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The author enjoyed many fine moments with his persimmon woods.

Yesterday I joined my boss Jeff Arlen, and two customers from The NPD Group for 18 holes of golf at the Hamlet Wind Watch in Hauppauge, N.Y.

After a forgettable double par on the first, I quickly rattled off a string of solid holes, including a birdie on the short par-4 number 2. Let’s talk briefly here about my two birdies, and my new technique.

Number two is one of those holes on which my friend Jerry would attempt to reach the green from the tee. I chose the safer route, a 3-wood down the left side, away from the water. I was sitting pretty, a mere 40 yards from the green, while my partner Jeff was splashing around in the hazard.

Rather than use the Trusty Rusty, I went with my Goose Neck pitching Wedge, and just punched my approach to about 15 feet, which I subsequently holed.

My other birdie came on the par 5 14th, a mere 478 from the white tees. Again with the 3-wood, then a 6-iron, and then a delicate flop shot with my Trusty Rusty to about 15 feet, which I subsequently holed.

Not bad for the first time out. My success (relative as it was) I believe was grounded in my new swing technique, which calls for the shoulders to rotate around a stable spine. Video evidence suggests I bounce up and down during the swing, finishing in an upright position, rather than releasing the arms through the hitting area. This means I have to concentrate on bringing that left shoulder down as I start the backswing with my arms. In the past, I would bring the left shoulder across, forcing my spine angle to move toward the perpendicular.

I also think I’ve been losing power by turning the hips too soon and too much, but this is another matter and I don’t want to concentrate on too much.

As a result of these new swing thoughts, and with the help of a golf tether contraption I bought at Golf Galaxy for $20 and planted in my back yard, I enjoyed many happy moments with my persimmon woods and my Goose Neck irons.

A couple comments now about the course. I have given enthusiastic praise to Wind Watch in the past, but I would like to make two criticisms. The water behind and the right of the 17th hole is invisible from the fairway. Yes, a fountain spews water in the distance, but it’s not clear at all that a 5-wood, struck from about 200 yards has the remotest chance of finding water. In actual fact, it does. This is a flaw. Golf course manufacturers (I refuse to call them architects) shouldn’t hide their water hazards. It’s simply cruel, and it leads to slow play. Moreover, this hidden hazard on 17 is not marked by stakes red or yellow. It’s just a big pond with steep banks. There’s nowhere to drop, because the mass housing project (I refuse to call it a community) butts up against the back of the hazard.

I also would like to retract any perceived praise for the 18th hole. It is simply too steep, and the ropes along the entire length of the cart path prevent the mechanical advantage that could be supplied by CartMaster. Moreover, the rear bunker on Thursday was under repair, making the green look like a construction site. I like to finish a course on a green that allows people in the clubhouse to look in at my group’s glory or disgrace. (For instance, the 18th green at the Black Course.) But at Wind Watch, this odd shaped finishing hole bends sharply to a green that is tucked away on three sides by the woods,

I’m revising my rating of this course: six golf balls (out of 10).