Golf is a funny game. Just when you think you’ve turned a corner, when your handicap starts to trend in the right direction thanks to a few solid rounds, you get smacked back to reality. This weekend at Princeton Country Club (a public course, despite its CC claim), I got that reminder in the form of a casual 92.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. That’s not the end of the world for a mid-handicapper. But this course was just under 6,100 yards, and let’s just say I found every way to make it harder than it needed to be.

For a look into my mind, here are a few thoughts as the round went on:

1. I cannot putt.
Despite rekindling my relationship with my Scotty Cameron, I was quickly reminded why it spent some serious time in timeout last season. After pouring in a healthy 36 putts, I walked off the course with less confidence in my flat stick than I started with. It’s becoming a bit of a toxic relationship, to be honest. The name looks great in the bag, but that’s where the value ends. A tale as old as time.

2. My irons were too dialed, apparently.
One of my biggest adjustments this season has been avoiding the short side- playing smart, aiming for the fat part of the green, all that good stuff. But something weird happened out there: I kept flying greens. Six of them, to be exact. And on this course, every green seemed to be elevated and sloped back toward the fairway. So what did I leave myself with? Short-sided, downhill chips that needed touch, loft, and confidence, three things I left in the car.

So what are my takeaways?

1. It’s time to move on from Scotty.
Okay, maybe not forever, but I need to let go of the brand ego and find a putter that actually works for me. No one’s giving out style points for sticking with a Tour name if the results look like I’m putting with a garden hose. And while I’ve been grinding putts on a mat in my 900 sq. ft. apartment all winter, I clearly need to spend more time working on real, feel-based putting. This will take time, repetition, and, unfortunately for me, patience.

2. Hitting it long isn’t the issue anymore.
Truthfully, I can’t be too upset about flying greens. If anything, it means I’m hitting my irons better than ever. That’s progress. Now, I just need to recalibrate distances and learn from these new patterns. Also—note to self—play smarter on unfamiliar courses. Trust what you see, take less club if the back side is dead, and stay committed to the plan.

Bad rounds happen. They sting, but they don’t define us. A 92 isn’t what I expected, but it’s just a stumble on the road to better golf. Next weekend? I’m coming back sharper, smarter, and maybe, just maybe, with a new putter.

As always, hit ’em long and always fade.

Princeton Country Club Review: 6.2/10
Best quality: Lot’s of tee times available
Worst quality: Very small greens made for a difficult approach on most holes
Other considerations: They just aerated the greens. Now I’m not giving any excuses, but thats why I missed all my putts