GolfNewsRI

On a day where life was eclipsed by a rare event (see what I did there?) and various people wearing 3D glasses, I was able to play a round of golf at Agawam Hunt in an Amateur Golf Tour New England (AGTNE) tournament.

If you have never heard of AGTNE, they play tournaments 2-3 times per week at various golf courses in RI, CT, and MA.

You pay an annual fee for membership and then when entering an event, greens fees and a little extra for the rake for the tournament organizer. There are also side pots you can get into (gross/net sweep, gross/net skins, closest to the pin, etc.).

The beauty of AGTNE is that they occasionally run events at private courses. Of course, Agawam Hunt is one.

Later this month, Rhode Island Country Club is on the docket.

I played in my first AGTNE event last year on a Saturday at River Ridge in CT. I played River Ridge the day prior and shot 82 from the blues and I’m thinking “OK, alright”. On Saturday? 102. Let me repeat that for the people in the back of the room. 1…0…2. I could not get out of my own way.

Now, many have told me you probably didn’t realize how tense or nervous you were playing in your first tournament (scrambles don’t count). And I’ll go with that. But, it took me a while to get over it and the lure of getting on a private course got me back on the horse.

I played Agawam Hunt last year in August, which was designed by our good friend Donald Ross. The greens were super quick last year, so I wanted to get there early to putt around and warm up on their range (which is basically hitting into the approach area to the 18th green) (don’t use a yellow ball on 18).

Unfortunately, it was declared too wet to be able to hit balls but we could putt and chip around. The greens were running about 10.5 on the speeDonmeter but come summer, look out. Also, as with most all RI golf courses, there were some wet areas that we were forewarned about. Finally, unlike last year, we would be playing from the black tees which is about a 500 yard difference on the card.

Agawam is a par 69, but don’t let that fool you. While there are only 2 par 5’s on the course, there are some longer par 4’s and only one par 3 I’d consider on the easier side.

Anyway, we were the 2nd group to tee off. We exchanged golf cards so that someone else is filling in your scores (more on that later) (yes, foreshadowing). The first hole is a very uphill 439 yard par 4 with a visible trap on the right side and trees guarding N. Broadway on the left.

I hit a good drive to what looked like the right side of the fairway, but when I got up there, there was a 2nd trap. The ball didn’t go in but was sitting in short grass on the rim of the trap, a bit below my feet. I hit a 7W with a slight pull that rolled to the left of the green with the pin towards the right side. I chipped up with the ball running about 8 ft. past the hole, and lo and behold, hit the putt for par.

The 2nd hole is a tough par 3 if you don’t hit the green, especially if you go right. There is very steep hill, cart path, and more steep hill. I hit a 6i that hit the left side strip of grass between the green and a bunker and of course, it rolled in. The pin was on the left side, so I was short-sided with a scary looking green sloped somewhat away from me. The face on the 60 was really opened up and I tried to finesse it to the left side of the pin, but it hit the grass strip and rolled back in. 2nd crack at it, I put it about 3 ft from the pin for a 4. I’ll take it.

The 3rd hole is a 506 yard par 5 and one of the soggy holes we were warned about. There is a creek that runs up the right side of the hole and another that intersects the fairway about 230-240 yards out. I pushed my drive down the right side to the right of the trees and creek. I was able to hit a 7W about 35 yards short of the green. 60 over the trap and onto the green with a 2 putt for par.

The 4th hole is another par 5 that runs parallel to the 3rd, so again, creek and trees on the right. I hit my drive down the right side of the fairway. I hit a pretty good 3w that was about 30 yards short of the green with a false front. I hit a high 60 to 15 ft right of the pin, just missed the birdie putt, tapped in for par.

I’ll spare you the details on the middle of the round. On the holes that cross Centre St. (8-14), there are large elevation changes (up and down). On 9, there is a huge trap to the left of the green you do not want to be in. I’d guess it is 20 feet below the green? On 10 and 11, you do not want to miss right (steep drops).

On 15, you have a risk/reward dogleg left (especially with the tee being pushed up from it’s traditional spot). There is a pond of the left side you need to carry if you hit driver. Luckily, I cleared it, hit 8 iron to the green and 2 putted for par. Hole 16 was a par 3 about 185 yards with traps around the elevated green. I hit a 5hy that landed 24 ft. from the pin (closest to the pin hole, so it was measured), and 2 putted for the par.

The 17th hole is a blind uphill par 4. I hit a good drive that I thought would be in the fairway but was just off in the rough which I suspect would have been a bit more gnarly in the summer with growth. I hit a PW that landed a putter head away from the cup, hit the pin and rolled about 6 ft away. Did I hit the birdie putt? Noooooo. I saw the putt being right at it, but it turned at the last second. Par again.

The 18th is listed as a 470 yard par 4, but there is a pretty steep drop about 200 yards out. I hit a good drive to the middle of the fairway and had 191 yards to the pin. The wind was helping slightly so I decided to go to the well again with the 5hy instead of the 7W. This time? Pushed it over near the practice green (severe push really). Was able to get a slightly open 52 onto the green and two putted for the bogey.

According to my app, I just shot an 81 which I was ecstatic about for a host of reasons. First, I exorcised that 102 from River Ridge. Second, an 81 from the blacks on a Ross course? Hell yes. And finally, it put me in 2nd place for gross and net. But remember that foreshadowing? Our foursome walked over the scorer’s table to do the cards.

Now, what should have happened is the same two people should have scored each other’s card. But the 4th in our group showed up right at tee time and we had already exchanged cards.

Anyway, I had 81 on my app and the person doing my card had a total of 81. No discrepancy, right? Well, I noticed later Golf Genius leaderboard had changed from an 81 to an 82. The guy doing my card marked me for a bogey on 15 but added the back 9 wrong. So yes, our total scores matched but my scorer needs a calculator and a hearing aid. Shame on me for not going over the card hole by hole and it cost me a net skin. Live and learn.

Agawam Hunt is a challenging course, especially the greens. When they are running fast, look out. Also, if you are on the wrong side of some of the greens, good luck getting your ball to stop where you want it. It was definitely missing some teeth with the fescue yet to grow in, but it was definitely an enjoyable round of golf. If you have an opportunity to play it, take it. You won’t be disappointed.

As for AGTNE, if you want to get your competitive feet wet for the first time, I highly recommend joining up and playing some events. It is a totally different experience where there aren’t breakfast balls and you have to putt everything.

Three footers look a lot longer in competitive golf and I left a lot of meat on the bone yesterday, missing a couple of short ones. Also, with AGTNE, you are either playing blues or blacks. If you want to play whites, you take a hit on your handicap and don’t earn points for low gross player of the year.