This was only my third round of 2008, and so far there has been no indication that this will be a breakthrough year in my quest to break 80. For this round, Friday, February 1, I decided to forego my usual habit of carrying an extra driver with me and loaded up on wedges, hoping that my short game would carry me to glory.

We played at Riverbend Golf Club in Ormond Beach, FL and I threw the following clubs in my bag:

Driver: Callaway Big Bertha Fushion FT3
Fairway Wood: Taylormade Burner 3, 5, 7
Irons: Ram FX 5-PW
Wedges: Blades: 52 degree Approach, 56 degree Sand and 60 degree Lob
Putter: Ping O-Blade

My strategy seemed to be working early, as I was one-under bogey golf through the first 5 holes. Then, on the sixth hole, I suddenly lost me touch off the tee. Over the next 5 holes I had a triple-bogey, par, quadruple-bogey, triple-bogey and double-bogey. Just as suddenly, my tee problems cleared up as I hit the next five fairways and parred the next five holes! (There was actually a birdie mixed in for good measure. It was even beginning to look like I had a chance to break 90 despite my front nine 50. Sadly though, my tee-off magic once again faded away and I limped home with a double-bogey, triple-bogey and double-bogey, for a round of 94.

I would still have to consider my short game strategy a success, though, as I had 32 putts in the round, below my average. I also one-putted 6 holes, which indicates to me that I was pitching and chipping up close to the hole. On # 17 my 7-iron chip shot ran across the green and clanked off the flagstick on a shot that I almost sank from the fringe. (Of course I two putted from 3 feet following that shot.)

Anyway, once again an inconsistent round brought me home with a score that I had a hard time getting excited about. Still, glimmers of hope and promise for for the next round keep me hoping that that elusive sub-80 round is in my future!