2017-04-19_Moorland

The annual pilgrimage to Myrtle Beach, SC for the Ryder Cup style competition known as the Donkey Cup sees Steve join perennial early arrivers, Mike and Todd, for their Wednesday warm-up round on the much liked Moorland golf course at the Legends Golf Resort. With each passing year, the highly anticipated trip commences earlier and earlier but it does afford for another RAGA round on one of the best courses on tour.

The typical warm-up round includes the occasional beverage or three, so make sure you subtract the handicap on this one. Not sure how many beverages were flowing before the 1st hole but Steve started off this new experience with a triple. If any drinks were consumed they didn’t have any impact on Todd’s game early on, parring the par-4 1st and 3rd holes. Mike took his usual bogey golf out on the first two holes, continuing his “steady-as-she-goes” game plan. Steve was able to loosen up and bounce back by parring 2, 3, and 4, to pull 1 behind Mike and Todd after 4. The dreaded snowman came out for a drink with Todd on the par-5 6th and rounded out the front 9 five behind our co-leaders, Steve and Mike. The effects of the diet Cokes must have hit him early.

Steve jumped out to a sizable lead after his birdie on the par-5 11th, going up 3 over Mike, as Todd continued to fall behind, feeling the effects of the carbonation. Steve views on a victory began to blur on the par-4s 12th and 14th - may be caused by some impaired driving - taking double-pars on each. Mike took advantage of these stumbles to go up 3 after 14 holes. All three competitors shot worse on the back than the front, an indication that the inward 9 is more difficult or a sign of the impacts of beverages on performance? Either way, Mike takes this warm-up round and appears to be prepared to help improve his all-time Donkey Cup team title record.