Fore! September '26 - Close Encounters of a Golf Kind

By Greg Johnson, For The Mountain Times

Hello again, dear readers, and welcome back to another edition of Fore, the spot where you can find all your local golf news and possibly even learn something. Well, perhaps you won’t learn anything, but I still appreciate you taking the time to read this silly little column. Summer is slowly winding down and we have reached the point in the year where we like to reflect on all the things we failed to get done over the summer, as we spent way too much time on the golf course: time well spent in my opinion. Chores can be done anytime of the year, and I figure if you’re able to get close to completing most of your outdoor projects, then that is a productive summer.       

Speaking of being close, I hear that close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, but in theory, shouldn’t that apply to golf too? I could be wrong, but I’m fairly certain that no golfer has ever shot an 18 for a round. It’s possible that some putt-putt prodigy was able to dominate the Bullwinkle circuit and putt their way to a perfect score, but with regard to the game we all play, getting close with each shot is considered a success. When I’m sitting 150, 135, or even 75 yards out from the hole, my only thought is “get it close.” Of course, there are those rare anomaly shots which manage to seek the pin, but we know that’s the exception and not the rule. But boy oh boy, when those shots do find their way to the hole, it's utter ecstasy. That’s a topic for another day. Today we are focusing on just being close. For most of us, just hitting the green from an extended distance is a triumphant achievement and a positive affirmation. We would all love to hole out from 100 yards, but we’re realists here and we know that simply getting the ball on the green is the real goal.      

Even after we have managed to get the ball to the green, our goals remain the same when we are putting. Get as close as you can to that hole. I am guilty of being a putting denialist, and used to have delusional expectations that every putt should be sunk with one simple stroke. The reality is that that way of thinking is not sustainable, if you want to maintain your sanity. Inner peace comes once you temper your goals and accept that close does count in golf. There is no shame in a two putt. Though I should clarify, there is no shame from a two putt from beyond three feet. The rule does not apply to three feet and in, as those must be made. 

I’d like to wrap this by giving a big shout out to the good people over at the Three Nines, and acknowledge all the hard work they have put in this summer. They have battled heat waves, fire smoke, and seasonal droughts, yet the course has remained in fantastic condition this year.  Between the pro shop and the grounds crew, they have really stepped up, and their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Thank you all, as I thoroughly enjoy reaping the benefits of your labors, and I assure you that I’m not alone in that sentiment. Until next time, keep your eye on the ball.