Recent Golf Trip adventures!

So, I took a long weekend golf trip last week to Pinehurst (U.S. Open this year at #2). Just wanted to share some of my experience with everyone. No I did not play any of the 10 (or however many) courses Pinehurst offers. My group did a package thru talamore for 4 rounds at Mid South, Talamore New Course, Pine Needles and Southern Pines. We played in that order 36 holes a day and what an experience on multiple levels... First I'll start by saying the amount of courses in the pinehurst area is unbelievable, you could stay 2 weeks and not play the same course twice! we visited the main Pinehurst area (#2 & #4 clubhouse) and was blown away with their practice greens and 9 hole (cradle) course, biggest green I've ever seen - 18 hole putting course that didn't even take up half of it! Was very impressed with their proshop as prices were (for the most part) no different than what you'd pay at any major retailers or online. stayed and ate at their restaurant overlooking #2s 18th green, very cool experience. but now onto the fun part, Golf...

Day 1 - rain was expected in the morning, we were first ones off and got about 4 holes in before heavy rain started... we make it to #6 and its a par 3 with a pond between tee box and green... well I'm first up, and I'm soaked (well rain gear is soaked).. I try my best to keep my hands and grips dry with a towel.. I attempt an easy practice swing and who would have thought... my club just slides right out of my hands and boy it had a beautiful trajectory and definitely hit the sweet spot... everythings in slow motion as I watch my club fly 20 feet into the pond.. I look back to my partners in disbelief.. I say I have to go in and get it right (no one was behind us as they stopped to wait out the rain).. well I take off my shoes/socks and roll up my pants hoping this pond isn't deep, I get in about 3 feet and already knee deep.. I use a putter to try and feel the bottom and/or my club. One of my partners looks out and sees my grip bobbing up/down.. I have to walk out another 10-15 feet to get it, by this time I'm waist deep but I get my club! We return to the club house to wait out the rain, by this time every green was completely underwater.. on the way back we pass a house and a guy comes out to say he saw the whole incident while eating his breakfast and said it was a top 5 incident he's seen on the course, gives me a towel and a couple beers and we have a good laugh! anyway we wait it out for 30 mins or so and the rain stops and the greens cleared up very quickly... back to golf.. we made it to the back 9 with light drizzles here and there.. get to another par 3 that I need to use the water logged club.. (by this time I was using a towel between my hands and grip). well luckily there was no water but it flew right out of my hands about 60 yds again, I'm watching the club fly not the ball and my ball ends up 5-10 feet from the hole... still missed birdie! ha. well we only got 14-15 holes in before we called it a morning to go get dry and new clothes, eat lunch and get ready for the second course.. Nothing crazy happened at the second course but plenty of fun moments (they have some deep pot bunkers 6-10 feet in areas which were fun watching each other get out of)..

Day 2 - absolutely perfect beautiful weather.. started on Pine Needles... Can't say enough good things about the course.. super fun and challenging. nothing was out of place and very well maintained! nothing super exciting happened as it kicked our asses for the most part! on to the last course.. Idk if it was the location or what but the wind at the second course was gusting like crazy. started out pretty good and got a crazy lucky chip (bladed) in for birdie. these greens are super challenging.. not a single flat area on any green and they were rolling pretty fast for this time of year, and every green is pretty much elevated so holding a green was difficult to say the least. well I had a pretty decent front 9.. Not sure if it was #8-9-10-11 as their halfway house was a little wonky. but its a short par 4 playing about 290ish uphill, a bit of a dogleg left protected by water, left side of green protected by bunkers, trying to force you to layup 200-230 out.. well I attempted that first layup and shanked it into the water on the right... I said, shit.. I guess I'll just have to go for it now... so I bring out my driver and put a beautiful cut on it that lands just long left (long of the fairway, just a bit short of the green) and gets a perfect right bounce onto the green about 25 feet from the pin.. we're all excited and the first thing out of my mouth was "you're about to witness the greatest par ever" jokingly.. well, we get up there and this green is tiered, I'm on the top tier and pins below with a pretty strong right to left slope.. I take my time and line up my putt, I'm aiming about 10 feet right of the cup.. I have no expectations and simply hoping/praying I get within 5 feet.. well its now or never.. I put a good stroke on it and just watch it in delight as rolls just as I had envisioned with perfect pace.. IT WENT IN!!! we go crazy! I jokingly say again "I told you it was going to be the greatest par you ever witnessed!", so much fun and a perfect time to have that memory at the end of our trip, stinks I didn't get an eagle but only way to one up me is to go OB on a par 3 and follow it up with an ace (which I would be way more mad about! and wouldn't wish that on anyone!)..

All in all I had a blast.. 36 holes a day is rough when I'm still out of shape from winter and not to mention it was cart path only all weekend so you're basically walking the whole course anyway.. I only had 1 blood blister on my foot, although I scraped 2 toes on a rock when I went swimming for my club that hurt all weekend, obviously sore but mostly just feet and lower legs being sore.. It was my first time doing a trip like this, I've played 36 in a day before but never back to back.. super fun, I felt like I was just getting back into my swing by the final round.