[mr_bogey]

I had two unusual and successful recoveries yesterday, both second shots on par 5 holes.

On #9, with a good following wind, I tried to drive across the crossing creek that we generally lay up on - I bombed it over on the longer right side, but kicked farther right and into the edge of the 'trash'. My ball lay in briars, on the steep downslope of dirt pushed against an old stump, sort of floating an inch above the ground. I had to be extremely careful not to move the ball as I prepared to hit; I chose a nine iron and aimed up the fairway - I had to chop a downward blow thru the trash and made great contact, firing out a low liner that went over 100 yards and left me 95 to the pin.

On # 16 my strong drive brushed the right trees and lost momentum, and came to rest in the mud at the edge of the lake - lucky for me the lake was down about a foot or it would have been submerged. My partners took up positions to watch me hit it, certain I was gonna be a splattered mess. I took a 7 iron and picked the ball off quite cleanly - not a smidgeon of mud on me - and hit it about 125 yards to leave a short wedge home.

The absolute key to both of these shots, and to most any sticky shot, is to totally commit to keeping my head down thru impact.