This was my first ever rounds playing as a minimalist golfer and the lack of clubs didn’t see to hurt me one bit. In fact, my first round with a 7 club bag was one of my best ever shooting an 83. I’m sure practicing more helped, but I’ll say the lack of clubs was the real x-factor.
- Ending Handicap: 14.9
- Starting Handicap: 17
- Skytrak Rounds: 3 (26 YTD)
- Skytrak Range Sessions: 15 (16 YTD)
- Real Range Sessions: 0 (1 YTD)
Practice
This month was more focused on practice versus playing simulator rounds. I had a total 15 practice sessions on the Skytrak hitting 771 golf balls mainly focused on randomized greens between 50 and 210 yards. For putting, I only hit 400 putts this month and that’s something I would like to increase further. Towards the end of October I had a work trip plus a slight hand injury I needed to let heal which impacted my practice routines.
Actual Golf
The 6 rounds last month was an anomaly but was glad to get out 3 times in October.
Kierland Golf Club Round Recap
This was a great round for me considering I had all three of my 3-putts on the front nine and battled some poor chipping all day. The highlight of my round was my new Callaway Elyte mini-driver hitting the majority of the fairways and losing only 1 ball off the tee that I ended up finding 2 holes later. The secondary highlight were two 10+ feet birdie putts not letting the poor putting get in my mind.
I’m glad I got to play here before their post-overseeding rates went into effect. The round was $180 and now they’re going for $240-270 for a Saturday morning. Overall the course was in good shape, but like a lot of AZ courses at this time of year I don’t think it was worth the price.
Grass Clipping Rolling Hills Par 3
Decided to book this last minute as plans for Saturday’s round fell through and it was my first time playing night golf. I’m not going to lie, this place was fun even with the rain, the course not being in the best shape and world’s slowest par 3 golf round. If you’re looking to spend a night drinking with you buddies and having a good time this is the place.
As much fun as it was, my game didn’t come with me. After the first hole I felt like I forgot how to swing a club and wasn’t adjusted to my new iron distances. I was long on every hole on the front 9 and then short on every hole on the back 9. My chipping and putting was respectable and saved this from being one my worst golf rounds in a long time.
San Marcos Golf Course
Finding a walk-able course during over-seeding season in Arizona is tough, but when I saw this course was the oldest in AZ being built in 1913 I figured it had to be walk-able. I took a quick glance at the Google Maps aerial view and took my shot. The course like others just got off a 3 week hiatus for over-seeding and was in great shape. There isn’t much trouble to find here not being a desert course, but the tree lined fairways reminded me more of a Midwestern course.
I joined my stranger playing partners at the white tees measuring 5800 yards. I got off to a rocky start doubling the first hole with a pop up drive, skidded 6 iron, and a three-putt once I finally found the green. Then from there I settled in and the round was overall uneventful until I sliced a drive off the earth clearing the nets protecting the houses while trying to drive the green on the par 4 12th. This lead to a triple bogey 7 and eliminated any chance of shooting 80 or less. I finished strong though, parring 4 of the next 6 holes to shoot an 83.
Misc
The last big thing for this month was a complete overall to the bag swapping out my irons for new PXG 0311XF and Srixon Hybrid. My WITB will be updated with the most up-to-date bag status and stock yardages.
With October in the books, and the handicap trending in the right direction, I will likely have a down November with more travel and family in town.
Minimalist Golf 