This weekend, I was playing with a friend. We started with our
usual catching up which then evolved into our typical discussion about game
mechanics and rationale behind certain things. I can speak freely about tthem
as I have no inside knowledge as to how something works on that end, besides a
typical observations over the last 10 years of playing...
I
don't ding a lot, never have. For years I preferred raptures over g10's due to
slower meter and have learned do score fairly well with those. Many times in
past and even now, I tend to aim in higher wind games knowing I may not ding
(to cover my butt and also to assure that I land on the right part of the
green. Doesn't happen often, but I am hopeful), but that's beside the point...
With that said....
I
stood on 17th hole of Whistler. With that wind, I always go for this shot,
because IMO, 17th hole is probably top 3 hardest for me to birdie for the type
of shot it is... I don't mean ever, as we have several holes that need a 3w to
be hit for 2nd shot, but the hole where you’d almost always hit pw or 9i. As I
hit my shot, I could not aim where I wanted (due to map restrictions), so my
goal is to hit 1-2 lines late (when I can) and then hit the road and hopefully
bounce to the next fairway... I dinged and I was like 'oh, crap'. Then I see
the ball go to the right with right to left wind. I was like, sigh... lost
ball... Then I heard a weird sound followed ball hitting road and bouncing to
the next fairway. I saved the replay wondering what had just happened... Oh
wait, I guess you guys want to see it too. Here it is.
Check the hole view camera. I personally haven't seen many shots like
this.
Now,
I hit the road there many times before (few dozen) and many times I was inside
35 yards... Still, approach shot was no picnic. If were to play for par I would
then hit below the flag but that's not me. Going for his hole always presents
issues... anything short, long, or left is a tough par upon a miss. Hitting
road and getting inside 50 yards solves many issues. Not only you can hit a
much better/easier to control club but you can also stop it much easier. Still,
even 3-4ft in any direction other than below the whole offers a choice. Hit
hard, and try to get a birdie, knowing that a miss is a 7-9fter for par or try
for par, aim much more and hope it trickles in.
This
is where my drive offered an interesting possibility. Usually, I am inside 35
yards, so hitting a 50 yard club would not be what I would hit. I'd probably
opt for 41 punch with few lines of backspin, choke on the club and hope for the
best. But, being 54 yards away, offered 2 choices to me. Hit 62 punch, choke
and do about 30% bs or, what I chose, 50 yard club with about 50% top spin. I
know that even with top spin, my 50 yard club won't run much. I aimed about
3-4ft right of the hole thinking that if I ding, I'll be right at it. If I hit
1-3 lines late, worst case 5-7ft from below. I didn't think I'd be long and
could be little short but knowing that the green slopes hard left to right +
top spin, I hoped it would nestle below the hole. So, I hit... and I hit 2
lines early and 2 things went through my mind: oh crap, I am going to be 5-6 ft
above the hole. That's not what happened. I guess you guys want to see
it. Here it is :)
First
of all, it's my first eagle on that hole. That hole is probably my least
consistent birdie on this course. Iove the course though (my top3) as I feel it
offers many different ways to play almost every hole (in certain winds). What
did I learn from all of this? Simple: I do not want 100% precise game, for
it'll get very boring very quickly. We all get those shots where we wonder what
happened, but that's what makes it fun for me.
P.s iconian is my player account,
in case you didn't know this :).