Golf Tips & Quips

So, in my last post I talked about playing at Apache Creek Golf Club. The main reason I picked this course was because they have a par 3 island green. With the pros competing at The Players Championship this past weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to see what I could do when faced with such a shot.

Apache Creek, which is located in Apache Junction Arizona is a par 71, desert style course. The other reason I played this course was because I found a $15 tee time on GolfNow.com. The reviews that I found online were not altogether favorable, but for the price, and because I like to play new courses, I decided to give it a try.

The main beef with most of the golfers who reviewed this course was with the fact that there is no rough lining the fairways. If you're not on grass, then you are in the cactus or on packed dirt. Most desert style courses have fairway, then rough, and then the desert. I can see how the average golfer could become overly frustrated after constantly finding their ball with a rocky lie.

Similar to playing the 16th at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the 17th at TPC Sawgrass is the first thing and sometimes the only thing that golfers are thinking about when they wake up the morning of their round. The infamous Pete Dye designed island green has ruined a lot of rounds and cost competitors a championship or two.

I was in the same boat when I woke up the morning of my round at Apache Creek. All I could think about was hitting this tee shot over water and trying to get it to stop before it went over the other side.

Apache Creek's island green is their 6th hole(pictured on the right). A par 3 which is 132 yards on the scorecard from the Championship/Blue tees. This is a similar distance to what the pros faced over the weekend. Both of my playing partners landed their tee shots safely on the green. Now the pressure was really on.

I picked my target, stepped up to my ball, and took my shot. Unfortunately, I caught it fat and my ball ended up 20 feet short of the green. KER-PLUNK!!! What a disappointment. With all the build up and to have it end like that was a big let down. I played my next shot from the drop area and hit a nice chip shot to within four feet, but missed the putt mainly because I was still thinking about my previous ball at the bottom of the lake. Double bogey 5.

The par 3's killed me all day. I bogeyed number 9, doubled the par 3, 12th hole, and then bogeyed the 16th. This wouldn't be so bad if not for the fact that I shot an 83. Four strokes were lost on the two par 3's that I doubled. Par these and I shoot a 79. I only had one 3-putt for this round, so it could have been a 78.

Soon it will all come together. I remember Hank Haney saying to Ray Romano when he was his project that the day Ray breaks 80 will be the day he looks at his scorecard after a round and there are no double bogeys and no 3-putts. This is what I am working towards.

Overall, this a good course to play, especially for the price, and especially if you are a straight hitter. There is some nice scenery, and the lure of hitting the island green in regulation will probably bring me back. Just hope I will be able to sleep the night before the round. Have a great round and always hit your target.