Lot's of hype for this, and sadly this gets caught up in its own web.
The Amazing Spiderman 2 is 2 hours and 21 minutes, and a whole lot of this is simply not very good. This version of this franchise has a lot of difficulties long before this came out this week. We may be "Spidermanned" to death with the old series. There's just simply not more to say and do. I think the goal here is to wow you with so much IMAX, 3D, and high flying Spiderman heroics that you will look past the flaws. You more than likely won't. Die hard fans of course loved this movie even before they saw one frame. Let's see if we were watching the same movie.
This has been sanitized so much it has been brought down to about a 10 year old level. And that's not a bad thing if the deeper parts of the story would match. But they don't. To it's credit, there is no profanity, and nothing really objectionable to get upset the family viewing applecart. But this movie tries to make a ton of social commentary that looks silly in the end and shoots over a ten years old's head.
Spiderman is facing a villain called Electro (Jamie Foxx) He is basically a big bunch of electricity that is terrorizing New York City. He was an electrical engineer that designed the East Coast Power Grid. But after a terrible industrial accident he becomes this horrible "electrical terrorist" of sorts. The accident took place in a defense contractors lab. Or course, they are horrible people that can't be trusted. They have sold out tons of secrets to foreign countries for money. They are also amazingly corrupt, and only out for themselves the world be damned.
Electro starts to rob the East Coast of it's electricity, and it's up to Spiderman to save us. Guess what? He does! But in the midst of battling Electro, Spiderman's arch nemesis, The Green Goblin is born, and now we have to deal with him in the next ill-advised episode of this franchise. This movie also brings to light just how vulnerable we may be to power robbing terrorism, and there may be a certain truth to that. But it shows no real ramifications of it. Opportunity missed.
This is also not casted very well. I am a big Emma Stone fan, but her in this franchise as Spidey's love interest is simply silly. Stone is a beautiful, grown up real woman. I am having a tough time with her playing someone just graduating high school. She looks 25...and IS! Plus, she is so above this, and that just glares at you. "Why are you in this movie? You should be in grown up roles now, you are a grown woman." But that money is just too much. The rest of the cast is fair, and that's being kind.
This is a movie that looks like it's trying so hard to be different from the other movies, that is ends up looking silly. Lot's of flying around, lots of spinning webs, lots of things moving about a thousand miles per hour. Also, there is some fun humor, and some of the feeling from the old TV cartoon, and comic book that actually is well done. But in the end, this franchise has worn out its welcome, and the next one more than likely will be agonizing as there is really no place else to go with it.
The Amazing Spiderman 2. In the end, enough is enough. Time to let this go.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
MOVIE REVIEW - The Quiet Ones
Here comes another scary movie that somehow forgot to be "scary." The paranormal story of The Quiet Ones.
This movie is based on "actual events" from England in 1974 of a scientific experiment that began at Oxford, and ended up as a private affair. It's the story of a college relentless professor and some of his students as they observe, document and try to unlock the secret of a "possessed" young woman. The woman has a spirit living within that manifests itself and is tearing this woman apart. But who, or what is this spirit really? Can they successfully remove the spirit and allow this subject to live a regular life? Or is this spirit dangerous to them and to her? That is The Quiet Ones.
This will be short and sweet. This movie looks, sounds, and feels like 10,000 other movies that have come before it. Everything about this is typical, and basic. Lots of shadows, lots of banging, and a flash or two here and there of something different, and mildly compelling. But sadly, not near enough. This is about as predictable as anything you will ever pay to see. And it's another picture where after wading through this quagmire for almost 2 hours, you will learn nothing, and have absolutely no answers to the questions you may be asking yourself. If you can stay awake.
I am growing a bit weary of these "based on actual event" movies of stories you have never heard of in any way. And isn't is funny that all of them are about some kind of paranormal activity where in there end there are no answers, and nothing really resolved. That's bad enough, but the real problem here is, it's not even close to being scary, horrifying, frightening or anything like that. There is just frankly no reason to go. This is non-compelling and this just lays there, sleeping...just like I almost was, and you might be.
The Quiet Ones. It's quiet alright, a little too quiet. It'll put you to sleep!
This movie is based on "actual events" from England in 1974 of a scientific experiment that began at Oxford, and ended up as a private affair. It's the story of a college relentless professor and some of his students as they observe, document and try to unlock the secret of a "possessed" young woman. The woman has a spirit living within that manifests itself and is tearing this woman apart. But who, or what is this spirit really? Can they successfully remove the spirit and allow this subject to live a regular life? Or is this spirit dangerous to them and to her? That is The Quiet Ones.
This will be short and sweet. This movie looks, sounds, and feels like 10,000 other movies that have come before it. Everything about this is typical, and basic. Lots of shadows, lots of banging, and a flash or two here and there of something different, and mildly compelling. But sadly, not near enough. This is about as predictable as anything you will ever pay to see. And it's another picture where after wading through this quagmire for almost 2 hours, you will learn nothing, and have absolutely no answers to the questions you may be asking yourself. If you can stay awake.
I am growing a bit weary of these "based on actual event" movies of stories you have never heard of in any way. And isn't is funny that all of them are about some kind of paranormal activity where in there end there are no answers, and nothing really resolved. That's bad enough, but the real problem here is, it's not even close to being scary, horrifying, frightening or anything like that. There is just frankly no reason to go. This is non-compelling and this just lays there, sleeping...just like I almost was, and you might be.
The Quiet Ones. It's quiet alright, a little too quiet. It'll put you to sleep!
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Sunday Morning Golf Course Review - Creekwood
Course: Creekwood
Location: Lorain County, Columbia Station
Directions: Access from Rt. 82,m Rt, 10, I-480, and not far from I-71
Dewsweepers Tee Time Was: 730
Creekwood Website
This week, the Dewsweepers played at a real quaint and fun course in Columbia Station called Creekwood. Creekwood is out in the country, among the trees that plays about 6,300 yards. It is a friendly golf course that is suitable for all levels of play. It's not a long golf course, but it's one that challenges you right out of the gate. You don't play many courses where the number 1, 3 and 5 handicap are the first three holes you play. If you're not careful, you can lose your score very early. But conversely, if you do, there is ample time to make it up.
Beef and Joe Red were off this week, as Beef was on the Dewsweepers Tour West Coast Division, playing desert golf In Las Vegas with his son Dirk and nephew Brenden (also Dewsweeper fill-ins) Joe Red was out of town on business, so Joe's son Bryan filled in as did our friend Manny. Tex and I as charter members teed it up with them
Manny is a solid player who is back finally after a long road with back problems. But when he is healthy he can play. Today, he played another quiet round as he usually does. Manny seldom has blow-up holes, and keeps his damage minimal. Manny shot a respectable 42 on the front, and a real nice 39 on the back, for 81 on the day. He also had 6 1-putts on the round, always helps the score.
Bryan played the best of all of us probably. He had three birdies on the day, including two on the front, and one on the back. He was sailing along nicely, but a startling 8 on the difficult number 13 dog-leg right, really derailed his round. But Bryan hit the ball well all day, and recovered also firing an 81, going 39/42. Bad 8, but otherwise well done all the way around.
Tex played a pretty good round, but had the tale of a few bad holes. Tex had three explosion holes, 5, 9 and 11. Taking 8 on all three. But other than that, his short game was good, and he putted fine, and helped keep his damage under control as he tried to erase 3 bad numbers. Going 50/48 for 98 on the day. Not bad considering three tough numbers. We've all been there.
I bogeyed the first 7 holes. Then played only plus 4 on the final 11 holes, that included 2 of those on 18, taking my only bad number of the day, a double bogey 6. I parred 8 out of 10 holes, and kept the number pretty low considering a 7 bogey start, going 43/40 for 83 on the round. I 3-putted number 6, and took a ridiculous double on 18, so the round could have been better. I also took a bad bogey on the short number 11 par 5, that hurt, when you are thinking birdie. So my score could have been better, as I hit the ball pretty well.
Course highlights? 1,2 and 3. 1 is a monster par 4, 435 yards straight ahead, with a sloped green back to front. 2 and 3 are both short par 4's, that are ridiculously tight with tree lining all the way, 3 has a lake in front. 6, is a great par 4 with a creek at the landing area, or you can try to drive over it (Bryan and I did). 13, is a severe doggy left, that dares you to try to drive it over the trees to the green. 16 is another brutal par 4, doggy right tree lined to a sloped green, and 17 a tough little par 3, 165 yards uphill over 2 creeks.
Creekwood is a fun place to play and is generally in good shape. Rates are very reasonable, with really GREAT weekday specials with cart that are hard to pass up. Always a good time, and one of the nicest starters you'll ever meet.
Scores
Bryan - 81
Manny - 81
Wynn - 83
Tex - 98
Next week the Dewsweepers are all back together, and we are playing our first round ever at Sugarbush.
Location: Lorain County, Columbia Station
Directions: Access from Rt. 82,m Rt, 10, I-480, and not far from I-71
Dewsweepers Tee Time Was: 730
Creekwood Website
This week, the Dewsweepers played at a real quaint and fun course in Columbia Station called Creekwood. Creekwood is out in the country, among the trees that plays about 6,300 yards. It is a friendly golf course that is suitable for all levels of play. It's not a long golf course, but it's one that challenges you right out of the gate. You don't play many courses where the number 1, 3 and 5 handicap are the first three holes you play. If you're not careful, you can lose your score very early. But conversely, if you do, there is ample time to make it up.
Beef and Joe Red were off this week, as Beef was on the Dewsweepers Tour West Coast Division, playing desert golf In Las Vegas with his son Dirk and nephew Brenden (also Dewsweeper fill-ins) Joe Red was out of town on business, so Joe's son Bryan filled in as did our friend Manny. Tex and I as charter members teed it up with them
Manny is a solid player who is back finally after a long road with back problems. But when he is healthy he can play. Today, he played another quiet round as he usually does. Manny seldom has blow-up holes, and keeps his damage minimal. Manny shot a respectable 42 on the front, and a real nice 39 on the back, for 81 on the day. He also had 6 1-putts on the round, always helps the score.
Bryan played the best of all of us probably. He had three birdies on the day, including two on the front, and one on the back. He was sailing along nicely, but a startling 8 on the difficult number 13 dog-leg right, really derailed his round. But Bryan hit the ball well all day, and recovered also firing an 81, going 39/42. Bad 8, but otherwise well done all the way around.
Tex played a pretty good round, but had the tale of a few bad holes. Tex had three explosion holes, 5, 9 and 11. Taking 8 on all three. But other than that, his short game was good, and he putted fine, and helped keep his damage under control as he tried to erase 3 bad numbers. Going 50/48 for 98 on the day. Not bad considering three tough numbers. We've all been there.
I bogeyed the first 7 holes. Then played only plus 4 on the final 11 holes, that included 2 of those on 18, taking my only bad number of the day, a double bogey 6. I parred 8 out of 10 holes, and kept the number pretty low considering a 7 bogey start, going 43/40 for 83 on the round. I 3-putted number 6, and took a ridiculous double on 18, so the round could have been better. I also took a bad bogey on the short number 11 par 5, that hurt, when you are thinking birdie. So my score could have been better, as I hit the ball pretty well.
Course highlights? 1,2 and 3. 1 is a monster par 4, 435 yards straight ahead, with a sloped green back to front. 2 and 3 are both short par 4's, that are ridiculously tight with tree lining all the way, 3 has a lake in front. 6, is a great par 4 with a creek at the landing area, or you can try to drive over it (Bryan and I did). 13, is a severe doggy left, that dares you to try to drive it over the trees to the green. 16 is another brutal par 4, doggy right tree lined to a sloped green, and 17 a tough little par 3, 165 yards uphill over 2 creeks.
Creekwood is a fun place to play and is generally in good shape. Rates are very reasonable, with really GREAT weekday specials with cart that are hard to pass up. Always a good time, and one of the nicest starters you'll ever meet.
Scores
Bryan - 81
Manny - 81
Wynn - 83
Tex - 98
Next week the Dewsweepers are all back together, and we are playing our first round ever at Sugarbush.
Monday, April 28, 2014
MOVIE REVIEW - The Other Woman
We need a comedy out right now, and we've got this. Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, and Kate Upton star in The Other Woman. First off with this plot line, I don't understand whey it isn't named, The Other WOMEN. But that's just me.
This is a typical in many ways, modern comedy where women are being wronged by a dog of a guy, and he will in the end, pay the price. So there's really no drama here. This isn't very inventive, or original, but it does have flashes of being funny.
It's the story of Kate (Mann), and her husband Mark. Mark is a handsome, rich businessman who lives in Connecticut, and works in New York City. He is a complete dog in every way possible and is having an affair with Carly (Diaz). She is a high powered attorney who has no idea Mark is married. When she finds out, Kate finds out too.; Kate becomes obsessed with being friends with Carly. Carly has done the right thing by dumping Mark, and reluctantly friends up Kate. The two new friends then discover yet another Mark affair, this one is with Amber (Upton). Now all three are friends, who are out to ruin Mark, get his money, and start over with new lives. Like I said, in some ways new, but not overly original in its underlying plot line.
Funny thing is, this is the story of two different movies. The first half is pretty funny. Leslie Mann is a funny woman. In the first hour of this movie, her quirky, unsteady, unsure-of-herself brand of comedy steals the show. There are scenes where she is amazingly funny as a woman "on the edge" having several comical meltdowns as her life is unraveling. Although exaggerated, I think much of her shtick is highly relatable. She is funny in dialogue and is at times a physical comedy genius. She is easily the best thing in this movie.
But the second half of this becomes very formula, very predictable, and really loses speed and forward motion. And Cameron Diaz pales badly in every comedic scene with Mann, as does Upton. Cameron Diaz to me is not a funny woman, and the more she tries to do physical comedy, the worse it gets. I think she has done about everything she is capable of on screen. But, she has a following, and sells a ticket or two. Upton's role is very small, where they ask little from her, and that's a good decision as her acting ability is in its infancy. This could have lost a few scenes, and been shorter and been better.
I laughed out loud early on as did the theater. But as we drug on, there was less Mann, more Diaz, and a movie that staggered breathlessly across the finish line as the laughter stopped. The supporting cast was decent in theory with Don Johnson, and Nikki Minaj in a tiny role, she did make me laugh a bit. But not enough to save this from being just do-so. The critics are going to hate this, but the loyal target audience will love it. Not as much as Bridemaids, but this will find a following.
The Other Woman. The tale of two movies. Average at best.
This is a typical in many ways, modern comedy where women are being wronged by a dog of a guy, and he will in the end, pay the price. So there's really no drama here. This isn't very inventive, or original, but it does have flashes of being funny.
It's the story of Kate (Mann), and her husband Mark. Mark is a handsome, rich businessman who lives in Connecticut, and works in New York City. He is a complete dog in every way possible and is having an affair with Carly (Diaz). She is a high powered attorney who has no idea Mark is married. When she finds out, Kate finds out too.; Kate becomes obsessed with being friends with Carly. Carly has done the right thing by dumping Mark, and reluctantly friends up Kate. The two new friends then discover yet another Mark affair, this one is with Amber (Upton). Now all three are friends, who are out to ruin Mark, get his money, and start over with new lives. Like I said, in some ways new, but not overly original in its underlying plot line.
Funny thing is, this is the story of two different movies. The first half is pretty funny. Leslie Mann is a funny woman. In the first hour of this movie, her quirky, unsteady, unsure-of-herself brand of comedy steals the show. There are scenes where she is amazingly funny as a woman "on the edge" having several comical meltdowns as her life is unraveling. Although exaggerated, I think much of her shtick is highly relatable. She is funny in dialogue and is at times a physical comedy genius. She is easily the best thing in this movie.
But the second half of this becomes very formula, very predictable, and really loses speed and forward motion. And Cameron Diaz pales badly in every comedic scene with Mann, as does Upton. Cameron Diaz to me is not a funny woman, and the more she tries to do physical comedy, the worse it gets. I think she has done about everything she is capable of on screen. But, she has a following, and sells a ticket or two. Upton's role is very small, where they ask little from her, and that's a good decision as her acting ability is in its infancy. This could have lost a few scenes, and been shorter and been better.
I laughed out loud early on as did the theater. But as we drug on, there was less Mann, more Diaz, and a movie that staggered breathlessly across the finish line as the laughter stopped. The supporting cast was decent in theory with Don Johnson, and Nikki Minaj in a tiny role, she did make me laugh a bit. But not enough to save this from being just do-so. The critics are going to hate this, but the loyal target audience will love it. Not as much as Bridemaids, but this will find a following.
The Other Woman. The tale of two movies. Average at best.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
DVD - What's New On Streaming And On DVD
This week it is a fairly quiet week for new releases for streaming services or DVD's. But if you are looking for a jolt there is one for you. And if you are a romantic at heart, there is one for you too.
We only feature major motion picture releases here, and not games, TV series coming to DVD, and no straight to video releases either. I will also link you back to my original review from the theater run (where applicable),so you can make an informed decision before you rent, buy, or hit pay on your remote.
New This Week
Devils Due
Guess what? Here comes another movie where someone is pregnant with the Devils baby. Been down this road a ton before. Although there is a twist or two.
Labor Day
Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet star in this part romantic, part dramatic movie of a very strange love affair with two people badly in need of love.
The Legend Of Hercules
This was among the biggest flops of the year from last summer. And there is another completely different Hercules movie coming out this summer
scott@wqmx.com
We only feature major motion picture releases here, and not games, TV series coming to DVD, and no straight to video releases either. I will also link you back to my original review from the theater run (where applicable),so you can make an informed decision before you rent, buy, or hit pay on your remote.
New This Week
Devils Due
Guess what? Here comes another movie where someone is pregnant with the Devils baby. Been down this road a ton before. Although there is a twist or two.
Labor Day
Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet star in this part romantic, part dramatic movie of a very strange love affair with two people badly in need of love.
The Legend Of Hercules
This was among the biggest flops of the year from last summer. And there is another completely different Hercules movie coming out this summer
scott@wqmx.com
Thursday, April 24, 2014
MOVIE REVIEW - Transcendence
Johnny Depp and Rebecca Hall star in the new computer movie, Transcendence.
Can we please stop making movies about computers? Computer viruses? And computer moguls, and big wigs? They have notoriously been panned, and no one wants to go see them. Even if Johnny Depp is in one.
This is the story of a brilliant Doctor of Engineering (Depp) and his wife (Hall), and their quest to invent Artificial Intelligence in theory, to benefit all of mankind. Quickly I will tell you, that the good doctor is killed by an anti-tech group who are out to derail his efforts. As he is dying, his grieving wife and their other doctor friend find a way to load the dying man's conscience into a computer. After they do that, his wife puts his being online, and everything hits the fan.
He is able to access all computers in the world and have a collective intelligence that is more powerful than everyone else in the world combined. He starts riping off banks, and every computer network on earth. He then, with his wife's help, build this gigantic computer center in the desert, and begin to engineer a breed of humans called "hybrids" that have super human powers. And now the only way he can be stopped is to upload a virus, onto the Internet that will result in the entire Internet being shut down world wide. That of course, causes catastrophic consequences. So what will happen?
And the answer is, who cares? My goodness is this bad. This is not a bunch different than the rest of these horrible computer movies. The 5th Estate, Jobs, The Social Network, and others are just flat out boring, and amazingly non-compelling. Computers are a huge part of our lives. I'm on one now, but the whole thing makes for horrible movie making. People just don't want to watch others type, look at screens, and talk computer speak for 2 hours. Too much like work.
This has a nice cast with Depp, and Hall, and they drug Morgan Freeman into this quagmire, and somehow, he said yes. But this is just bad. Really bad. And this flopped badly last weekend, which now make two flops in a row for Depp (The Lone Ranger), and as good as he can be, he is in the dark side of his career. He needs a hit soon.
Transcendence. See anything but this.
Can we please stop making movies about computers? Computer viruses? And computer moguls, and big wigs? They have notoriously been panned, and no one wants to go see them. Even if Johnny Depp is in one.
This is the story of a brilliant Doctor of Engineering (Depp) and his wife (Hall), and their quest to invent Artificial Intelligence in theory, to benefit all of mankind. Quickly I will tell you, that the good doctor is killed by an anti-tech group who are out to derail his efforts. As he is dying, his grieving wife and their other doctor friend find a way to load the dying man's conscience into a computer. After they do that, his wife puts his being online, and everything hits the fan.
He is able to access all computers in the world and have a collective intelligence that is more powerful than everyone else in the world combined. He starts riping off banks, and every computer network on earth. He then, with his wife's help, build this gigantic computer center in the desert, and begin to engineer a breed of humans called "hybrids" that have super human powers. And now the only way he can be stopped is to upload a virus, onto the Internet that will result in the entire Internet being shut down world wide. That of course, causes catastrophic consequences. So what will happen?
And the answer is, who cares? My goodness is this bad. This is not a bunch different than the rest of these horrible computer movies. The 5th Estate, Jobs, The Social Network, and others are just flat out boring, and amazingly non-compelling. Computers are a huge part of our lives. I'm on one now, but the whole thing makes for horrible movie making. People just don't want to watch others type, look at screens, and talk computer speak for 2 hours. Too much like work.
This has a nice cast with Depp, and Hall, and they drug Morgan Freeman into this quagmire, and somehow, he said yes. But this is just bad. Really bad. And this flopped badly last weekend, which now make two flops in a row for Depp (The Lone Ranger), and as good as he can be, he is in the dark side of his career. He needs a hit soon.
Transcendence. See anything but this.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Sunday Morning Golf Course Review - Big Met
Course: Big Met
Location: Cleveland MetroParks System, Fairview Park, Cuyahoga County
Directions: Easy access from I-480, Brookpark Road, Lorain Road 40 minutes from Akron
Dewsweepers Tee Times Was: 645
Big Met Website
Big Met is a storied golf course with its roots being traced back to the 1920's. Big Met is a wonderful, mature course set deep in the valley of the Cleveland MetroPark system, amongst the trees, and privacy only the park can offer. It is a course of moderate length, with a fair amount of sand, some water hazards, but a ridiculous amount of trees. After all, it is the park. This is a wonderful place to play for many reasons, and one of them is its beauty.
It is challenging, and being a straight hitter is preferable than not. There is a fair amount of terrain as well, with some elevated and downhill greens that give this some real character. One thing we have always loved about this course is the fact that no two holes look the same. This is a very distinct course that challenges every aspect of your game. Although driver is welcome on many holes, sometimes the smarter play is the position play off the tee.
Today though as fun as it was, there was a new stat that has entered the Dewsweepers vernacular. The Bo Derek Club. More on that later.
Beef had one of those rounds where he struck the ball very well at times, but not always. When he was in position to score, he did. But Beef had some tree trouble from time to time. Not unusual here at all. And on the back the driver seemed to leave Beef, and he found himself in tough places off the tee. Beef generally putted well, with 6, 1 putts, and no 3 putts, plus draining a huge downhill par putt on the very tough number 2. But his short game usually very good, was not up to his standards today and it caught up with him on the back with confidence wearing thin. Never good with the short irons. Even though Beef parred 5 of the first ten holes, he shot 45/46 for a 91. Short game woes. We've all been there.
Joe Red too battled some inconsistencies today with a driver that behaved at times, and not at others. Red had a tough act to follow after CHIPPING IN 4 birdies last week at Shale Creek, saving him a ton of strokes. No birdies today for Red, (he used his allotment last week.) Red made some good shots, and some not so good. And a bad number or two, and suddenly this weeks round was not last weeks round. But Red did make an insane save for bogey on the very difficult number 7 par 5. After losing his drive way left over mush, hitting a tree and landing near 8 green, he come back from the dead and somehow had a 6 on a hole you would gladly take a 6 on from the fairway. Well done! But he lost his round on two holes, (more on that later), shooting 46/49 for 95.
Tex drove the ball well most of the day, as courses are drying out some and he can take advantage of the fairway roll. Tex made a terrific birdie chip in on the downhill number 10 par 3. A great chip to a front pin on a green that slopes hard back to front. Really well done. Tex's short game and putting were still pretty good as usual with 6, 1 putts. Tex struggled though on second shots, and had a blow up hole (more on that later) and had a bad number or two, and ended up a bit over bogey golf. Firing a tough 53 on the front, but rebounded with a 45 on the back for 98.
I hit the ball fairly well most of the day. My driver was good at times, and not good others. But I kept the ball in play, and that helped. I hit my irons much better today, and that helped too. I did not take anything worse than a bogey, and no penalty strokes either, so it was a clean round. I did miss a few short par putts which I have to stop doing, and I need to find so more consistency with my driver. But today was a step forward but I need to stop with the self-inflicted mistakes, like chunking chips occasionally, and making ALL short putts. But today, it was 41/42 for 83 on the day.
Now the Bo Derek story. Bo Derek, that bombshell beauty from the movie "10" years ago? Last week I took a 10 at Shale Creek. Think it was the first one in my adult life. And this week, Tex joined me on the tough number 5 par 5 with a 10 after tossing one in the water, and a chunk or two. Later today, Joe Red joined the vaunted club Bo Derek Club with a 10 on the difficult number 16 par 5, as he got tangled in the trees on the right and the bunker green right. Beef remains the lone and only Dewsweeper without a 10 this year. I am not sure any of us took a 10 last year at all. Hope that's over.
Course highlights? Number 1 is a tough 429 yard tree lined par 4 downhill. 2, 325 yards uphill to an elevated small green par 4. 7,8, and 9 a brutal stretch of holes going par 5,3,4 and handicap 5,7,and 1. A round can be, and has been lost there. You can make up some strokes on the back, but be ready for 12, a 215 yard par 3, uphill. 14 and 16 are also very challenging.
Overall, Big Met is a really nice place to play in a wonderful setting. Worth a drive from anywhere. But make a tee time, as this course gets a lot of play and is always in very nice shape. Prices, liveable.
Scores
Wynn - 83
Beef - 91
Joe Red - 95
Tex - 98
Next week in Lorain County at Creekwood
Location: Cleveland MetroParks System, Fairview Park, Cuyahoga County
Directions: Easy access from I-480, Brookpark Road, Lorain Road 40 minutes from Akron
Dewsweepers Tee Times Was: 645
Big Met Website
Big Met is a storied golf course with its roots being traced back to the 1920's. Big Met is a wonderful, mature course set deep in the valley of the Cleveland MetroPark system, amongst the trees, and privacy only the park can offer. It is a course of moderate length, with a fair amount of sand, some water hazards, but a ridiculous amount of trees. After all, it is the park. This is a wonderful place to play for many reasons, and one of them is its beauty.
It is challenging, and being a straight hitter is preferable than not. There is a fair amount of terrain as well, with some elevated and downhill greens that give this some real character. One thing we have always loved about this course is the fact that no two holes look the same. This is a very distinct course that challenges every aspect of your game. Although driver is welcome on many holes, sometimes the smarter play is the position play off the tee.
Today though as fun as it was, there was a new stat that has entered the Dewsweepers vernacular. The Bo Derek Club. More on that later.
Beef had one of those rounds where he struck the ball very well at times, but not always. When he was in position to score, he did. But Beef had some tree trouble from time to time. Not unusual here at all. And on the back the driver seemed to leave Beef, and he found himself in tough places off the tee. Beef generally putted well, with 6, 1 putts, and no 3 putts, plus draining a huge downhill par putt on the very tough number 2. But his short game usually very good, was not up to his standards today and it caught up with him on the back with confidence wearing thin. Never good with the short irons. Even though Beef parred 5 of the first ten holes, he shot 45/46 for a 91. Short game woes. We've all been there.
Joe Red too battled some inconsistencies today with a driver that behaved at times, and not at others. Red had a tough act to follow after CHIPPING IN 4 birdies last week at Shale Creek, saving him a ton of strokes. No birdies today for Red, (he used his allotment last week.) Red made some good shots, and some not so good. And a bad number or two, and suddenly this weeks round was not last weeks round. But Red did make an insane save for bogey on the very difficult number 7 par 5. After losing his drive way left over mush, hitting a tree and landing near 8 green, he come back from the dead and somehow had a 6 on a hole you would gladly take a 6 on from the fairway. Well done! But he lost his round on two holes, (more on that later), shooting 46/49 for 95.
Tex drove the ball well most of the day, as courses are drying out some and he can take advantage of the fairway roll. Tex made a terrific birdie chip in on the downhill number 10 par 3. A great chip to a front pin on a green that slopes hard back to front. Really well done. Tex's short game and putting were still pretty good as usual with 6, 1 putts. Tex struggled though on second shots, and had a blow up hole (more on that later) and had a bad number or two, and ended up a bit over bogey golf. Firing a tough 53 on the front, but rebounded with a 45 on the back for 98.
I hit the ball fairly well most of the day. My driver was good at times, and not good others. But I kept the ball in play, and that helped. I hit my irons much better today, and that helped too. I did not take anything worse than a bogey, and no penalty strokes either, so it was a clean round. I did miss a few short par putts which I have to stop doing, and I need to find so more consistency with my driver. But today was a step forward but I need to stop with the self-inflicted mistakes, like chunking chips occasionally, and making ALL short putts. But today, it was 41/42 for 83 on the day.
Now the Bo Derek story. Bo Derek, that bombshell beauty from the movie "10" years ago? Last week I took a 10 at Shale Creek. Think it was the first one in my adult life. And this week, Tex joined me on the tough number 5 par 5 with a 10 after tossing one in the water, and a chunk or two. Later today, Joe Red joined the vaunted club Bo Derek Club with a 10 on the difficult number 16 par 5, as he got tangled in the trees on the right and the bunker green right. Beef remains the lone and only Dewsweeper without a 10 this year. I am not sure any of us took a 10 last year at all. Hope that's over.
Course highlights? Number 1 is a tough 429 yard tree lined par 4 downhill. 2, 325 yards uphill to an elevated small green par 4. 7,8, and 9 a brutal stretch of holes going par 5,3,4 and handicap 5,7,and 1. A round can be, and has been lost there. You can make up some strokes on the back, but be ready for 12, a 215 yard par 3, uphill. 14 and 16 are also very challenging.
Overall, Big Met is a really nice place to play in a wonderful setting. Worth a drive from anywhere. But make a tee time, as this course gets a lot of play and is always in very nice shape. Prices, liveable.
Scores
Wynn - 83
Beef - 91
Joe Red - 95
Tex - 98
Next week in Lorain County at Creekwood
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