I hadn’t swung a golf club in almost two months, but I teed it up with my Golf Amigos at Tanyard in Louisa last week and wondered what kind of golfer would show up after all that rust.
I hit five ordinary shots on the first hole and was pleased to record a bogey. Bogey golf is about my speed. Then, on hole number 2, a short par 4, I laid up nicely with a six iron, knocked the ball on the green with an 8 iron and rolled in my putt. I swear it was a 50 footer, but my Amigos said it was more like 12 feet. But it was a birdie!
Then a string of double bogeys brought me back to earth. By hole 7 I was thinking about putting my clubs on Craig’s List when my partner Byron Metcalf encouraged me to keep my balance. I did, got a par and played the last 12 holes at 9 over par. I was very pleased. Keeping your balance is a good thing in golf.
Tanyard is one of my favorite courses. From the forward tees, it’s more target golf than power golf. I usually relax more on that kind of course and it shows on my scorecard.
Tanyard has done a lot of work on the course over the past year and most of the fairways have come back. A few still need work, but a cool autumn can correct that problem. Tanyard’s greens are always a little slow, but this time they were extra slow. We were leaving downhill putts a foot short. But the greens putt true, once you figure out the speed.
Tanyard is an inexpensive golf venue and is rarely crowded.. A round almost always takes less than 4 hours. The course is in better shape now than in several years. It’s a fun course to play – especially when you keep your balance.