Why It Exists
This is my mental filing cabinet. The goal here is simple: once a round is completed, it is stripped of its emotional weight and documented. It is ‘burned’ from my active memory and filed away. By offloading these details here, I clear the noise from my mind so I can reset for the next grind. This bin serves as an honest, raw record for my own review and for anyone interested in the unfiltered reality of this journey.
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6/18 36 Putts,76, Indian Hills
Readiness – 9 out of 10
Course Conditions – dry, firm and fast and windy
Fairways 9/14
GIR: 13/18
Putts:36
Putts/GIR: 2.15
First Putt Distance: 25′
Long Drive: 270 – Average with Driver 212
Handicap: 7.7
Daily Takeway: Played really well again, but the putter is holding me back. Had (3) 3 putts today, although first putt distance increased from yesterday, while greens in regulation improved. It was a mix of putts left short and some were long. A couple of monster drives today, with 5 exceeding 230 yards because of conditions. Highlight was 270 on #8. But average distance was down, when I hit driver on 16-17 which I normally do not do but it was into the wind. Hole of the day was #10 on in 2 and made a 9′ putt from above the hole for eagle. And then promptly doubled #11 hitting into the water after tee shot in the sand.
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6/17 38 Putts,78, Indian Hills
Readiness – 8 out of 10
Course Conditions – fog early, damp fairways, dry greens, windy
Fairways 11/14
GIR: 12/18
Putts:38
Putts/GIR: 2.2
First Putt Distance: 20′
Long Drive: 244 – Average with Driver 222
Handicap: 7.7
Daily Takeway: Ball striking was on point this morning. Started burning the edge on 5′ putts on #1 & #2, earning bogeys instead. Had a total of 38 putts, including (2) 3 putts, but the fact that I still carded a 78 was still satisfying. Once again, stumbled at the end with a 6, and a 5 on the last two holes. Missed a 5′ par putt on #10 and a 5′ birdie putt on #14 and a 6′ birdie putt on #16. Just grinding and there is always tomorrow.
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6/16 32 Putts,80, Indian Hills
Readiness – 8 out of 10
Course Conditions – damp fairways, dry greens
GIR: 10/18
Putts:32
Putts/GIR: 1.8
First Putt Distance: 13′
Long Drive: 254 – Average with Driver 220
Handicap: 7.7
Daily Takeway: I was up super early this morning and walked 3 miles before my 6:50 tee time. I played in just over 2 hours. Drove the ball better today, had a few missed putts and stumbled in on the last three holes. Putted well, no three putts, and (4) 1 putts. Had monster long first putt of 81 feet on 12 and made a 6 foot come back for par. Monster drive on #8, missed green on approach but got up and down for birdie.
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6/15 31 Putts,79, Indian Hills
Readiness – 9
Course Conditions – damp fairways, wet greens
GIR: 8/18
Putts:31
Putts/GIR: 2.0
First Putt Distance: 16′
Long Drive: 225 – Average with Driver 201
Handicap: 7.7
Daily Takeway: I was excited to play today, I was able to head out first and solo. Salvaged a 79 while earning 4 doubles. Felt comfortable putting, several just did not fall, but failed on the pro side. No three putts, and I had (5) 1 putts and I chipped real well. Did not drive the ball as well as yesterday, but short game carried me.
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6/14 36 Putts,83, Indian Hills
Readiness – 5
Course Conditions – dry fairways & greens
GIR: 9/18
Putts:36
Putts/GIR: 2.0
First Putt Distance: 24′
Long Drive: 256 – Average with Driver 218
Handicap: 7.7
Daily Takeway: Was not sure if I was going to play today. Conflicting weather information, but was able to play. Rough front 9, with a 44 and 3 penalty shots. Shot a 39 on the back, with another penalty shot. Ended up with 36 putts again. Better driving distance than normal, but only hit 6 of 14 fairways.
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6/13 36 Putts,78, Indian Hills
Readiness – 6
GIR: 11/18
Putts:36
Putts/GIR: 2.0
Long Drive: 230 – Average with Driver 206
Handicap: 7.7
Daily Takeway: My new mindset and attitude for golf is paying dividends, “there is always tomorrow”. I had a rough start and was 6 over after 6 holes. As a retired golfer, this take the pressure off from having to perform on the weekend and thinking about it all week. I ended up rallying to plus 6 for the round. I had 36 putts, which was a lot compared to my averages lately. But my iron play carried the day. Best shot of the day, 205 yard 4 iron on #8 leading to an eagle putt, which I missed, but took the birdie. Best putt, a 24′ putt for birdie on #12.
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There is Always Tomorrow
Shot a 75 this morning.
On paper, that’s a good round. In reality, it came with a bit of everything—solid ball striking, one three-putt, and a putting day that felt far worse than the numbers actually show.
I had 29 total putts. Only one three-putt. But I also missed five putts from five feet and in.
That’s the part that sticks in my head.
Not the 75. Not the good swings. Not the solid approach play that kept the score together.
It’s the short ones.
But golf has a way of balancing things out if you stay in it long enough. A “bad putting day” that still produces 29 putts and a 75 isn’t really a bad putting day. It’s just one of those rounds where a small part of the game didn’t cooperate, and everything else carried the weight.
What stood out more than anything wasn’t the score or even the misses—it was the realization that I’m starting to shift how I look at the game.
I’m moving into playing more often. Almost daily when weather allows. And with that comes a different mindset.
There is always tomorrow.
That simple idea changes everything.
A missed five-footer today doesn’t need to become a story that follows me for a week. A slightly off rhythm putting stroke doesn’t need to be “fixed” before the next round. A 75 doesn’t need to be dissected like it’s the final exam.
YouI will just show up again tomorrow.
The game gets lighter when I stop trying to solve everything in a single round.
Play more. React less. Adjust tomorrow.
That’s where I’m heading now.
Not chasing perfect rounds. Not overreacting to imperfect ones.
Just playing. And knowing there’s always another tee time waiting.
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6/11 29 Putts,75, Indian Hills
Readiness – 7
GIR: 8/18
Putts:29
Putts/GIR: 1.75
Long Drive: 242 – Average with Driver 209
Handicap: 8.2
Daily Takeway: I had 29 putts, and missed 5 putts inside of 5 feet. For the most part, they were not left short, they were just missed. My one handed chipping game was on fire today allowing 8 one putts while missing 5.
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6/10 31 Putts,82, Indian Hills
Readiness – 6
GIR: 5/18
Putts:31
Putts/GIR: 1.6
Handicap: 8.2
Daily Takeway: I have come so far, that shooting an 82 feels like a complete failure. Played decent one really bad shot, a dead shank out of bound on #17, from about 120 yards out.
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6/09 32 Putts,74, Indian Hills
Readiness – 9
GIR: 14/18
Putts:32
Putts/GIR: 1.7
Handicap: 8.9
SLB Audit
Hole Error Why 4 Focus 3 Putt from 21′ 5 Focus Sand = double 7 Focus Water = double 11 Focus Flew the green Daily Takeway: Came out firing right from the start. Left a couple of putts short. Hit some fantasitc irons, only made 4 misses. I pulled my tee shot on #5 into the bunker. I pulled the tee shot into the water on #7. I flew the green with Gap Wedge on #11, and pulled an approach on #16 to the right. 12 fairways hit and 14 green in regulation.
