Final Round / Palmetto Dunes

  Hilton Head, South Carolina, United States
Friday, October 17, 2008

Katie and the crew

Warming up

As part of the wedding festivities, Steve (the groom) and eleven of his friends & relatives played a round of golf Friday morning at the Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes.  I am fortunate to have been friends with Steve since high school and was ecstatic to be invited to witness Steve's final round of golf as a single man.  Before heading off to the course, the group took a picture with Katie, Steve's wife to be.  At the course most everyone was warming up on the driving range, while I practiced putting.  I think my swing should be in good shape since I played on Wednesday and Thursday.  For the first nine, I am playing with Mike, Ken (Steve's brother-in-law) and Ross, another mutual friend from high school.  Considering I was the only person in this group who plays on a regular basis, I was not surprised that our foursome lagged behind the other groups and I did not see most of the other people again until the nineteenth hole.

RTJ #8

The RTJ designed course was more in line with the traditional parkland layout and a definite departure from the layout of the course I played yesterday (Harbour Town Golf Links).  I do not know if the layout was easier but I had a good day on the links...it does not hurt that I had 36 holes of practice leading into this round.  I started the day with four 5s in a row.  This streak included a short 331 yard, dogleg right, par 4 where I landed on the green in regulation but three putted.  However I did par the #4 hole (508 yard par 5) when I made a great 1/4 swing gap wedge shot within an easy tap-in.  I also made par on the gorgeous 165 yard, par 3 #8 hole when I connected with a 6 iron over the water onto the green and two putted.  My only blemish on the front nine was when I pulled my approach shot to the #9 (465 yard par 5) green into the environmental area.  I carded a snowman for the hole but was happy with a 46 for the first nine holes.

Mike tending the flag on #10

Steve putting on #10

Like I stated above, Mike and Ross do not play often so they were using a lot of strokes.  The marshal had to warn us for slow play by the 6th hole.  Mike and Ross were picking up their ball when they hit too many shots but we did not help matters when Ken and Steve swapped places.  This allowed Ken to play nine holes with Steve's father (Ken's father-in-law) and allowed Steve to play with Mike, Ross and I.  The wager for the next nine holes was Skins format with Steve verses the three of us playing a scramble.  I let Steve know I shot a 46 but he did not care.  Steve realized that he bit more than he can chew when I smashed the second shot with a 3 wood within 20 yards of the #10 green, which we eventually won the hole.  The #10 hole (495 yard par 5) is the only hole where you get a view of the Atlantic ocean and made a good opportunity for some action photos.  Steve tied us on the next two holes but the coffin was almost nailed shut when I sank a curving 8 foot putt on #13 for par 4 to win three more skins for the terrific trio.  I finished the job on the 383 yard par 4 #14 hole.  I almost drove the ball through the fairway into the water, just missed the green on my second shot but went up and down for par and sealed Steve's fate...you can say I was carrying Mike and Ross on my back but they both contributed shots in the first 4 holes.

For the final three holes, Steve pressed for double or nothing but this time he had Ross as a partner.  They won #16 and we pushed on #17.  #18 is 352 yard par 4 hole with a sharp dogleg left to an uphill green.  Needing to win the hole, I knew we had to be aggressive off the tee.  Steve put the pressure on by cutting the corner with his drive; Mike did not help when his drive went out of bounds.  I pulled out my driver (normally I tee off with the 3 wood) from the bag and crushed the ball next to Steve's ball inside 100 yards from the green. 

Cheers! (Mike, Steve, Ross and me)

Steve's pitch shot found the green but my was off to the left side.  Needing to chip it in, I just missed by an eight of an inch and tapped in with a par.  This put the pressure on Steve and he failed to come through because he three putted for a bogey.  This was a satisfying end to the round because I do not usually beat Steve on the golf course.

We joined the rest of the group at the bar where the married guys were giving Steve pointers on what excuses to use the next time he wants to enjoy a beer after a round of golf.  I guess married guys are expected to go home immediately after they are done playing?