Pleasant Valley Golf Course in Stewartstown, PA. Like any other weekend warrior, “Golf courses near me” is one of my most commonly typed phrases when searching Google and golf apps. This past Sunday, I was browsing through GolfNow‘s “Hot Deals” I came across a course about an hour away that I had not played before. I partnered up with one of my regular weekend buddies for the drive there, looking to continue my progress towards par golf.
My main focus for the day was no three-putts and setting up for the success of my second shots, with 22mph winds that seemed to only gust directly in faces all day long; this was a more significant task than I anticipated. After the first few holes, I honestly thought the day would be a colossal letdown and a wasted hour drive both ways.
The course was very short from a yardage standpoint, only 6,300 yards from the white tees. Despite the conditions, my distance was pretty consistent, allowing me to hone in on what club I wanted to use for my second shot. A pitching wedge or gap wedge became the consistent next club in my hand, but I was anything but consistent with it. While I was missing my intended sides of the green, I was still missing, leaving my third shot requiring a chip with no real opportunity to get a putter in my hand. I can’t say for sure if this was overcompensation for gusty winds or just one of those days where I was flat-out off-target when aiming.
I needed the palate cleanser after not hitting a single green in regulation(GIR) on the first four holes. Hole five gave me a break that I needed to regain my focus and slow the game down—a long straight Par5 off an elevated tee box. I left the hole with a two-putt for bogey. I know most will be quick not to call this a victory, but I hit the fairway off the box, recorded my GIR, and was able to stay within my putting target. Facing a very long lag putt, I rolled the ball almost perfectly, leaving a simple one-foot tap-in for bogey. Being a 13 Handicap and having a bad day out of the gates, I will take my wins when I get them.
I finished the day with an overall 85, which I was very pleased with considering this was my first time on the course, and the conditions were pretty rough. During the round, I track a few metrics that I feel lead to better scores. They help me manage the course smarter and give me a fun “game within the game” to play each round. I hit 5 of 6 GIR’s, 7 of 15 fairways or 47% of 50%, and one double bogey or worse on a goal of zero. Keeping putts below the national average of 32 is always a target I aim for; this round, I ended with 29. With putting more than any other metric: less is more.
With the season winding down here in the next few months in the Mid-Atlantic, I expect more days like this. Cold, cloudy, and windy. With that in mind, the focus has to shift from power and attacking pins to proper course management and finesse.
