The Match

Ted and I went out to play today.  He sent a text last night: "My index is 21.4, let's have a match.  How many strokes do I get?"

We teed off at 7:15 to beat the ladies group.  "I'll give you a stroke a hole and we'll play for honor and glory," I said.

"I'll take all I can get."

Off we go.  Ted hits his first shot into the trees, I smash one straight up the fairway.  The game was on.

Now, giving up a stroke a hole makes it a bit difficult to win a hole.  But I managed to shoot an even par 36 on the front.  I had to hit the pin from 160 yards on the ninth hole for a gimme birdie to do it, but it got done.  Actually a very solid round with seven pars to go with a lone bogey and the birdie. 

On the 12th tee, Ted looks at me.  "You're playing differently when there is something at stake."

"You wanted to see the competitive Mr. Hume, and now you've unleashed him a bit.  Take care he does not fully awaken mortal," I reply calmly and crush a four wood up the center of the fairway.


The first nine put me three up going onto the back.  I start with three pars, but Ted is hanging in there with bogeys to split the holes.  Then I top a drive on the long 13th and we both bogey.  Ted wins the hole with his stroke.  The same happens on the 14th when I'm short of the green and pitch short and miss the putt.  Then I'm on the 15th in regulation, Ted is short.  He pitches to 12 feet.  I roll the birdie putt to two inches, which Ted concedes.  He then proceeds to knock in the 12 footer for his par and another winning hole. 

On to the 16th.  I finally hit a drive, it feels like it's been years, and I've a 150 yard shot into a back pin and some wind.  I crank the trusty 6 iron and it looks like I'm stiff.  Ted has been on a bit of an adventure, and he needs to get his third shot on the green.  But he pushes the ball and it rolls through a bunker and is hanging on the far lip.  He stands in the bunker, chokes up on the club onto the metal shaft and hits very nice chip onto the green.  My shot is not stiff and I have 10 feet for a birdie.  I miss it right, but Ted misses his bogey putt and I'm two up with two to play.  Dormie!

We both par the 17th, which is a win for Ted and I'm one up with the long 18th in front of us.  Well, I can't lose the match, worst case is we tie.  So the handicapping is pretty fair. 

I hit another good drive down the middle with bit of hook.  Did I mention the hole moves left to right?  It does and the drive splits the fairway.  Ted heads for the trees to the right.  He hits his next shot along the cart path and he's still a bit behind.  His third crosses the fairway and our balls are about the same distance to the green.  I pull out the four wood and aim over the fairway bunker down by the corner of the dogleg.  Did I mention the hole has two dog legs?  I don't get all of it, but it carries far enough and bounds like young kitten and I'm past the trap and into the fairway.

I knock my third shot onto the green and I've got 15 feet for a birdie.  Ted hits short and has to pitch up.  If you've been counting, he's well out of the hole at this point.  Yes, winning by two!  All of the honor and glory are mine!  Life is good.

It's been a good day with company, pace, and reasonable play all coming together.  I had a frozen yogurt to celebrate.