LOCAL GOLF - Sunday Morning Golf Review

This week The Mighty Dewsweepers packed up and drove out to Columbia Station in Lorain County and played a track called Mallard Creek. We have played Mallard many times before, as it sits out on Route 82. Mallard Creek is a 36 hole facility, that really is a "facility." Mallard is two courses both par 72, and has a huge area for outings and fun. Lots of room out there.

On this day we played the original course, we have dubbed it, "Ye Old Course." It was here long before the new 18 hole track that circles Ye Old. Ye Old, has no sand at all, but it's totally tree lined virtually on very single hole. What makes this 18 really fun, is that it is northern golf personified. Tree lined, lots of dog-legs, and some of the greens are very large, which can make for some really long putts. There is not much water either. A few creeks, and a couple lakes that can come into play if you are not using your head.

This is a course that is there for scoring, but you must survive a few very tough par 4's. Including number 2, a huge 435 yard par 4, dog-leg left, tree lined where there drive is critical. We call this a "living breathing double bogey", and that is usually my score there, as it was today. Number 4, an up the hill 400 par 4, with a huge green and trees everywhere. Number 10, 425 yard dog-leg right, with trees all the way, lake on the left, huge green. 3 of the four par 3's are long and tough too. The par 5's on the card look simple enough, and number 1 generally is. But try to score in the next 3 of them, including the very tough number 9, number 1 handicap with the water in front and slanted HUGE green.

Joe Red had the week off on vacation, so Beef's nephew B-Roz stepped in. His debut this year on the Dewsweepers Tour. B-Roz finally got a new driver that has really improved his game. He had been playing some silly square thing that looked more like a blacksmiths hammer more than a golf club. He hit the ball well all day, but wrestled on the greens. B-Roz is having mental issues with putting, and that can happen. Most golfers have been there. His putter looks more like a waffle iron than a putter, and right now it's letting him down. But even with some putting struggles, he jammed in a birdie on 14, and posted a pretty nice 85. His game has come a long way in a short time. Plus, on the course he looks like Sergio Garcia.

Tex too had the yips on the greens, and that's unusual for him. His short game too was not his usual strong, and that was too bad. Because his tee and fairway game was pretty good, as Mallard was giving us some roll today with the dry conditions.

Beef suffered from a terrible snowman 8 on the easy par 4, number 6. He in the trees, lost ball, then into the pampas grass, then a three putt, and those really hurt. They hurt not just the card, but your pride. But Beef quickly put the rally cap on and went on a nice run of solid pars and tap in bogeys, including a strong finish over the last 4 holes to survive the round. Some rounds are just a battle, and that was Beef's today. But even with the bad number, he posted a respectable score.

I came out swinging with a birdie on 1, then the double bogey on 2 (of course). Followed by a bogey on 3. But a birdie on 5 and some pars I shot a 38 on the front, with two terrible 3 putts. The back played tougher for me today taking a penalty on 10, a silly duff approach on the easy 11, but I survived and tossed up a 41, for a total of 79.

Mallard also has a real nice clubhouse, and probably the best hot dogs on the Dewsweeper Tour. This course gets a lot of play. It probably gets as much plays as any course in Northeast Ohio. It's usually in pretty good shape for the amount of play it gets. Mallard is also very well run, with tee times a good idea. Pace of play is for the most part very good. The Second 18, or Ye New Course is very different with tons of water and sand, and we'll look at that one later this year.

Always a good time, and fun.

Scores

Wynn - 79
B-Roz - 85
Beef - 88
Tex - 98