Ever since the day I made eagle on a par-4 by clunking a shot off the tee and clunking my approach to the green, I’ve realized score was irrelevant in golf. That lesson came more than 20 years ago.
The latest proof in support of that lesson came at Bandon Dunes, otherwise known in my head as Heaven. I only made one birdie the entire four days I was there. Five rounds of golf netted one birdie, so you think that would be memorable if score was relevant in golf. I can barely tell you what course it was on, however, and I can’t even remember the shots I hit during that hole.
Instead, numerous other shots stand out in my mind like memories that will still be there on my death bed. One of my most memorable strikes of the ball was with a six-iron on a par-3 during our second round at Bandon Trails. It was either the 16th or 17th hole, and, presumably due to my many mis-hits throughout the day, my caddie gave me too much club. I proceeded to “pure it” as he later said and watch it sail right over the flag and into a bush behind the green. I took an unplayable lie, saved a bogey and later cited that shot as my favorite of the day when prompted by an inquiry at dinner.
There was an incredible tee shot on my final round that is also embedded in my mind, as well as wicked spinner of wedge shot on a short par-3 that used a severe slope to nestle itself near the hole. I missed the putt and made par, yet that hole is more memorable than my birdie a couple days before.
Most of my shots on Old Mac were visions to behold, not because each was struck perfectly, but more so because the sun was setting and anything flying over that course at sunset was dazzling.
More than ever, score is irrelevant to me in my golfing pursuits, as I continue to chase pure strike after pure strike. It was in that pursuit that I changed my swing technique a bit between Day 1 and Day 2 of our adventure in Heaven. The technique used the first day yielded many pure shots, but many horrific shots as well. The second-day technique was slightly more consistent, but consisted of 90 percent mis-hits.
Curious about this conundrum, I asked my playing companions if they noticed anything different about me from Day 1 to Day 2. The first question I received in return was, “What was your score each day.” I was happy to reply that I didn’t know.
