Ute Creek: 81 from the golds

I walked off Ute Creek happy with an 81. After the recent work on contact and transition, it felt good to see more of those swings show up during a round. I played the gold tees after several recent rounds from the blues, adding a little length and a different challenge.

The split was 41 on the front and 40 on the back: five over going out, four over coming home. There were three double bogeys, two penalty strokes and one three-putt. There were also nine greens in regulation, a 45-foot putt that dropped and enough solid shots to leave me encouraged.

The swing thought worth keeping was simple: make a smooth transition. My best swings still had full speed. They just gave the change of direction time to happen.

Where the round came together

The stretch through 11 and 12 showed what a couple of sensible shots can do. On the par-5 11th, I had 226 yards left with the wind helping. I chose a 7-iron with the left bunker in mind. The contact was not perfect, but it left about 55 yards. A gap wedge to 20 feet and two putts made par.

On the 132-yard 12th, another gap wedge finished about 20 feet right of the flag. Two putts, another par. Those were useful holes: a clear target, a manageable next shot and no need to force anything.

The mistakes gave me something equally specific to work on. I got quick at times, especially trying to hit an 8-iron too hard on 16. The two poor 4-iron punch attempts on 9 and 17 also deserve attention. The sidehill lie on 17 added another challenge.

The putts count in both directions

I missed two putts inside ten feet and had one three-putt. It is easy to see those and imagine a much lower score. But I also made a 45-footer, and I cannot budget for one of those every round. The fair assessment is that there were chances to save shots, along with a long putt that gave one back. The 81 stands on its own as a good day.

What comes next

This week’s practice needs to keep the smooth transition at the center of normal, full-speed swings. The rushed shots are a better place to look than adding another swing thought. The punch shots need their own attention, especially choosing a recovery that fits the lie rather than assuming the lower shot will be easier.

Putting stays on the list, too: the longer first putt, the manageable second putt and the opportunities inside ten feet. With Highland Meadows coming next Friday, there is a clear direction for the week. Keep the swings that worked, spend some time on the shots that did not, and see how much of it travels to the next course.