Evening Play on the Golf Course
Late afternoon and evening have a magical quality, perfect for playing golf—akin to hunting, where the optimal times are early mornings or late afternoons. As the afternoon wind picks up, the game becomes more challenging.
First Half of the Round
Vince takes the first tee shot, with the ball bouncing left and rolling toward the center of the fairway, leaving a short distance to the first green—great start. With no one ahead, they quickly move through the first nine holes.
Progress on the Course
A score of 39 is decent, especially if aiming to break 80 on this course. Par is made on the 10th hole, but a potential birdie slips away. Although managing to score a bogey on the challenging 11th hole is acceptable, its dogleg nature and water hazard make par difficult.
Encountering Fog
As they stroll up the 12th fairway, fog creeps over the hills, cooling the air significantly as the wind picks up. After making par on the simple par-3 13th and navigating the tricky par-4 14th successfully, they press on.
Challenging Final Holes
At the daunting 15th hole, you reflect on your score: six over with four holes remaining. Hitting a well-placed 2-iron, the shot lands on the green. After a par on 15, approaching the 16th, you realize you’re the last players on the course, and your pace quickens in the setting sun.
Making Up for Mistakes
The 16th hole proves tough; a good tee shot leaves a challenging approach. Unfortunately, after a sequence of mistakes, you end with a double bogey, needing to birdie the last two holes to break 80.
Climactic Finish
The wind is in your favor at the 17th tee, a reachable par 5. With a powerful 2-wood, you aim for the green and set up for a birdie, successfully converting the chance. The final hole, once hindered by a large tree, now presents itself as a straightforward approach as night begins to fall. Both players hit their shots onto the green, sharing a moment of silent camaraderie as they realize they’ve made it through together.
Gary Marsh is the author of this piece, which is an excerpt from the upcoming book “In Between Drinks: Beaches, Bars and Other Stories.” Having lived in San Anselmo for two decades, Gary played over 1,000 rounds at the San Geronimo Golf Course, which closed in 2018 and is now part of the Trust for Public Land. Readers are encouraged to share their own stories for the How It Is column.
