Upstate Classic 2010

Congratulations to the brave and weather-tested competitors in this year’s Upstate Classic.   It was 31 degrees when we first teed off on Saturday.  It was a solid, and I suppose mentally reassuring, one degree warmer at first tee Sunday.

I can’t claim to have witnessed all the action since I was so deeply immersed in my own failings, but I hope you’ve checked out some of the more than 200 pictures Tim Whims took on the first day.

I’d suggest looking at how well shot they all are, but honestly, just look and find a picture of yourself.  I did.  I admit it.

As for my play?  Lousy.  Really, really, consistently lousy.  But unlike last year when I melted down and had a generally lousy time, I actually had a blast this year.  Surprising given my near-last-place finish.

First, for historical comparison :

In 2008 I was remarkably reliable in my awful scores :

Round 1 : 60 (+6)

Round 2 : 60 (+6)

Round 3 : 59 (+5)

Round 4 : 61 (+7)

Total Tournament Score : 240 (+24)

I like to point out that this was my first-ever PDGA event as an excuse.

In 2009, I actually tried to put a little run together and was on the second card in the last round, then…MELTDOWN!

Round 1 : 53 (-1)

Round 2 : 54 (E)

Round 3 : 52 (-2)

Round 4 : 63 (+9)

Final Tournament Score : 222 (+6)

I think I enjoyed that last round last year about the least of any round I’ve ever played.

So now to this year, and it got ugly early.  I like to think I used each round as a throwback to one of the prior years :

Round 1 : 60 (+6)

Round 2 : 53 (-1)

Round 3 : 59 (+5)

Round 4 : 52 (-2)

Now I’m going to point out here that it was, again, very cold for the morning rounds and I played much better in the sunny afternoon rounds.  Also, I did endure some God-Awful luck in that first (+6) round.

For example, a pretty excellent drive on hole 5 managed to clip a tree deep on the left side of the fairway and take that dreaded 90 degree turn to the creek.   But really, I never had a good groove running.

OTHER NOTES :

• The Upstate continues to have one of the best-natured and likable groups of players around.  I was with several different people, some I knew some I didn’t, in my various foursomes.  I liked talking to them all and the quality of the comraderie remains one of the best features of the Upstate Classic.
• Congratulations to “The Other Bill” for his personal best ever score in round two. I think it was a 47?  Great round by him and I was happy to see him play well.
• A bummer this year, Sarah Stanhope was unable to play while she recovers from being a little under the weather.
• This year’s event wasn’t full.  That’s unusual as it usually fills up well in advance.  I’m not sure what led to the decline in interest but I know some regular players like Brandon Barker and Christine Savvakis had other obligations this weekend and couldn’t make it.
• There were a surprising number of people, and I don’t know the exact number, who registered, paid, played the first day, and then didn’t show up for day 2.  Sometimes that’s just unavoidable.  But it can make things difficult for the tournament organizers who need to know how to arrange their grouping cards for each round.  It was handled well, but I still found it strange.

Congratulations to the winners this year!  I’ll play again next year….even if I am getting worse.