It's a cool but beautiful day here in Chicagoland. The afternoon forecast is for around 60 degrees and clear until about 4:00, when the rainfall potential rockets up to about 60%.
I plan to play around 4:00.
The goal for today is to eliminate the double bogeys.
I had one last time on holes number two, seven and eight. Eliminate those three double bogeys, and I'm at 42, which is within two of my goal, just two rounds into the year.
On the second hole, I just have to stay out of the left-hand trouble. Where I am every. Single. Time.
I think today it's a five-wood off the tee, try to keep it in the fairway. When I'm over on the left, behind the trees, par is dead and bogey is dying. Keep it in the fairway at two, and I've got a shot.
The seventh hole . . same deal, actually. Just get the tee shot in play. Just put the ball in play. Then a nice five-wood down to 100 yards, then wedge onto the green and two putts. That should be a par hole. I can't let this hole freak me out. I'm mentally dead on the tee. I have to get over that.
The eighth hole is like the second; out-of-bounds all the way down the left. And not just OB, but trees in the dogleg, which destroy any chance for par. I've got to keep the ball in the fairway here. It's a long par-four. This is one that I can give a stroke on; play it like a par five. Hit to the fairway. Iron up around the green. Chip on and two-putt. Get out of there with a bogey.
Incidentally, my 41st birthday is Tuesday, so if I'm going to make 40 at 40, it's gotta be today.
No pressure.