Met @joecline41 Friday evening for a balmy Battle of the Joes at Seneca, one of our Metropark gems in Cleveland. We played Furnace/Chippewa for those in the know, and @the_wizard and his wife served as markers.
That last piece was a subtle, and as far as I know unintentional, pro move by Joe C. You see, Waldo’s wife and I worked together for a handful of years, and we spent much of the pre-match and opening holes catching up. To say I wasn’t focused would be an understatement, and you need look no further than my triple on 1 for evidence. I may have pulled a fairway Saddam. Woof.
Joe C came out firing, quickly jumping out to a two hole lead through two holes played. With the 95°-but-feels-like-102° forcing sweat out of my fingernails, I knew I had to lock in. Especially since Joe C’s game appeared to be metronome-consistent.
In true Pop City fashion, what better time than the first of 6 holes I’d pop on: the par 5 third? I took it with a 5 for 4 and the match was truly on.
The front was a back and forth affair, with just three holes halved. We went to the back with Joe C one up and both of us playing steady, bogey-adjacent golf.
The back got off to a tough start for Joe C, though, with an errant tee shot turned lost ball that an angry gaggle of geese may or may not have compounded. I made a relatively comfy par and we were back to all square.
That was the first of a three hole stretch of won holes for me which culminated in a birdie-for-eagle at the 555 yard par 5 12th. I was two up as we headed to the final third.
At this point, I should remind you that it was unbearably hot. There were good shots and bad shots. I know I had found my driver around 11, and Joe C’s was hot and cold. But I honestly don’t remember very many specific shots, epic saves, or massive mistakes. They definitely happened, but I can’t recall them. I do remember heat. Thick, steam-rushing-from-an-opened-oven, dog-days-of-summer heat.
And I remember an oasis in the grassy desert. Truly exemplifying the TC Way, Joe C had a family-sized cooler of waters and he was graciously sharing. I would’ve melted if not for that cooler and those waters. Joe C is a first class dude.
But we have a match to finish. Bogey golf was played by each of us over holes 13, 14, and 15, and we halved each of the holes. We went to 16 with Joe C desperately needing to take a hole, being down two with three to play.
7 on Chippewa is a fairly easy par 4 playing 373 from our tees. Water looms right and, weary of an OB ball in such an important spot, each of us sent tee shots left of the fairway. I sent my approach over the green. Joe C left his short. And then he left a second short. I ended up winning the hole with a 5 following a chip and two putt, Joe C’s otherwise brutally consistent short game failing him in this pivotal moment. And there the match ended, a 3&2 victory for Joe A’s everywhere.
Really grateful for Joe C’s company and hospitality. No surprise he spent a cup of coffee in that industry. I hope Pounders was thoroughly air conditioned and the col beers were just a smidge above freezing.
And really great catching up with Waldo and his missus. Hoping to see y’all out there again soon.
