Before I headed out to work in the yard this morning, I sat at the computer staring at a satellite image of a field I often practice on (image on top). I'd been thinking about this for a week or so... can I design a small golf course with nothing more than an open field and a few markers?
The field isn't that big, so this might be the only instance where lacking distance is an advantage. On the other hand, my ability to spray the ball around limits where I can place targets. I can't take a chance of hitting near the highway that runs along the east side of the field so that might require layups I wouldn't normally consider.
There will be the need for some creative local rules. There is nothing finely manicured about this field. Not only will there be no putting during a round, fluffing lies is allowed.
Cones will be used to mark the orange dots that represent hazards. These need to be avoided or carried. A shot that lands too far on that side of the target would incur a stroke and distance penalty. On the first hole, the orange dot represents a corner that cannot be cut. If the ball doesn't carry it but stays right, a 2nd shot is required before attempting the approach - as would be the case for any left dog leg. On holes 3 and 4, the ball can be played as it lies from the tee shot if it gets normal distance (for me that's 210-220 yards). If short, an additional shot is required to gain the appropriate distance. As mentioned above, any shot that lands on the wrong side of the hazards (determined by connecting the dots), will be penalized stroke and distance. The idea is to make sure that any miss will occur on the side opposite of the orange cones.
The two imaginary greens are 15 - 20 yards in diameter with a driveway marker for the pin. So once the ball is within 10 yards of the pin - eyeballed of course - and two putting strokes added, the hole is completed. A one-putt is awarded for any shot that is within 3'.
Some day in the near future, residents or others driving through Mesick, Michigan may see a man placing cones and driveway markers out onto the field normally reserved for the Spring Mushroom Festival, all the while carefully studying a piece of paper. They may then see him pull a cart and clubs out of his trunk, tee up a ball, hit it, walk to it, hit it again, pull out that piece of paper, study it some more, put it away and hit some more shots. And they will all be thinking the same thing.... Clearly, the stay-at-home order is taking its toll and actual golf courses need to re-open as soon as possible. That poor, crazy bastard.
The field isn't that big, so this might be the only instance where lacking distance is an advantage. On the other hand, my ability to spray the ball around limits where I can place targets. I can't take a chance of hitting near the highway that runs along the east side of the field so that might require layups I wouldn't normally consider.
There will be the need for some creative local rules. There is nothing finely manicured about this field. Not only will there be no putting during a round, fluffing lies is allowed.
Cones will be used to mark the orange dots that represent hazards. These need to be avoided or carried. A shot that lands too far on that side of the target would incur a stroke and distance penalty. On the first hole, the orange dot represents a corner that cannot be cut. If the ball doesn't carry it but stays right, a 2nd shot is required before attempting the approach - as would be the case for any left dog leg. On holes 3 and 4, the ball can be played as it lies from the tee shot if it gets normal distance (for me that's 210-220 yards). If short, an additional shot is required to gain the appropriate distance. As mentioned above, any shot that lands on the wrong side of the hazards (determined by connecting the dots), will be penalized stroke and distance. The idea is to make sure that any miss will occur on the side opposite of the orange cones.
The two imaginary greens are 15 - 20 yards in diameter with a driveway marker for the pin. So once the ball is within 10 yards of the pin - eyeballed of course - and two putting strokes added, the hole is completed. A one-putt is awarded for any shot that is within 3'.
Some day in the near future, residents or others driving through Mesick, Michigan may see a man placing cones and driveway markers out onto the field normally reserved for the Spring Mushroom Festival, all the while carefully studying a piece of paper. They may then see him pull a cart and clubs out of his trunk, tee up a ball, hit it, walk to it, hit it again, pull out that piece of paper, study it some more, put it away and hit some more shots. And they will all be thinking the same thing.... Clearly, the stay-at-home order is taking its toll and actual golf courses need to re-open as soon as possible. That poor, crazy bastard.
