A December Round At Washtenaw; The Streak Reaches 106

A December Round At Washtenaw; The Streak Reaches 106

In forty-degree weather, I got out yesterday to play a round at Washtenaw Golf Club (course link).

I was not the only one there. The pro, Matt, said that by the time I teed off, they had already done some forty rounds. There were others behind me. It was walking only on the course; I always walk, so that was not an issue.

The round marked my one-hundred-sixth straight month with at least one round played in Michigan. That’s nearly nine years of consistent play. The streak is very much alive.

Temperatures were in the mid-forties, but as I was walking, I was more than warm enough and played in khakis and a sweatshirt. I started out with a vest over the sweatshirt, but ditched the vest by the end of the second hole.

Washtenaw was, as always, in good condition. There was some standing water in some places and low areas were wet, but that’s because we had significant snowfall earlier in the week, followed by a couple of days of rain.

Indeed, it started raining again as I left the parking lot.

I played fairly well, given my lack of repetitions over the last few weeks. I am still working on shortening my backswing, as advised by Washtenaw Golf Head Pro Zach Szawara in a late August lesson. Having long been used to a fatally over extended backswing, a shorter one does not feel “right” and I often have trouble making the transition.

I was particularly happy with my exploits on the par-five thirteenth. The foursome ahead spotted me on the tee box from the top of the hill and waved me up.

This is usually one of those situations where the need to get through fast gets into my head and I duff a shot. Instead, I hit my drive up and over the top of the hill (from the senior tees; I’ve earned that the hard way). A crisp three wood left me a hundred yards in. I stuck that shot, and one putted for a birdie.

The whole time, I’m thinking “just don’t hit a shank or some other stupid shot and make them regret letting me through.”

Golf is a mental game, and I often fail the test.

Rain is on the menu for the next couple of days, but by the end of the week, the temperature is predicted to reach nearly fifty.

I’ve got that day circled on my calendar.