The Goofy Game of Golf Searching for the Answer

This was a busy week, as three new courses were added. On Wednesday i went to Lake Vue North, in Butler Pa which is a 45  minute drive. This course plays 6100 yards from the back tees to a par of 72. The greens were running a 5 on the stimp and the course was in good shape overall. The course had a good variety of holes with lots of tree lined fairways and water that came into play on about 4 of the holes. There were a few unique things about this place. First the course did not have a course rating or slope. Even though the course was only 6100 yards the third hole was a 600 yard par 5. Finally they had the best sand traps of any course I have played so far. The sand was that nice fine white sand and there was plenty of sand in all the traps. The back nine is easier than the front and I was able to take advantage and shoot a 2 under 34 which gave me a 73 for the day. The hot dog at the turn was good with some good condiments. On Thursday I went retro at Rose Ridge in Allison Park Pa which is about a 50 minute drive. The reason I said I went retro was this was just like playing golf back in the 60’s. There was no watered fairways so everything was brown. The front nine greens were like concrete but the back nine greens were like a sponge. The greens had some burned out areas but were smooth, even though they barely made a 4 on the stimpmeter. The course did have a good design with some interesting holes and some water that came into play. This course needed some tender lovin care and I,m sure it would have been in better shape if I had played during the sping or the fall. The hot dog at turn was ok. Even the scorecard reminded me of the scorecards from the 60’s, very small with no frills. Despitie having to bang putts all day I had a consistant ball striking day and with the help of lots of roll was able to shoot a steady one over 73. The course played about 6500 yards from the back tees to a par of 72. On Sunday the group went to Lenape Heights in Ford City Pa. which was a 70 minute drive. This was a newer modern course which is having the typical delusions of grandure. The normal green fees on the weekend are 55 with a cart although they do have a senior rate even on Sunday of 45. The course plays 6250 from the back tees to a par of 71. The greens were running a 5.5 and were very smooth. The course was in very good shape. I suppose because of the green fees the course was not crowded at all for a Sunday. The course is hilly but has a good variety of holes with some very narrow conditions. There is some water on the course which comes into play on about 5 holes.  The $3.13 hot dog wss like everything else about the place nothing special but overpriced. I shot 78 thanks to playing the par 3’s 7 over. The rest of the group did all right with Tony shooting 76, Pete 82, and John 85.None of these courses were worth the trip. Lake Vue was the most enjoyable and had the best value. The shot of the week for me came yesterday at Lenape at the 2ond hole a short par 5. I pulled my drive which inadvertantly cut the dogleg. I hit a 5 iron from the rough that was able to hop a bunker on the left onto the green and hit the pin to stop about 4 feet from the hole. On Saturday I shot a mediocre 77 at South Park. Overall though the game is coming along and I am about as comfortable with my golf game as I have ever been. Next week there will be no new courses as the grandkids are in town with some less golf overall. Seventy six down and twenty four to go.