out, and I smoothed an 8 iron to 12'. But as usual, the accursed ball just will not follow my read, so I tapped in for a par and a round of 84.

Well, you having fun at the tourney at least,,,, !!!

Sounds that if the putter would start working you would be in great shape, but hey that's golf !!!! Hang in there my friend, it will come around !!!

Thanks for the great post, fun to read !!!!

At least you are out playing

Very cool reports..........I may have seen the reports on GEA you referenced........glad ya got to play!

Hole Yard Par
10 334 4 A nice 3 wood left me about 125 to the hole, but I flared an 8 iron to the right fringe. A very nice chip, however, left me a routine 3' putt. Even

11 177 3 A four iron rode the wind and drifted just right of the green. Again, a good chip left me a relatively simple short putt. Even.

12 367 4 A nice drive left me about 130 to a front left pin, but I misjudged the wind and left an 8 iron just short. A good chip left me the opportunity to make three straight pars. Undaunted, I flipped my wrists at the putt and never scared the hole. +1

13 401 4 A mediocre drive into a strong south wind left me 200 out, and I pulled my 3 wood to the front left of the green. My chip landed on the fringe and stopped, leaving me with a routine two putt bogey from 15 feet. +2

14 470 5 A good drive left me in position to go for the green, but I pulled the 3 wood slightly, trying to stay away from the front right bunker. The ball wound up long & left, and my chip left me 20', from where I two putted for par. +2

15 364 4 I bombed a drive around the corner, leaving me with a sand wedge into the green, and I hit it about 10' past the hole. But again, I couldn't make a putt, and par was the result. +2

16 389 4 I crunched a drive, and tried to hit an easy 6 iron to keep the ball below the hole. But I took my herky-jerky 6 iron out of the bag, and wound up short. I hit a really nice uphill chip to about 3', and made the sharp downhill breaking putt. +2

17 194 3 I pulled a three wood into the wind, winding up pin high and 50' left. My chip was perfect, dying into the center of the cup on the last roll for a birdie! +1

18 501 5 Driver - 3 wood left me about 40 yards out, and a decent chip left me with 12' for birdie. But I underread the break, just for variety's sake, before tapping in for par. +1

1 415 4 Driver - 3 wood into a strong south wind left me pin high, but well left and in the pine straw. I chipped to about 8' and made the par saver. +1

2 374 4 I hit a terrific drive, and went flag hunting with a 9 iron, but pushed it just a touch, and was just off the apron on the right, 20' from the pin. I tried to putt through the apron, but didn't putt it hard enough, and missed the next one. +2

3 184 3 A beautiful 4 iron to the center of the green left me with a fairly straight 15' putt. Amazingly, I got the stroke speed and line all right, and had my second birdie of the day! +1

4 300 4 A hybrid into the wind went too far, leaving me up against a pine tree with no shot. So I punched out to about 60 yards, where my lack of touch left me a 50' uphill putt. Naturally, I compounded my errors by three putting. +3

5 457 5 A three wood off the tee left me another three wood, aiming for the bunker on the left which was out of range. But I pulled the three wood (AGAIN!) and it went into the trees on the left. From there my only play was to punch into the trap. I hit a nice sand shot to about 8', but couldn't make the par save. +4

6 333 4 A three wood left me with a nice solid wedge, which I hit to about 15'. But I left the birdie putt short, noting that the other players in my group had also been short, so the green must have been a little slow. +4

7 140 3 I refused to get suckered into a front right pin, which would bring the water into play, so I hit an easy 7 iron into the wind. But it went too far, and I couldn't get up & down from the back rough. +5

8 365 4 I flared a three wood off the tee, but hit a terrific three wood to the front of the green, and two putted for par. +5

9 524 5 A smashed drive through the corner left my about 235 to the flag, and I hit a perfect three wood to about 12'. But I pushed the eagle attempt badly, and never scared the hole. +4

All in all, I'm semi-satisfied with my round today. I hit the ball a little better, didn't try to get too fine with my chips, and actually made a couple of putts. My 76 was the second best round of the day in the First Flight, and I took $140 from the par 3 pool, which was gravy. The greens really had me buffaloed. I spent enough time on the practice green on Thursday to have a good idea of the proper pace, but I never did get a handle on the proper reads.

Wow, nice 76. Much improvement over the first two days. Ain't that the bite though, shoot yourself bad and then recover. :-}
A little cash sits well with the wallet too.

Later,