I had never golfed at Turnberry Golf Course until a couple of weeks ago. I tried to go years ago but the course was closed at the time. I enjoyed playing there so much a two weeks ago that I came back today for another round of 9.
Here’s your approach to the par 5 first hole. You can’t see it but there’s a stream that borders the fairway on the right. I took a rip at the green in two with a three wood and ended up just short of the green. From there, I chipped to about eight feet and began the day with a birdie.
The second hole played into the wind and I ended up left of the fairway. I had an awkward angle to the green into a stiff wind. I took too much club and yanked it a bit left. I couldn’t get up and down and took a bogey. My insurance stroke didn’t last long.
Here’s the short par 3 third. Pick your poison. Water to the left and sand in line with the pin. I went right at the flag. After my approach on two, I decided to check my swing and it worked. I hit a straight shot right at the flag but couldn’t convert the birdie. The break is strong towards the water here.
I like the par 4 fourth. You need to hit a fade off the tee. I hit the dreaded straight ball into the trees on the left. The trees played pinball with my ball and then knocked it down into the rough. I played around one from about 120 out and two putted for par.
I hit a nice drive off of five and had about 205 to the green. Let’s try another fade from the rough. I again hit it straight into the trees on the left. Mother Nature was kind and swatted my ball right back out into the rough. I had a short pitch shot from the front left. Landed it just off the green and the ball rolled to the left of the hole. It broke right and doink – right into the hole for eagle. Two under through five. Things were going well.
A three putt on six left me one under.
I tried yet another fade and hit it straight into the trap on seven. I had a great out and almost made the par saver but walked to eight even par.
I destroyed a drive on eight and had a little pitch to the green from the right side of the fairway. Problem is that you want to approach this green more from the center of the fairway. I left myself about 30 feet or so but got down in two.
After a decent drive on nine, I had 142 to the green. I took too plenty of club and ended up just over the back right of the green. I flubbed my chip and had another chip of 30+ feet or so. I landed it just on the green and had it rolling to the hole. It broke right and into the hole for a par saving and round saving 36. Hallelujah! An eagle, a birdie and a chip-in round saving par! Damn that was nice!