Winter Golf at Lincoln Park

Sunrise overlooking 9th green and fairway

I've been desperately trying to get my golf game into some semblance of respectability, as I have a special opportunity to play this week (stay tuned). In addition to work at the driving range and  a round at Sharp and Harding, I spent a couple of mornings playing and practicing on the back 9 at Lincoln. Dawn patrol is not always like the picture at the top of this post. In fact, it's pretty rare to see the sunrise. More typically it was like this morning's fog.

View from 10th tee looking at 7th fairway

Some pictures from the last day of  west coast winter golf.

11th fairway

17th tee & fairway. The GG Bridge is out there somewhere

I'd like to think this practice will make a difference. 

Winter Golf at Harding Park

It's still winter and still a San Francisco muni, but a big difference from our round at Sharp yesterday. Harding Park was rebuilt with modern drainage and the course is in great shape, even after a record breaking wet winter.

Played with Larry, Mike O and Brad. Great day, great course, same old game.

I've given up Live Blogging my golf rounds for Lent. But still had to take a few pics on the signature 18th hole for a post game summary.

Apparently limiting the blogging distraction still does not help my game.

BK 92
LS 96
MO 99
MW 111

Yeah... it was like that.

Winter Golf at Sharp Park

The fairway was a little shaggy

I can't say I wasn't warned. After setting up this tee-time I checked in with a Pacifica local to get the course status report after our record winter monsoons... "the canyon is open but virtually unplayable. They have not mowed the canyon in months. The west side may be getting better but unsure how much they mowed this week." 

I was still eager to get out to Sharp for the first time this year, so forewarned my foursome - sort of. Stuart, Bob and Rick decided to risk it.

Yes, they are standing in the fairway cabbage on one of the canyon holes. And yes, I said the fairway. Wet and shaggy does not begin to describe the course. At least the banana slugs liked it.

After losing several balls in the fairway, we started playing found balls off the tee, then walked up to drop at the 150 yard marker to play in from there. Greens were in pretty good shape.

Can't complain about the weather though - as sunny, clear and comfortable a day as I've ever seen at Sharp.  The course just isn't quite ready to play. Still it was good to get out. "A good walk spoiled" was just a little less good this day. Bob got a birdie on the par 3 8th, and that was the highlight of the round. We did have some good photo ops (with a a hat/tip to Stuart for some of these pics):

Changing shoes in the clubhouse

Stuart on 16th tee hitting into the 17th fairway

Traditional 17th tee portrait with frogs.

Bob off the tee

Rick refusing to act his age.

Rick off the tee

 Don't look for scores. We stopped pretending by the 7th hole. Still it was good to get out and get the season underway.