Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/130253
iG1304--rev 5/12/13 9:53 AM Page 1 A VIEW FROM THE PRO SIDE BY MARK CORRIGAN Getting The Most Out Of Your Golf Experience I played The Links at Crowbush Cove while on holiday with my family this past summer and, being originally from PEI, to play golf back in my old 'stomping grounds' was all that I remembered and more. My wife Kim, my father, Bob and my brother-in-law, Eric, joined me. Kim is a 36 handicap who continues to get better. Eric's game is best described as a golf ball manufacturers dream. Time has caught up with my father's game and he's fighting the battle as a 7 handicap. To set the scene, "The Crows", played from the tips at 6,900 yards with a slope of 146, presented probably the hardest course I've ever played. With a calm day in PEI of 10-15 km winds, I thought that was a playable option for me. Eric was only too happy to move to the white tees at 6,100 yards. I suggested that would be a good place for my father to play from ...give Eric help from the same tees. He fell for it (whew!). Kim smartly played the reds. Knowing Crowbush and the punishment dished out off the tees - 8 forced carries, I felt this would give them a fighting chance. My last request for our group was that we keep things moving, because some people enjoy looking for golf balls (no names mentioned.....) as much as playing golf, and Crowbush has trouble lurking everywhere. So, for every ball they didn't look for, I'd replace it... and take a shot off their score. In the spirit, 3 holes in Kim said to me, "I don't think I'm going to keep score today." It wasn't long before I realized this was a day for enjoyment and grand views, not just for everyone else but maybe for me as well. Playing a 600yard par 5 at sea level with water fronting the green wasn't quite giving me the enjoyment I was looking for. In hindsight maybe I too could have moved up one tee which had cool shots of its own. Bottom line, I was the last to drop the score keeping on #14. At that point I was at about 80....but that may have been with a mulligan or two. By round's end, Eric with the innovative ball replacement scoring system has shot 59 with 2 hole in ones! Using the same approach during the back nine Kim had a bogey, a par & 2 birdies, leaving Crowbush with a true sense of fulfillment. Thinking on it, I'd chosen Crowbush Cove for our round because of its unmistakable beauty, not because I was intending to shoot my career best. Once the game was put on the back burner, we were enjoying the course and each other's company. Too often golfers look at each round of golf, no matter who they are playing with, as a serious round, hoping to have their personal best and often judge the course on how they play. Sometimes the courses don't live up to our expectations but you shouldn't let your play determine whether your day was good or bad. Set yourself up for success before you even arrive. It's what every golfer deserves. It what you deserve. About the writer: Mark Corrigan is an Associate Professional at Pinebrook G&CC in Calgary. He can be reached at mark_corrigan@pinebrookgolfclub.com Too often golfers look at each round of golf... as a serious round, hoping to have their personal best and often judge the course on how they played. 74