Today was odd. I thought going in that there was no chance I was going to break par at Crescent Farms. The last and first time I played this course was back in April. I played pretty well, but still shot a 10-over 82. The course rating is 74.1 and it plays every bit of its over 7,000 yards because of the doglegs and tree-lined fairways. However, with that pressure taken off and ideal conditions, I played one of the best rounds of the year.

The first three holes were as routine as routine can get. I hit fairways, hit the fat part of the green in regulation, and made the easy two-putts. The one thing I struggled with today a bit was speed and reading the greens. I left a ton of putts on the edge of the cup. The first two putts of the day would have been good birdies, but I misread the break on both.

The greens were soft enough to get basically anything to stop on the green. However, the rest of the course was firm enough that the first drive of the day was a bomb right down the middle over 300 yards.

My only two birdies of the day came on the front. On the par 4 5th, I got slightly lucky on a pushed drive that hit the cart path but wound up in the fairway and with a line that was not completely blocked out by a tree. I hit a good pitching wedge around the tree to 3 feet and tapped in.

I was 2-over entering the 9th hole. I hit another perfect 300-yard drive. I hit a safe 8-iron to the fat part of the green on the correct level. I figured it would be an easy par, but I made the 25-footer by trickling it in the right edge to finish the front just 1-over. I hit 6 of 9 greens and bogeyed the three I missed that were all caused by being out of position off the tee.

The back was a little more shaky from the fairway as I only hit three greens. However, I was better recovering with the wedges and putters on and around the green. I had two kick-in pars after good chips and a couple great saves. I was even on the back until the 16th after which I bogeyed the next two holes thanks to poor 3-woods.

I rescued the round on 18. I finally hit a good 3-wood. I had a decent lie, but it was slightly elevated at the edge of the fairway, and I pull-drew my 8-iron over the green into a tough spot above the green. I recovered with a great 60-degree flop onto the downslope that trickled down to the hole for the routine 4-footer to finish at 2-over on the back and 3-over 75 (0.6 differential, 1.6 with -1 PCC) for the day.

Because I am currently house sitting in St. Louis County, I am going to try to get over to Crescent Farms’ sister course right across the street, Pevely Farms. I like both those courses, but I don’t get down here all that often because 270 and 44 are a pain a lot of the time. However, it’s good to take advantage of them now when they are just a quick trip down 44.