Today was the first day in a long time that felt like my ideal day of golf. It was an absolutely gorgeous day to the point I got to break out shorts for the first time this year. The Links at Dardenne was busy but not overcrowded to the point of waiting on every shot. If the course wasn’t still soaked from all the rain it would have been perfect, but it wasn’t enough to dampen my joy. On top of everything, I played my best round in a month.

The weather was so warm I had to somewhat reconfigure my distances because this was my first round above 70-degrees with these Mizuno irons. I had a few distance control problems with my 54-degree as well because that club is all feel for me. However, I overcame that early and had the distances locked in pretty quickly. Overall, it was a good ball-striking day with some left and right issues that held me to just four greens in regulation.

Where I picked up possibly the most strokes was with the putter. After a shaky first outing yesterday with the new blade putter, I had it dialed in and dropping putts today. My misses weren’t off by much hitting into the green which led to some delicate and difficult short-sided chips. Therefore, I left myself some tougher putts. I only had 25 putts actually on the green and no three-putts. An interesting side effect of switching to the blade is my putting from off the green has been better as well. With the Two-Ball, I felt like it got caught on uneven lies or the rough just behind the ball on the cuff just off the green more, so I would opt to chip sometimes. I had a tap-in all four times I putted from off the green today.

I started on fire today. I felt fully loose on the first tee for the first time in a while. It’s amazing how much the weather not only affects the ball and course but your body. I hit four brilliant drives on the first five holes. My 7-iron was struck so well on the par 3 3rd it surprised me and flew the green. I didn’t hit any of the first four greens but still made par thanks to great putting.

The 5th hole was the highlight of the round. I hit a good drive and a good 3-wood to leave myself about 70 yards from the left side of the fairway to the flag on the 532-yard par 5. I hit my 54-degree and knew it felt good off the clubface. I didn’t know how good. It tracked to the pin and hit just behind it. I couldn’t really believe it didn’t go in or at least hit the pin. When I got up there I could believe it even less.

It came from the front left of the pin missed the cup by an inch or two and then spun and rolled back to the left? I was kind of kicking myself after tapping in for birdie that if I had been playing my Pro V1 it might have spun back in rather than away with the random Callaway Supersoft.

I guess I must have still been thinking about what might have been because the next hole was a complete disaster and the only real lowlight of the day. I almost swung over the top of the ball and caught it off what would have the blade or bottom groove with something other than driver. With no roll in wet conditions, I still had 190 yards into the horseshoe green with the pin at the back of the skinny middle part. I fatted a 5-iron short. I still was in good position with a 54-degree, but I flew it right over the green and down the hill at the back. The 60-degree flop back up the hill to the short-side pin was nearly impossible. I hit it about as well as I can, but still left myself 15+ feet and couldn’t pull a rabbit out of my hat. A terrible double on the 11th hardest hole on the course. I hate that pin position.

That hole sent me spiraling a bit where I bogeyed five of the next six holes. However, I rallied well to end things with par or better on the last six holes.

The 77 tied my best score ever at Links of Dardenne and is my best score from the tips there. It is also the first time beating my handicap since it adjusted down after matching it yesterday at Golf Club of Wentzville. This is my third straight round breaking 80. My game is coming together and we haven’t hit summer yet. I’ll be honest. I thought I was getting this challenge done today before I stepped onto the 6th tee. The golf gods snapped me back quick. I had 5 or 6 shots that were just terrible strikes or bad swings. That right there is my difference. If I can clean that up, I can get this done.

I am taking a brief hiatus from the Quest for Par. On Monday, I am playing Bear Creek. According to their website, they have done something different than the other courses I have played since the Coronavirus pandemic came here. Rather than the cut pool noodles in the cup to prevent you from having to reach in (see above), they have elected to raise the cups an inch above the green like some courses I have seen around the country. So, I am going to do the second Going Low out there. No lip outs or rolling over the edge. No bouncing it off the back edge of the cup and rolling away. Hit the cup, count the putt. How low can I go?