As I said in my previous post, I had a match against one of my best friends and a guy I play golf with several times per week. He is not a long hitter, but he is a short game surgeon. We had an intense match with some crucial holes
Here’s the rundown hole by hole:
1. Par 5: I go one up when he knocks his 2nd shot OB.
2. Par 4: He birdies to even up the match.
3. Par 5: I birdie to go 1 up.
4. Par 4: My tee shot goes directly behind the tree in the middle of the FW. I get 6 and go even.
5. Par 4: We tie this long par 4.
6. 230 yard par 3: I bogey and he pars. I’m one down.
7. Par 5: Tie with pars.
8. Par 3: Tie with pars.
9. Par 4: Tie with pars.
10. Par 4: I double bogey to go TWO down (starting to sweat).
11. Par 4: I birdie to go one down.
12. Par 4: Tie with pars.
13. Par 4: I par, he bogeys and the match is all square.
14. Par 5: Tie with birdies, he makes intense putt after I make my birdie putt
15. Par 3: Crucial hole. We both hit the green. I lag 30 foot putt for par, he 3 putts from 20 feet. I’m now one up.
16. Par 4: Crucial hole. My approach shot turns into a deep fried egg in the green side bunker. Pin is on the downslope and there’s no hope of getting this shot close. He’s on the green in reg. I do the best I can and blast the ball out to about 20 feet. He two putts for par. I then make an improbable par save. I’m still one up.
17. Par 4: He flares his drive into the weeds and has to hack out. He gets on the green in 3, I’m on the fringe in 2. I drain my birdie fringe putt to close out the match 2 & 1! With two double bogeys I still shot a 74.
Victory! Without a doubt match play is THE funnest and most intense form of golf.