Three Rounds of Misery Ended With a Full-Out Ass Kicking!

I love Match Play. I believe it is the best competitive format in golf. I usually play quite well in any Match Play competition. So, with all that being said, I GOT STOMPED this weekend at Dragon Ridge's Annual Match Play Championship!

My first opponent was Dr. Bob Goudge. I really like playing golf with Bob, he is a genuine nice guy and I have never seen him "lose it" on the golf course. Sometimes it is more difficult when you are playing against someone you really like. However, Bob and I are both competitive and even though neither of us played very well, Bob was able to out-grind me for a 4 & 3 victory in the very first match. The only good news was that my loss sent me into the afternoon "consolation" round. Here's a news flash for whoever named it a "consolation" round... it isn't any consolation to know that you now are in the "LOSERS BRACKET."

My afternoon match was against Dennis Fleischer. Our match was a back and forth affair, with neither of us able to get more than a +1 advantage. The other two players in our 4-some seemed to be rooting hard for Dennis, making me wonder even more why people enjoy seeing me get my ass kicked so much? Finally, on the 18th hole, I ended the match by sinking a five foot Par putt after Dennis dropped an 18 footer for his par. We tied the hole and I won the match one-up meaning I got to get up early on Sunday and play for pride and, if I won, $25! Yipppeee!

My Sunday match was against #6356 Stan King. Stan is a Golf Nut, Dragon Ridge Member and a Realtor and a good stick! We tied the first hole. That was all the good news for me on the front 9. We made the turn with Stan holding a 6-up lead! I have never been that far down in ANY match-play...EVER! It was starting to look like I'd be getting home in time for the first NBA Playoff game. But, golf is a funny game. I hitched up my pants like Arnie...tugged my shirt sleeve like Tiger and drilled a perfect drive on #10. Stan hit a serviceable drive, about 10 yards behind me. His approach looked like it was about a foot from the hole. No worries... I dropped a Gap Wedge just outside his shot. I missed my birdie putt and Stan drained his to put me 7 holes down with 8 left to play.

I find that players with a big lead sometimes lift their foot off your throat just enough for you to make a comeback. My run started on #11. I won 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Suddenly, I am 2-down with 3 to play. We tied 16 when I missed a short putt for Par and Stan closed me out on 17 where we both made Par. 

Even though I lost, I was happy with myself for not giving up. There is a lesson in there somewhere. I guess it is that no "lead" in golf is a "safe" lead until the round is over. Stan played great shooting 1-over on the front and I also played great with a 1-over on the back. In the end, he had simply won more holes and that's what Match Play is all about. When I asked him what he would have done if I had come back to win, he let one picture speak a thousand words...