Birdies, Belts and Missing Golf Shoes

There's a "new" course in Park Mammoth which is absolutely beautiful.  It's actually an old course that is being redeveloped and improved.  Miles and his buddy Logan (above) got to play it earlier this summer, and as luck would have it, they had a tournament there this year on August 20.

Miles had a good round that day tying for 24th with 76.  We've been recently joking about his birdie drought and threatening to get rid of his putter.  He and Isaac have been golfing some lately so he could easily (and happily) hand it over to someone else - hah!  Wouldn't you know he birdied the last hole of the course that day!

 

Karson headed to Louisville earlier that week thanks to Pap and Nana who got her moved in to her apartment.  We'd told her we come up for a visit after his tournament.  She was needing a few extra things, and we wanted to take him putter shopping at Golf Galaxy.  Since we were already about 30 minutes into the drive north, we figured it would be good timing to see her new place.

Isn't she the cutest y'all?!?!  Her space is super cozy.  She's learning how to cook and take care of her own place.  We're super grateful she has such amazing roommates and a boyfriend who are spoiling her as she continues to recover.  

Group photo from the Vanmeter Cup at Bowling Green Country Club.  The Vanmeter Cup is broken up into two weeks of 9-hole rounds.  It's also considered our District tournament.  Unfortunately, it wasn't South's best two-rounds of golf.  Sometimes things go your way, and sometimes they don't.  That's golf.

 

On Saturday, we headed to Franklin Country Club for the Wildcat Shootout.  The boys had a fairly light week with the continuation of the Vanmeter Cup on Monday and not much else the rest of the week.  The played/practiced FCC a few times to try and prepare.  

Sometimes the courses you play the most can prove to be the most challenging.  Miles has been struggling and trying to correct his pull/hook all season.  It decided to show back up at FCC. Wonderful.  He didn't have a terrible round and started out okay.  We asked Big Jim our coach to go help him with his feet (because you aren't supposed to give your kids/players tips).  After the correction, Miles started smoking the ball.  He had two birdies on the back and going into the last hole things were looking good until they weren't -ugh.  He had great drive down the middle of the fairway, but a horrible approach shot which landed him a double bogey.  He ended with a 79.  

Oh, and when we arrived to the golf course, he noticed he didn't have his belt.  Fortunately the course isn't super far from our house so I was able to run back home and grab it.

 

On Sunday, we traveled to Monticello Country Club for the Stewart Gregory Memorial Tournament in Wayne County.  After FCC on Saturday, we'd decided to leave everything in the trunk since we'd be leaving around 8 the next morning.   Matt had suggested we take Mile's golf shoes out of the trunk to dry and air out,  With the hustle and bustle, cooler packing and breakfast fixing, we took off on Sunday with everything BUT golf shoes - two days, two things left behind. 

It dawned on me two hours too late when I sent a frantic text to our golf group chat. Y'all, there ain't NOTHING in Monticello but some gas station and a Tasty Freeze which we stopped at one the way home that evening.   Lauren & Will Daniels saved the day with some spare Foot Joys that worked like a charm for our boy. 

It was literally the hottest day ever. Hydration was key.  

Showed up to the Wayne County tournament in full UL Cardinals gear which happens to be their school colors and mascot #lovely!!!!  Miles was also paired with Allen-County Scottsville who wore red as well.  Look people, I was missing my daughter and wore her school colors - lol!!!

Miles was paired with some of the best golfers in our area.  I was super proud of him for holding his own the entire round.  Monticello is a 9-hole golf course.  The first 9-hole round, the boys played from the white tees and the second 9-hole round from the blue tees.  About mid-way through the second round, a dark cloud appeared, rumbling came and lightning struck...great!!!!  

Matt and I were on foot but relatively close to the car.  When the lightning struck, the tournament organizers sounded the airhorn.  I made a beeline to the car to grab umbrellas.  The boys were on delay for a good 30-45 minutes before heading back out.  Miles had drank a Mountain Dew, ate a Reese's cup and a hotdog.  Is that a golf meal or what?!?!

He headed back out to #15 and continued his great round of golf.  Going into the last hole (par 4), he was 1-under par (his best ever) 71.  This was also a hole where lots of people were gathering to watch players finish. His tee shot wasn't the best and landed in the #8/17 fairway. He hit an incredible shot over some trees which landed a little past the #9/#18 green on a small hill. He decided to use his putter and got relatively close to the hole but ended up 2-putting for a bogey which made him 'even' par. 

We stuck around and watched lots of teams, including ours, finish on that hole which we think was cursed. It didn't seem like anyone could make a putt on that hole - brutal lip outs and misses left and right.  

He was so cute when we were putting his stuff up saying to me, "Mom, you need to shoot 'even' par before you shoot under par."  He's such a sweet and humble kid.  Out of all those players, he managed to tie for 12th place with a 72 which was incredible.

  

This week will be a rest week thankfully.  Miles needs to tune up and work on some practice chips and putts.  I'm sure he won't have to pull Isaac's arm too hard to take him since the game is growing on him!