The Tee Box

I got back about a week ago from vacation in Savannah, Georgia. This was a family vacation so the focus wasn’t golf but I was sure to get in a few rounds while there. We drive down on Friday, July 10 and stopped in Hardeeville, SC. We were going to be staying with a friend and he still had guests so I got a room just short of Savannah. This allowed us to make a short trip over to Hilton Head for dinner at one of our favorite places there called Marley’s Island Grill. I highly recommend the Jerk Chicken. Last winter I had gotten a tee time at Harbour Town but I canceled it two months ago because it would be $250 for the round. I’ll play there sometime but I didn’t want to spend that money for one round on this trip. I was having serious second thoughts when we were there.

On Saturday we drove on down to Savannah. I’ve been dropping not so subtle hints to Amber that I need to get new irons. My current irons are Taylor Made SuperSteels circa 1999. Back then my swing was worse and I needed the regular flex, graphite shafts. Now I tend to spray my irons a little and I’m convinced steel shafts would help. Driving down I mentioned that there was an Edwin Watts Golf Store nearby and to my surprise she said I could go see what they had. When we got there I talked to the guys and decided to get a quick fit. Edwin Watts uses the Ping fitting system and I hit several different setups trying to dial in my specs. Besides the fact that they didn’t have the ones that fit me in stock, I want to hit different manufacturers on a real range as opposed to into a net. They had a launch monitor there but they didn’t use it on me. I know I can do better so ultimately I decided to wait. But I have permission so it will happen at some point.

After running some other errands we headed over to our friend’s house. His other guests were still there so, having no plans for the rest of the day, I decided to get my first round in. I drove over to the Wilmington Island Club and surprisingly I walked right on. The course was a little tight in places and still a little wet from rains the night before. Overall it was a pretty little course and a good start to the week. I shot 85 from the tips (6,715 yards) with the round talking only three hours to complete.

On Sunday we drove down to St. Augustine, Florida. I had held out hope that I could convince everyone else that we should stop by the World Golf Hall of Fame but I was out voted. Next time there will be no vote. Next time I will also cash in my canceled round at Harbour Town and play a round at the TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course. Amber’s been warned.

Monday was a beach day and I didn’t get back out until Tuesday, when I got in at The Club at Savannah Harbor. This is where the Champions Tour plays the Legends of Golf in April. I really liked this course but I played the second longest tees and from some tee boxes you literally cannot see the fairway. Under the circumstances I didn’t do that bad. I shot a 90 from the gold tees (6,627 yards) and I was fairly happy with it. Having played it now I’m sure I could do better.

Wednesday we spend on River Street and around old Savannah. I got back out again on Thursday at Henderson Golf Club. I brought Alyssa along although she only played two holes. Again, I played pretty well and really think I could have done better if I’d known the course layout. I decided to play the tips (6,650 yards) again this time and ended up with an 84. The course was definitely a step down from both the other courses, but it was in decent shape. I do wish they had a course diagram available so I would’ve known where things were and what hazards were ahead. But it was cheaper and sometimes you get what you pay for.

We came back on Saturday so I had no more chance to play down there. I got out this past Tuesday at Heritage Hunt with Alyssa riding along. I didn’t feel comfortable the whole day but I somehow squeezed out an 85. They were having a tournament Friday so I decided to go over to Winchester to play with my father-in-law. He’s been trying to get me to play Rock Harbor for about a year now and today seemed like the best chance. The course is very hilly and I don’t think it’s one I’d want to walk. It’s an odd layout with the paths crossing each other several times. It’s very pretty and give a good challenge, especially if you don’t like water. Since I wasn’t by myself we played the white tees with measure 6,265 yards. I played well and hit several good shots. I had two birdies and bunch of pars and bogeys and one double. That double irritated me because it was on a par-3 that played 185 yards. I had the only shot that hit the green but when we got up the hill I had run through and into a bunker. The pin was back, the green sloped away from me and I had very little room to land the ball from the sand, so it rolled down to the edge of the green at the bottom. I three putted for a five. It was that double that cost me my first round in the 70’s because I shot 80. But, hey, I was playing golf. I really can’t complain.