Me and a rag-tag team won the tourney portion of a 3-day golf trip to Nowheresville, Wisc. two weeks ago, my first time ever playing an "event" like that. First day was "handicapping", then the next 2 days were scramble format with standard skills prizes and lowest score day/overall prizes. The teams were shuffled into either foursomes of A, B, C, D rated players from the previous day, or a threesome of A, C, D players with a rotating mulligan (hole or shot-based, team's choice), and we went out and shot a 72-69 in partially windy/rainy conditions to win the second day and overall at -3. To top it off on the second day I won the closest to the pin on the back 9 and the longest drive for a few extra bucks, so ended up walking away with a decent chunk of change.

It was my first time ever really playing for money like that, and to be honest the format had me forgetting that I had put down any money at all, so I was swinging anxiety-free and was pleasantly surprised splitting up the cash with teammates after the second round. I know the score in scramble format is nothing to write home about, and probably neither is the money, so this isn't a brag, just a facet of golfing travel I've never experienced before, and 10/10 would do again. I think what was nice was that I drove there in my car, so none of this being on an airport oasis stuff you get traveling to ritzier digs.

Funny side note: I kept our score on my watch as a backup just in case (I will exempt the scores from my stats), but it was funny to see that 2 really good rounds of golf played on a majority of my shots lowered my handicap from the mid-10's to like a 4.9. Which I guess just goes to show I don't and never will understand the handicapping system.

Where'd you play?

I think you're putting in your numbers wrong lol, don't see how 2 rounds could ever lower a handicap from mid 10s to 4.9. I'm no math guy, but that seems mathematically impossible. if your mid 10s you're shooting rounds in the mid 80s to mid to late 90s pretty consistently. Plus doesn't handicap throw out your 2 best and 2 worst rounds out of your last 20? either way, a guy in the mid 10s would probably need at least 8 rounds in the mid 70s to make a jump like that.

We played Waushara CC, Mascoutin GC, and Two Oaks North. Mascoutin was probably my favorite, the greens were well maintained and challenging.

And yeah my Garmin s70 does all the handicap calculations, so I don't know how it went down from like a 10.4 to a 4.9, maybe it's because we shot a 72 from the blues on Mascoutin. Regardless, the handicap will be back up where it should be with the stats ignored, especially since I came home and promptly shot 41-46 over two days at my home course.

Played The Preserve at Oak Meadows in Addison on Saturday. Course was remodeled in 2017, with a lot of prairie areas and the wetlands/floodplain along the Salt Creek being reclaimed. I really liked the layout, and would recommend it to anyone that shoots 80's or better. Worse than that, and you might spend more time swearing over lost golf balls than enjoying the course. They do have 5 sets of tees (and a couple hybrid layouts), so if you're realistic about the tees you play, it's more manageable. Almost every tee shot requires some thought on how you want to play the hole. Many are setup with wide landing areas if you are willing to hit 4i, 5W, 3W, off the tee. Things tighten up/or fairway runs out with driver. On the 14 par 4/5's I hit driver 4 times.

Had a co-worker invite me to play Erin Hills through a supplier next week. I was very tempted, as it is one of my favorite courses but ended up turning him down. Knowing what I know about that course and looking at the weather forecast, I just didn't want to take it on. It's a beautiful facility and they have priced themselves out of me going into my own pocket to play at $425 greens fees during peak season. Tack on another $50 for a caddie and suggested $75 tip for said caddie ( no carts allowed out there ). It's also purported to be a roughly 7 mile hilly walk. I've played it 3 times in the past but I didn't want to have a 5+ hour day out there with potential rain looming, possible 90 degree temps, and playing with folks I didn't know.

Isn’t the supplier paying, if so, I don’t understand saying no.

I played in an event last week and just a really busy time at work to be taking a day off. Just feel like it wouldn't be very enjoyable in the end. I love to play golf but don't love to play very slow golf.

Thanks guys, I'll have to research getting fitted for clubs. I'm being asked (forced) to play more golf for sales, so I'm expecting to be playing one or two times a month.