I was invited to my friend Jeff's 30th birthday weekend in Las Vegas last weekend. His father set eight of us up with tee times at Silverstone Golf Club on the north side of town. I did not know what to expect of the course but it turned out to be be a really fun layout with short par fours, lots of water, and three par fives over 600 yards. The weather was a perfect 65 degrees and the greens were surprisingly firm and smooth. An ideal day for golf.
One thing you have to know about this group of guys is that they love action. The scene always reminds me of Caddyshack, where you might remember Al Czervik rolling up to the first tee saying "place your bets, place your bets." Team and indie matches were set up, strokes were negotiated, and Jeff collected $40 from each of us for closest-to-the-pin on the par threes and skins. I was also involved in a team two best ball match against the other foursome. Usually, I am a donator with this group. Within the eight players, there was a guy who played on the Canadian Tour, a former Big West (D-1 college) Player of the Year, a current scratch college golfer, and a guy who hits it 330 with regularity. They make me and my 8 handicap look like a hack, particularly from the Black Tees.
So, how did I play? It was a bizarre round for sure. I bogeyed the first 6 holes. I finally helped our team
when I stuck a nine iron to about 6 feet on the 129 yard par-3 seventh. I made the putt, but unfortunately I didn't get closest to the pin. Canadian Tour guy Jeff L. hit his tee shot to kick-in range. On Hole 8, a 407 yard par-4, I hooked my tee shot and my ball stopped on a steep slope to the left of the fairway. The ball was sitting up in the rough and I had about 180 left with the ball severely above my feet. I choked up on my favorite club, a 19 degree Taylor Made hybrid, and hit a career shot. The ball came out perfectly with a high hook and chased up the front of the green where it rolled to within 12 feet of the cup. I drained it for a birdie, which was good for a skin! Take that, pros!
I hacked my way around the back nine, going double-triple-double on holes 11, 12, 13. So much for breaking 80. I was able to redeem myself on the 202 yard par-3 seventh (our hole 16). The hole was playing with the wind and we lasered it at only about 188 yards. I was in between clubs and decided to hit a smooth #5 25 degree rescue club that I have been experimenting with. I pured it and the ball hit short of the green and rolled to about 4 feet. Closest-to-the-pin baby!
I ended up shooting an 88. I made more birdies than pars. Talk about a bizarre round. I won two skins, a closet-to-the-pin and our team whomped the other group thanks to Canadian Tour Guy's 9 birdies (67) and my friend Gomez playing pretty solid. Overall, a really fun day with a group of great guys.
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