The HARDEST Round I've Ever Played… [DESERT DUNES GOLF CLUB]

[@EldredMerricks]

Maaaaaaaan what you said at the 5 minute mark was the JOLT I needed. After yesterday’s round - I was REALLY ready to give up on golf!!! You put so much into it and linearly you expect results. Balancing that with having fun and understanding why I’m out there has me reconsidering. So thank you - the timing of your speech COULD NOT have come at a better moment for me!!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Love hearing this. Obviously it's easier said than done, but I think taking a second to remember to enjoy being on the course goes a long way!

[@jameslovering9158]

Any day on a golf course is a day to cherish and enjoy. To be able to focus on that and keep happy is the key discipline we all need to master lol.

[@alexthekidlist124]

I really do enjoy every minute I spend on a golf course. I do not understand people raging and throwing away their clubs...

[@DiscGoStu]

Hitting driver on 7 and 11 on that course kind of blows my mind, you’re a brave man, Adam! Thanks for highlighting one of the most unique layouts in the Coachella Valley; hopefully the new owners will continue bringing it back to its former glory

[@r.l.rachel740]

Narrating your stratagies during play is a big entertainment plus. The bonus is your honesty. Thx.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@joegonz]

So much respect, it's nice seeing normal golf on KZbin and not all these people who seemingly play at a pga level. Also love that you respond to so many of your comments.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah, I think a huge impetus for starting the channel was to highlight every day golf...

[@MikesTubeEhh]

The 3W on 18 was magic! Great shot and a very respectable round. Wind, especially heavy wind is such a challenge!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks!

[@smoozerish]

loved your quick little chat at the tee box on hole 4.......you should do it more often on your videos. Like your insight for the week about life. Cannot believe how much your driving has improved the last few months. well done.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thank you!

[@greysquirrel24]

LOVE your channel, Adam! At 4:40, you talk about the uselessness of anger on the golf course. There is a form of golf in which anger can be useful: Speedgolf, the only kind of golf I play (I gave up on slow golf in 2013.) If I hit a bad shot and get angry, I can channel that anger into my next run to the ball. Pretty handy!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Lol tell me more about "speed golf" and where you're able to play it!

[@brucehanna9473]

Adam, your back 9 was amazing! You figured out the wind and did an awesome job of club selection. I hope to know my game that well one day. Love the content, keep it coming.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks!

[@SageVO]

New sticks? Also, great job by the mic screen blocking that wind! And, yeah, looked like a tough round. Fast wind and slow greens!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Yes, new sticks! A new what's in the bag video is coming. And man, I'm very impressed with how the mic screen performed (plus a bit of tweaking using effects in Final Cut).

[@haydenredl2919]

The speech on hole 4 was great. I’ve been working on my mental game all year and following your advice has really helped. The game is supposed to be fun. My family often jokes: we’re not being paid to do this, we’re paying to do it. All about expectation setting and just enjoying the activity for the break it’s meant to be

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Love this.

[@chasman67]

Adam, re: that last putt on 18. What I do to practice 8-12 footers is use a phony hole (black plastic circle) and make sure i get it to the hole. i try to leave every one 18 inches past.

[@Len_Capista]

I have been really working on adopting this philosophy. You and I are about the same handicap and I tend to really get down on myself when I make a few bogies. Even when it’s on 5-7 tougher holes. I like what you said about your expected score was +2 and your +3. That a lot easier to mentally overcome then “damn it I just doubled and boogied.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Glad this resonated!!

[@ThePhilTorretto]

I appreciate your attitude especially with the conditions of that course in those conditions. For me I’d have been miserable. Brutal wind, awful lies in the rough and just terrible looking greens. Not sure I’d have even kept playing that course on that day.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, Phil! Honestly, after the front 9 I was feeling a bit frustrated, but I tried to wipe the slate clean on the back. The bogey-bogey start to the back was also kind of frustrating, but I'm happy I kept grinding!

[@TheWiryWoodchuck]

Perhaps at the beginning when you put the course info you could include what set of tees you are playing from or how many sets in front of the tips you are.....just a thought

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Great idea! I'm going to start doing this, thank you!!

[@lindsaynewell6319]

A great approach to the round after a rough start produced a really solid back 9, especially with that wind.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thank you!

[@mek90703]

The wind is brutal on that side of the 10. Desert Dunes is looking really rough. That's too bad. It was a true hidden gem back in the realy 90's. Great playing in those conditions!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thank you! And yeah, I'm hopeful they'll get it into better shape this season. This was the course's second day open after overseeding. They have a fleet of new golf carts so it seems like they're willing to invest in the course...

[@joshpeterson7241]

Good round and it's nice to hear your thought process through the round. I'm still struggling to make progress with my game, but I really don't play enough to make much progress so that's expected. I mostly play for fun anyway.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, Joseph. Hopefully a useful nugget or two in there!

[@wess.9193]

Man, I just played in 25 mph wind yesterday and then you post a windy video this morning. Lol. It was hard to keep my head in the round because the wind was RELENTLESS. LOL. Love your positive vibes.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks! Indeed, the cumulative effect of the wind howling in your face for 4 hours is exhausting!

[@AVDFI1961]

3w on 18 was awesome. The conditions were tough and you certainly didn't get the rub of the green. Great video as always.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thank you!

[@drummerjake]

Adam, as always, another great video! I've never played in wind like that, but it sure looked difficult to judge what to hit, and you did a great job. If you're ever in the Portland, OR area, a round of golf on me!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, man! Would love to tee it up in Portland one day!

[@whaleshark2625]

I would absolutely love to hear you do a little round summary on these types of videos - i.e. for me this round would be "putter wasn't quite dialled in for the first few holes, greens were rolling a lot slower than expected and so left some putts short, and missed some make-able approaches due to the wind or slight mis-hits. Good scrambling with wedges and hit the top end of the bag very well."

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Wow, you said it better and more concisely than I would have! :p

[@jeffking4472]

I played this course back in March. The story I heard was that it used to be one of the main courses in the area, but over the years it fell into disrepair. Someone recently bought it and it's starting to come back. I don't know how much of that is true, but it was still in pretty bad condition when I played, and it was super hard + windy. If it gets some TLC, I think it could be a great tester of a course when you're in Palm Springs.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Agreed!

[@DiscGoStu]

I started playing there in 2020 and it’s gotten markedly better with each passing season. Really hoping it returns to respectability because the layout is unbelievable

[@ileisl]

Thanks Adam! I was thinking the triangle was for gauging the slope!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

You gots it!

[@paulthomson2288]

Once played a Robert Trent Jones Jr course in Thailand (Eastern Star)...averaged 3 putting every other hole...

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Love his layouts.

[@hjm33]

Great round Adam considering how tough is the course and the wind was complicated!!! Congrats

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks!

[@hjm33]

@@NotAScratchGolfer what a shot on hole 18!!! Amazing, those are the kind of shots that makes amateur golfers like us keep playing forever 😍

[@miklebutcher3051]

Played that course a few time, it's hard enough without the wind... great job Adam

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks! Yeah it's a great track and the wind often howls there.

[@scottyk_cdvi5650]

The "oooh do i see it?! Yeah... GODDAMNIT!!" had me rolling 😂😂.... i say that at least 17times a round

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

lolll I feel you.

[@shotbro-]

Great to see a relatable gross score! Also interesting that the same struggles and lessons apply no matter the ability. Thanks Adam...

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks man, glad you enjoyed it!

[@vcjjj08]

Your 3HY was on absolute fire. 18th hole the approach shot draw with a 3W!! Come on bro those are the kind of shots that keep you playing the game. That looked like a pretty difficult course. Another great video.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks! Yeah, that 3W on 18 was probably one of the best shots I've ever hit! Shame I didn't convert the putt!!

[@karenbaisch2868]

I have played Desert Dunes several times. Very good course, considering the wind you played pretty well. Putting on the overseed is always very hard. you would have scored better with normal green conditions. You played the back 9 very well, I was impressed

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, Karen!

[@joshkresal836]

"The beatings will continue until morale improves." Had me cackling at work! love the videos!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

lol glad somebody took a shine to that one!

[@dillonpayne2553]

Desert Dunes was the first course I ever played in the Palm Springs area. Great layout

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Great layout and glad to see they seem invested in getting it into better shape this season than the last few.

[@dillonpayne2553]

I don't know if you've ever played Cimarron. But they also have a really cool 18 hole par 3 course. That would be cool to see you play that

[@Haun-terIII]

Love the honesty.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thank you!

[@tedjerdee1028]

Playing a course like this makes you appreciate how good PGA pros are. Going -15 or more through 4 consecutive rounds with the hardest conditions doesn't even seem possible

[@lookkool]

Did you have your putter refinished? Looks like it has a blue on it now.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

The putter is a Golf Sidekick creation! Very similar head to my ordinary gamer. More info on that coming soon from the Playa in Chief.

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

Considering how strong that wind was, and how slow the greens were, I think that was a pretty good round Adam. I would bet if they offered you an 82 before teeing off, you would have said yes please.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Definitely, and thanks for the kind words!

[@1.5golf98]

I'm surprised at how bad those greens were. Especially for a RTJ course. Chewed up and slower than a shag carpet. Great content!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thank you! I'm hopeful they'll get the course into better shape. This was their second day open after overseeding.

[@chasman67]

Would love to know how much green fees are at each course you play and whether they are public.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Good suggestion to include this info. Have only played a handful of private courses on the channel. The green fee at Desert Dunes was $69.

[@IggyInBurnaby]

Those are some lightning fast greens.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Not sure if serious?

[@IggyInBurnaby]

@@NotAScratchGolfer100%

[@dgreen8388]

I tell you what, that wind muff was working overtime on your mic lol That was some serious wind and we didn't hear a peep. Way to put together a great back 9!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

It's funny you mention this. I was concerned throughout the round that the audio would be unusable. I imported the clips into Final Cut and was surprised that they were pretty good! Then I used the audio effect "voice isolation" in Final Cut and the result was fantastic. It's truly hard to explain just how windy it was out there. My tripod was only a few inches off the ground and weighted down with a sandbag and it was *still* falling over constantly.

[@dgreen8388]

@@NotAScratchGolfer Well you definitely made it work. Well done. I've only played in wind like that a handful of times and it really tests your mental game.

[@cwill229]

I've played Desert Dunes twice, once w/ 2-club wind and once without. Challenging course, but some gettable holes. I've wondered why fewer people play it. Both times I played were in peak season, but almost no one was there. No clue, maybe it's the wind? An affordable round, for sure.

[@jackfunk5765]

I have never yelled go in at a veido in my life. I did at this one a few times was rooting for ya bro. Ruff one

[@chasman67]

Free tip = With wind from the left you should try to hit a draw to counterbalance the wind's effect. (Opening hole tee shot.)

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Cheers

[@krispybowgod9656]

Had a similar round today. 43 on the front after a few double bogeys and was about to give up on myself but reminded myself it’s the last day of the season and I just need to enjoy the round. Ended up with a 37 on the back with a few birds

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Love it, congrats!

[@MartyHutcheson-j2z]

Those greens were so slow. It is crazy that you can have a decent round under those conditions. The wind alone.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, man.

[@willl5250]

What mic are you using and how do you cut out that wind?

[@JayFF66]

probably time for an updated WITB, assuming anything has changed since the last video?

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Yes, all 14 clubs have changed since then! A new WITB is coming in Nov.

[@MrJohnnyb74]

I played Torrey North yesterday and they are preparing for the Farmers so the rough is already 4" long. I'm not a long hitter, so having 180-200 in on a par 4 from the rough was brutal.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Yeah, I played Torrey South right after the Farmers (and again right after the US Open) and it's MADDENING how difficult it plays with the rough that high.

[@CharlesSlater-mq2jz]

Awesome video 💯

[@martinhames3434]

Another great video

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thank you!

[@mikechek_1_2]

Great vid Adam! What app/program do you use for tracers? I'm having a hard time finding one that actually works.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks! I use shot tracer pro for Mac OS. It’s tedious but it works!

[@obrothernotagain4668]

Did you forget your putter cover on the 13th?

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

haha no I got it!

[@TheDarrin10]

great video! your like me not a scratch golfer but I do have my days playing and no reason to get mad playing! I see people throw their clubs and cuss and cry because they make bad shots! and here I am like oops that sucked lol

[@blackheart7886]

always enjoyable.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks!

[@mrkipling3841]

Good effort under those conditions.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thank you!

[@BoomsRiddico4868]

had the greens been in better condition you would have made a much better score

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

I tell myself that, anyway!

[@MrSaints74]

So funny, the camera falls and you tube breaks for commercial.

[@WindsurfFlorida]

Second!!!! About to play this afternoon!!!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Going to be even more windy out there today, I think. Enjoy!

[@zacharymilos392]

Brutally slow greens😢

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Yeahhhhh

[@davejohn255]

How many shots would you shave off Adam if you improved every lie , the way the Bustajack boys do ?

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Interesting question. I'd guess about one stroke per round on average? I have some friends who say that it's 2-4 (when bumping the ball in Winter conditions), but my guess is that it would average out to less than that. Total stab in the dark, though.

[@jacksondavis7762]

I'd somewhat disagree with your comment re: anger. I think I've channeled anger on a golf course plenty of times for good. That's not to say it's bit really easy to go over the line and move into full tilt mode, which is obviously very bad.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Interesting! Yeah, I guess it was a bit of a blanket statement. My observation is that *most* don't play better angry...

[@skizzot91r]

Yes Buffalo Bill... we give you that put ;)

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Lol thanks

[@AmericasQB_KirkCousins]

First

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

🥳

[@AmericasQB_KirkCousins]

@@NotAScratchGolfer 🎉

[@ZaxDrumsGolfandMore]

Looked like a tough round with the wind but you kept on marching!! 🏌‍♂⛳😀

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks!

[@daltonlong5271]

Can you stop posting the scores so we can find out after watching?

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Yeah I'll cut that out.