Been doing a winter golf challenge for myself. 9 holes with a limited bag - start with Pitching Wedge max and play to score as well as possible. To earn the next-longer club I must break the previous score record.

My results thus far:

Round / Score

PW “Genesis Round” -55

9-iron Challenge - 50

8-iron Challenge - 52 (fail)

8-iron reChallenge - 48

7-iron Challenge - 46 (today)

6-iron Challenge - (tomorrow)

Key Learnings:

1. The scoring zone dominates - Approach & Short Game ultimately win the next club - to get my driver will require short game training and more GIRs. A single 3-putt can cost you a club.

2. No excuses Par 3s - if you have the club to reach the green… reframed itself to me.

3. 7-iron tipping point - Even in low winter temps, with a 7-iron I can reach most par 5s in 3 quality shots and shorter par 4s in two shots (wind permitting). Good to know in a pinch…

4. With shorter clubs it’s helpful to simply play longer par 4s as par 5s and par 5s as par 6s - par is a social construct, lol.

I’m playing at Cramer Mountain Club, Cramerton, NC - the white tees are 2,967y on the front 9 and this course is a challenging, penal, “shot makers track” that eats errant golfers alive as it wraps itself around the mountain like a big viper. Winter conditions are dormant Bermuda tight lies. Greens roll anywhere from 9-11’ depending on wind drying them out - something I have to be acutely aware of for proper pace.

#golfstr #golf