Though I am not enthusiastic about Meggido and McNaughton (the courses scheduled) and am concerned about field size which would reduce the likelihood that I would make the cut as 21 players with a rating of 30+ points better than me were able to register early being in the top 5% of MA60 players, that and the cost are not the reason why.
Unfortunately it is my body. I was able to throw above 900 rated for two rounds on difficult courses last weekend but what happens physically after is the problem.
Since the Monday round played on the way home from Marscon five weeks ago, I have been dealing with uncomfortable pain during and after rounds in different spots. For a while, putting became difficult as the legs/back weren't cooperating and I had to change how I putt. The right hip made picking up discs in Rockford difficult to do by the end of round two and the next morning I had to "Donald Duck it" at home unable to get on pants and it took five days after to feel fully functional again.
Last Saturday was the clincher. The walk up the hill on Grey Fox 6 and down it on 7 took a lot out of me and the legs were cramping by the time I got to my drive on 7 which was my final hole of the round. The underwhelming third shot and missed putt were definitely body related.
After lunch, walking from the parking lot to tee 8 at Siler Fox to start round two was also difficult due to the slope I had to navigate. I was definitely feeling fatigue on 18 and stopping at my car for water and food helped a bit but by the time I got to my drive on 4, I was feeling bad again and after a bad drive on 5 and leg cramps on 7 to finish the 36, was disappointed to be tied for second two shots behind the leader who still had one hole to play
The walk back to my car was not good. I had to stop and sit multiple times and wanted to call the TD to get someone to pick me up but I knew it would not be fair to do so until I was assured that my event was over. Then I got the result, the leader double bogeyed and it became a four way <Mora> PLAYOFFS </Mora>. Eventually, I waddle back to the parking lot and needed someone to pick up the coin I flipped to decide who goes first. My playoff drive on 18 was weak and after a bad kick off a tree, the disc was closer to the parking lot than the fairway.
On the drive home, my whole body started rebelling. I ended up pulling into a McDonald's dry heaving in the bathroom before getting some food and sitting in a chair for a half hour. Only my confusion with insurance and the US health care system prevented me from searching for the nearest ER. By late morning the following day, everything with me returned to what has become "normal".
Even after today's post work well played nine, I had trouble getting out of the car when home and out of my bed when going to the bathroom while writing this.
There are many who want to make the trip to Peoria in September and it would not be fair to other amateurs born from 1962 to 1966 for me to register when I am not 100% sure I could navigate 2 practice rounds followed by 4 or 5 tournament days five months from now.
