How did you score in your last round? - 2019

With the ongoing settled weather into the new year, hope everyone gets to play a bit while the going is good!

I played the Tuesday winter series in Portmarnock Links on New Years Day and managed a 71 gross off 1.

Obviously thrilled to finally shoot a decent number in an event Ive tried to play whenever Iv been free to do so. Course is in consistently excellent condition and the weather was idyllic for the middle of winter.

Round itself was a bit of a rollercoaster. I got off to a fast start with birdies on 2 and 4. Made a poor bogey on the long par 4 5th after a great drive, but made good pars on 6, 7 and 8 before hitting an 8 iron to 6 feet on the 9th to turn in -2.

10 was v disappointing. Ripped a 3 wood off the tee but wind just nudged it into a fairway bunker and could only go out sideways. Then made a cardinal error with my 3rd shot, knocking it over the back of the elavated green. I had no 4th shot really and did reasonably well just to finally get on the green; 2 putts later meant a 6 and back to level par.

Bounced back well though. Hit a great shot to the par 3 11th, although the putt didnt drop. Made a huge one for par from 7 ft on the index 1 12th hole however, then birdied the par 5 13th after hitting two shots pin high. I proceeded to hit a wedge to 2 feet on 14 to get back to -2, before my second disaster of the day unfolded on 15.

Back into the wind, which was picking up a little at this stage, I hit a gammy but straight drive on the fairway. I pushed a rescue for my 2nd but missed in a good spot, leaving a straightforward chip and run...which I bladed through the green into cabbage. Had a swipe at the next one and moved it about a foot. Then bladed number 5 back over the green, almost where Id started. Fairly disconsolate at this point as you can imagine, I finally managed to get one of my grooves on the ball with stroke #6... and in it went for the double. Back to level. But couldve been much worse!

Played the 16th well. Good drive, great 6 iron and rolled it in from 15 ft for the birdie. I hit a v poor tee shot on 17, usually a formidable par 3 but doable as it was downwind. That left me with another chip shot, which I obviously wasnt looking forward to given the debacle on 15. Struck it ok but it was a weak effort and led to a bogey 4.

Hit a great drive down 18 but flared a 5 iron approach, leaving yet another unpalatable chip off a spongy lie and over the greenside bunker. Prodded it to about 14 ft and, figuring it might well be worth something, poured it in for a par and a 71.

Ended up getting a prize so absolutely delighted with that, even if there were thoughts of what couldve been. 15 was very distressing as I thought Id put the dreaded chipping yips behind me, yet that is the only way I could describe two of my efforts there. But my putting was the best its been in literally years. 23 in total, discounting 1 or 2 from off the green, certainly makes things a lot easier. And 6 birdies away from your home course off the back sticks..pretty happy with that!

Also got cut 0.5 so not a bad way to start the year all in all!