Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Hacker's World

Welcome to Hackers World. Pardon the recent delay, but a nasty four letter word caused it.

I am remiss to use such a word (work) in this publication as it is a family newspaper, and such language doesnt belong here.

Regardless, I havent been able to play much of late, but when I did I noticed a glitch in my swing and stance. For those who have seen me play, they know the last thing I need is any more problems with my game

On Wednesday evening, as it was the only time it was cool enough to play, I took a couple of clubs and a pocket full of golf balls to the course with the idea of working the kinks out of my swing. The clubs were a 7-iron and putter (theres no such thing as too much work with the putter).

I began by hitting the drive off the first tee into the woods on the right, made a decent second shot to get into the fairway and was just short of the green with the third shot. From there a chip got me on the green, where I promptly two-putted for a six.

The situation improved on the second hole with a drive down the middle of the fairway, followed by a bladed approach shot (as this was the only way to get more distance with the 7-iron). My third shot landed on the green, where I putted in for par (and was thrilled to get it).

Hole number three wound up as a bogey, because of a missed putt for par, while the fourth hole (where Im snakebit) gave me some trouble. The drive wound up by a tree on the right, and from there it was a military march (right, left, right) to the green, where I three-putted for an eight.

Five and six were similarly played, both had drives down the middle of the fairway and I managed to get to the green in decent shape and two-putted both times.

At the seventh tee I picked up a playing partner, Floyd Clark, the new director of economic development for Nevada County. He had just finished the first four and agreed to forego holes five and six, opting to play the last three instead.

We both went right off the tee, though his 3-wood had more distance than my 7-iron, and we both made it to the green in fair shape. I ended up with a five, again after missing a par putt, and went to the eighth tee. At this point I had a score of 40, which is good for me with a full set of clubs.

Putting again was the problem on eight, even we both managed to get on the green with our second shots. Theres just no way I can get 190 yards out of a 7-iron. Roy McAvoy Im not.

Heading to the ninth and final hole of the front nine we both took a water break. Walking the course in the evening was cooler than in the afternoon, but it was still hot and muggy.

Again, we hit decent shots to get us to the green, though I was still about 10 feet off with my fourth shot. I was getting a lot of loft with the iron, but not as much distance as I wanted. In fact, the second shot on nine went higher than far.

Still, I was off the green and thinking I was going to wind up with a double-bogey at the very least. However, I lined up the shot, chipped it gently and watched in amazement as the ball rolled into the cup. For me, it was the shot of the day.

I tallied up my score and realized I had shot 50 with just two clubs. I also noted that I had worked out some of the glitches in my swing.

Now, on to something a bit different. While this column is primarily for the lesser skilled golfers (hackers), I would be remiss in my duties if I didnt mention the fact the course record at the Prescott Country Club has been broken.

Drew Richards, a senior at Prescott High School this year and member of the PHS golf team, shot a nine under recently, breaking a record set by Arkansas golfing legend, John Daly.

The nine under was nine birdies over 18 holes, no mean feat for any course.

Richards, in his sophomore year, was the Arkansas state overall golf champ, and the runner up last year. He has been a driving force behind the teams success on the links. It would not be surprising if he is again the overall state champ at the end of this years golf campaign, which began Monday.

In the not-to-distant future, say the next five or six years, it would also not be surprising to turn on the idiot box some Saturday or Sunday afternoon and see Richards playing on the PGA circuit. The talent is there.