Carling’s Stretch Run on the Duramed

Hello again! This is Carling Coffing blogging straight from The Duramed Futures Tour, and I just finished up my 12^th tournament of the year. This is the part of the season where you really have to grind because there are six straight weeks of tournaments with NO off-weeks! A lot of players are choosing to not play all six events because it is too hard on their games, bodies, spirits, etc. But I’m just a rookie, and I look forward to experiencing these mistakes all on my own, so for this last stretch of six I say, “bring it on!”

We started out in Connecticut. It was a beautiful course with sloping greens and big fairways. I hit the ball like unbelievably great. No really—I couldn’t have hit it better even if magical pin-seeking fairy dust was sprinkled all over me. I had a lot of trouble making putts though. It was okay though because I felt like it was improving and all I had to do was make the cut so I could put it all together on the final day. So with 2 holes to play on Saturday, I’m five over for the two days. I hear through the grape-vine that they think the cut will be four over. I need a biride! Of course…like it was destiny…I lipped out on 17. No biggie. Do not panic. I can birdie the last hole, it’s just a tiny, little, simple 185 yard sloping par three—easy, right?

I’m excited to even get the ball on the green to 35 feet. I have a shot at it. This is my time to make history. So I charge the hole like a rhinoceros on safari. Bam! Missed! I not only missed the putt, but hit it eight feet by the hole. So I make a lousy attempt at my second putt, and as I tap in for a three-putt bogey I think, “oh well, I missed the cut anyway. Nice try.”

So I congratulated my opponents and made a joke in the scoring tent about wanting to save my win for a week with a bigger purse – haha. Then I headed to the next location. Three hours into the trip I decided to check the scores of the tournament. And then I notice something very, very….very strange. The grapevine was wrong! My grapes had gone sour! The cut-line ended up being 5 over. The very score I was at until I magically turned into a safari animal with a putter in her hand. All I needed to do was 2 putt the last hole. Just two easy putts from 35 feet. How could I be so ridiculous?? I felt like a big flashing neon “ROOKIE” sign was plastered straight across my forehead.

I’d like to just say, “well you live and you learn” and move on…but this one hurt, it stung me bad. I can feel the pressure building up as the season is quickly coming to an end. There are only so many opportunities left, and it’s time for everyone to start making their move. It may have taken a day or so, but I did end up moving on from my rookie mistake and going at my tournament in New Hampshire full force! I made the cut, and brought home a little paycheck that next week. But there was room for improvement and I think that this third week in Syracuse, NY is going to be great!

My mom and dad had business to take care of back in Ohio, so I will be doing this one all by myself! I know—don’t forget to floss your teeth, eat your vegetables, clean your rental car, and register on Tuesday. I’m expecting these mother’s text messages haha. I’m a little nervous to go out there without a caddy this week, but I’m going to give it my all and see what happens. I’ll let you know how it goes! See you next time

Carling

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Tags: Carling Coffing, Duramed FUTURES Tour, golf, Inside the Ropes, Rookie, Women's Golf