So I hadn't broken 80 my last three times out, only been to the range four times this month, and those sessions were getting progressively shittier. I went out today with very low expectations, compounded by a tough course, wind blowing and greens running at 13. But I found my swing on the range warming up.
Then I reeled off a stretch of holes that I will never duplicate. Hit it inside a foot on nos. 7 and 8, 4 feet on no. 9, 3 feet on no. 10, and 3 feet on no. 11. Every one of those shots was between 130-180 yards. I missed the 3 footer on no. 10, but converted the rest for four birdies in five holes. That stretch made the three straight 8-10 footers I left myself on 15-17 (from 220, 155, and 150 out of a bunker) seem pedestrian, probably because I missed all of those putts. Then bogeyed 18 to shoot even par, which is still my personal best from the II tees, so I wasn't too pissed.
Bless my mother and wife for watching the kids all day while I played with my dad. I tried to use the "I'm on a heater" argument to secure another pass to play tomorrow, but I guess they don't see things the same way I do.