Probably the last round of the year (in Finland)

Extra water next to the 4th tee.

I took a break from hunting jobs and sending applications and went to Pickala. I did enjoy the Park basically all by myself. Did not see anyone until the 14th green and from there on I was stuck behind four ladies for the rest of the round.

The last four holes took almost an hour to play and whole round close to three hours. I was well dressed for the round and despite some snowflakes it was not cold. Except for the very end. The course was for the most part in good condition. Little bit too wet at some holes and some leafs hiding the ball around the threes. But I cannot complain. It is close to the end of October already.

Having not played for over two weeks the game was not easy. Having issues with the driver and spoon. I missed a few great puts with just a centimeter or five. Just one par on the score card was the best I could do today.

Only lost ball on the 8th hole. My drive went a little bit to the left and hit the birch dropping to the water. With better luck the ball could have bounced to the rough instead. Not today.


Number of lost balls: 1

In total 99 shots.
Season best on Park: 91 shots

Freezing my ass off and losing balls

10th tee box

It was a sunny, but a cold Sunday couple weeks back and tried my best around the Park. But without any significant success... Getting later in the year, the round was not just affected by wind and coldness, but also the darkness was catching us. We managed to get through the round during the daylight and the darkness hit during the drive back home.

But I like the colors in the autumn. :)

The first lost ball for the day was the drive on the 5th hole. Breaking to the left it went swimming to the water hazard. A place where I normally never hit my drive. Been to the right water a few times, but never to the left.

The unlucky hole number 7 counts for two lost balls today. Driving against the wind my drive was a bit short and hit the water. Drop and the third shot in the middle of the fairway. From there I was hunting for the pin, but not quite...an unlucky bounce before the green to the right and the ball was in water.

Beers in a row on the 13th tee box.

Topped the next drive and the ball went straight to the water. The 8th hole has never been easy for me, but a managed to save a double-bogey with a great put.

All in all, it was not my day. I had the seat heater on almost the whole way back home. All 45 minutes of the drive. I have not been that frozen in ages.


Number of lost balls: 4

In total 102 shots.
Season best on Park: 91 shots

Final Tournament XVIII

8th hole and lost ball to the left

The first Friday in October is the day for the legendary Final Tournament golf challenge for gentlemen. In the last years a few brave ladies have been taking part in the game. Nappi, a friend of mine, has been organizing this event new for 18 years and this my 7th year fighting for the glory.

One of the greatest ideas in this day is that it always starts at the Paavo Nurmi Statue in Helsinki at 09:00. Nobody knows where the game takes place. So the guessing starts as the bus starts to move. Also the first beer can is opened at the same time. :) The game format is Texas scramble and for the past years, I have been playing with Miikka. We are quite on the same level and it is fun to play with him.

This year the tournament took place at Tali. And due to the short drive to the course we were able to play (or start) the game quite sober. The alcohol level rise during the day and at the end of the day, we were wasted as fuck.  We played actually the best game with 75 shots brutto and with that we landed on 17th place as the score was counted in points. We had 38 points and the winners has 44 scoring 10 under par.

The main sponsor of the event is Hot Lips, so the prize table is filled with dildos and other stuff to please your lady. This year we went home without any price. Next year again....

I lost only one ball, a totally missed drive on the 8th hole. Left to the woods it went. We started the game on the 12th hole, so a that point I was already completely drunk.



Number of lost balls: 1

Number of connected golf trolleys around Nappi's bag: 6

The autumn has arrived!

A beautiful Monday afternoon in Pickala. The weather was mostly sunny with modest winds and temperature around 15 degrees. I did grab a coffee to-go at the Clubhouse and walked towards the Forest's first tee by myself. Seems like everybody were at work, so I enjoyed the round alone.

The opening drive broke hard out to the right and actually bouncing towards the sky from the rock somewhat visible in the middle of picture. Never saw where the ball dropped and that marks the lost ball number 1.

The second drive from tee box landed right on the left 150 meters marker and the round could start. :) I had really good chips today and despite the greens been sanded the putting play went well. I counted 7 chips with the ball stopping less than 1 meter from the hole.

Putting for par, 2nd hole

In the hole number 7, I tried to hit the green from roughly 170 meters with 19 degree hybrid. Good shot, but did not last across the water. The provisional ball did. Drop, chip and three puts later 9 strokes was the best I could do on this hole today.

 Hole 13 sort of describes today's round.  Playing "safe" from the tee box with a spoon, the ball catches a breeze and lands visible, but unplayable in the water hazard. Dropped the ball at 160 meters and hit it with 22 degree hybrid. 80 cm long from the hole and safe put for par.

There were other full risk shots during the round, maybe the cold weather and happy ideas circling around my head suits my game. At least with the feeling part, not on the result part.

16th hole and lost ball number 3

Third lost ball was played on the 16th hole. Bad and short shot from the tee box and then mother of all fuckups... I hit the ball with 56 degree wedge too hard to the water hazard BEHIND the green. Well done Sir!... Nice chip to 30 cm and double bogey was in the scorecard.

With a little bit better and longer short a great result cloud have been available. There is no way you can make a great score with 6 penalty shots from drops at water hazard.


Number of lost balls: 3

In total 92 shots.
Season best in Forrest: 92 shots palyed twice this year

Morning round at Tali

Helsingin Golfklubi (aka. Tali) is Finland's oldest golf club located in the western part of the city. It is a nice park course surrounded by apparent and office buildings. Yet there is very calm atmosphere and with quick transit from home.


Tali was the golf course of the week with Bägilätkä. For 35 € it did not matter, that the game today really sucked.

I hit almost every single drive to the right. The course was wet and divots were flying to left and right after the shots. No cheering with puts or chips either.

My drive on the 15th went like an arrow to the creek on the left side of the fairway. No reason to even look for it. After a few selective words I hit a new ball.

All in all the round was catastrophic. I felt like a beginner as nothing went well.




Number of lost balls: 1

In total 104 shots.
Season best in Tali: 95 shots

It was a foggy morning at the Park

I was driving towards Pickala and this was the view just after Kirkkonummi. Well you could see 100 meters. That should be OK on a golf course you have played before several times. The photo was taken around 08:00 on Thursday. I was met by a lot of traffic on the way to the offices. I just my morning for a nice round of golf. 

The morning round was played on the Park course. The course was in excellent conditions and I joined a retired couple for the round. Nice couple and we enjoyed the discussions during the game.

Taken on 1st hole after tee shot.

The lady played only 9 holes in order to take care their new puppy. So me and the gentleman in question went for the full round. 

The fog was an element during the first 7-8 holes. In the beginning on could not see the green, nor the flag from 150 meters! As the morning continued the visibility got better. The second half of the round was played in wind-still and beautiful sunshine.
 
Somehow I managed shoot my self quite well towards the greens in the beginning. I had some advantages of playing the on several times.

It was an average round, when it comes to the play. A few really good shots and almost the same amount of missed shots as well.

I lost one ball on the 12th hole. My drive has a tendency to go right and this time it truly did so! From the tee-box into the water hazard / pond on the right hand side. That was the lost ball number 1!

The sun is so close, but yet so far away!

Number of lost balls: 1

In total 100 shots.
Season best on Park: 91 shots

Time to start something new

I got the whole idea behind this blog, while plying golf. What else would I have been doing? I have been collecting stats on all played rounds on Golfarena since 2011 and I am also using Gamebook while playing.

None of these do collect the number of lost balls per round. There might be a few of those... This year I have only managed to play a three-four rounds without loosing any.

I try to post a short story about the round feelings, maybe add some nice photos and the reason to why balls got lost. All my balls are marked with red tripple-V and should you find one, please let me know.