“Breaking Par with Charlie Rymer” Episode 1: Wedgefield Country Club

Cancer knocked me down, but not out. Now, I’m cancer free. The recovery? It’s been tough. I’ll need patience, a lot of humor …

(You can only keep talent down for so long!)

… And support from friends and family. Over the last two years, I haven’t played much golf, but there’s no better place to get back in the game than on 66 courses in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We’re keeping score, but just teeing it up means I’ve already won!

(You’re not going to believe where this ball ended up!)

Join me on my journey to break par!

My first stop has taken me south to Wedgefield Country Club. Check out the signature hole at this magnificent property. It’s a straightaway par five, but boy, does nature come into play, native marsh grass on both sides along a fairway that pinches like an hourglass on the approach. Trees and bunkers tightly guard each side of the green as it opens up to a spectacular Black River backdrop.

I’m on the 17th tee here at beautiful Wedgefield Country Club. We are in Georgetown, South Carolina, the bottom farthest south end of the Grand Strand. Now, the word to describe Wedgefield is majestic. It’s an amazing property. I love the live oaks here. And I love this 17th par five. That’s the Black River off in the distance.

Now then, I’m getting all smart folks. Yeah, it could happen. I’m going with the five wood here. And the reason I’m doing that is that penalty area to the right, the penalty area to the left, the bunker on the right, this five wood takes all of that out of play. All right, so the ideal play here is about a three-yard right-to-left draw, starting right center, coming back to center.

Or I could peel it a little off to the left. You watch, folks. I can make birdie from there. I can make that shot work. Maybe.

So that five wood is the first shot of the day. I acted like it was alright, but I think it hurt every bone in my body, and it might be stymied behind this tree. But I acted really cool about it, and I’ve got to tell you, in golf, that’s a great tip. When you hit a really bad shot, you just pose like you’re on network television, and you just striped it right down the middle. Try that sometime. If it works, let me know.

You guys are going to love this. I got my five iron out. Check this out. Well, check this tree out. This thing is incredible, this live oak, but that live oak has given me a cool little gap. You see it right up there, right in here. I can see a window. I’m going to take this five iron. I’m going to hit it right through that gap. I’m going to hook it about 18 yards and put it back in the fairway short of the green. Bubba Watson, eat your heart out.

Back in my stance, close it down a little bit. Keep hooking, baby! Yeah, we might have to look for that one a little bit.

When I started talking earlier on this thing, my picture went away on it. Was that bad?

No, that’s fine. You’re fine.

I don’t know how this thing works.

What?

I’m just messing with you. These camera guys, they don’t have a clue. I’m messing with them all the time. It’s what I do.

All right, so I’ve got 92 yards. That’s a really good number for me. I’m going to go with the old 95 here. Excuse me, the 54-degree loft that I hit 95. See, I like living on the edge. This is the way I roll. You all watch this. This is going to be a nasty birdie. Oh, there’s mud all over it. Did you see that? That ball was giving it a [inaudible 00:04:14]. It’s what you get for living on the edge, mud on the ball. This is going to be one nasty birdie. In fact, it’s going to be so nasty you all even get to see it. How about that view?

Pars never hurt anybody. That’s what they said Bobby Jones always talked about. “You’ve just got to keep up with old man par.” But we’re going to make some birdies!

Par on the first hole out of the gate. We’ll take it. Now, let’s head up the road for the next one!