Too Much Golf?
I working on this blog July 17. I then played golf on the 18th (Crystal Springs), 19th (Presideo), and 20th (Gleneagles).
I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but after 3 straight days I was tired of golf… Sort of. Well perhaps simply tired is a better characterization.
I watched the British Open at Carnoustie on Saturday and Sunday. What a course. How hard is that 18th? I think I would have to play it as a par 5. Which would be fairly straight forward, but that hole as a par 4 is impossible.
Never fear fearless reader I will be back on the golf course soon.
Gleneagles Golf Course
Today I played Gleneagles Golf Course in McLaren Park San Francisco (map).
This course is a hidden gem. We played on a Friday morning at 7am and no tee time was required. Unbelievaable!
Jack Fleming was the architect. Founded in 1962.
9 holes (but 2 different sets of tees to make 18 distinct holes). All 18 holes plays to a par 71. 5860 yards. Rating 69.8. Slope 138.
As you can see from the slope this is a hard course. It feels short on many holes but several holes are very long. The course is very hilly and at times very narrow with small greens.
Tough topography, slick greens, tall large mature trees, and afternoon winds make this links-style layout not for the faint hearted.
The price is right… $15-$18.50 for 9 holes, $23-$30.50 for 18.
If there is a knock on this course it is the condition. In places it was rather poor, but given the price one wouldn’t expect Pebble Beach. However, the greens in great shape — they putted true and fast.
I was able to par the final 2 holes which saved what up to that point had been a pretty poor round. If you can’t find the fairway from the tee this is golf course it nearly impossible. Of course, that can be said of many many courses.
My First Ever Hole in One… AKA — Daily Exercise — July 15, 2007
One of my life long goals was to hit a hole in one on a golf course. I say goal, but I suppose it is more a dream since it is near impossible to hit a hole in one intentionally.
Joke:
What is the hardest thing about hitting a hole in one?
Teeing up the ball in the correct location.
As you might have guessed, my exercise today was golf. I walked 9 holes at the Elk’s Lodge in Emerald Hills (Redwood City, CA) where I am a member. The course is a hilly par 3 9 hole course in excellent shape. It has views of the bay from several holes. The terrain is very hilly and quite steep in places. It made for a vigorous workout. I should also mention that I was playing pitch and putt with my daughter and I forgot my sand wedge at home. Which made things extra interesting as I typically hit a sand wedge 4 or 5 times on the course.
The 5th hole is an up hill 105 yard hole to which I usually play a sand wedge. You can see the flag, but not the surface of the green. I hit a 3/4 choke down pitching wedge. I hit it perfect — crisp and clean directly where I was aiming, and my club/shot selection was the correct distance. I saw the ball bounce once. But since you can’t see anything else all I know was that it was exactly what I was trying to do.
Walking up the steep hill to the hole… As I got to where I could see the area behind the green my ball wasn’t there so I began to think it might be close. When I reached the crest of the hill all I saw was a pitch mark and a ball line in the dew… RIGHT INTO THE HOLE!!! Now I was exhilarated. Could it be? Rush up to check… Yes! What a sense of achievement! What luck!
The only problem with the entire experience. I was playing alone so there are no witnesses. That is OK it was an experience just for me. My perfect morning workout.
I might have to play pitching wedge on that hole from now on.
—
This was first posted on my weight loss blog here, but it seems appropriate on this site as well.
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