My favorite shots

This is a column where I list some of my memorable golf shots. Feel free to add yours in the comments section.

Had 125ish to green and had to go over or under this tree at Raymond Memorial Golf Course in Columbus, Ohio.  I decided to go over, opened up the PW and cleared the tree with ease.  Ball made it to the right side of the green and left me 15-20 feet for bird.

10/18/23 Raymond Memorial Golf Course

Playin’ with Nuke and Charlie and Louie and came to the #6 par 5 at El Raymundo.  Made sure to keep it slightly left off the tee to avoid OB on the right, I put the drive in left-center of the fairway.  Red flag pin position on the very front left of the green (green runs away hard on the left front).  I didn’t consult that GPS for yardage to avoid trying to hit it too hard.  Took out the 2 hybrid and smoothed it under the stiff wind.  Line drive motha fucka right up the middle at at the flag.  Damn thing rolled up and ended 8 feet past and to the right.  Was left with a banana down-hiller that could’ve easily led to a 3 jack.  I told everyone that I had no idea and this was a guess.  Played 3.5 feet of break and cozied it down the hill.  Bitch tracked straight to the hole for Eagle, the Big Bird.  Damn that was suwheet!

10/16/23 Gahanna Municipal Golf Course

I completed the trifecta for at least the fourth time in my golfing “career” (previously done at Lakeside Golf Course holes 1-3 in Lexington, KY, Blacklick Golf Course holes 11-13 and Minerva Lake Golf Course holes ? – having trouble finding it but I did find a 5 birdie day at Minerva).  Ran off birdies on holes 7, 8, and 9 at Gahanna Municipal Golf Course.  Hole 7 is a short par 5; hit a good drive and had 160ish to the pin.  Put the 6 iron to about 20 feet and just missed the right to left breaker for eagle but tapped in for birdie.

Took the 3 hybrid out for the 175-180 par 3 #8 and put it inside six feet.  Had a tricky downhill slider but trickled it in for 2.

Hit a conservative drive off the par 4 ninth, had a 5 iron in but pulled it well short and left of the hole.  Short-sided with a mound in front of me and bogey seemed likely, I landed it on the backside of the mound or maybe the fringe, bounced twice and canned that motha-fucka in the damn hole for birdie.  Are you kidding me?  What a run!

Finished with a 34 for that nine.

August 13, 2023 Coyote Hills golf course #9

I took driver off this tee because we were here to have fun.  Just pounded one with a fade.  This was a good thing because the farther you go, the more narrow the fairway.  Found my ball right next to the water but safe.  Think I had 75 or less to middle of green.  From the elevated tee, this ball soared forever.  I was probably 75-100 yards ahead of golfers in the fairway.

6/12/23 Champions Golf Course Holes 12-15

Had a nice run at Champions starting at hole #12.  Tee shot just right of cart path.  My approach had to stay under the tree immediately in front of  me and then over the tree to the right and in front of the green.  Managed to do both and two putt for par.  Bombed one off the tee on #13 to about 100 yards in.  I was stuck between a 50 degree and a PW.  I chose the pitching wedge and pulled it slightly.  Had about 20 feet for birdie and two putted for par.  I pulled a hybrid off the tee on #14 but a tree kicked it back into the middle of the fairway.  I put an 8 iron to 3 feet and made the putt for birdie.  Hit a nice drive on #15 but too short and too far right to go for it in two.  Laid up to end of fairway and took 50 degree and put it to 5 feet.  Made the putt for birdie.  All of which helped me to a 77!

11/14/22 – I don’t have a picture of hole #14 at Blacklick Woods Metro Golf Course so hole #9 will have to substitute.  I did par 9.  I came to #14 with two holes to play as I had played 16-18 in advance due to slow play by a threesome ahead of me.  At the turn, you can skip over and play holes 17-18 easily and wind up back at the #10 tee.  I needed a birdie to help ensure breaking 80.  I placed the tee shot in front of the creek and then hit to 100 yards from the green.  I had an uphill and sort of blind shot to the green.  Hit an easy but solid 9 iron and I knew it was probably good at impact.  I climbed the hill and was left with a 2 foot kick-in for bird.  Finished with a 78 at Blacklick.  Not a bad day’s work.

On the banks of the Whetstone River, err, the Olentangy River, Kings Mill Golf Club.  Hole 14, par 5, through the gate and then dogleg right.  My playing partner told me I’d be doing really well to get to the turn off the tee.  I promptly smoothed one to the turn and had about 185 to the tiny, back to front sloping green.  Took out the rescue and hit one on a rope just over the back left of the green.  From off the green, tapped a knee-knocker putt slowly out to the left of the hole and watched it gradually begin tracking to the cup.  Somehow it stopped a half-turn away from eagle.  I’ll take the tap-in birdie!

October 19, 2022 – Safari Golf Club, Powell, Ohio. Hole #4, par 4.  I visited Safari on a Fall day, 40 degrees, windy and rainy.  Despite being a month into Fall, aerated greens, only half the course open for play, and walking, I was informed that they were still charging their regular rate of $26.  I’m going to have to call a Big Bullshit on that.  Greens really weren’t receptive to putting with a lot of sand and aeration defects.  Whatever!  It was a beautiful Fall day and I pretty much had the course to myself.  Stuck my approach to 6-8 feet on #4.

Here’s the par 3 #8 hole with a spectacular Fall view in the background.  It had just started to rain a little bit here but nothing serious.  Windy and in the low 40s today.  What a life!  Parred this and #4, What a Playa!

This used to be Hole #1.  I remember playing this hole/course as a kid when the course was named Riverview, I believe.  This was before the zoo bought the land.  I remember playing with my Dad’s cousin, Ernie, and sticking a 4 iron to less than 2 feet for birdie on this hole.  Complete luck!  Today, I smoked a drive 256 yards and had 64 yards to the pin.  Stuck it to about 10 feet but missed the birdie putt with all the sand and aeration holes.  At least, that’s what I’ll blame it on.  I didn’t get pictures of the new Hole #1 or Hole #7, both tight driving holes.  But I smoked one just shy of 270 to the right fairway on #1 and blasted one down the center on #7 about 240-250, I’ll have to check my app.  My lone poor drive was on the ridiculously straightforward #6 where I pulled it left and had to hit under the one tree to the green.  Arghh!  Still a great day and finished with a 40 despite the obstacles.

October 17, 2022 – National Golf Links, Hole #3.  Golf logix app is showing distance from blue tees.  We played the white tees today.  Playing in very windy conditions and cold.  But I guess I’m a mudder.  Came to the par 5 third hole, playing from the white tees.  Striped a drive down the middle and had 200+ to the flag.  Strong left to right wind.  I start the ball left of the green and the wind pushes it hard right.  The ball lands before the green and bounces up onto it and ends up 3 feet from the hole.  I miss the eagle putt!!!  I wasn’t worried.  I said that I’d get it back later.  Took a birdie.

Got another chance at eagle at #12.  Drive ended up right center of the fairway.  I had 204 into the flag.  Striped a rescue club to the right side fringe.  Had about 30-35 feet for eagle.  Draino!  Right into the cup.  The eagle has landed.  Finished the round with 3 birdies and an eagle for a 77.  Aww yeah!  My eagle record is 5 eagles in 2015, I believe.  Don’t think I can make 4 more in 2022 but I will try.

October 10, 2022 – It’s been a long time since I’ve updated this page, fellow golfers.  But I’m back.  Covid took its toll on my game, but now the 2022 Revenge Tour is on!  Aww yeah!

Here we are at Willow Run Golf Course in Pataskala, Ohio, I believe, at the dreaded #13 par 4 hardest hole on the course.  I smoked a drive to the right center despite trees bordering both sides of the extremely narrow fairway.  Had about 145 or so to middle.  Took a 7 iron and knocked her to about 33 feet.  Had a big, sweeping right to left putt that I was just hoping to get inside 5 feet and drained it for birdie!  Oh yea, this hole has eaten my lunch on numerous occasions but not today, brothers.  Not today!  Today, I ate its breakfast, lunch and dinner.

October 7, 2022 Gahanna Municipal Golf Course #9 par 4.  Probably the hardest hole on the course.  I walked off number 8 at 1 over par and was looking for a birdie to finish even par. I launched a drive down the right side and had 100ish into the green.  Put one just left of the hole about 20 feet away.  Just missed the birdie but still a heck of a drive and approach!

August 18, 2022 Punta Mita Pacifico Golf Course in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Hole #14.  Hit a drive down the center and was left with just over 100 yards to the flag on an elevated green.  I wasn’t feeling too confident with a short iron so I pulled out my #2 hybrid to the shock of my playing companions.  Took a half swing chip shot at it and line-drived it about 80 yards in the air.  Landed at base of upslope to the green.  Rolled up the slope, onto the green and headed towards the hole.  I was about to look away but I watched the ball break left and curve into the hole for an eagle 2.  I turned to my buddy, Paul, who had been cheerleading for his friend, Ron, to make eagle all day, and casually remarked, “There’s your eagle.”  And calmly sat down in the golf cart while they processed the scenario.

5/7/2018 – Arrowhead Lakes Golf Course – Par 5 7th hole.  I had paired up with an older couple earlier in the round.  Hit an ok drive and had 220-230 to the hole.  Pulled a rescue club to the left and ended up 35 yards away.  Pitched the ball towards the flag, and it hit the back side of the mound and bounced towards the flag.  I couldn’t see the result but figured it was close.  The older lady was already at the green standing over her chip shot.  She didn’t say anything so I figured I was not that close.  She looked down at her ball and then looked back at the hole and noticed that my ball was no longer near the flag.  She looked over at me (I’m still 30 yards away from the green) and can’t figure out where my ball went.  My ball was in the hole for eagle.  She later told me, “I guess the wind gave you an eagle.”  Funny, I don’t remember the wind hitting the shot.

Played a second nine and absolutely destroyed the drive on 2 to within 75 yards.  Lady in front of me (who was on the green) decided to let me play through after that.

5/4/2018 – Arrowhead Lakes – Smoked a drive down the center on Par 4 5th hole 314 yards.  Followed that up with what looked like a potential hole in one ball on the 6th.  Ended up within 3 feet and made the bird.

9/14/16 – Cumberland Trail, par 5 16th hole.  I had about 225 to the green and was blocked by a lone tree next to the creek on the right side of the fairway.  Played a fade with rescue club and put it to within 8 feet or so for a shot at eagle.  Missed the putt but had a tap in birdie.  I did eagle this hole in 2015 going driver/8 iron.

9/16/14 – Pine Hill Golf Course. Hooked my drive off 18 into the trees. Played another hook around the trees to 185. Took a 4 iron and caught it flush. Ball starts just right of the green and begins slowly drawing towards the flag. I follow its flight and then look down at the green to judge it. I look back up at the ball and say to myself, “This might be the shot of the day.” Ball lands on green and bounces in the cup for EAGLE! Played the par 5’s in 3 under.

4/25/14 – Playing Minerva 12 years after the double eagle. Came back to the par 5 7th hole. Blasted a drive out to the right. Took a six iron over the trees right at the flag. Ball hits the flag and stops about 18 feet behind the hole. Ease the putt downhill with right to left break. Draino for eagle!

8/21/09 – Blacklick Golf Course – Hit a gorgeous approach into the par 5 11th and made the 15 footer for bird. Followed that up with a 25 footer for bird on the par 3 12th. Continued the love at the 13th with a 30 footer for bird. Had a shot for four in a row on the par 5 14th but missed. Still it was great to hit 3 birds in a row, especially at Blacklick! This takes me back to June 16, 2009. I was playing the par 4 13th and we had one of those rare days where the wind was behind us on that hole. I launched a drive that stayed in the air forever, soared over the sand trap and left me a 3/4 sand wedge to the green.

7/25/08 – Playing at The Phoenix Golf Course. Hit my first shot onto the green about 20 feet behind the flag. Decided to play another. The ball hit hole high and bounced dead right and ended up a foot from the hole. Glad I didn’t make it though.

6/25/08 – Bridgeview’s 314 yard par 4 5th hole. Stuck it on the green and four feet away in 1. But missed the tricky downhiller for eagle. Damn!

4/7/08 – After a short drive, I had 226 yards to the green at what is now no. 3 at Bridgeview. I pulled out a three wood and hit a nice one right at the flag. The wind took it a little left of the flag. It hit the green and stayed on. When I got to the green, the ball had stopped 24 feet beyond the ball mark. Nice job TaylorMade TP2 Red!

par 4 eleventh hole at Cook’s Creek

10/12/07 – drove the green on no. 11 at Cook’s – had a shot at eagle and just missed made comeback for birdie

No. 2 at Bridgeview

After playing nine holes at Bridgeview without a birdie, I decided to play the first two holes again to see if I could ring up a bird before leaving. For my third shot on the second hole, I was left with about 145 yards to the pin. I flared my shot out to the right and was left with the angle you see above to the pin. Seeing no chance, I decided to hit it right into the tree in the middle and pray that my ball somehow got through the tree. You might be able to see the flag just to the right of the tree. I took out a lob wedge and blasted it into the tree. It hit a small branch and deflected to the right a little bit. From there it hit the green and rolled left, right into the hole for a tweeter! Yeah!

Number 14 at Split Rock Golf Club

September 11, 2007 – Here’s the par 4, 14th at Split Rock Golf Course. It’s a 289 yard par 4 from the whites and 314 from the blues. The blue tees were near the whites today and we were playing the blues. I cranked a driver and flew it on. What kind of a ball mark does a 290+ yard drive on the fly leave?

Ballmark on 14 at Split Rock

The putter head is for comparision sake. That was just a huge gash into the green. Did it stay on the green?

Putt remaining for eagle

Here’s the putt I had for eagle. I didn’t make it but did get it past the hole so it had a chance. I made the comebacker for birdie. That opened the floodgates as I went on to birdie 15 and 18.

August 10, 2007 – 9th hole at Blacklick Metro Golf Course. It had been a rough day and I said to my buddy that I needed to ace this hole to save the round. I took an 8 iron against a stiff left to right breeze and floated it high up into the air and to the left of the flag. It hit to the left of the flag probably about 4 feet away and spun back to the right about 7 feet away.

What was memorable was (after my buddy had hit) that I took another crack at it. Hit the same shot but a bit harder. It faded back onto the flag, hit behind the flag, and spun back and to the right to 3 inches from the hole. Not bad! Glad I didn’t make it though. It would’ve been the hole in one that I never could talk about.

October 16, 2005 – Granville Golf Course. Hit a nice drive off 18 and had less then a hundie to the flag. Was the last group in a tournament there and everyone else was standing around the green. Took out a sand wedge. The ball bounced on the green and in the hole for eagle to win the tournament by one.

April 6, 2002

I was playing at Minerva Golf Course and on the par 5, no. 7. I had a 5 iron to the green. I hooked my 5 iron shot right into the giant tree to the left of the green. The ball bounced off a branch, landed on the green, rolled across the green, hit the flag, seemed to pause for a second, and then in the hole for double eagle.

Thornapple Golf Course

I was warming up by chipping on the putting green. From about 30 feet, I hit one to within a foot. Another guy on the putting green said nice shot. I hit the next one in the hole. He said, “Bet you can’t do that again.” I hit the third one in the hole as well. He walked away dumbfounded.