2016/10/30 - Wandering aimlessly is not the best approach

(DP) - Jacksonville, FL

  While covering other events, this reporter heard that Puma was back in town.  Puma had escaped from the cold, rainy northern part of the country and came south for some fun in the sun.  Although the purpose of Puma's visit was the north Florida Ace race to be held in Elkton, FL the next day, the gang was planning to play a round at Ed Austin park on Saturday.

   It was a beautiful day at the park, when the small gang assembled.  Rusty McCallister had run off to an island in the Caribbean to escape the soon to be administered thrashing.  Sadly, others such as Becky "DOC" Pike, Ryne "Fresh Meat" Edwards, Randy "Fantasy Football Freak" Knagge, and Nick "It's too Hot" Pappas decided that Rusty's approach was the correct one and avoided showing up.  However, Eric "Birdie" Taylor, Simon "Boom-Boom" Bouma and Rick "Bushman" Pike were there and ready to play.

Bushman was also ready to try out a new strategy.  Having lost his putter and mid range on a previous outing, he was going to play the day using his driver as his only disc.

   This keen reporter's eye noticed that Puma did not appear be 100%.  Although he bravely claimed all was well, it was soon evident that it was not.  Perhaps spending the last two days with Boom-Boom in the grueling sun was taking its' toll.  It appears that Boom-Boom may have hatched a devious plan to gain an advantage.  Two days prior, Boom-Boom had driven down to Elkton with Puma to scout out and play the Ace race course.  Having learned from Treebeard, TJ and Hollywood that Puma can become dehydrated, Boom-Boom had "forgotten" the water.  Then on the way back home, his car broke and while he waited 2+ hours for the tow truck, Puma was forced to walk all of the remaining distance back to the home to get any water.  The following day, Puma spent hours driving Boom-Boom from dealer to dealer and sitting in the hot sun while Boom-Boom went into the A/C to talk to them about a possible replacement car.

   It is not known if Bushman was aware of all of this, but as Puma was about to release his first drive, Bushman appeared to have shouted "watch out".  This sporting violation caused Puma to release the disc slightly last causing it to impact with Pike's pine.  Bushman denied ever calling out anything, but the damage was done.  Boom-Boom made a nice drive with his opening shot, only to watch in awe as Birdie, did not follow his usual form of taking it easy for the first few holes, launched a magnificent drive to the middle of the fairway.  The dye was casted.  As Puma or perhaps his disc seemed to be stunned from the initial woody impact, Puma wandered aimless around the course seemingly waiting for yet another shout out.  Birdie made par of #1, Boom-Boom and Bushman made bogey and Puma aimlessly finally hit the basket for double bogey.

   Hole #2 was much the same, Birdie made an easy par, Boom-Boom and Bushman made bogies and Puma seemingly more skittish made a triple bogey after missing 2 easy putts jumping at every sound.

   Things appeared to settle down on #3, as Birdie made his 3rd consecutive par and everyone else made bogey.  Boom-Boom and Birdie made pars on #4, with Bushman and Puma making bogey.  #5 followed a similar pattern, as Birdie made yet another par, Simon made bogey and Puma and Bushman made double. 

   Going into the woods, Puma tried to steady himself and reached for his secret weapon, the Ace race disc he had received from his time in Minnesota.  Puma hoped that in these tight wooded conditions, the long and straight disc would work well.  It appeared it was working, but sadly, Puma missed his par putt and settled for yet another bogey.  Birdie Taylor was not going down without a fight.  Although Birdie hit a tree on his drive, his approach was flawless and he made his 6th consecutive bogey while Boom-Boom and Bushman made double.  #7 was interesting and everyone made par except for Bushman who carded yet another double bogey.  Puma hoped his first par would start the comeback march.  Sadly on #8, Puma mis-aimed yet another putt and settled for bogey along with Boom-Boom.  Birdie made his 8th consecutive par with another nice approach shot while Bushman was also continuing his streak of double bogeys.

   On #9, the first water hole, a slight opening appeared.  Birdie launched his disc towards the water trying to cut the corner.  Sadly, it hit the overhanging branch which slapped that silly disc into the water.  Puma sensing the opportunity, made a nice drive and followed it up with a nice approach setting up an uphill par attempt.  Sadly, his aim was still off and Puma settled for a bogey.  Meanwhile, Boom-Boom and Bushman were wandering around the water to card a double bogey.  Birdie, having lost 1 disc in the water decided he had could make it across the water and minimize any scoring damage launch his next shot which turned away from score and also landed in the water.  After carding a disastrous 8, Birdie didn't seem so invincible.  Even with this 4 stroke gain, Birdie still had the lead at the halfway point with a respectable 32 (+4).  Boom-Boom was at +9, Puma at +11 and Bushman was at +14.

   Puma realized it was now or never for this match and tried to gain the advantage.  Sadly, his putting was as aimless as his initial throws.  While the top 3 made bogeys on #10 and #11, Bushman finally broke his consecutive double bogey streak at #11 with a single bogey.  On #12, the top 3 all made nice pars with Bushman carding yet another double bogey.  #13 Puma tried desperately to stay with Birdie as each carded a par with the other 2 players carding a bogey.  #14 basket was in the C location for an extra long challenge.  The match effectively ended after Birdie launch a nice drive and Puma's drive hit yet another tree.  Puma pushing hard to stay in contention, ended up 4 putting to end any chance.  All that remained for Puma was keeping TWAC out of Bushman's hands.  Given that day Bushman was having, it should have been an easy task but Puma's day wasn't much better.  As Birdie breezed to victory with 5 pars and 2 bogies on the last 7 holes, Puma could only manage 3 pars, 3 bogies and that disaster on #14.  Boom-Boom stumbled to the finish with 3 pars, 2 bogeys and 2 less than desirable totals.  Bushman finished his disappointing but rather consistent day with 8 bogies and 9 double bogies.  Bushman will soon be purchasing a new putter and mid range disc after this outing.