Aloha from Jersey! Yes, I am on holiday out east, but I brought my blog with me, along with some other things like my spirit of adventure, my love of ginger ale, and my tooth brush. Today's lesson centers on the trials and tribulations of one young Mr. Matt Caminiti. The time was a little after 12, the place: Tuxedo Country Club. We began on the long, blind-tee shot of the 1st hole. A par 4. Matt made short work of it and made a 17 footer for the birdie- something he had never done before. Riding the surge of confidence, the Jersey native closed out the front with a sloppy bogey on 9, but carded a solid front 9 score... 38! Holes 10 and 11 were played and pared. Hole 12. A long dogleg left par four requires a well placed drive and an accurate approach. The swing. Left. And Hooking. Dammit. Triple bogey 7. He was clearly rattled. He said his round was over. I replied, "A round of golf is 18 holes Mattie, not 12. Finish strong." He struggled into the clubhouse with a 45. Bobby Jones said he never learned anything from a tournament he won. Learn from your mistakes. Play all 18 holes of golf.

Bear