Wigwam and Palmbrook

Hello Everyone...


I know it has been awhile and I haven't posted in a few weeks but I have been on the road nonstop.  This point in the season I am starting to find my rhythm and comfort out on the course.  I am starting to feel as though I belong amongst the other girls and am excited to compete.  Been doing a lot of work with my putting game and trying to focus on making those important clutch putts.  This blog is going to be a combined blog for the past two events since it has taken me awhile to post.  Both courses I have played before at the beginning of the season and therefore I will not be giving them a course review.  I feel that both courses earned the score I gave them back in January.

Wigwam-
This was my second time playing Wigwam only this time we had a ton of wind to deal with.  It started the day of the pro am and continued throughout the week.  The pro am was a huge success and I met some wonderful people.  We are always so appreciative of the people who find time to play in the pro am because it adds money to our purse for the week.  I played decent but could not putt for the life of me.  As you read the week I played in Florida, I putted lights out.  Golf is unfortunately one of the few sports that consistency is difficult to find.  I went back home frustrated and a little heartbroken that my putting stroke was all over the place.  There is nothing scarier than standing over a putt not knowing how hard to hit it because you have lost your feel and confidence.  I worked really hard the following week in order to prepare for the Penny Pulz Palmbrook event.  

Palmbrook-  If you remember my last post on this course I mentioned they were some of the hardest greens I had ever faced.  I felt prepared as I worked hard on my putting before this event.  I was amazed as how different the course seemed than last time.  Now remember, this was my first course ever played in a professional event and this time would be my 8th.  All I can say is what a tremendous difference experience makes.  The course still played tough but I felt much more at ease and was excited to face it again.  We also started the week off with a pro am and I was blessed to once again meet incredible people.  Course knowledge was handed out by the tons and laughs were shared throughout the day.  


This pro am was a very special one because of one amazing little girl.  The first pro am we had at Palmbrook I met a little girl Madison who came out to watch and meet the Cactus Tour girls.  I signed a towel for her and enjoyed meeting her.  This time around Madison heard about the pro am and told her dad he had to play so she could come watch and ride along.  Throughout the day word spread from girl to girl about Madison and how she was a golfer as well.  She takes lessons from Penny Pulz and cannot wait to jump into the pond after winning the Nabisco.  These are the people in life that make your job completely worth while.  We often forget as we are focused on playing golf that we are also role models for others.  I am so proud of Madison and wish her all the best! 


I am currently in Scottsdale playing at Orange Tree this week!


Stay tuned for the updates and please tell everyone about the blog.  


Amanda

Florida Women's Open

This past week I played in the Florida Women’s Open in Orlando Florida.  This tournament was not a Cactus Tour event and had a much larger field then expected.  When arriving at the course I was nothing other than shocked.  The course was in decent condition but the greens were completely bare.  I mean they didn’t have any, and I repeat any grass on the greens.  This tournament is a huge event that many LPGA and Future Tour players attend and I could not believe what I saw as I stood on the driving range before my practice round.  I played the practice round and as my putts bumped their way to hole I started to feel frustrated.  Not guaranteed a two putt from 8 feet is not enjoyable. 

That night before the tournament I reevaluated the situation and decided I was playing on the same course in the same conditions as every other girl in the event.  So why had I been upset?  If anyone knew how to grind it out on a rough course it was me.  I grew up on a small hometown course where grass was sparse and you never knew the lye you were going to get.  The next day I headed out to the course with a new attitude and told myself if I didn’t want to have to worry about putting then I would need to simply stick the ball closer.  My game strategy…well what do you know?...it adapted.  I decided to play my game and if putts fell in I would be happy.

With the attitude I played the best I have in a tournament.  I wasn’t worried about missing putts so I putted a little more aggressively which actually allowed for more putts to fall.  As I said, one of my main strategies was too focus on my approach shots.  On hole 5 from 138 yards I struck an aggressive 8 iron at the pin and holed out for eagle.  I shot 72 that day followed by 73 on the second day.  The third and final day I was a bit more nervous because I had never played so well in a tournament before.  I struck the ball well and without losing faith in my game I shot 76.  I had a small bogey train on the back nine but revived my score with two birdies to finish the round. Overall I finished 13th out of 54 girls and made my first professional paycheck!

Course Review: Rio Pinar Country Club

 I normally write a lengthy review about a course but honestly i don't have much to say other than don't play here.  I told you that I would always give my honest and blunt opinion because there is nothing worse than receiving sugar-coated reviews.  I feel you need to know the truth and why waste your time at a place that is not worth your time.  The course is located in Orlando, Florida tucked back off the 4 freeway.  The course is in "okay" condition but they had a chemical mix up on the greens and they lost all of their grass.  We were putting on rolled mud.  The practice facility is in poor shape.  With the space to have a great facility they do not keep it in shape.

I give it 2 Stars

Amanda