Shigaboo Golf

I used to play this course 4 days a week when I was on the golf team at Alhambra High School. It plays almost exactly the same as it did back then except for the third hole which they extended about 50 yards. I like the way it is now better than before. The weather was pretty nice, a little hot but good under the shade of a tree. I opted for walking, since I hardly ever get to, and by 18 I was feeling pretty tired but in a good way. Par on this course is only 70 and its a pretty short course in terms of yardage, perfect for beginners or people just starting out. I think my game is starting to creep back, though I missed a few key shots and putts.

Ems on hole 2. There are actually some big fish and turtles in that lake

The Walrus and the Fish getting ready for 18 holes

The 3rd hole par 4 which they lengthened a bit.

Squirrels everywhere on this course, and they aren't afraid of you.

Short Par 4 10th hole, just don't go left

Forgot what green this is

Me on the 18th tee box

Ever play a game called Wolf? Neither have I, until yesterday. I played at Whittier Narrows with my friend David Lee and two of his buddies from Ameriprise. They wanted to play a game of “Wolf”. It’s pretty fun and allows for everyone to have a chance to win regardless of skills.

A tee is thrown at the beginning of the round to see which order we will be hitting. This order stands until the end of the round.

The first person to hit, hits, then waits to see the other three players hit their drive. The “Lead Guy” for the hole watches the next guy hit and if he likes the drive, can call that person their partner for the hole. If he doesn’t like the drive he waits to see the next guy go, and so forth.

On the next hole the guy who was second goes first and so on.

From here the game turns into a regular best ball game where the two man teams compete and whomever wins gets a “dot”. If there’s a tie it carries to the next hole.

Alternatively, if the “Lead Guy” bombs one down the middle and is feeling confident he can call “Wolf”. When he calls wolf he becomes the wolf and is now playing against the other three players. If he wins, he gets double the points for the hole. If its a carry over hole and say the hole is worth two “dots” or points he will get Four points.

The Wolf has to win the hole outright, there cannot be a tie. If anyone ties his score for the hole he will lose and end up relinquishing points to the entire group.

On the last two holes, 17 and 18, the person in last place with the least amount of points gets to go first, even if its out of order. He can choose to wager as many points as he is down by. If he’s down by, say, 5 points, he can wager the entire 5 points or some number in between. The same goes for the 18th hole.

Got to use my new Augusta, GA Master’s Hat Clip yesterday for the first time! I love the weight and feel of the ball mark and the way it slides up into the clip. This is one thing I must never lose.

The Masters has just finished and now everyone is ready to get their own game on.  This week I hit the range four times trying to get that ball to go right-to-left instead of left-to-right. Kazu has taken the “reset button” approach and resolved to start from the beginning. So far, I think it was a good call. He has gotten rid of his crazy “not quite a shank” shot to the right while getting completely under the ball with his clubface pointed toward Mars. We decided to scrap the super compact backswing and working on a more traditional backswing. So far it looks promising. We’ll see how it goes out on the course though, its always up in the air when its the real thing.

Kazu's new backswing!

I guess Thursday evenings at Monterey Park Golf Course is the busy day because it was completely packed.

MPKGC with almost every spot occupied

This guy was just 15 feet away from where we were hitting

Looks like golf season is in full effect now. Kazu got a tee time for Diamond Bar G.C. yesterday at 2:37pm for his bro Jun, Wally, and myself. It was the last day of the heat wave; blue skies, plenty of Shiseido sunscreen, which makes you look like a ghost, and Wally’s trusty bucket-O-ice water.  I don’t think any one of us played very well but it was a good day to work out all those kinks that seem to develop after not playing for a few months. I expect everyone to be back on their game within the next 2 or 3 outings.

The Masters starts this Thursday and that always seems to get people in the mood to hit the fairways. Tiger definitely seems to be on his game, though. We’ll see the drama unfold this weekend.

I think I need to start hitting the driving range again; the putting green too.

Jun out of the fairway bunker

Wally takin' a swig of cold ice water.

Dogleg right on the Back 9. Short Par Four

Par 5, let her rip.

A Tree

It seems I inadvertently deleted my database (all the old posts for Shigaboo Golf ) by trying to upgrade Wordpress to be able to use new themes. Oh well, just goes to show how much I know about websites. I have all the pictures saved so I really don’t mind too much.

On a happier note, the site now has a new look and we just played Mountain Meadows Golf Course in Pomona, CA. I’ve played this course many a time but had forgotten just how ridiculously undulating it is.  I played incredibly bad, but the weather was perfect, the greens and fairways in good condition, and we had no one following us on the back 9.

keeping score

Sapporo Beeeeru!

A Dogleg Left Par 4 hitting downhill, Hazard on the left.

Kaz teeing off