Ahhh...the sweet fragrance of grass and shooting under Par

Golfing and Fragrance
When I arrived at Madrona Links Golf here in Gig Harbor, WA on Wednesday afternoon the first thing I noticed was the smell. Kind of a wet dirt, grassy, fertilizer fragrance. I say fragrance because that is what it was. Not a smell, or an odor...but a fragrance.

Normally most folks would not associate golfing with fragrances...but I do. Maybe it was because I had not stepped foot on a golf course for over a month. Maybe it is because my sinuses are still trying to adjust to Western Washington instead of Eastern Washington. Or maybe it is because since I've been buzzing around the US in planes lately my whole "smeller" is off. Whatever it is, the smell of the golf course Wednesday night gently rolled over me like a wave of sweet sustenance. I think I missed being on a golf course!

Strange But True
The wave of sweet sustenance had a funny effect on me. It kind of chilled me out...made me relaxed. Kind of like how you feel when you return home after a trip or vacation. You know that feeling...when you are thankful and peaceful..."Glad to be Home" we always say.

I was so freakin' happy to smell a golf course it felt like I had returned home from a looooong trip. I was so excited to be at the course that I fumbled around getting my bag and push cart out of the trunk. I tried to put my socks on over my flip flops and forgot to untie my shoes. I dropped my balls ~ golf balls, that is... tripped over my bag and stumbled over to the practice chipping area. Whew...with these kind of nerves I was not sure what was going to happen when I actually hit my first shot.

And Then!
I dropped 3 balls on the ground and set up to hit some practice chips. First one...good contact right distance but a bit right of the pin. Second one, great contact right at the pin...perfect speed and just short of the hole. Third one...just past the hole.

Hit a few more chips from all the way around the practice area and then over to the putting green with my golfing partner from the office Dave. Putts were rolling pretty good too...I was starting to feel pretty good given that I was beginning to think that trying to play after such a long "break" would be ugly.

Main Event - Under Par
So here 's how it breaks down. After shooting 73 last summer, several mid 70's rounds, several high 70's rounds and a few rounds in the 80's ( HATE THOSE )...

I shot my first round under par.

Hole 1 Par 5 - Par
Hole 2 Par 3 - Par
Hole 3 Par 4 - Par
Hole 4 Par 4 - Par
Hole 5 Par 4 - Birdie
Hole 6 Par 3 - Birdie
Hole 7 Par 4 - Par
Hole 8 Par 5 - Par
Hole 9 Par 4 - Bogey

Front 9 Par 36 - 1 Under

Hole 10 Par 4 - Birdie
Hole 11 Par 4 - Par
Hole 12 Par 3 - Par
Hole 13 Par 4 - Par
Hole 14 Par 4 - Birdie
Hole 15 Par 5 - Birdie
Hole 16 Par 4 - Par
Hole 17 Par 3 - Par
Hole 18 Par 4 - Bogey

Back Nine Par 35 - 2 under

18 Holes Par 71 - 68

So there you have it. I finally did it. For you non golfers out there...this probably just does not make sense. But for us golfers...this is a milestone. In fact even breaking 80 is a feat to master. I don't know how accurate this is but I saw this article and it refers to how many golfers can actually break 80.

Golfing and Fragrance
So what was it? What kept me so calm and in control of my game? I don't know but I hope I can find the "secret sauce" the next time I play.

I think I was just happy to be there. I'm still stunned by how great the grass smelled. It made me feel welcome...like the course was saying "C'mon Dude...where ya been?"

I played smart...hit fairways and hit greens. I did not go for the pins but aimed for safe places on the greens. I putted with confidence and was able to play at a good pace which always helps me. I kept reminding myself that golf is a game of misses and that I had to accept the outcome of my shots. The thing is since I have not been able to play golf...I've been thinking about golf. Here are some Words of Wisdom from golfers of the past. I guess I could sum it up like this... It is like not caring what happens but paying attention to what you are doing when setting up and then swinging.

Thank You
If you've stayed and read this...thank you for indulging me.

See you on the golf course!