“One of us landed it. And the other got close enough to brag about it.”
🌤️ Round Context
It was the kind of spring golf day you hope for — sunny, calm, and just warm enough. I played with Jay (yes, the one who started this by making me watch PGA tournaments). We were paired with a friendly league player and his teenage nephew, who generously offered target tips and course strategy throughout the round.
At one point, he told us that landing the green on Fox Hills’ long par-3 Hole 3 happens about one in every twenty tee shots. That context made my tee shot — 10 yards short — feel pretty solid. Jay actually landed his on the green, but stayed humble as always. He saves the big cheers for when I make a shot I’m proud of — and honestly, that means more.
🔢 Key Stats
5 of 7
6 of 9
23
0 of 3
1 of 5
2
3
206 Yds
51
1:1
⛳ Hole-by-Hole Recap
Hole 1 (Par 4)
Great tee shot and a beautiful approach that landed 15 yards short in the front bunker. Pulled off a strong sand save to 12 feet and two-putted.
Hole 2 (Par 5)
Solid drive to the fairway, flubbed hybrid, then hit a perfect 139-yard 7-iron over water. Rightward bias left me 34 yards out. Pitched and two-putted.
Hole 3 (Par 3)
Tee shot just 10 yards short of the green. Chipped on and two-putted for a bogey. Felt great knowing how rare it is to hit this green.Hole 4 (Par 4)
Hole 4 (Par 4)
Sliced both tee shots, played the first. Recovery shot short. Three-putted to finish a rough hole.
Hole 5 (Par 4)
Disaster. Rough to rough, and another three-putt. Zero rhythm.
Hole 6 (Par 3)
Worse than Hole 5. Rightward bias sent me into the trees, needed multiple strokes to get out, and four putts to finish. Scored a 7.
Hole 7 (Par 4)
Regrouped. Good tee shot to fairway, missed green short. Chipped on and two-putted for bogey — confidence started to rebuild.
Hole 8 (Par 4)
196-yard drive, 56-yard pitch to 8 feet. Missed the birdie putt by a foot but thrilled to make par in regulation. Reminded myself PGA pros only make 50% of 8-footers.
Hole 9 (Par 4)
Another solid 190-yard drive to the fairway. Clean 7-iron approach, lag putt to 4 feet, and a strong par finish. Wished I could have kept playing.
💭 Final Reflection
Despite a couple of disasters in the middle stretch (looking at you, Holes 5 and 6), I ended this round feeling genuinely proud. The final three holes were some of the best I’ve played — confident tee shots, measured approaches, and putts that didn’t fall apart under pressure.
By Hole 9, I felt like I had hit my stride and could’ve easily kept going.
It wasn’t perfect. But it was progress. And that’s the kind of golf I’m learning to love.
✅ Key Takeaways:
- My tee-to-green game is improving, especially with longer irons and hybrids
- Putting was a bright spot — smooth, confident, and never out of control
- Short game needs sharpening — chip proximity and decision-making are the next big gains
- Mental reset between holes works — I regrouped after the disasters on 5 and 6, and turned the round around
I’m walking off this course with more data, more clarity, and a growing sense of what “my game” looks like when it starts to come together.
🎯 Looking Ahead: Routine Is the Next Reset
One of the biggest takeaways from this round wasn’t just about contact or scores — it was about what I do before the shot.
After a few too many rushed decisions, awkward setups, and forgettable misses around the green, I’ve decided it’s time to commit fully to my pre-shot routines. Not just in theory, but every swing. Every chip. Every putt.
I’ve already started to sketch out routines that make sense for how I play and think:
- For my full swing, I’ve already landed on a pre-shot routine that feels good: Look. Feel. Align. Swing. Now it’s just about using it every time — on the range, on the course, and especially when the stakes feel higher than they should.
- For chipping and pitching, I want a rhythm that helps me stay neutral and deliberate — no flipping, no guessing, no last-second panic.
- For putting, I’ve got pieces that work, especially on short putts, but I need to turn them into a habit I actually follow, not just a tip I sometimes remember.
None of this has to be dramatic. If I can make routine part of how I play — not just how I plan to play — I think everything else gets a little easier.