Golfing The Back Nine At Crooked Creek Near Lincoln, Nebraska

In a previous article, we went through the front nine on this course. The front nine was acceptable and ended up shooting 10 over par. Keep in mind this is the second round of the year for me. The first round was 2 weeks ago, so a little rust was getting worked out on the front nine. My stroke is starting to come together and I usually play better on the back nine than the front nine when I golf. At this point, I am looking forward to the back nine and a better nine than the front nine.

I should mention that I use discount golf clubs, but they are custom golf clubs that were built to my specifications. I figure these clone golf clubs save me money and work just as well as higher priced name-brnd golf clubs. My driver and woods are getting a little old and I may have to start looking at some new ones. My clone golf irons are all only a year old. They are comparable in performance to the Nike Slingshot irons.

The back nine starts with a par 4 that measures around 375 yards and is handicapped at number 12. From the tee box, the tee shot is downhill heading straight south. I used a driver off the tee and ended up about 135 yards from the green in the fairway. This is starting off the back nine in great fashion! I used a 9 iron from there that ended up off the right side of the green about pin high. I used my pitching wedge from there to within 8 feet of the pin. I putted in for a par. Definitely starting the back nine off on the right foot!

Number 11 is another par 4 that is playing about 400 yards. It is handicapped at number 10. A driver off the tee sails down to the fairway below and leaves about 145 yards. The only problem is that it is on the right side in the rough. There is a creek that runs about 50 yards in front of the green. This shouldn't be a problem for my 8 iron, that I usually figure will go about 150 yards. The shot ends up about 13 yards short of the pin in front of the green in the fairway. My pitching wedge gets the golf ball to within 13 foot of the pin. One putt and I walk away with a par. Another nice up and down!

Number 12 is a par 3 that is measuring about 140 yards today. The handicap on this hole is a 14. This hole always seems to play longer than the yardage, so I will use my 8 iron off the tee. The tee shot lands the green leaving a 40 foot putt. The putt ends up 10 foot short and the following putt leaves 4 inches. A tap in putt and I walk away with a bogey. This is the first bogey of the back nine.

Hole 13 is a par 5 handicapped at 4th hardest on the course that is narrow and has a creek running across it about 350 yards out. It is playing about 530 yards long today. I use my driver and end up about 290 yards from the green in the middle of the fairway. My 3 wood gets me to right at 100 yards out and in the fairway. I like this hole so far. I use my pitching wedge and take a little off. A full pitching wedge goes about 120 yards. One hop and the golf ball goes in the hole for an EAGLE! My first ever eagle. I really like how this hole played.

Number 14 is a par 4 that measures 340 yards. This hole is handicapped at 16 on the course. It dog legs left at about 240 yards out. There is water on the left and right. I use my 3 wood and place the tee shot 115 yards out in the middle of the fairway. My tee shots are finding great success so far. A pitching wedge ends up on the right just off the green and pin high. I use my pitching wedge again to get within 2 feet of the hole. A tap in par and hole 14 is in the books.

OK, time for another gem from one of my golfing buddies: I can always tell when you're drinking, you start to look blurry.

Hole 15 is a par 3 that plays up to a green that slopes away and to the right. This hole is handicapped as the easiest hole on the course, but always plays hard for me. It is protected by sand in the right front and always plays longer than the distance. Today, that distance measures around 140 yards. I use my 8 iron and come up about 25 yards short of the green on the left. The sand must have scared me. I use a sand wedge and end up about 3 feet from the pin on the high side. My putt ends up 3 inches past the hole. A tap in and the hole end up a bogey. This hole is somewhat disappointing after the round so far, but I still feel good about my play.

Number 16 is a par 4 that tees off down to an open fairway and is handicapped at number 8. This is a slight dog leg right with the green guarded by a sand bunker on the front right. The hole measures about 360 yards. My driver finds the fairway and leaves about 105 yards left to the green. I hit my pitching wedge fat and end up in the darn sand bunker in the front of the green. This leaves another great opportunity to play out of the sand. My sand wedge out of the sand ends up 4 foot from the hole. I am definitely gaining confidence getting out of the sand. The subsequent putt ends up 2 inches past the hole. A tap in and I walk away with a par!

Hole 17 is a par 4 that measures 380 yards uphill and is the sixth hardest hole on the course according to the handicapping. My driver off the tee ends up slicing badly off to the right. I estimate that I am 150 yards out and use my 8 iron. The swing and contact with the golf ball all felt good. I must have not estimated the distance right, as this shot ends up about 40 yards short of the green. The green slopes away and to the left. There is sand on the left, so that should be out of play from where I am shooting. My pitching wedge sends the golf ball to within 18 feet. The first putt ends up about 2 foot past the hole. A tap in from there gives me a bogey. This is probably a good score from off the fairway.

The last hole is a par 5 measuring 530 yards. This number 2 handicapped hole gently dog legs right all the way to the green. My driver off the tee finds the fairway and leaves about 300 yards. My 3 wood from the fairway pushes the golf ball out to the right in the rough and about 75 yards from the green. My sand wedge ends up on the fringe of the green and about 30 feet away from the pin. I putt to within 7 foot and then putt 2 foot past the hole. I putt the last one in for a bogey.

As I add up the score, I end up with a 2 over for the back nine. I am very pleased with this back nine, especially the eagle on the par 5 13th hole. I would like to figure out why I shoot better on the back nine and how to do the same on the front nine. I feel like I warm up enough, but maybe I need a bit more. The total for the 18 holes is 12 over. This is much better than my normal goal of bogey golf. I am really looking forward to this season. Until next week, I hope all your drives find the fairway and all your putts find the bottom of the hole.