Visited Denver Community Church

On Sunday, Kelly, Campbell and I visited Denver Community Church. It’s located in west Washington Park — less than a 10 minute drive from my dad’s house. We enjoyed the service and met several people after the 11am service. Campbell seemed to have a great time in the nursery too. For more info check out:

Our Mission
To Live As A Community Who Follows Jesus, Journeys Together, And Demonstrates God’s Love To All People.

Our Vision
Denver Community Church Is A Holistic, Christian, Missional Community.

Holistic
The good news of Jesus announces redemption for all parts of life. We experience redemption in our relationships with God, self, one another, and the earth. We understand that our mind, body and soul are intertwined. We will live out the continual transformation and wholeness that we have been given by the free gift of Jesus.

Christian
We embrace the whole Church with all of its triumphs and failures recognizing our connectedness to a vast community of people. We will be rooted in the ancient, grow in the present and point toward the hope of our future. We will do this as we live in community, expressing God’s intention for all humanity to live in authentic relationships.

Missional
The Church is the visible expression of Jesus in our world. We are never to sound retreat or withdraw from our culture. Rather, we are called to bring to peace of God that we have been given to the world. We will join with God in serving the poor, lifting up the oppressed, fighting injustice and bringing the love of Jesus to all people.

Popularity: 2% [?

Day Two: Usga Pub Links Qualifier

So I knew going in I was going to need a low score to qualify … really low … career low. I guessed I would need a 66. In other words, it was close to impossible. And the optimist in me said ’sure you can do it’; however, the golfer in me didn’t agree. That being said, this weekend golfer was quite happy with my round …

Holes:

3 iron, 9 iron, 2 putt = par
Driver, 7 iron chip out of rough, wedge, made a 20 ft putt = par
3W, 4 iron, 9 iron, chip, 2 putt = bogey
Driver in the rough, 5 iron short of the green, get up and down for a par
9 iron short, chip and miss a put = bogey
3W in the rough, 4 iron lay up, wedge to the green, 2 putt = par
4 iron off the tee, 7 iron the back of the green, 2 putt = par
7 iron over the green, chip and 2 putt = bogey
Driver to the green side bunker but in the rough, chip on the green, 2 putt = par
3W, 9 iron, 2 putt = par
5 iron, chip, 1 putt = par
Driver in the hazard, 3W, wedge short, chip up, 1 putt = double bogey (first one of the tournament for me)
Driver in the fairway, hybrid short of the green, chip and 1 putt = par
3W in the fairway, 7 iron to the rough next to the green, chip it past the hole and off the green, putt up, 1 putt = bogey
3W in the rough, 5 iron down the fairway, 8 iron 6 inches from the cup = birdie
3W in the left rough, blade a 6 iron, put a wedge on the green, 2 putt = bogey
5 iron in the hazard, chip short of the green, hole the putt = great bogey
Driver in the fairway, 6 iron to the middle of the green, great 2 putt form 50 ft away = par.

So when it was all said and done I shot another 78. 39, 39. Not bad. I had only 11 putts on the back nine. That has to be a record for me.

Stats for the 2 rounds:

29 putts day 1; 27 putts day 2
10 fairways and 5 greens day 1; 6 fairways and 7 greens day 2
only one double bogey for both days — amazing considering I had 10 DBs in my two practice rounds
0 (zero), I mean zero 3 putts.
3 birdies

I didn’t make the cut, in fact I would have needed to shoot a 65 to be in the top 5. A 67 to be an alternate. Not this year. But I had a great time and hope to play in more of the USGA and CGA tournaments in the coming months.

For those interested in seeing the other scores and qualifiers just click here.

QUALIFIERS
Riley Arp, Fort Collins, Colo., 69-71–140
Pat Grady, Broomfield, Colo., 72-70–142
Gabriel Maier, Cody, Wyo., 70-72–142
Jim Grady, Broomfield, Colo., 72-71–143
Zachary Zaremba, Pueblo West, Colo., 69-74—143

And for those following DJ Stewart, he had an unlucky hole 9 and had two balls go into the hazard. He finished with a respectable 79 for a two day total of 75+79=154. Well done DJ.

Popularity: 4% [?

U.s. Amateur Public Links Qualifying

Today I played in the US Amateur Pub Links Qualifier at Murphy Creek. It’s playing as a par 71 and 7378 yards — long but due to the Colorado altitude it plays a bit shorter. Now to my round, but first you need to know that I played two practice rounds there:

Practice Round 1: 81, 5 double bogeys on the back nine.

Practice Round 2: 87, 5 more double bogeys, and 0 (zero) GIRs on the back nine. It was ugly, but I was taking a an allergy pill and felt a little light headed (excuses I know).

To say the least, I was not feeling that confident heading into the qualifier … so here you go …

Hole 1: 4 iron of the tee, 8 iron to 8 feet and sank the putt for a birdie! Great start for me.
Hole 2: Driver, 5 iron short of the green, chip, missed a 10 ft putt. Bogey
Hole 3: 3 wood, 4 iron into the bunker, PW out of fairway bunker, chip, missed a 9 ft putt. Bogey
Hole 4: 3 wood in the fairway, 8 iron to the green, 2 putt. Par
Hole 5: 9 iron off the tee over the green. Chip to 1 ft from the hole. Par
Hole 6: 3 wood off the tee, 6 iron lay up, wedge to the green, 2 putt. Par
Hole 7: Hybrid off the tee, 7 iron left of the green, chip up, sink a 10 ft putt. Par
Hole 8: Hard 7 iron on the green, 2 putt. Par
Hole 9: 3 wood into a fairway bunker, PW over the green, chip, miss a 6 ft putt. Bogey

38 on the front. Feel real good going onto the back even with the bogey on 9.

Hole 10: Driver into the wind, stick an 8 iron 4 inches from the cup. Birdie
Hole 11: 5 iron to the right of the green. Tough chip. 2 putt. Bogey
Hole 12: Driver over the bunkers, 3 iron just to the right of the green, chip up and 2 putt. Bogey
Hole 13: Driver right, 5 iron out of the rough, wedge short of the green, chip up to 4 ft, make the putt. Bogey
Hole 14: 3 wood in the fairway, PW over the green, chip, missed a 18 ft putt. Bogey
Hole 15: 3 wood in the fairway, 7 iron layup in the fairway (in a divot), 54 degree wedge to 18 ft, missed putt. Par
Hole 16: Great 3 wood, 9 iron left of the green (dang it!) in the bunker, 2 putt. Bogey
Hole 17: 3 iron to the long par 3 goes left into the bunker. Get out and 2 putt. Bogey
Hole 18: 3 wood off the tee, 5 iron just right of the green in the rough, chip an 8 iron just past the hole, make a downhill 4.5 ft right-breaker for par.

40 on the back nine

78 total, make the cut and tee off tomorrow at 7:09 am — check it out here.

And yes, I am a big enough golf dork to remember every shot I took today.

By the way, fellow Oxonian DJ Stewart fired a 75 and is in contention for one of the top 5 spots. I think he’ll shoot a 69 tomorrow and have to play in a playoff for the final spot. You heard it here.

Last note, the course was in great condition. Kudos to the staff. The rough was thick, the greens were fast and the tees were back. Great tournament setup. I can’t wait to see it in July for the championship.

Popularity: 2% [?

Denver Bound

The last month has been a bit insane, thus we must apologize for being a bit out of contact with so many friends and family. In the last month we bought a Odyssey minivan, sold our Element (to a guy in Denver), drove 3 cars to Denver, packed our house, leased out our condo, hired movers, said some goodbyes, said some hellos and found time to play and laugh with Campbell. This Wednesday Kelly flies to Denver with Campbell. Mike has been in Denver for nearly a week getting a head start on finding living arrangements. For the next few weeks we will be shacking up in the basement of 625 S York Street (my dad and MaryAnn’s abode).