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| The Pearl Clubhouse & Sign |
In honor of all the positive minded folk who always have
such positive things to say regardless of circumstances, I will start with the
positive. Considering some very wet weather last week, including Saturday when
I first visited Pearl East, the course was in really good shape this morning,
including some immaculate greens! Fantastic work by Course Superintendent Robert Gamble and his staff!
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| Clubhouse from the rear |
Yes, there were some imbedded balls here and there, and
there was one cart path only hole (the fascinating 10th with two trees in the
middle of the fairway), but lift clean and place was in effect, and we managed
to finish our round in a little over 4 ½ hours. Compared to yesterday’s 5 ½, it
was practically heaven, and I managed to stay semi-lucid throughout.
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| Scenes from The Pearl East |
When I came through on Saturday, I noted that the course was
about as interesting a course as I had played in some time, maybe ever, but I
couldn’t appreciate the beauty of the course with all those dark clouds, lightning,
thunder and heavy rain.
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| Hole No.2 |
Today, in the brilliant sunshine, The Pearl East showed
that she really was a gem of a track! In fact, Steph commented that some spots on the course were so captivating that "it makes you want to build a house and live there forever!"
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| Mike taking care of business |
Mike Benson is one of the most congenial Head Golf
Professionals I’ve ever met. I think maybe he’s tied with The Hideaway’s Sean
Balliet and Treviso Bay’s Mark Wilhelmi for the top spot. He was very
accommodating when we emailed prior to coming to Myrtle Beach and made sure
that Steph was well taken care of when we arrived at the course this morning.
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| Frank Yates, my therapy partner |
Let’s see…what else can I write about that was positive?
Hmm, well, the temperature was a crisp 64 degrees when we walked out this
morning, and I did have good playing partners once again, making it three for
three at the World Am with cool foursomes. Frank Gates, who rode with me, and I
formed an immediate therapy group, as we both needed therapy early in the
round.
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| Darius Oshidar- our foursome leader |
Ron Wills was on the borderline of joining the therapy
group, but Frank and I decided to make the group exclusive, and let his cart
partner, Darius Oshidar, console him. Darius wasn’t thrilled with his round
despite shooting an 87, four strokes better than Ron, seven better than I, and
nine better than Frank. Darius was good enough to hold down a tie for 6th in our flight. Only the good company kept the bogey blues from totally
consuming me.
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| Ron Willis' effective putting crouch |
Oh yeah, I am still supposed to be writing about the good
stuff. I did have a birdie on the short 305-yard par-4 No.8, and finished the
final hole with a par (missing a 10-footer for birdie). Other than that, there
was a par here and a par there, but that’s about it for the good news.
For those of you who can admit to “negative” sentiments such
as disappointment, you can relate to the disappointment I felt in my inability
to do any of the things I had been doing fairly well coming into this event. Simply
put, I think the expectations must have gotten to me, and the body is willing
and able, but the mind hasn’t been thus far.
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| Doesn't look as bad as it was, does it? |
More good news? Well there are still three days to go, and
it is possible that I could rediscover some semblance of a golf game and post a
few good rounds the next few days. Only time and golf swings will tell. I came
in planning on making it to the final day on Friday. Now, I’m back to hoping to
finish in the top ten in my flight! My net score of 82 has me tied for No.30 in our flight, 11 shots behind the leaders.
I was thinking that the 94 I shot today was the worst of the
nine rounds I have played in the World Am thus far, but I was wrong. I carded a
100 in my very first World Am round in 2011. I improved every day that year,
but only enough to finish 16th in my flight. I guess I’ll have to
settle for improving everyday this time as well.
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| Steph & Blues Bros at 19th Hole |
Ah, one final bit of good news which you can always find at the World Am is the world's largest 19th hole, held at the Myrtle Beach Convention center. With 10 food stations, perhaps as many free drink stations, and ice cream too, how bad can it get? So we bring Day 1 of the World Am to a close, having hit the course, and the 19th Hole, and next the sack. Stay posted for Day 2 from Willbrook Plantation, which promises to be chock full of lovely views for Steph to shoot. Let's hope that the seeds I've been planting all summer will finally blossom at the Plantation tomorrow. Until then...
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| Steph & T. A. |
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