It was a beautiful day for golf last Sunday... until it wasn't.
Jovita South is historically tough — top 19% in difficulty with a median score of +6 to par — mostly thanks to those fast, undulating greens. Three-putts are everywhere, and Gary somehow managed a 5-putt (with six putter strokes)! Excellent lag putting is crucial if you want to score.
Two guys separated themselves with impressive flat-stick accuracy: Chandler and John, combining for 21 pars and 4 birdies. Chandler smashed the course record with a 74 (gross), barely making mistakes and taking advantage of a few lucky bounces.
Right behind was Big John with 9 net birdies and a net eagle — echoes of the "Greatest Match Ever Played" in 2017. He needed par on the last to tie for the win. After reaching the green in two, he faced a 40+ footer for birdie.
Then the skies opened with a torrential downpour, soaking everything in sight. Before John could putt, he had to watch Topor hit an "Adolf" in the greenside bunker, dragging out the suspense even more while accumulating untold moisture in his already struggling shirt fabric. Most of the league watched from the comfort of the clubhouse as John left his birdie try a few feet short (thanks to the sudden pooling water on the green). His par putt lipped out at 90 degrees. Game over.
The rest of you were terrible.
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It needs to be discussed how Group 3 finished 30+ minutes behind Group 2, which probably altered results. But there is also plenty of chatter about Group 4 (threesome) barely keeping up with slow-ass Group 3 (foursome). So there's seven different people to blame for John, Topor, and Crum getting soaked.
I refuse to believe you people are unaware when you're slow. You have phones, watches, and eyeballs. You can see when there's no group ahead holding you up. Which means some of you just don't care that you're jamming up the course and screwing with outcomes (like the last group playing in a monsoon).
Get off your phones. Stop walking away from the cart without a club. Drop people at their ball then go to yours. Read putts while others play. Stop being selfishly shitty.
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We're off next week for MLK because years ago a few of you whined about your kids not being in school.
The following week we're at Lexington Oaks for our first Major! I waited too long on "better" courses that never got back to me, and unfortunately my last-resort options already had the 25th tee sheet open. So the start time is later than desired (10:20am), which will guaranteed us a 5+ hour crawl. Perfect for you selfish Members to plod along unnoticed.
At least the Oaks has a deep history with our League, and the price helps offset the $40 blindside increase Lake Jovita just hit us with.
See you then!