Day 272: Uplands Update - The Agony of Defeat

I had my Uplands Club Championship Semi-final match this Saturday against Huston. Let's see how it went.

Semi-Final Summary:
7 UplandsChamp vs 6 H. Hill
Previous Clashes? H. Hill d. UplandsChamp in 2001 semi-final.
UplandsChamp d. H. Hill in 2004 final to become UplandsChamp.
Note: The wind was blowing heavily in the summer direction (e.g. downwind on #1/#6).

1. 433(4) I hit a good drive and 9-iron to 25 feet. Huston was short in two and chipped it to 8 feet. I two-putted, and he drained his par save. ALL SQUARE
2. 435(4) I hit two good shots to the green. Huston was well short and right in two and chipped it to 10 feet. I rolled my 60 footer a full 12 feet by and was away - which I missed. Huston also missed. ALL SQUARE
3. 382(4) I hit a huge drive down the middle leaving only 70 yards left. Huston hit two good shots to about 40 feet and two-putted. I hit a LW to the left fringe 25 feet - and hit the downhill approach putt to 2 feet - then missed the easy short putt. 1-DOWN
4. 194(3) I hit a good 5-iron through the back fringe, while Huston half-whiffed it short and right. I had a bad lie in some patchy grass so putted it - but came up 20 feet short (pathetic putt) - which I missed. Huston chipped to 12 feet but also missed. 1-DOWN
5. 403(4) I hit a good drive and safe 6-iron to the green about 20 feet. Huston two-putted from 45 feet and I also made par. 1-DOWN
6. 460(4) I smacked it into the right trees and failed to reach the green in two. Huston was short in two but chipped to only 5 feet. I wedged to 20 feet and made bogey - but Huston missed his short par putt. 1-DOWN
7. 513(5) I hit a big drive down the right side into the wind leaving 248. Huston hit two safe shots to about 100 left, then wedges to 12 feet. I want to hit driver but am standing on a sprinkler. After taking a drop I had a bad lie and laid up with a 6-iron instead. From 75 yards, I half-skulled it to the back fringe (it was a back pin), then chipped to 8 feet and missed to lose the hole after Huston made par. 2-DOWN
8. 331(4) I hit a snap-hook through the left trees but was OK. We both made pars. 2-DOWN
9. 202(3) I hit an enormous snap-hook which rode the hard right-to-left wind and ended up 45 yards left of the pin in the trees on a cart path. I didn't reach the green with the chip, and Huston got up and down from the front fringe. 3-DOWN
10. 361(4) I hit an enormous snap-hook into the left trees but was OK. We both hit wedges onto the green and made pars. 3-DOWN
11. 171(3) I chunked a 7-iron into the front bunker while Huston hit it to 25 feet. I bladed the sand shot, catching the lip and staying in the trap. I failed to get up and down from there, leaving Huston with an easy two-putt par for the hole. 4-DOWN
12. 430(4) After a good drive, I hit an enormous hook on a 5-iron well left of the green. Huston could barely reach the green into the harsh wind, and was 20 yards short and right in the rough. I chipped to 25 feet, he chipped to 3 feet. After I missed my par save, Huston missed as well. Still alive. 4-DOWN with 6 to go.
13. 288(4) The situation now very desperate, I pulled out the driver to give it a good crack. Unfortunately my wild swing caused my right shoulder to pop out leaving me grimacing in pain (I've been on steady Advils since). Huston made a boring par from only 12 feet. I was in the left trees, and hit what should have been a great running 9-iron punch but it landed soft in the front fringe and stuck. From 60 feet, I rolled it to 5 feet and missed the par save. 5-DOWN with 5 to go.
14. 415(4) After Huston hits a weak hook, I hit a hard hook into the trees. He punches to about 100 yards, and I try to play a hard hooking 4-iron through the trees. I hit it nicely online, but it comes up way short. Huston hits a great wedge to about 8-feet, and I hit my 70yd wedge to 18 feet. I miss the par save, and Huston (now needing two-putts to win the match) rolls in his par putt. Match is lost 6&4.

Reflections:
I played decently for the first 8 holes but got nothing out of the round. Then I was terrible and got hammered. My reign as UplandsChamp is over, but I am not shattered: the sun still rose this morning. We'll get them next year. I am sad that the summer has now ended with a flourish and the fall rains have arrived. But hockey and football seasons are just around the corner. Let's all go ice-skating!

Postscript (courtesy of Ian Barrodale):
Gentlemen:

The afternoon rain did not deter those members who turned out to
watch the Men's Final today. It was impressive golf, with our new
Champion Brian Sluggett showing us how to keep the ball in play off
the tee. He uses a 3 wood/metal (or what was called a spoon in my
youth), to put the ball out there some 290 yards. This afternoon
Brian didn't miss a single putt that mattered. Our Captain Huston
was 2 up after the first five holes this morning, but Brian then took
control of the match and won on the 29th hole. Congratulations to
Huston for getting to the Final yet again, and congratulations to
Brian on becoming the 2005 Uplands Golf Club Men's Champion.

Day 271: Uplands 2005 Club Championship Update

The matchplay portion of the Uplands Club Championship (for which I am defending champion) occurred this past weekend. On Saturday was the Round of 16. There was a small change from the earliest version of the draw that I posted, as Bill McCallum withdrew from the #14 position, allowing Morgan/Vogelsang to move up, and Ralph to enter the field.

Round of 16 Game #7
7 UplandsChamp vs 10 J. Sapala
Previous Clashes? UplandsChamp d. J. Sapala in 2001 quarterfinal (1-up)

Let's now boringly go through each and every hole. Do I win? Does anything exciting happen? Read on to find out!

The Match
1. 433(4) John and I both hit good drives down the left side of the fairway. I am away and hit an 8-iron from 163 to 10 feet. John hits it to 30 feet. He misses his birdie try, but I also miss. ALL SQUARE through 1
2. 435(4) I hit a beautiful drive down the middle, but John hits a weak pull into a tree near the tee. He punches down to the 150s. From my perfect lie, I hit a 30 yard block 6-iron into a tree. I try to punch to the front of the green (blocked out by trees and bunkers) but don't reach the green. I chip it to 10 feet and miss - making a double-bogey. John, however, 3-putts from 45 feet to also make a double. ALL SQUARE through 2.
3. 382(4) I hit a solid push down the right side and end up in a tree about 110 from the green. John is just short of the same tree on the same line. He hits a safe punch out to just short of the green. I hit a beautiful punch 7-iron to only 6-feet! He fails to save par and I two-putt for the win. 1-UP through 3.
4. 194(3) I hit a 5-iron to 25 feet, and John hits to only 15 feet. We both make par. 1-UP through 4.
5. 403(4) I hit a weak-hook driver - but am quite safe. John hits a solid drive just short of the bunker on the left. From 175, I hit a beautiful 6-iron to only 4-feet! John hits a good shot to about 15 feet but misses his birdie try. I miss my short putt and the hole is halved. 1-UP through 5.
6. 460(4) I hit a good drive down the middle (to about 195), while John hits a safe but slightly weak shot down the left side. He hits a fairway wood under a tree to the left of the green, while I hit a beautiful 5-iron to 12 feet. He blasts through the green in 3, and then chips it to about 6 feet for bogey. I calmly two-putt to win the hole. 2-UP through 6.
7. 513(5) I hit a good drive down the right of the fairway (250 left), while John is OK - but slightly into the rough right beside me. He hits first and hits a beautiful fading 3-wood that we think might make the front of the green. I am forced to hit driver in response, but overcut my shot into the front right bunker 40 yards short of the green. I hit what I consider a good 9-iron for my long bunker shot to about 30 feet. John is actually 20 yards short and hits an indiffernt pitch to 12 feet. I miss my long birdie try, but John makes his. 1-UP through 7.
8. 331(4) I hit a good drive down the middle, while John hits an iron just into the left rough. He hits a wonderful PW to 3 feet, and I respond by hitting it to 3 feet as well. We look over the putts for a while before John suggests a good/good deal. I initially look confused, but then I accept. Hole halved with birdies. 1-UP through 8.
9. 202(3) I hit a great 4-iron to only 12 feet, while John misses the green well to the right. He chips it to 30 feet and misses his par try. I calmly two-putt for the win. 2-UP through 9.
10. 361(4) John and I hit identically good drives down the left side - leaving about 90 yards in. He hits to 35 feet long and I hit it to 20 feet - but we both miss the birdie tries. 2-UP through 10.
11. 171(3) I hit a great 6-iron right at the pin to only 10 feet while John hooks his shot and gets a horrible kick off a mound and bounds well over the back of the green. He is unable to reach the green on his chip and settles for bogey. I calmly two-putt for the hole. 3-UP through 11.
12. 430(4) I hit a great drive down the left side of the fairway, while John hits another weak pull into the trees (like on #2). He punches out and can't even reach the green in 3 shots. I hit a great 7-iron to 12 feet below the hole and calmly two-putt for the win. 4-UP through 12.
13. 288(4) I hit a safe 5-iron down the middle. John, now desperate, hits a great driver right at the pin - but it lands very softly on the wet ground and stays short of the green. I hit a full LW to 12 feet while John hits an indifferent chip to 8 feet past. I make my birdie putt while he misses. 5-UP with 5 to play.
14. 415(4) Now realizing that I will win for sure, I hit a driver into the left bush. John hits it just past the trees at the left corner but is OK. I take an unplayable lie, then hit a great 8-iron over the trees into the greenside bunker. John catches a tree on his second shot, but then hits a wonderful wedge to only 4 feet. I can't save bogey from the trap and concede his par putt. 4-UP with 4 to play.
15. 476(5) I hit a safe 4-iron down the middle, while John tries to cut the corner with his driver. We think it might make it through - but it doesn't and we don't find the ball. He concedes the hole and the match. I win 5&3.

Reflections on Match #1
I hit the ball very well on this day. I hit 12 of 14 greens, many times within 15 feet. It was an encouraging performance and I hoped to build on it in my next match, against Wally.

Here are the results of the other first-round matches:
1 B. Sluggett d. 16 S. Ralph
15 W. Vogelsang d. M. Chawrun
3 W. Little d. 14 D. Morgan
13 G. Tuttle d. 4. J. Clews
5 G. Hahn d. G. Soutar
6 H. Hill d. 11 R. Frolek
8 D. Woodland d. 9 G. Ellis

Quarter-Final Game #2
7 UplandsChamp vs 15 W. Vogelsang
Previous Clashes? W. Vogelsang d. UplandsChamp in 1998, 1999, 2002 quarterfinals

The Match
1. 433(4) I hit a good drive which just catches the right rough. Wally is much shorter than I am, so I hope to take advantage on the early longer holes. He hits it straight down the middle. His second shot from 200 comes up just short/right, while I hit a 7-iron left of the green. He chips to 15 feet and misses, while I chip to 10 feet and drain the putt! 1-UP through 1
2. 435(4) I hit a good drive which goes just left. Wally is in good shape down the middle (he would hit every fairway on the front). We both make boring pars after hitting it not very close. 1-UP through 2
3. 382(4) We both hit good drives down the middle, and we both come up short and right of the green. But this is because we are smart - as this is an easy uphill chip and we both make par. 1-UP through 3.
4. 194(3) I hit a 4-iron just over the green to the right, while Wally hits a poor shot left of the top bunker. He hits his downhill chip 12 feet past but can't make par. I chip it to 2-feet for the win. 2-UP through 4.
5. 403(4) I hit a good Rescue Club down the middle - just past Wally's driver. He hits a poor thin shot at the far bunker but stops in the fringe in good shape. I hook it to the left and catch the rough but am also OK. We make easy pars. 2-UP through 5.
6. 460(4) This was the TSN turning point. I hit a horrible drive into the right trees, while Wally is safe down the middle but not very far. He hits a poor 3-wood just right of the green and I blast back into the fairway with a 9-iron. My next shot is a LW which I stick to 10 feet. Wally can't get up and down from the forest and I roll in the 10-footer. 3-UP through 6.
7. 513(5) I hit a good drive down the right of the fairway (238 left). Wally is OK but quite short - and hits a thin 2nd shot to just past the 150s. The hole is downwind so I can reach with a 3-iron - but I pull it left of the left bunker. Wally hits his 3rd onto the green to about 15 feet. From behind the bunker I have to play a punch PW under a tree but over the bunker from a bare lie. I hit it perfectly and it rattles the flagstick before rolling 10 feet past - the only way I could keep it on the green. But we both miss our birdie tries. 3-UP through 7.
8. 331(4) I hit a high pop-up with my Rescue club while Wally hits a good drive. I leave a PW 30 feet short and Wally hits it to 20 feet. We both make par. 3-UP through 8. 3-UP through 8.
9. 202(3) I hit an OK 3-iron to the right edge of the green, while Wally hits a poor pull up against the fence by the 10th tee. He has a tough shot and chunks it - not making the green. I hit a long putt from the fringe to 6 feet past the hole. After Wally chips his 3rd one to 4-feet, I drain the 6-foot slider for my 9th straight par. 4-UP through 9.
10. 361(4) I hit what I feel is a great shot but it catches the right rough. Wally is down the right side near the 150s. He hits a poor shot into the front right bunker, and then I hit a horrible shot and join him. We both hit half-decent sand shots and miss 10 footers. 4-UP through 10.
11. 171(3) I hit a slight hook 6-iron and Wally hits it poorly just short left of the left bunker. He doesn't get it up-and-down and I hit the flag with my chip and make a nice par. 5-UP through 11.
12. 430(4) I hit a great drive down the middle, and Wally is OK but shorter. He hits a good 2nd from 200 right at the pin but it comes up just short of the green. I hit an 8-iron to just short left of the green and almost make the birdie putt. Wally also makes par. 5-UP through 12.
13. 288(4) I hit a very short and timid 6-iron down the right side and Wally is safe down the middle. The wind has picked up and I am just playing safe - I hit a 9-iron to 50 feet. Wally half skulls it but it is perfect - he winds up only 10 feet. I hit a good lag (I did not 3-putt in either round) and Wally misses. 5-UP with 5 to play.
14. 415(4) Again I realize that I will win for sure, but decide to end it now! I hit a good driver down the middle, as does Wally. Wally hits a decent shot but is a bit right - maybe 40 feet. I hit a good safe 9-iron to 30 feet. We both 2-putt and then shake hands I win 5&4.

Reflections on Match #2
I didn't hit it as crisply as the first match but my short game was excellent. In 14 holes, I had 1 bogey and 13 pars - which is pretty solid. Wally didn't really have his best game on either day, but he gritted it out like the veteran he is, and if he had made some putts (he made none), then it would have been close. But I am through to the semi-finals for the 5th time in 9 years.

Here are the results of the other second-round matches:
1 B. Sluggett d. 8 D. Woodland
13 G. Tuttle d. 4 G. Hahn
6 H. Hill d. 3 W. Little

I will now play Huston in the semifinals - a rematch of last year's final. If I beat Huston, I will most likely play young 23-year old Brian S. in the final.

Things are looking good. I can't wait for Saturday.

Day 270: Friday Is Bath Day

As Friday is bath day at Montrose, here are some candid shots of Chance keeping Slippers clean. Have a great weekend.

Day 269: Snowy vs. PowWeb

My butlercabin email account has not functioned well this last month. It frequently times out or proves unavailable and unreliable. Just checking my mail requires multiple attempts.

Here is an error received while trying to view a message from Gned:
ERROR: Connection dropped by IMAP server.
Query: FETCH 1:* (FLAGS UID RFC822.SIZE BODY.PEEK[HEADER.FIELDS (Date To Cc From Subject X-Priority Importance Priority Content-Type)])

Though normally a patient cat, this was one mixup too many - and I have switched officially to gmail. I've never been happier.

I won't risk listing the new email address here for you spam bloggers to read, but expect to see the strange new gmail address in any private correspondence, accompanied by a request to use it.

Is there anyone out there not on gmail - and would you like me to invite you to come join the party?

Day 268: My Evil Friends

An evil friend

The silent majority of this blog's readership work hard at their decent jobs, fulfilling productive roles in our society. I salute each and every one of you - as I am one of you. We are the oil that greases the wheels of capitalism.

But others amongst you are merely dregs on society: with either no employment or bizarre UI-fuelled seasonal work to guide you through a carefree existence. You play extreme bocce all day, then drink Pilsner and BBQ in the rain all night. You live free with not a care in the world, much like the hippies at Haight-Ashbury of yesteryear.

Such people are my friends. Although highly tempting, their siren song of "Join us" is to be feared and avoided.

How exactly they convinced me that it was a good idea to play $5 poker until 2AM on a workday confuses Morning Snowy right now. Perhaps if I had won the money and the glory, I might feel differently about the current fatigue - but I was well-bested and slinked home with my tail between my legs (and got a stern talking-to from two lonely cats).

Therefore, I ruefully conclude:
My friends are evil. They are evil friends.

Day 267: Keep Watching The Skies!

Although most science-fiction bores me, I am fascinated by outer space itself - that vast endless void filled with interesting objects and possibly life itself. An understanding of space begins at home, and our interstellar home is known as the Solar System: a collection of nine small and large planets surrounding one star, that old familiar smiling Sun.


The Solar System

During my last long stretch between jobs, one dream that I formulated was to develop star maps. I was laughed at by everyone. We know about some of the stars in the Milky Way - but who can accurately locate them in relation to one another - except possibly as they appear from earth? By contrast, any gradeschooler can locate Rwanda just north of Burundi in central Africa. I thought that a star atlas would be a significant success - especially as more and more planets are discovered around the stars.

I realize now my plan was half-baked, and that a book is not the forum for such an enterprise, and that it will eventually happen on the internet. This is exciting because the two-dimensional restrictions of book-form were the most significant hindrance to observing proper three-dimensional starmaps, and the internet should solve that.

Apart from the Space Shuttle (which is a waste of time and money), the latest space news these days relates to 2003 UB313, a trans-Neptunian object now known to be larger than Pluto. If Pluto is a planet, then so is 2003 UB313. Many astronomers will take this chance to de-planetize Pluto as it has always been the runt of the litter. But this is mistake. Once granted, planetary status should not be revoked, and instead I think we should welcome UB313 as the tenth planet in our Solar System - and give it a better name: UB313 does not have a romantic ring to it.

There will be more and more discoveries like this in the months and years to come. Keep watching the skies!


Laika - the first Earthling in space.

Day 266: 2005 Club Championship Qualifying

The golf season continues with what some pundits call "Glory's Last Shot" - the Uplands Club Championship. As defending champion, I teed it up on Saturday morning missing one usual component of my game: nerves. I wasn't even slightly nervous on the 1st tee - it just felt like another round of golf. Is this good? I don't know - because nerves can be a good thing when they force you to focus. I've always done better in tournaments than in normal rounds - I prefer to feel the nerves when you're actually prepared and raring to go.

Cast of Characters
The main omission from this year's field was Ben Griffin - the other Uplandsian to compete in the BCAmateur (he missed the cut by 1 shot) and a +1 handicap. The usual suspects were all back (see last year's preview) plus someone I had never heard of: Brian Sluggett, a young intermediate who plays on the UVic team - and is a +2 handicap.

First Round
I'll run through the interesting holes.
1. 419(4) I hit a hook into the left trees, then chunk a 7-iron. My LW goes to 20 feet and I miss. 1-OVER through 1
2-3: PAR (1-OVER)
4. 177(3) I try to hit a cut 5-iron, but double cross it under a tree by the 5th tee box near the cartpath. I punch a low running 7-iron under the limbs, through the rough, to 6-feet and make the putt for a highly improbable par. 1-OVER through 4.
5-6: PAR (1-OVER)
7. 493(5) I hit a great drive down the right side of the fairway and have only 198 left to the green. My 5-iron goes just through the back fringe on the left, and I two-putt for birdie. EVEN through 7
8-9: PAR (EVEN)
10. 351(4) I try to hit another cut, but pull it into the 8th fairway. Then I chunk a SW well short of the green. I don't save par. 1-OVER through 10
11: PAR (1-OVER)
12: 425(4) I smash a good drive just into the left rough, then hit a nice 9-iron to only 4 feet - and I make the putt for birdie. EVEN through 12
13: PAR (EVEN)
14: 400(4) I hit my new Rescue club (which I had used twice before during the round) and hit a 3rd consecutive duck hook into the left rough just short of the corner. As this is just a qualifier, I safely play down the fairway. My LW goes to 20 feet but I miss the par save. 1-OVER through 14
15: 454(5) I block a 4-iron into the right trees, then put my provisional into the same place. Finding the first ball, I punch out to 200. I then hit a 4-iron to beside the green - and actually get it up-and-down for a par save. 1-OVER through 15.
16: PAR
17: 163(3): I snap-hook a 7-iron up against a tree on the left of the green, leaving a brutal downhill dead shot. I hit it over the back of the other side, then get up-and-down for bogey. 2-OVER through 17.
18: 388(4): I smash a drive down the middle, then hit my GW to 3 feet - which I drain for birdie. 1-OVER 71

First Round Reflections:
I hit 7 greens and only 5 fairways in Round #1 (these are very poor for me). But fortunately I managed to scrape together a 71, as I had only 25 putts. My 71 leaves me in a tie for 3rd place with 3 others, two shots behind the co-leaders Marc Chawrun (2003 champ) and newcomer Brian Sluggett. There were more good scores than usual this year, with 16th place being 77, and with many 78s, 79s, and 80s lurking. The Top-16 Cut looked to be around 154 - very low.

Second Round
1-2: PAR (EVEN)
3: 362(4) I try to play a cut driver, but it is slightly pulled. I get a bad break and hit a tree trunk and bounce left into the forest. I try to punch out with a 3-iron but catch it fat (!) and wind up right against the same tree that my tee shot hit, forcing me to punch out again. I wind up with double. 2-OVER through 3
4-5: PAR (2-OVER)
6: 434(4) I hit a good drive down the middle but just catch a sliver of rough near the new bunker on the right. I hit a great 7-iron from 180 right at the pin, but catch a ridiculous flyer and it lands past the pin and bounds into the back hedge. I have to kneel down and play a left-handed Rescue Club - which I managed to hit to 40 feet (which I miss). 3-OVER through 6
7: 495(5) I hit a good drive down the left side leaving only 215 in. But I pull-hook a 5-iron into the left trees. My chip goes to only 8 feet but I miss. 3-OVER through 7.
8: 315(4) I hit a slightly hooked Rescue Club into the left rough. Faced with a fluffy lie, I dead-chunk a SW into the front of the front bunker. From there I stone skull a bunker shot into the Oak 30 yards over the green (it was still rising). Then I chunk the 40 yard pitch into another bunker. Lying 4 now, I hit a miraculous bunker shot to only 3 feet, but inexplicably miss the putt (the only short putt I would miss all week). Triple bogey! 6-OVER through 8
9: PAR
10: 351(4) I hook another driver into the left trees and realize how wrong that club selection actually is... From the trees, I hit a punch 7-iron to just short of the green. Then I dead-skull my chip over the back leaving a slightly more difficult shot. I regroup and chip it to 4-feet and make the bogey save. 7-OVER through 10
11: PAR
12: 425(4) I hit my best drive of the week down the right side of the fairway, leaving only 122 left. I hit a GW to 2 feet and make another birdie on #12. 6-OVER through 12.
13-14: PAR
15: 454(5) Stung by hitting an iron into the trees last day, I hit a safe 5-iron well to the left, and then a safe 6-iron down the fairway. But my shot winds up in a divot - and unlike Steve Elkington, I am unable to hit a good shot, skulling yet another wedge into the downslope of the back bunker. I hit an improbably good bunker shot, and almost drain the 25 footer. Bogey. 7-OVER through 15
16: PAR
17: 163(3) With an 8-iron I hit the snap hook again and wind up by the same tree. With a sandy bare lie and not much green to work with, I decide to putt the ball up-and over the large mound in front of me. It's a miracle shot and it goes to only 5 feet, which I make. A great par save! 7-OVER through 17.
18: 388(4) I hit a beautiful drive down the middle, leaving only 124 in. But I shank my GW, and thankfully it catches a tree and does not go on the road. I hit a 65 yard LW to 8 feet, but miss the putt. Bogey. 8-OVER 78.
TOTAL: 9-OVER 149 (71-78)

Second Round Reflections:
Although I hit more greens in Round#2 (10) - I really played horribly, got some truly bad breaks and posted an abyssmal score. But I managed to get through to next week, which is all that mattered. Let's see what sort of draw I got.

2005 Medal Play Qualifiers (* - Former Champion):
1. Brian S. 69-66=135
2. *Marc C. 69-71=140
3. ****Wayne L. 71-71=142
4. Justin C. 71-72=143
5. Gord H. 74-71=145
6. **Huston H. 71-74=145
7. *Geoff C. 71-78=149
8. Don W. 77-72=149
9. Guy E. 75-75=150
10. John S. 76-76=152
11. Ron F. 79-74=153
12. Grant S. 71-82=153
13. **Gary T. 75-78=153
14. Bill M. 78-76-=154
15. Dave M. 79-75=154
16. *Wally V. 76-78=154
MISSED CUT (notables)
Dick B, Ron G, Stan R, Mark C

My first opponent is John S. and although he is a good player (3 cap) I beat him in 2001 and must be considered a strong favourite. If I win, then in the quarters, I face either Marc C. or Dave M. - both of whom I have beat before. The semi-final match will be difficult no matter who I face, but I don't have to face Brian S. until the final - which is excellent! And perhaps Brian will even lose his first match to perennial contender (and former champion) Wally V?

Conclusion: Even though I didn't score very well - I have received a good draw - and if I play well now, then there's no reason why I can't defend the crown.


Addendum, Aug 17/2005:
Bill M. has withdrawn, allowing Stan R. to squeeze into the 16th spot at 83-73=156.

This means that with a 1st round win, I now face the winner of Marc-vs-Wally in the quarters. Pundits ruefully note that I have a 0-3 record vs. Wally in previous matches - all in the quarterfinals - but the past is no predictor of the future, is it?

Day 265: An Eggscellent Weekend

I journey to Victoria on BCFerries tonight for the first stage of my Uplands Club Championship defence. Two rounds of golf will determine which position from #1-#16 I will occupy for the match play portion of the championship, which begins the following week.

Below is an image of an egg salad sandwich, which I will not be eating.


An egg salad sandwich. Need I say more?

Day 264: Movement and Motion, Part Two

A recent post from the career-changing, world-travelling, seldom-blogging visionary of our age, Roggles, discussed movement and motion, and the inspirations that nourish him. I understand his perspective and applaud his efforts at improving himself, but tend to agree more with his carefully tossed-away asides than with his main argument. We may not be unique snowflakes - but some of us are made of different snow.

My role model in life is not a restless soul like Roggles or Jack Kerouac - but someone like Harvey Penick - who lived one of the best and happiest lives of this past century. He was able to enjoy and experience his lifelong passion without movement, without motion. We should all be so lucky.

I would say that movement is not what nourishes me. Most of the time movement troubles me and raises my blood pressure. I am nervous enough in normal everyday situations without creating additional stress. No - what nourishes me is the peace and contentment of a job done well or a job being done well. Done properly. When things are right - you know, and you can sit back and smile. That's what nourishes me.

No matter where you go, there you are. A cliche - but certainly true. Movement and motion may be necessary in pursuit of a goal - but they are only the means to your desired end, and are not to be venerated in and of themselves.

Day 263: The First Fire of Autumn

I felt it yesterday for the first time. The autumn chill. It was a pleasant mid-August evening at Langara Golf Club, going along quite nicely what with the sun, heat, and short-sleeved shirts - but as the night drew in (uncomfortably earlier and more quickly than I expected), I could feel it: a touch of September in the air. This was no refreshing cool summer breeze - this was a bracing wind from our autumnal future.

The summer is dying. Back-to-school ads fill the airwaves as happy couples look forward to not having to spend time with their children. The summer, like all summers, did not go as planned and September will find us exactly where we stood in April, hopes and dreams unrealized. This is the way of things, and there is nothing we can do about it, except to grudgingly enjoy the slender threads of summer that remain.

This past weekend, I journeyed to Salt Spring Island for my second appearance in the Salt Spring Invitational. Saltspring is a 9-hole course which you play twice from slightly different tees on some holes - and #4/#13 actually have different greens. Due to work constraints, I was not able to escape early on Friday for the horse race and practice round. My mum and dad picked me up at the ferry terminal, but Peter did not join me as he had previously hoped due to a nagging shoulder injury acquired through an overly-enthusiastic check in hockey. Peter has truly had a wasted year on the links and must now be chomping at the bit to get back into action.

I remembered back to one year ago when this blog was young and my Club Championship victory was yet to be realized. I shot 73-75 to lose by 3 shots, but won a 7-wood for my troubles. I resolved to do better this time. In fact when parking at the Tsawwassen terminal, I deliberately parked in spot #140 - which I vowed would be my score (which would be easily enough to win).

2005 Salt Spring Amateur
Round One: Front Nine
The previous year I had not trusted my driver and hit a lot of 3-irons from tees. I decided to be more aggressive this time because my driving is much straighter now, so I hit a lot of drivers. On the first hole (a downhill par 5), I hit driver/driver to just right of the green and made birdie. I followed this up by skulling my GW on #2 to a position 60 yards over the green. Although I hit my next shot to 8 feet, I did not save par. I hit driver on the short 3rd hole, and although I am in the trees, I easily save par. My aggressive driver strategy is working! I make straightforward pars on 4-6, and then hit a 7-iron from the right rough on #7 to only 4 feet and make a birdie to get to 1-under par. I split the fairways on #8/#9 and make two more easy pars.
Front Nine: 1-under 35

Round One: Back Nine
I made a boring par at #10, then hit a GW to 3'8" on #11 - which was good enough for the KP at the time (but it did not hold up). But I missed the putt with a bad push - but this was the only short putt I would miss in this round - so I cannot complain. I made more boring pars on #12-#15, so found myself on #7 again (rechristened #16 for the back nine). After a good drive down the middle, I missed the green to the left and was left with a 40 foot chip up a hill. I chose to flop it up on top of the hill rather than run it up: but this proved a mistake. I did the "two-chip flinch swing", but fortunately only hit the ball once. The result was poor though, and the ball landed on the hill, then rolled back to where it was initially. I hit a 7-iron chip for the next one, but missed the putt and settled for a double-bogey 6. I again parred the last two holes, and settled for a 1-over 73.
Back Nine: 2-over 38
First Round: 1-over 73

First Round Reflections
I played very well, but only made two birdies on a course with lots of birdie holes. I had only the one real hiccup - but it was an awful one - and conjured memories of my two-chip 9 at the BC Amateur. The chipping yips are a horrible afliction that I have seen others suffer through, and I hoped that my bout would be of short duration. But my 73 saw me tied for the lead with last year's winner. My playing partner Jeff Edwards shot a 75, despite missing every putt he looked at.

After the round and dinner, my dad and I had a little putting competition. Despite the fact that my dad had played very poorly in the first round (shooting 100), he held his own in the putting and managed to beat me (a feat he repeated the next day). Seeing our putting exploits, a local junior (or near-junior) decided to challenge us to contest at 5 bucks per shot. I enthusiastically accepted instantly and reassured my dad that we had nothing to fear from the would-be-hustler. I learned that he worked on the greens staff (and had probably cut the holes we now putted to), but he learned that I shared the first-round lead and was a 2 handicap. I got off to a quick lead, but suffered a late three-putt and was Even for the 9. My dad was 1-over, and Vasa was 2-over - and dutifully paid us $15. No one hustles me on a putting green.

Round Two: Front Nine
I drove it under a tree on #1, but managed to save par. I then parred #2 after a safe tee shot, then hit to only 4 feet for birdie on #3 - but I missed... On #4, I safely hit the 3-iron but hit a pull-duff that managed to hit a small tree and bound 30 yards left and backwards into a water hazard - leading to a double-bogey. I followed this up by driving it into the same hazard on the next hole, but saved bogey. I blocked a 6-iron into a tree on #6, but got up-and-down from 65 yards. After an easy par on #7, I again drove it into a tree on #8 - but saved par. Number 9 was another easy par - and my 39 meant that I was dangerously close to out of the tournament.
Front Nine: 3-over 39

Round Two: Back Nine
A cool birdie on the par five 10th hole righted the ship. But I threw the shot away by failing to get up and down from only 20 feet on #11. On #12, I hit it to only 2 feet this time (I'd been 4 feet on the front nine) and converted the birdie. I parred #13, and then drained a 25 footer from the fringe on #14 to get right back into the heat of the battle. Hooray! But on #15, I hit a snap-hook 6-iron 20 yards left of the green short-sided into some patchy rough. I decided to ignore my chipping yips of the day before and hit a positive LW. Or so I thought - in fact I hit another flinch-yip-chunk that advanced only 5 yards. Rats, I thought, and then calmly repeated the mistake - still not making the green. But I actually got up-and-down on the third try to save a double-bogey. Now I needed two birdies coming in at minimum to win. I hit it close on #16 and #17 but settled for two pars. On #18, I played aggressively for birdie with my second shot, and then aggressively chipped it by the hole on my 3rd shot, and settled for a disgraceful bogey. I lost to Jeff Edwards in my group by two shots (he bogeyed 18 too), so I knew that I hadn't won with my 5-over 149.
Back Nine: 1-over 37
Second Round: 4-over 76
Total: 5-over 149

The winner was the defending champion, Andy Vickers, who shot a second straight 73 to win by one shot over my playing partner. I ended up three shots behind in 4th place, and won a new Rescue Club for my troubles - which I tried out yesterday - it's great! They have good prizes at Saltspring - a fun tournament to play. I also learned that my birdie on the treacherous 7th on Day#1 had earned me a skin worth $202.50.

My dad played much better the second day, birdied the 2nd hole, and was even through 3 holes. He didn't keep it up the whole round, but there were glimpses of that old fire - and his front nine of 43 was quite good - and his overall total of 94 was an improvement. The other fellow in our group (Peter's last minute replacement) shot 81-75 to win low net.

All in all - a fun weekend and a great tournament. And I got to play with my dad again on his home course. Priceless.

Day 262: Older

My dad likes to tell me "Old age isn't all it's cracked up to be". He's right, but hockey observers forget this maxim and believe that:
1) Veterans are going to pick up where they left off in 2003-2004
2) Youngsters are at the same developmental stage they were in 2003-2004

These assumptions are obviously wrong.

Brett Hull is done like dinner	Ryan Kesler is poised for a breakout year

Imagine a grizzled veteran who was 39 in 2003-2004 when the lockout began, and is now pushing 41 and hasn't played in 16 months. In a typical year, he would have lost a step between 39 and 41, but his normal decline in 2004-2005 was hidden from public view and is even more pronounced because an oldster just can't afford to miss games. I see a lot of post-Bure trade Dave Gagner-esque oldsters flaming out before Christmas this year (see Hull, above). No - this is not 2004-2005, this is 2005-2006 - and that makes a difference. And don't believe that these guys all used the lockout to heal old bruises and regain their health. Some did I'm sure, but a lot of them are going to be doughy and useless to their teams.

On the other hand, imagine your up-and-coming player (e.g. Ryan Kesler) who already showed promise when the lockout began and is now a year older (he will soon turn 21) - and played meaningful games this past year. It won't take long for players like this to be appreciated as having taken a "quantum leap". But it's not really a quantum leap - it's exactly what you would expect to happen in two years to a developing player. The league is going to be filled with 21 year old excellent players like Kesler. Kesler will be the Canucks 2nd/3rd line centre this year. I am annoyed at guys phoning the call-in shows going on about the need for this-and-that useless veteran. Let the kids have their day. The future is now.

So in your next hockey pool, devalue aging titans like Pavol Demitra, Peter Bondra, and Ziggy Palffy - and instead look at the young guns who are in reality not that young anymore - they're in their prime, and ready to rule the new NHL.

Day 261: Gilman's 360th Birthday

"Join us! Join us!
The eternal cry
Sing a song of Gilman
Cthulhu R'lyeh!"
- Gilman's Song (traditional)

The creature known as Gilman arrived on our shores from his watery home exactly 36 years ago. Today we celebrate his ascension! To Gilman!


Gilman works hard to serve his master (above)

Day 260: A Blog for Dermott

I don't know what it's like to be an older brother, but I know what it's like to have one. I can't say if all brotherly relationships are the same, but it's difficult for me to overstate the importance of having an older brother during my formative years. At 2.5 years older, he towered over me as I grew up, both figuratively and literally. Most "original" thoughts I had when I was younger were simply interpretations of ideas that he developed first. He became a big Rush fan, I became a big Rush fan (Hemispheres rules!). He listened to the Beatles, I listened to the Beatles. He embraced conservatism and atheism (with a touch of libertarianism), I embraced conservatism and atheism. Those epic debates between D.C. and C.A. (with Gilman as the voice of reason in the middle) introduced me to all sorts of new ideas. Of course, I did subsequently realize that they were both primarily interested in hearing their own voices and were capable of contradicting themselves when the mood struck them - but that was not till later.

I knew what high school and university were like before I went there, because I'd seen what he did: I knew those Grade 12 scholarship exams were not to be feared. Dermott was always the athletic star at the sports we played: excelling at tennis, winning all the MVP awards at field hockey (I settled for MIP), and hitting a home run in every other at bat (though the other 50% were strikeouts). The only sport I could ever beat him at was golf because he didn't play it very much - so it's probably no coincidence that this was the sport I took up the most earnestly: I had to do something better than him.

We've been living in different cities for the past few years, but when I do see him (which is frequent) - it immediately feels like little has changed. He'll tell me about some great Art Bell episode he's heard, and instantly dismiss some "euro-pop" band I decide to rave about. Then he'll break into an informed monologue on biblical scholarship, trends in Islamic thought, the latest new TV shows I've never watched, and American senatorial politics. Many times Dermott has recapped an episode of a show that ended up being far more amusing than the actual show.

Over these last few years, Dermott has retreated from the conventional workforce, and focused on child minding for my sisters. He has the patience of Job, and is way better at doing this than I could ever be. But this will soon end as he goes back to school in the fall to get an education degree at UVic. He's spent his life trying to educate the rest of the world, so it makes sense that he'll now get paid to do this for real.

All the best in your new career, Dermott! Happy 35th Birthday!

Day 259: The Twelve Year Itch

There are few things certain in this life. You're not going to win the lottery tonight; I'm sorry but that girl just isn't in to you, and your cats are not talking about you behind your back.

But one thing is certain - the Canucks will make it to the Stanley Cup Final this year. Why? It's their time. Credit the twelve year itch.

In 1970, our Vancouver Canucks joined the league as an expansion team. At the draft lottery that year, they lost out to fellow expansion team Buffalo in the Gilbert Perrault sweepstakes - and became a perennial bottom feeder for most of their first decade. Losing out on Perrault, the Canucks settled instead for Dale Tallon (bypassing Darryl Sittler - among others), who did not become a star. Flash-forward 35 years, and Vancouver-native Gilbert Brule is taken 6th overall by Columbus. Brule was named after his grandfather's favourite hockey player - Gilbert Perrault. The GM with the 7th pick shakes his head and is forced to take a different player. That Chicago GM is none other than Dale Tallon, snakebit by another Gilbert. Coincidence? I think not.

Twelve years after their inception, the Canucks come out of the depths of the Smythe Division to make it to the Stanley Cup Final in 1982. With white towels waving, Richard Brodeur, Rick Lanz, Thomas Gradin, Roger Neilson and all the old-time greats bow out in 4 straight games to a New York Islanders dynasty. Happy just to make it that far, the team and city ready themselves for greatness in the happy years to come. But this greatness does not happen, as the Canucks and their ugly yellow uniforms endure a lost decade of consistent mediocrity.

Twelve years on, the Canucks are finally a decent team, led by Pavel Bure and Trevor Linden, and make it to the Stanley Cup Final in 1994. Scarred by an untimely goalpost incident involving Nathan LaFayette, the Canucks bow out in 7 games to the Mark Messier-led New York Rangers. The twelve year itch strikes again - and the chance at the cup was more realistic this time.

Well - it's now twelve years later (the final will be in 2006 - next year), and the cycle is due to repeat. Under the new CBA, many of the old powerhouses (e.g. Detroit, Colorado) will be diminished as they cannot keep all their stars. Watching Chris Pronger go to Edmonton brought a smile to my face, as this is the opposite direction that 30 year old superstars are supposed to go! The door is now open to well-managed teams with a good mix of superstars and grit. A team like our Vancouver Canucks. And if they add a proven playoff perfomer like Scott Niedermayer???

The twelve year itch is set to click again, and there can now be no doubt:
The Vancouver Canucks will win the Stanley Cup in 2005/2006!

Day 258: Snowy vs. Mornings

"Don't wake me, I plan on sleeping in."
- The Postal Service - "Sleeping In"



This world is divided into two camps: those who enjoy their life to the fullest - and morning people. I don't like mornings - never have. I like to sleep in. I can snooze for hours and hours if I need to (and judging from those bags under my eyes - it seems like I do need to). I feel no shame in my anti-morning sentiments, because nothing interesting ever happens before noon. The only exception I'll make is for morning golf - but getting up for that is eased by the knowledge that a nap awaits me when it's over.

I know that there are go-getters out there who like to seize the day and do all sorts of self-improvement before 9AM while loafers like me are comfy in bed. I give all power to you and hope that you enjoy yourself and your fitter, healthier, happier, more productive lifestyle. But that is not the life for me.

There is only one 8:00 in my day.