For the third time this year I played 36 holes on Wednesday. Except for the first time, it has been absolutely brutal on my score card which should make me want to stop doing it. But for me golf isn't about being sensible - it's about conquering, pillaging and plundering. The fact that I'm not a conquerer is no reason to stop now. I just can't.

When you play 36 you're thinking about the second round while you're playing the first and thinking about the first while you're playing the second. And, that's no good. I get plenty pumped just thinking about playing once and twice, well, that's twice as much pumped. And, that's no good either.

Point Sebago was the second stop of the day and I knew, after struggling on the greens at Spring Meadows, that I'd be in for a long afternoon. Usually the greens at Point Sebago are smoking fast and, after the downy softness of Spring Meadows, it can be somewhat shocking. What was shocking was that the greens were actually slower than Spring Meadows as the entire course was verdant (thanks in part to the 2 plus inches of the rain they got last weekend and a new regime maintaining the course).

It's hard to describe Point Sebago in a couple words. Cut from 500 acres of white birch forest, it can play extremely long (from the tips it's a tap-in over 7000 yards) and every golfer needs to check out the tee shot from the par 5 number seven. You know the mini-golf hole that you have to putt into the clown's mouth, right? Now imagine being inside the clown and trying to hit driver out of it. So, make sure you choose the right set of tees. It has some of the best short par four's anywhere - #5 has a generous landing area off the tee and a tough second shot over a pond in front of a huge green and #15 is an almost driveable downhill hole with another pond skirting the green (yes, I was in both ponds) - and some of the toughest par 4's as well in #3 and #9. You can hit driver on all the par 5's and you need to and the par 3's are all stout tests. The course goes from the woods to the fields and back to the woods and when the wind blows it's a big test of all parts of your game.

This was one of the first times I have played Point Sebago when it wasn't in the middle of a monsoon and seeing it on a nice day made me appreciate the beauty of the setting. However, it did nothing for my putting. While slower, the greens were true. I hacked my way to 37 putts both rounds and more than once I thought about seeing if my putter could float. 30 putts or less is the goal, especially if you're not hitting a lot of greens (if you really want to depress yourself, check your putting average on holes you're on in regulation) so 37 putts just ain't gettin' it done. And, as I'm heading to the Ledges this week which is known for its US Open speed and wildly undulating greens, well, it might get even uglier. Of course, knowing this game, I'll probably have 28 putts and be swearing at the driver instead. Like a classroom of 14 4th grade boys, someone is always headed down to the principal's office.

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