Good bad shots

I have been talking a lot about good bad shots lately. It may be reflective of the current state of my game. I would like to think that it is more indicative of my generally optimistic approach to things.

I have used the phrase "A good bad shot is better than a bad good shot" on multiple occasions in recent weeks. It seems that people with whom I have played have had their fair share of good luck as of late. I have also benefitted from some good bounces on fairways. I have witnessed long putts that should not go in somehow change direction and fall in the hole.  I have had at least a half dozen shots in the past month go 20-30 feet into the bush before somehow hitting the right tree at the right angle and coming out safely. When anything of these things happen you feel grateful, happy, and lucky. Quickly your dismay from a seemingly bad shot is erased with the relief of good fortune or a good break.

Contrast this with the bad good shot. Who hasn't hit a seemingly great tee shot down the middle of the third hole before watching it take that 90 degree bounce into the high grass on the right. And what about that perfect birdie putt from six feet that somehow hits the cup so that the ball kicks out six feet sideways and results in two more putts for bogey. Then there is a demoralizing sprinkler head shot common in small town golf courses. Those round pieces of metal are barely noticed until you hit that 150 yard approach that seems like it could be tight...and then it hits the sprinkler head and flies way over the green into the bush.

Most golfers have great memories about their good shots but seem to forget their good fortune. They lament how their round was spoiled by a bad hop or a lost ball that shouldn't have been. Few of us talk about how their round was saved by a members bounce or a couple of putts that we had no business making.

I prefer hearing from those golfers who shot a 45 while admitting that it should have been a 50.  I try not to roll my eyes when I hear others say they shot 38 but are disappointed because it should have been 36. I wonder if they truly feel disappointed in their round or if they just want to tell others that they are even better than their score suggests.

Driving on the fifth hole yesterday, I passed a gentleman searching for a ball hit from the eight tee. He quickly stated that he was looking for his brother's ball again. I assume he didn't want a stranger to think he hit an errant shot. I replied by suggesting that he look on the green because I had hit a similar errant shot on multiple occasions. I wanted the stranger to know that what his brother did wasn't so uncommon.

This past Wednesday, we had 16 golfers.  I shot a 42 which was about right. I had a couple of bad good shots evened out by a few good bad shots. I likely didn't deserve to break 40. I also wouldn't have deserved to be over 45.

Blake Hunter had enough good shots to card a 38 which was the low round of the evening.  He  had consecutive birdies on 6, 7, and 8. He also cashed in for two skins with Jason Gorrell. They won $20 on #7 and $34 on #8. Blake's additions to his season money total put him back in first place ahead of Robin Kimpinski.

Skins went on two other holes. Neuf and Ian got $20 for their efforts on #3 while Scott Maynes and Wes Arfinson won $44 for #5.  Scott's tee shot on the par 3 fifth was good for closest to for the evening.

Sonny Blackbird scored the only 2 of the evening to win the $54 deuce pot. I had a birdie putt on #9 stop at the edge of the hole which would have tied Sonny. That was a bad good shot. However, I hit a less than perfect tee shot that somehow stopped eight feet from the hole. It was good for closest to the hole for the night. That was a good bad shot...so I can't complain.

The forecast for Wednesday looks promising...15 Celsius and sunny which would be pretty darn good for September 21.  If you can't make it because of farming or work or family commitments, I wish you well in doing whatever it is that you will be doing. If you don't want to come because that forecast is too cool for you, imagine how you will feel in a couple of months.