This Sunday it was back to Valleaire in the Medina area for the Dewsweepers. Valleaire is a course we play a couple times a year, and it's always a good time.
It's not a secret that we've been in a drought all summer long, but there has been some relief lately with rain and cooler temps. The weather has been tough on many local courses, but many seem to be pulling themselves back together, including Valleaire. This course is usually in good shape under normal conditions, and it is now after the drought.
This is an enjoyable place to play with a bunch of everything to make it fun. All 18 holes have something a little bit different to offer. Hills, some sand, some water but not a lot. Greens that in some cases are very large, and right now they are rolling very well. There's different schools of thought on large greens. I have always maintained that they make a course more difficult. Sure they are easier to hit, but large greens can mean ridiculously long putts for us amateurs. So I say medium to small are the best for scoring.
This Sunday it was me, Joe Red and Tex. Beef had the week off as it was his wife's birthday - good call. Red ended up being the low man of the day, posting 2 very consistent 9's 41/42 for an 84 on the day. Red made some hay on the back especially after posting a nice birdie on the par 5 number 16, after chipping one in off the fringe. Of course, we all had to witness his little happy dance which is tough to take, but we pulled through. In fact Red's round was defined by the last 3 holes, where he had only 2 putts. 0 on 16, and 1 each on 17 and 18. That helps. Plus, only one real blemish on his card a double bogey on the par 5 number 15, but erased it on the last 3 holes.
Tex parred number one with a nice 1-putt. In fact, Tex 1-putted the first 6 holes on the front keeping the score in check. But Valleaire can be unforgiving at times. Some of these par 4's play very long, including number 2, 440 yards to a sausage shaped green. And the two par 5's on the front can be very difficult, especially number 3, which is 540 yards, and we always play it dewy, so no roll. Tex's strong suit is short game and putting, and long 4's and 5's can give him trouble. But Tex hung in there all morning with a nice short game, good putting and kept the ball in front of him.
This was another round here where I should have scored better than I did. I generally play this course well. My 84 was fine and all, but 79 or 80 is where I should have been. I'm still getting used to my new Taylor Made Superfast Driver, and I am a bit inconsistent with. But I hit it overall well. After I birdied number one, I parred 2, 3, 7 and 9 onteh front. But a terrible double on 5 after a perfect tee shot, and an equally bad double on the par 5 number 8 really hurt. 41 on the front with 2 doubles! 43 the back with 2 terrible 3-putts, and an uncalled for double bogey on number 10, and a perfect drive bogey on number 13 really hurt. But, that's why we all have day jobs.
Valleaire is in great shape these days, and is waiting for you. Always a great time, and fun retro beer to buy and really good hot dogs as well. I also love that they have a "course cat" that hangs around to greet the early morning players each day. A nice staff, and an overall low pressure feel to this course. I love playing here.
And they listen to 94.9 WQMX in the clubhouse so they obviously have great taste in music. Go play Valleaire. Really good and challenging golf.
Scores
Joe Red - 83
Wynn - 84
Tex - 103
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