Bowie seems to be becoming my “home course,” primarily because Phil is a member there and gets tee times every Wednesday. Today was overcast, starting out at 52o with hardly any wind. By the 18th hole, it was 54o but the wind had picked up and an approaching cold front with rain made the air feel cooler. Rick, John, Bill and the donuts went out first. Bill picks up a dozen Dunkin’ Donuts and coffee on the way. If you ride with him, you’ll eat well, if multiple donuts can be called “eating well.” I personally “require” that I get a birdie before rewarding myself with a donut, though sometimes I cheat, particularly if I’m riding with the donuts. Once, I had three in one round. Today, I had none. I wasn’t with the donuts and zero birdies. Phil, Barry, Mac and I were in the second group and had trouble keeping up with them. The round took us 3 hours and 40 minutes and was quite comfortable.
My round fell into a familiar pattern, with the front nine going well and the back nine not so well. On the front, currently playing as a par 34 (probably a 33 by USGA standards due to the temporary tee boxes), I had five pars and four bogeys for a 38. I reached the par 5 7th hole in two shots, with driver and 4-iron, then managed to three-putt. On the back, I had two pars, four bogeys, two double bogeys and a triple bogey for 46. I lost two balls, hitting a 3-wood into the woods on the right on the par 5 11th and topping a 3-wood into the pond in front of the tee box on par 4 15th. Phil, Barry and Mac played well but the details are their stories to tell.
