You are currently browsing the daily archive for July 8th, 2009.
One of the more exasporating affects of all this rain is my Wednesday night golf league matches are canceled. That has been the case for the past four weeks. Some people get cranky if they don’t have their morning coffee, some folks are unbearable without their daily chocolate fix. Me, it’s golf. Even though I don’t play the latest and greatest in equipment, I do not have a membership to a club, public or private, and I don’t take the annual golf trip to Myrtle Beach or Florida, I get a great deal of pleasure in just hitting shots and not keeping score. One of my favorite things is to go out after dusk and play a few hole by myself. Sometimes this entails sneaking onto the course after the pro shop closes, which adds to the sense of satisfaction. Forget the steroetypes, golf is a fun game to play. My late grandfather got me started with a cut-down wodden shafted putter. I’d use his electric putting game for hours. I used to sit with him while he watched tournaments on TV. His advice on good tempo, “slow down, you swing that club like a baseball bat.” On days I play alone, I often think of him and wish we could have played a few rounds together before he died. I imagine he would be pleased that I have passed the game on to my son.
I believe in value, and I my optiions for affordable golf are limited. After expenses, I barely have enough for nine holes. I can play the municipal course in the town where my kids live. I actually like playing there. The course is the former sight of a private club, which relocated after their clubhouse burned down back in the 1910’s. It’s a nine-holer and very quirky. The layout for some of the holes looks straight-forward, but there are some hidded surprises. The greens are small, which means there isn’t much room to play your approaches. You need some creativity and the gift of abstract thought, because you may have to make up shots as you go. The best part is the parks and rec department maintains the course, so it’s in great shape. Except the bunkers, which have small rocks in the sand that ding up your clubface. The place is a cash cow because all the bluehairs play there for its cheap greens fees. There are no memberships, so you can play as many holes as you want for $13. The most I’ve played is 27, but I could easily squeeze in another nine.
On the other side of the coin, there’s the course where my league plays. Again, it’s a nine-holer but it has seen better days. It has poor drainage so any puddles can, potentially, still be found several days after a shower. The greens also hold excess water, so they can be slow. But the layout is alright. Some holes aren’t particularly challenging , but there’s lots of room if your shots go offline. When I play here, I pay the league price, which is also $13. I’ll take my son here because he’s starting to take the game seriously and he doesn’t get too discouraged when his shots fall short or offline.
The night now is ripe with possibilities and endless options. Maybe I’ll make a stir fry tonight (yes, I can cook and quite well). Maybe I’ll go to the movies tonight. I want to see Public Enemy with Johnny Depp. My daughter LOVES Johnny Depp, as did my ex-girlfriend. I think he’s an exceptional actor. I hope everyone has a pleasant and dry evening.
Again with the rain. This time, it’s not a sprinkle or passing shower. We’re talking rain, straight down and in biblical proportions. If we get 2 inches, I won’t be surprised. The Coast Guard has set up an inland station…just in case. What’s it gonna take to get three consecutive days of sunshine? Money, burnt sacrifice, first born child? For all of you in a dry place, enjoy it while you can.
