I thought I had this challenge done today. I was just one over after the front 9. The back has three par 5’s and two of them are very reachable in 2. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out according to plan, and I semi-detonated on the back.

My driver always makes me somewhat nervous. I have big right and left misses in it and have for basically all of my golfing “career.” When I can get off the tee, I can play with pretty much anyone, but the big miss will reveal itself at inopportune times. Today, it was on the par 5 10th. I was scared of the trees hugging both sides of the fairway and hit a low ball that just dove out of the air and went almost nowhere. I had a good angle to hit a 3-wood to get me back on schedule, but it was a slight uphill and sidehill lie that can cause a hook. I sure did hook it into the trees and was forced to take a drop. I did finish the hole well by making one of my few putts of the day to save bogey. My next two drives were pulls that led to bogeys as well.

On the easiest par 5, the 15th, I knew I needed at least birdie and preferably eagle, so I stepped on one and it went far but drew too much and left me behind a tree I had to hit a low draw under. After a good layup, I hit a great 60-degree right at the pin but it took a weird high bounce to the left and I missed the putt and had to settle for par.

I was only 4-over on the day stepping onto 18. It is an incredibly easy par 5. You could probably make par more often than not with just a 7-iron. Being 4-over is basically pointless, so I decided I might as well try to make eagle. I mashed one but blocked it off the planet to the right. I was just ready to get off the course at this point and ripped a 6-iron for my third and plopped it into the pond to the left of the green. I almost made my chip for an improbable par but ended up two-putting for double on the downhill, breaker comebacker.

Overall, I played pretty well. I had a couple bad drives. I hit one atrocious 3-wood. My irons were pretty great all day. My wedges are improving as I get used to them. My lone birdie of the day came with the trusty pitching wedge I hit to two feet for the tap-in on the 6th.

The greens at Links at Dardenne were shaggy and slow like Incline Village. I putted better on them today though. My pace was much better, and I was at least giving it a chance. I had three birdies lip out just on the front. If a couple of those had fallen, it completely changes the complexion of the back. I’m not as aggressive on the 10th and probably don’t drop a stroke there. On 12, I just put it in the fairway on the short par 4 instead of trying to give myself a pitch into the green because I needed a birdie. And on the last two par 5’s, I am not chasing eagles and make easy pars and possibly birdie if I stick a wedge close or finally roll in a putt.

That is the crazy thing about golf. Something small early in the round can totally change your strategy later. When you are determined to break par, any bad luck early turns up the pressure later to make something happen.

I’m down to one round to finish this and fulfill my guarantee of breaking par this week. I have never really been close to par at Belk Park, so it might be hard. It plays every bit of its nearly 6900 yards. I am also walking, so if I do it tomorrow it will be about the most impressive way I can do it.

Side note: If you see a hot air balloon in that picture at the top, you are not seeing things. I was on the putting green after the round working on my chipping, and I turned back towards the 1st and 18th (right and left of the pond, respectively) and saw it rising above the trees. Super weird to see, but very cool. Unfortunately, the camera didn’t capture all its glory. In person, it was pretty awesome and seemingly really close or over some of the holes that are farther from the clubhouse.