Jimmy Clay, Austin, Texas. Black Tees. 1:05pm tee time. Played just under 4 hours. Extremely hot and humid. Relatively calm winds until storm started pulling through on 16,17, 18. Course in great condition (Hats off to GolfATX, City of Austin).
31 putts. 10 of 14 fairways. 9 of 18 greens.
Earlier in the day attended a casual, small-group short game clinic (on course instruction) at Grey Rock with Cole. Worked primarily on course management (playing to a number), decision matrix (club/shot selection) from +/-105 yards.
Short game improving as I get closer to understanding misses, knowing my yardages with every club. Goto is sandwedge from +/- 110 yards.
Highlights: Finally birdied 3, though improbable... after my cut drive clipped the tree overhang (one of the hardest tee shots in Austin Muny golf as evidence that I hit the shot I envisioned and still got fucked), pured a 4 hybrid off a terrible lie, from 196 yards to 5 feet (all carry). Made the right-to-left putt. HItting all par 5′s (save #4) in 2.
Challenges: Tee shots on 3, 8, and 18, totally vex me. I know what to do, but executing those shots to get into a position to score feels “above my ability.” I step up to the tee with anxiety rather than looking forward to the opportunity. When the tee is back on 12, messes with my eye and while it looks/feels straight-away, aims you out left of the green... the pitch to recover is difficult as it is very fast, even on slow greens, and requires precision (feels like inevitable bogey).
Positives: Improved command scrambling, but far from perfect; focused on incremental improvement, here. Improved overall distance; I’m regularly hitting par 5′s in two (and absolutely love it when I have a 3 metal or x hybrid in my hand going after a green.) Pitching and flops improved greatly.
Negatives: Putting, putting, and more putting. To make 4 birdies (3 of which were 2 putt birdies), have no penalty shots, and still shoot 76 is very poor, despite 3 putt avoidance. #8 was a bit of a disaster... Good tee shot, slight pulled 7 iron approach AND 4 SHOTS to get in? Ugh. Who is this guy?
Attested by Rodney Thompson, John (RT’s friend), and John (paired with/ rode with).
