I have found my driver and irons, but now my putter has gone missing. I know I wrote this recently, but I don’t feel like going back to find it. My driver, irons, and putter take turns going AWOL. My driver was all over the place a couple weeks ago, and I couldn’t miss with the putter. My iron striking has been literally hit-and-miss most of the year. Last week at Bear Creek, they all came together for the best round of my life. This week, I might as well add two strokes at least when I hit the green and not bother putting.

At least today my start line was good. Yesterday, I couldn’t even say that. I did pull my first putt, a 15-foot birdie, but aside from that most of my misses were pace related. Switching courses is fun and interesting, but it also keeps you on your toes. A day after putting on the slowest greens of all time, the greens at St. Peters Golf Club were close to normal. As a result, I blew by some long putts causing two three-putts today. I also frustratingly left a few putts right in the heart and lipped out a couple birdies. I did finally make my first birdies of the week, the second of which was a tricky downhill breaker on the par 5 1st (which I played as my 10th).

On the plus side, I drove the ball well again, and my irons were great. I hit 11 greens today, including 7 of the last 9. I was really happy with that given how windy St. Peters is even when the forecast says it’s not going to be that windy. I am convinced the ponds are the cause, but I don’t know. It definitely keeps things interesting on a course that can be easy without it.

My wedge play continues to be a little iffy. I am still getting used to the new Vokeys. I hit some really good full wedges today, especially with the 50-degree. I just need to get used to aiming at the hole or right of it. My old Vokey, I believe, was bent flatter either from use or initially, so the ball had a tendency to leak right. As a result, if I just hit these with my old setup and swing, I have a tendency to miss left of the pin. I am still in the process of figuring out distance control as well, so that continues to be a bit of an adventure.

The highlight of the day was on the 373-yard 17th. I hit a good drive up the right side and stuck a pitching wedge into the wind and uphill to just a foot. The kick-in birdie ended my 46-hole drought.

I am going to try to get to Links at Dardenne early tomorrow to get a better feel for the greens, and hope they are rolling more like St. Peters than Incline Village.

I am down to just two rounds left to break par this week and come through on my guarantee.