It’s been just over three months since my last update on my pursuit to break 80. March 28, to be exact, was my last progress report. Since then, I’ve posted an additional nine rounds of golf. The good news, there’s been no scores above 90. The bad news, there’s been no scores below 80. I’ve gotten close, but I haven’t reached that milestone yet. Here’s how my scores have fared over my last nine rounds of golf: 86, 84, 81, 87, 84, 81, 80, 86, 84
So let’s get into the breakdown of my latest round of golf in which I felt highly confident I would finally break through only to lose my mind on the Back 9.
Recap the Project Break 80 Goals
- No Three Putts
- No Penalty Shots
- Chip to Within 3-Feet
Buckhorn Golf Course – July 2, 2016
Front 9
- 18 Putts
- 4/7 Fairways Hit
- 7/9 Greens in Regulation
- Front 9 Score: 39
Back 9
- 16 Putts
- 3/6 Fairways Hit
- 1/9 Greens in Regulation
- Back 9 Score: 45
Totals
- Putts: 34
- Fairways Hit: 53.8%
- Greens in Regulation: 44.4%
Pursuit to Break 80 Progress Report
No Three Putts: D
I had two three putts on Saturday at Buckhorn. These came on the first two holes of the day. I give myself a “D” because I recovered nicely and didn’t three putt for the rest of the round. Just think, if I could get those two strokes back on the first two holes, I would have shot 37 on the Front 9. It wouldn’t have helped my overall score of breaking 80 since I lost it on the Back 9, but I would have gotten a passing grade and for the first time in a long time I would have gone a round of golf without any three putts. If I can just rid myself of three putts I think I can get that much closer to breaking 80.
Eliminate Big Numbers by Eliminating Penalties: C
I made three double bogies on Saturday. But I get a passing grade for this portion of the progress report because only one of those double bogies was the result of a penalty shot. I actually had two lost balls, but
I was able to sink a long putt to save bogey on No. 11. On the following hole though, I snap hooked my tee shot on a par-3 and could not find the golf ball. This was with a freaking 8 iron which I got way ahead of and just came over the top of it. We couldn’t find the ball and I had to take a penalty. Just for the sake of clarification, we play lost balls as a lateral hazard in order to keep pace of play a little quicker. In a tournament situation, I would have had to re-tree.
Chip To Within 3-Feet: F
I still feel that when I miss a green, if I can chip it to within 3-feet I can save par. On Saturday at Buckhorn, I was 2/7 in this situation, for a piss-poor 28.5% scrambling percentage. Four of the five failed up-and-down attempts came on the Back 9 when my score just blew up. The one standout shot I executed was a tough little chip on No. 16. I missed the green right on this par-5 and was left with a downhill slippery chip. I picked out a spot I wanted to land the ball and landed it perfectly. I ended up with a 6-inch putt to save par. This is exactly what I’ve been working on and it felt good to execute perfectly.
What’s Next
Well what’s next is just more golf and continuing my pursuit to break 80. Maybe it’s in my head too much. Maybe I think about it too much. Hell, I don’t know. A lot of it probably has to do with the lack of work and practice I put in. I don’t get too much time to practice and just try to rely on playing every weekend to stay sharp. I have a golf hitting net I can setup and also have a Birdie Ball putting green I can work with. So maybe it’s time to spend a couple hours a week working with these.
I feel right now the biggest aspect of my game right now that will help me in my pursuit to break 80 is eliminating the penalty shots. I just always seem to have several bad swings throughout the round which result in a lost ball or water hazard.
What do you think? Any advice? Let me know in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter @Front9Back9.
Tate says
We will miss you my friend. Condolences to all your loved ones. The golf world has lost a great ambassador.
Ryan Young says
Tate,
This is Ryan’s dad. Thanks for your condolences.