We set out for Cedarville to play one of my favorite golf courses, Beavercreek Golf Club. This golf course is always perfectly maintained, one of the nicest, if not THE nicest we play all year and the layout is demanding, to say the least. Hole one is an easy enough starting hole, one I always seem to birdie, but from then on you get absolutley no breaks. I found this out quickly on the first day.

My round started off routine enough, par, par, par and then the fun started. On hole 4, I hit a fair 3 wood off the tee just a scosh right but it ended up flying the bunker by about five yards. I was in good shape, or so I thought. I got up to my ball to discover one of the most awkward stances/lies I've ever experienced. The ball was sitting about three feet below my feet on a sidehill/downhill lie, sitting directly on burnt out hardpan. I know, it sounds confusing and trust me figuring out how to hit the shot was very perplexing. I figured the ball would come off a little thin and lower than normal. I was 100% correct, the ball shot out from 155 yards low and screaming and right at the pin. The ball hit the green, checked up just a tiny bit and started rolling to the dead center of the cup. It went in! No..it didn't. It hit the pin, spun between the pin and hole and popped out about two feet from the hole. I was disappointed, but had a tap in birdie, so no complaints. The next hole is probably the hardest on the course. A dead left dog leg that requires a 230-yard carry over a gulley. If you hit it left, you're dead, right and your about 220 yards away from a tiny, undulating green. Difficult to say the least. Well, to put a stop to all this drama and suspense, I hit the fairway, hit the green and two-putted for a routine but satisfying par. That's where it all went downhill..bogies piled up and the round ended badly. No one on our team played well and I was furious at myself and disappointed in the team. We are better than we are showing right now and it's super frustrating.

The second round, for me, started off the exact opposite as the first..double, double, triple, double...boom, nine over after three, not exactly a good spot to be in, but I grinded my tail off and came in with a plus nine 81. I was sort of proud of the 81 because I showed myself that I am able to stick with it and not give in or give up. This 81 did not come without a boatload of drama, though. The guy I was playing was a bit squirrely. He kept taking the tee without honors and walking in front of the group. He just seemed in a huge rush to play and get done, which is fine with me, I'm all for fast play. We step onto the 15th tee, a par 5 with powerlines and towers on the right side and water lining the entire left side. I hit my ball right, as you should, right behind a power tower. Now, I knew in my head that I get relief, the tower is not only a manmade immovable obstruction which allows for relief free of penalty, but also a safety hazard, what if the ball hits the tower and hits me? Not only do I get a two-stroke penalty, but also a lump on my head. This young man argued with me until we were blue in face. I finally just played two balls. Hit my first in the water, second just barely over the green. He then argued that my drop was illegal on my original ball. I thought there was going to be fisticuffs. He was upset and thought he was right and I was just irritated and knew I was right. We finally conferred with the group and I was correct in my original drop. I made a 6 with my original ball and 5 with my second. The ruling came back and I was correct, relief was granted from the power tower and we went on our merry way.

The round finished up and again no one played well, I believe we came in 5th. Not good. We are much improved from last year, having almost as many wins this fall as all of last year. It's exciting to know our potential. I know my guys will work hard in the winter and have a great spring. I'll check in during March/April on our spring trip! It should be a lot of fun! Thanks, as always, for reading!