Yesterday, I played my second match in the Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort’s Club Championship. This is fourth year I organized and ran this event for my home course and I am happy to say I snuck through to the third round. My tough opponent, JC, was not going to make it easy for me and right from our first tee shots the match was a back and forth battle. The best part of our round is that it was just fun. JC is a great golfer and even better playing partner. It was the total package of fun and excitement.
The weather was perfect. It was overcast and the temperature was around 18 degrees. The only drawback to the conditions was the bugs…..they were out in full force. This was a major annoyance, but we got through their constant harassment without any real dramas. The course was playing dry and we experience a bit more roll than usual. Overall, the course was in great shape and it added to fun time I experience during the match. We played the ball down waving the winter rules discussion. By playing the ball down, we had to play it where if lied and on some shots this was a challenge due to some patchy areas. Regardless, it was the best way to play our match as there was no discussion on relief; we both played through the same conditions. Realistically, that is how all matches should be played.
The first hole started off tough for JC. He basically gave me this hole to which I was quite surprised. JC is a smooth player that does not make many mistakes. Fortunately for me, I was able to go one up after one. Well, that slight lift in my spirits ended as JC took the second hole to even the match. After that we traded shots as both of us found our groove.
On the fourth hole, we both were putting for birdie. JC was about 30 feet away and I was 25. As JC surveyed his putt I noticed that he had a keen sense to how the long putts were rolling. I took his time and drained this long putt to put pressure on me to keep up. As I read my putt the only thing I was thinking was not to be short. It was straight with no break, so I hit my putt firmly and it hit the hole and dropped. We both looked at each other, smiled and laughed as we went to the next hole.
As the front nine continued, we tied all the holes except for number 7. I made a short par putt to steal this hole as we were like boxers trading punches for the round and I snuck in a lucky shot. Both of us stayed in play and basically tried to put pressure on each other with very little success. After finishing up the front nine, I was up one as we immediately moved to the second round.
I won the tenth hole due to some unfortunate bunker play by JC. The course bunkers are work in progress and sometimes they can be a bit hard. JC’s mishap was my fortune as I two putted the par 5 to win the hole. I was thinking I had an advantage until we hit the fourth hole where JC stepped on the gas to apply more pressure.
I hit my worst shot off the hardpan on the fourth hole. Only 64 yards from the green after my tee shot, I knew I had to take a challenging line over some trees as JC was putting for birdie after a great shot from the middle of the fairway to 20 feet from the pin. I took aim at my target, set up as per normal and thinned the ball. My ball had very little height and as a result it hit the top of the trees and I lost it. After my 3 minute search, I told JC to pick his ball up after I conceded the hole. I was one up with five holes to play.
Now the seesaw battle started. I hit two great shots on the long par 5 and was left with an easy chip to set up my birdie. JC was a little farther back and as a result left himself a long putt for birdie. I was able to capitalize on this situation and walked off the green with a birdie going two up with four to go. Wait, JC was not going to roll over and let me walk away with an easy win.
The next hole was a short par 3. I pulled my shot to the left just off the green. JC hit his ball to 15 feet leaving a reasonable putt for birdie. I played a bump and run just missing the hole but left a tap in for par. JC confidently walked up and sank his 15 foot putt knocking my lead down to one with three to go.
After two good drives on 16, it was our approach shots that made the difference. I played my usual land before and hop the ball onto the green and JC pulled his shot left. He was left with a difficult uphill putt that he left short by 12 feet. After with both two putted, I was up two again with two to go. I was feeling pretty good as I only needed to tie on hole to win the match.
JC hit a better drive on than me, but our second shots left us about the same distance from the green. JC popped his ball on the green about 25 feet from the hole and played my best shot of the day leaving a two foot putt for the win. However, JC was not going to go away quietly! He sank the 25 foot putt with ease and now my two foot putt looked a bit longer. Fortunately I sank my birdie putt to close out the match. The last thing I wanted was to play the last hole only one up.
After a great match with JC, I am off the semi finals of the Club Championship. I had a great time during yesterday’s round. JC is a true gentlemen and a fantastic playing companion. We were evenly match and I was fortunate to win the day. I am looking forward to the next round as the club championship event continues. Thanks JC, we need to tee it up again this year!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
