LOCAL GOLF - Sunday Morning Golf Review

This Sunday The Dewsweepers drove up early to Huron and took on a real nice course, Thunderbird Hills South. We reviewed the North Course a few months ago, and both of them are extremely nice. The North, older more traditional, The South newer, and very different in it's design. But really, really nice.

T-Bird South is set in some gently rolling hills on the south side of Route 2, with some sand, and very strategically placed water. Also the greens are great, fast, true and very nice. In fact, this complex is always in such fantastic shape, even in the midst of this bad drought we've been having. This entire course was very green, and in unbelievable shape. The rough is tough, and the fairways are great. The trees are getting taller and thicker by the year, and in years to come this course will shrink down even more.

Tex was back from vacation this week, and low and behold had a free round of golf, since his T-Bird card was full. It's a nice thing they have there, you can earn free rounds. It was good to have him back, and watch him do something you seldom see any golfer do. He 2 putted every single hole for the exception for number 16 in which he had NO putts as he chipped one in from the fringe. He even had the highly confident walk after it, as the ball was dead in halfway to the hole. Tex had a tough front, with a bunch of doubles, but rebounded on the back shaving off 4 strokes from front to back.

Joe Red is back in form with a real nice 39 on the front. No double bogey's on the day, or birdies, but 11 solid pars gave him a slick 79 on the day. Joe hit the ball very consistently, and kept it in play. Red's putter was hot from long range, and cold from short range. Strange situation on the greens but 5 - 1 putts don't lie, and that's how you break 80. No big mistakes, and solid play. Well done!

Beef didn't get off to his usual hot start this week like he has the past number of weeks. And that kind of hung around the rest of the round. Beef didn't play badly at all, just never go on a roll that you need to go on to score really well. He kept damage minimal, and had three really nice pars in a row on the back to steady the ship. Even tough Beef never really got in he zone, he shot an 87. Not bad when you don't really have your best game. And have a couple tough breaks, like a cart path bounce OB and hitting a hanging pine cone on an approach shot. (Pine cone didn't even fall off the tree.)

I had the story of 2 9's. The front I was solid and tidy, hit the driver well, and shot a 39 including a birdie on number 2. The back the driver left me with a few snap hooks, but my irons were good, and was able to smoke and mirror things including another birdie on number 14, for a 41 on he back for a tidy 80 on the day. 3 terrible 3 putts killed me from going real low - inexcusable.

Course highlights? The whole thing, this is flat out a nice place to play golf. But number 3 is one of the hardest holes we play anywhere on any course. 180 yards with water all down the right. Skinny green that rolls, huge bunkers left, and anything long is gone. Very difficult to hit the green, and then the fun begins as this green is very tough to read and to putt well on. BRUTAL! Great starting hole number 1, 500 yard par 5, uphill, downhill. Number 9, really tough par 4 with a creek at the landing area. 10, same creek at landing area, par 5, long and uphill. Number 11, difficult par 4, over same creek again at landing area, up hill, hard green to hit, 400 yards. And 18, 435 par 4, with the creek, sand, trees, and always plays into the wind. Very tough golf hole.

Great experience again, and well worth a drive from anywhere to play. Friendly staff at both North and South Courses. It you are a player, and are making a drive up there sometime, this would be a a nice day. You could even do a North/South 36 hole day of it. Rates are very fair, and both courses are totally worth playing. We had fun, and look forward to going back there again late this summer or early fall.

Scores

Joe Red - 79
Wynn - 80
Beef - 87
Tex - 100+