Getting Back To Notmal

I am sure that's what we are all trying to do this Monday AM. As much as I like the holidays it is always nice to resume a regular schedule. The nurse and I spent the last two and half days filled with family and friends and having a lot of fun. After a quiet Christmas day with my father for dinner we ended everything with my family gathering on Sunday. We all gather at the Masonic Complex in Fostoria (lots of room for the kids). My three great nephews (aka The Wrecking Crew) are 7, 5, and 3 were in normal form. I'm sure you can image where their nickname comes from. Miss Emma is the only girl in the group and gets a lot of attention from the women in the family. And, of course the Rabbit Wrangler is the old man of the group but can still stir the pot.

Traveling was no picnic yesterday. Not much snow , but what we had was blowing and creating slippery conditions on the roads. We did dodge a big bullet with the storm that hit on the East Coast. Looks like a real mess and I'm glad we aren't a part of it.

Looking forward to the new year and a short winter. See ya later this week.

Three Wise Men

Well we think we are wise but I'm not sure the rest would agree. Twinkle Toes, Jimmy E and I showed up for lunch yesterday and had a lively discussion about the rest of you ( just kidding). Now we didn't solve any world or local problems, but had a good time trying. I'm not sure but the last time we can assemble our august group at the BCC training table in 2010 is probably next Thursday or Friday. With the SD in California we may have to use the coconut telegraph to get the word out. Stay tuned.

Not much else for now. Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and be safe.

O. B. Insanity

The other day at lunch we were discussing this situation and I promised to clarify it for all you rules officials. The names have been changed to embarrass the guilty.

The situation - While playing the second hole during the JR/SR Championship Gilhooley nearly Schwiers one OB by Dr. AH's patio. Next to play is Twinkle Toes who hits a Schweir very close to the same spot but is out of bounds. While Twinkle Toes is standing OB looking at his ball to make sure it is really OB Gilhooley Schwiers his second shot and hits Twinkle Toes in the shin and his ball goes onto the patio (which is definitely OB). As Twinkle Toes is howling in pain and dancing around on one foot (demonstrating why he has the name) he exclaims that Gihooley will incur a penalty for striking him with the ball plus one for hitting it OB. Of course Gilhooley takes exception to this. LTG happens to be in the group and tries to render a decision from a legal perspective.

What do the rules say?

Decision 19-3/1 spells out what exactly should happen in this situation. This decision states a ball in motion that is stopped or deflected by your opponent through the green can be cancelled and replayed from the original spot of the shoot without penalty. The fact that Twinkle Toes was OB makes no difference. The only person happy about the out come was Laurie who got a bunch of unhappy people off her patio and could go back to reading her book in peace.

We all know the golf gods don't let any good break go unpunished. Gilhooley dropped and hit his replay into the lake. Thereby giving LTG another opportunity to demonstrate his legal skills in interpreting where Gilhooley should drop.

Surviving The Circuit

Well it is the Sunday before Christmas and I've survived another holiday party season. This realization is always bittersweet. First I'm kinda of glad everything is going to return to normal in few days. Try as I might not to, I always seem to overeat or at least consume too much of the wrong food groups (even though I like them) and on rare occasion drink too much. But then I also realize the winter doldrums will soon be with us. But it is always great fun to see everyone, eat too many cookies, and do a little entertaining. Given a choice I'll take the party season over sitting at home watching bowl games with teams I've never heard of.

Since the club will closed for an extended period I thought it wise to bring the SOTD money home and put it in the safe. I did perform an audit and found we actually have one more dollar than I originally thought. So now all I have to do is con troll the urge to buy lottery tickets or take a quick trip to Greek Town. Hence the safe, since I can't remember the combination half the time. So at least it's safe half the time.

It looks like we can squeeze one more lunch in this week. Watch for the email from the SD, but in the meantime be safe and have fun.

PS - I made the mistake of running an errand yesterday around noon. The economy must be getting better. Everyplace was very busy and traffic around Crossroads was really heavy.

Winter's Ugly Head

We knew it had to happen and yesterday winter raised it's ugly head. The first major snow of the year always leaves me with mixed feelings. First it really kind of neat in a way. Everything looks so clean (for about 24 hrs.) Then reality sets in when I think about getting the snow blower out of storage. As most of you probably do, I have that love hate relationship with mine. It either won't start, needs the belt changed or some other crazy thing. This year was no exception. To my surprise it started right up and worked fine. At least until one of the handle bolts vibrated loose and fell off in the snow somewhere. Now mind you, I specifically checked them before I started. So it's off to The Anderson's today for a replacement. It seems like this is the 3rd time I've had to do this over the years. I probably should pick up a spare drive belt while I'm there.

I talked with Dr. AH yesterday. He came back just in time to catch the snow storm. He said it wasn't going to be much warmer in Florida for a while so he didn't mind the snow. I think that's a bit loony, but suppose being home for Christmas and family is really what it's all about. I'm sure after a few days of this cold it will reinforce why go to Florida in the first place.

Well, off to The Anderson's and hope they have my parts.

PS - New golf term - A Dick Van Patten; picking up your ball when eight is enough.

Were You There?

The call went out from the Social Director for lunch on Friday and they came in droves. I think we had eleven in total; the largest group since golf in October. There were so many conversations going on you couldn't keep anything straight. The topics were varied but suffice it to say we all know a lot about nothing. Or maybe nothing about a lot. Anyway plan on doing it next week.

The weather has definitely turned to winter. The forecast this AM is calling for snow across the area. I imagine there won't be any carts next week unless they're equipped with chains. LTG said he could probably tolerate the snow until January before taking a quick trip south for a golf fix. Uncle Bob said he was ready to head back to Florida even though he had been here less than a week.

Not much else to tell you. Be safe this week and hope to see you Friday.

PS Yesterday's SOTD money went to Joe as a tip. He had his hands full trying to keep us all straight.

Yikes, Snow!

Wasn't expecting snow on I75 last night. The Nurse and I were coming back from Findlay early last evening with some light snow flurries falling. Just north of Bowling Green we hit what was basically a whiteout for about two miles. Fortunately there weren't any problems but it was a little dicey for a few seconds ( especially when you aren't ready for this). I guess winter isn't far away. I guess I'd better check The Farmer's Almanac for the long range forecast.

Saturday night was the annual Winter Dance. This was our 19Th straight dance. I wasn't planning on attending this year until the Nurse told me she (we) was the Chairperson for the event. I think everyone had a good time. The Home Wreckers came out of retirement and we were their first gig. There was a lot of dancing and a generally good time in the living room. I didn't know Rocky had such great moves! As usual the staff did a great job. They all deserve a big pat on the back.

Come on guys where were you Friday? LTG and I were the only ones who showed up for lunch. TTS tied to use the baking cookies excuse and I'm sure the Social Director was counting cash. Jimmy E has a legit excuse with Rotatory (he is the Prez), but the rest of your were AWOL. So, mark your calendars for this week.

Missed Opportunity (?)

The weather yesterday was pretty mild and may have been an opportunity to tee it up one more time. But, the intermittent drizzle convinced me that wasn't a good idea. That and the fact I had a dental appointment to have crown installed. One thing I did do was put out some of the outdoor decorations. True to form, one set of lights is not working. Today it isn't a consideration. As I look out the window there are flurries and a dusting of white on the ground. Looks to be pretty typical for the first of December.

Since we can't play golf we might as well meet for lunch on Friday. Hope to see you at the club at noon.

Whew!

Well we survived another holiday with the Rabbit Wrangler and Miss Emma. This wasn't as hectic as normal, but I still took a nap after they left. Most of the time was spent playing pool by the Rabbit Wrangler, who took on all comers. It's good to know I can still beat a nine year old at least two out of three. Miss Emma has quite an imagination and I'm not sure whether she is going to be designer or a retailer or both. At one point she turned the family room into a jewelry store. Watch out to the McGivern's.

How about those Buckeyes? After a little initial excitement they made it look pretty easy. I am not sure about those uniforms. I can live with the pants and jerseys but lets not screw around with an American icon - the helmets. Those made the Buckeyes look like Rutgers. It'll be interesting to see what bowl game they go to. If it is the Sugar Bowl it could really be a good game. One last thought about football - the Browns almost figured out another way to lose, but dodged a bullet.

Christmas must be coming. If not then I don't know why I got all those boxes of decorations out.
I almost forgot one of the things that contributed to my need for a nap was Black Friday. My son said he wanted to get a $3.00 toaster. So he, Jules ( who always ready to go shopping) and I left the house at 5 AM. Went to Target and found the empty shelf for the toasters. Moved on to Walmart - got nothing. Then to Bass Pro where we had a lot of success (they also gave out doughnuts and coffee). Our last stop was Best Buy where we found several small items. We all agreed next year it was would be Cyber Monday and sleep on Black Friday. Funny thing was Best Buy still had door buster laptops at 7 AM, and lots of TVs and other electronics.

Don't know whether there's any golf left this year. Today looks great, but Tuesday is calling for rain. Plus it must be cold since there has been a skim of ice on the lake in the morning. Stay tuned, we may have to play it by ear.

Giving Thanks

The JR/SR's are part of the lucky few in this world and have a lot to be thankful for. But as I'm sitting here thinking about what to write I realized it is really raing and I'm really thankful that my sump pump is working.

I can rember when I was young and my family would join all my aunts, uncles, cousins and grand parents on their farm outside of Columbus for Thanksgiving. There must have been 20 of us depending on whether my one uncle (career Air Force) was in country and it was always a fun day. I'm not sure what us kids did but the adults always did something like helping with the corn, other farm chores, or hunting before dinner. Cooking the turkey was a big deal (literally) and my Grandmother always started very early in the morning. She had a wood stove on the farm and turkey cooking was a challenge. Since there was no TV on the farm the highlight of the day was the big poker game around the dinning room table. You know you had come of age when you were allowed to play your own hand. I don't ever remember my Grandmother losing. Yes those were simpler times.

We haven't started the turkey yet. Modern appliances are so much faster. The Rabbit Wrangler and Miss Emma will be here for a few days, and that should be fun. I've got to run out this AM and get the paper since my son said he wanted to go shopping on Black Friday for a $3.00 toaster, and wants to see the ads. I'll see if he really makes it up early enough to get one before the supplies run out.

Hope this rain lets up soon since it is no fun having a wet dog around the house. Especially one that likes to go out and stand in the rain and cold like Layla does (that's our grandkids mixed breed retriever). You can guess who she shakes on when she finally comes in.

Hope everyone has a happy one.

Where Have All The Golfers Gone?

With a great weather day like yesterday you'd think people would have been clamoring to play. But no, they stayed away in droves. Now I understand if it was the big game like next weekend, but yesterday was Iowa and a late kickoff to boot (no pun intended). Well four hearty souls showed up and teed it up. We teed it up and had a little skins game. Little if you call 17 skins little. The big winner was LTG, but just barely. The only thing that saved my bacon was scoring the first tri#!*&x of the season. How sweet it was considering it was on #13 and I had been in a coma all day.

I don't know whether you caught it but Frank Gilhooley died Friday. He was one of the great local TV personalities in Toledo and really well known throughout the region and country.

Since we are quickly approaching the "dead season" I'm working on material relating to rules, trivia, tips and etc. So stay tuned. The JR/SR Golf News is your trusted source for news. Where else can you get news about the real life characters we all know and admire?

Looks like we might get a couple of good days this coming week. Hope to see ya at the training table.

PS - Next time you see TTS ask him about his idea about our own memorial park. I think his idea has merit. The only problem I see is that no one wants to be first.

Many Were Called

Yes, many were called but few showed up. It was a real surprise to see TTS show up at lunch and declare he wanted to play. Gilhooley was a given, and we picked Bob D on the course. It was sunny but one of those days where it was hard to figure out what to wear. We went through wind, sun, rain and even a little sleet (with bright sunlight). At the end of the day we each played TTS a dollar. That's really cheap entertainment and killed the afternoon.

Not sure about the future weather since the forecast seems confused. Today is out for me, but Friday and Saturday look like a go. So if you can make it be there at 11 AM and we'll figure some game out.

No Takers

Where have all the golfers gone? Must be sitting home in their snuggies. A little cold weather and everyone has an excuse about doing chores. Well Gilhooley and I showed up and decided it was going to rain and had lunch and went off to do chores. One thing we did accomplish was figuring out how to set the clock in his car. Turns out the car must be running before the commands work. Who would've guessed that was the case? It certainly didn't say that in the instructions. By the way, it did rain, and hard at times.

A new word heard on the course: Abominable snowman - a 9 on your scorecard.

Weather permitting see you at the training table.

The Mongolian Hoard

That's what someone said our "Texas League Foursome" (actually 7 guys) looked like coming down the 10Th fairway. Normally that would be frowned on but we got clearance from the pro shop since there were very few players on what turned out to be a glorious day. We actually played in 4 1/2 hours. There were surprisingly a lot of skins, but the total was inflated by birdies and greenies. That translates into some pretty good play from a group of "chops". Putting woes must be like a virus. And, I caught it from Twinkle Toes or the total would have been much higher. All in all it was great fun even though TTS thought he was the target of most of the "mouth wedging".

Friday was steak night and a big crowd showed up for dinner. Greg said there was close to 100 people dining and a table was hard to find. Every one I talked with said the steaks were great. If only every night was like that some of our problems would go away.

The SOTD is now at $118. We dodged a bullet from Dr. J who has won more than anyone else (and several other close calls). I can feel there is a new winner in the near future. Maybe we should start rolling at happy hour. Let me know what you think.

Weather permitting we'll play Tuesday. Can't be many days left.

Veterans Day and Old Glory

Since it was Veterans Day we played Old Glory (red, white and blue tees). Just a simple field skin game with a super six some. Even with six we kept up with the group ahead and ahead of the group behind. TTS was still hitting the cover off the ball and didn't blade to many wedges and was the big winner. Kudos to Jim E. for his eagle on #12. Twinkle Toes continues to struggle with his putter and would have made a lot of money if could have gotten the first putt close. Fred S didn't shoot his age today but still knocked the ball past TTS on most holes. Then there is Gilhooley---what more can I say. He really misses his warm up time on the "rock pile" or at least that's his excuse.

Several close calls in TSOTD, but the pot is still growing and sis $113.00

Weather is supposed to be good on Friday, so we get a bonus day. See ya.

PS - It is amazing that six experienced golfers can't play the par 3's any better from the reds than they do from the blues. Go figure.

Veterans Day

Take a bow if you're a veteran.

Tuesday golf was a lot of fun watching TTS hitting great drives and then cringing when he had to pull his wedge. But to give him credit he did overcome his wedge yips to win more skins than anyone else. It is amazing how hard the fairways are. The ball really rolls when you get some over spin on it. We do need rain to get the course ready for winter. The lakes are down a good two feet.

Didn't play yesterday due to a dental appointment. Only had to get a crown and avoided the root canal. My dentist said he has held prices about as long as he can for gold crowns. The latest run up in gold is going to force him raise his prices next year. I guess I'm glad I'll get mine now rather than next year.

The weather today should be good for golf. That is if the fog clears. Right now you can't see thirty feet. See ya later.

It Was Vegas Baby!!!

Well after a tough week the Nurse and I took off for Vegas for some needed R&R. Actually the trip had been planned for some time, but we still needed the R&R. Since you can't really go by yourself to Sin City we went with The Jeweler, That Tina Girl, The Barrister and Mrs Shoes. We had a great time relaxing, playing a little golf, dinning, shopping, seeing a show and doing a little gambling. We left Vegas yesterday when it was 80 and arrived in Detroit to low 30's. That was a bit of a shock. If you get the chance to see Ka ( one of the circus shows) do it for no other reason than the stage is out of this world. Plus the show is good too. One of the dinning highlights was the great Chinese meal at the home of Vegas friends of the Jeweler. Everything was authentic and really good. Maybe the best part of the trip was I didn't leave very much treasure at the casinos. No, the best part of the trip was spending time with good friends.

Looking forward to a little late fall golf and seeing you all at lunch.

It's Just Not Right!

It was a cold and blustery day for golf but a few of us broke out the sweaters and teed it up. Since the course was basically empty we played as a six some. The only way to keep things moving was to have a little skins game. Since LTG was the low handicap we played off his ball.
I don't know how or why but the Social Director shoots 41 on the front and racks up 4 skins in the process. Poor LTG shoots 74 and can't get a sniff. Even I had 6 natural pars and managed to get only one skin. I wish I had an explanation for the SD's ability to arise to the occasion, but I don't. The only thing we all know was "it's just not right". Fred asked at one point if we should call Jill and ask where she wanted the body shipped. At least he didn't win the TSOTD and the pot is now approaching triple digits.

As the SD said quite often "hi ho Silver and away". See ya.

Difficult Times

A week ago my mother went under hospice care in Findlay at the retirement community where my parents reside. Her health had been failing for the past six months due to a variety of ailments related to being 87. Her doctors told us there was nothing left for them to treat her with and the end of life was near. They originally estimated she would live no more than two months. That quickly turned into one to two weeks. The past week was spent watching her slowly pass away and she finally died quietly in the early morning on Friday. This has been particularly hard on my father. They were married for close to 65 years and he has been her primary care giver during the past two years. He still thinks there was something more he might have been able to do and has a very difficult time accepting the fact that time was the enemy.

It was heartening to know she retained her sharp wit until the end. One of her last comments to one of her nurses was that she got my sister and I at Sears & Roebuck (probably on sale) and my father at an orphanage (because he was younger). She will be missed by her family and friends. No matter how she was feeling she always wanted to know about her great grand children and loved all the wacky things young children do and say. We had a diificult time finding a recent picture where she wasn't mugging for the camera at a family gathering. It was interesting to hear the funeral director say she had a positive impact on his life when she was his fourth grade teacher a number of years ago. I'm sure he wasn't the only one.

The funeral will Monday and then life will go on.

The Answer

First of all this is the second time I'm writing this. The power went out the first time and we sat in the candle light for about 4 hours. We had to scramble to find a battery powered radio to listen to. Now back the answer.

Since both partners were gone the Social Director and I found two cameos to fill in. Little Timmy G (aka LTG) and Gilhooley. Since the handicaps ranged across the spectrum it was decided to play COD. Well that disrupted the SD's rhythm and I was able to recover some of my treasure. LTG was on fire the front nine and shot 37. Not bad when you have chops for partners. He cooled off a bit on the backside put still posted a a sub 80 round. Actually we all feed off of him and played pretty well.

The Rabbit Wrangler and Miss Emma were in town for a quick visit. So no golf on Sunday and very little football was watched. But, I was expecting a big loss from the Browns and was completely surprised when I heard they beat the Saints. I'll the bookies weren't pleased about that. And, how about Gary Pinkel's Tigers knocking off OU? It just doesn't pay to be ranked number 1 this year.

That was quite a storm that blew through last evening. The course needs rain to get it ready for cold weather. See ya a the training table.

Cold Hands

Yesterday was one of those days when you know you should stay in the grill and drink coffee. But no, we decided to play. Everything was fine until # 9 when it started to rain. After a short break and a pause in the showers the five of us went to the back side. I really think we were trying to get our money back from Kevin D. (aka KD) who shot 35 on the front and was winning all the skins except for the birdie I made on # 8. Well it started to come down harder and Twinkle Toes and Tim G declared they were out of there. For some I really don't understand Gilhool;ey and I decided to go on. That decision was short lived for me. My hands went numb on 11 and I hit two Schwiers and called it quits. The last I saw Gilhooley and KD were seen driving off into the drizzle towards 12 tee. I followed eight deer back to the pro shop and then headed home for a hot toddy. I know Gilhooley isn't very bright at times, but I really thought the deer were smarter. The jury is still out on KD.

Saturday is another day and the weather looks OK. The Social Director is itching to play. I think he scrounged up a partner since the GWH is off looking for prairie dogs out west. Probably another ringer to contend with.

Keep the faith and don't read too many of those instruction articles. All they do is cloud your brain with useless tips.

Well Deserved Reginition

Last evening was the annual meeting of the TDGA. Among the several awards presented is the Bert Silverman Award (think man of the year). The 2010 recipient was Don Michel. For those of us who know Don I believe we would all agree it was well deserved for all the good things he has done for the community and more specifically for his efforts in helping to making the Jamie Farr Toledo LPGA Classic what it is today. To date the tournament has helped raise $7.3 million for children's charities in Northwest Ohio. Don was introduced by Judd Silverman who read a great letter from Jamie Farr extolling Don's efforts. It was really good to see Don finally get some recognition for his many contributions. In these times of turmoil and uncertainty we sometimes forget there are really a lot of good people who do much to benefit our area. Again kudos to Don.

The Red, White, and Blue

That's what we played yesterday to officially kick off "Silly Season". Just eight of us so not much at stake. But it is amazing how many of us didn't play the par 3s any better from the red tees. Several shots made for great fodder for discussion. I won't name any names here but I'm sure some stories will leak to the masses. The positive part of the day was my team won in a close match. But, what a great fall day to play. Clear and crisp - the reason they make sweaters.

I don't know how many good days are left, but I hope to take advantage of them. This is always a bitter sweet time of the golf season. The game starts to round into form and the weather turns to crap. You start to look at each round as potentially the last one of the season and don't want to double bogey 18 and have to think about that all winter.

Have to go to Findlay on Wednesday so see everyone on Thursday. By the way it was good to see Fred S. I guess he ran out of pigeons to pluck up north.

Finally

It has taken all year but I finally made it into the money on the last event of the year. We finished third in the closing scramble. It was a team affair, with everyone coming through at the right time. My teammates were Meeeechigan Dave (in his plus 4s), JJ and Ryan R. ( a good younger player). If we could've played the par threes we would have tied for first. Now I only have to figure out what get from the pro shop in the few days remaining to spend shop credit.

Yesterday was so nice and we knew the Browns would find a new way to lose we decided to spend the afternoon on the course. The right decision . Other than some goofy bounces, and bumpy greens it was a nice way to spend Sunday afternoon. Plus it gave me a chance to practice as I played. You know the old adage "speed kills". If I just keep that out of my swing what a different world this would be.

I should mention as we were coming off the 9Th green who comes rolling up (literally) none other than our resident biker - Twinkle Toes. All decked out in his leathers and bandanna. What a sight. But, he does have a nice bike. He said they were going to pick the bike up for winter storage but he just couldn't part with it yet. Makes me wonder if I should have waited to put the hardtop on the Benz.

Weather looks decent for Tuesday. See ya at the training table.

A Very Near Miss

Remember I said in my last posting the TDGA rating committee was going back to Inverness on Thursday to play. Playing is part of the rating process and helps confirm our original thoughts. Well things were going along pretty much as expected. It was a little windy, cool, but generally a nice day to play. We had a great fore caddy with the nickname of "Famous Amos" who was equipped with his own laser range finder. He was a big help throughout the round and very experienced (239 loops in 2010). But I digress. I was basically playing bogey golf thru 17. In fact I played the tough holes well and the par 3s in par. For some reason I've always played 18 reasonably except for the time I airmailed the green from the left green side bunker and nearly cleared out the patio. Today however was a different story. After hitting a perfect drive to within 105 yards I hit the perfect 9 iron to within 12 inches for a kick-in birdie, and it was really close to an eagle. You can't finish much better than that!

I dropped my clubs off on the way home and checked to see if anyone was playing golf. But, was told that only Twinkle Toes, Frank H and Dean were somewhere on the course. So I posted my away scores and went home. I forgot to mention I played in the Toledo Golf Hall of Fame Tournament on Wednesday at TCC. My team was part of the crowd applause group. Respectable but no where near the winners. Don't believe the horror stories about their greens. They were as fast as I've ever seen them and I only saw one that looked like they had any problems.I missed 4 putts inside 4 feet for par, and was not a happy camper. The rest of the course appeared to be in good shape.

That's it for now. Hope to see everyone at the men's closing on Saturday.

Long Days' Work

In my last posting I said I couldn't play on Tuesday due to the rating of Inverness with the TDGA. We thought it would be a long day and weren't disappointed. Understand we work in teams of three and rate the course from all tees. I was on the team doing the men's silver tees (member tees). After completing #1 we all looked at each other and said "we'll be here till 5 PM if this pace continues". We did finish by 3:30 PM, but what a job. That course has a lot of things to consider. I haven't been there for a couple of years but was taken by the number of trees that have been removed. Also, they are doing a lot of work on bunkers in preparation for the US Senior Open. But all in all the course looked to be in good shape. As part of the rating process we are expected to play the course to help confirm what we put on the worksheets. Since we didn't have time yesterday we go back Thursday to play.

I did stop on my way home to see how things went for the JR/SR's. TTS was waiting in the bar so I knew his team played well (and they were the final winners by a wide margin). Good to see Tony H playing. He's been threatening to join us for a long time. Now he'll see what golf is really about, and how hard it is to beat somebody where yoy have to give a stroke a hole.

I'll try to stop Thursday and give another status report.

Life In The Bonus Lane

Yesterday was one of those bonus days we get around here in October. Outstanding weather, great colors, a firm course and good friends to play golf with. The only thing that would make it perfect is winning. With the departure of Dr. AH for Florida I had to recruit a new partner. I convinced TZ to show up and figured with his handicap there was fighting chance. I was correct, but after landing several body blows the SD and the GWH some how managed to get up off the canvas and squeeze out a small victory on the last 2 holes. When I tabulated the final scores they were both well under their handicaps and even after the scores were posted there was no change. I think maybe a Congressional investigation is in order (they hold hearings on less important things anyway).

If you played yesterday you probably noted the place was full in the afternoon. I don't where everyone came from, but it was nice to see activity this late in the year. I came remember year's past when the place looked like a ghost town.

The member meeting was well attended on Friday evening and El Presidenta' gave a good presentation. There are serious issues we still face as a club and I think everyone should be well informed. The board is looking for input from the membership. If you did not attend Friday I hope you will make an effort to go to one of the two remaining scheduled meetings. This is too important to ignore.

You guys are on your own Tuesday. I'm a member of the TDGA course rating committee and we are doing Inverness that day. Because of the number of tees, hazards, trees, rough and all that kind of stuff this will be long day. I will say in the three years I've been doing this I've learned a great deal about course design and layout. I'm still a rookie because some of the committee people have decades of experience. And trust me when I say it is easy to get confused when you have to consider multiple issues on each hole.

Safe And Sound

Yes, the Pig Trophy remained safe and sound in the hands of the men. Many of the Piglets thought they were going to be able to steal it from us and have bragging rights for the next 12 months. But thanks to some great play from guys like TZ, Silk, the SD to name a few we were able to prevail rather handily. It didn't hurt that a couple of reserves like Ron and Bruce stepped up also. I know the Piglets were disappointed and vowed to do better next year. So watch out, we never know what they might have up their ruffled sleeves.

Kudos to the Greg, Chef Kiel, and the staff for putting on a great pig roast. The group looked like everyone had a good time. With a little effort we can make next year even better. Pig always tastes better than crow.

The weather looks good for the next 10 days. This is a great time to be playing golf. The leaves are starting to turn, and the course is giving us a new look each day. I know Eric is going to punch the greens again so maybe we'll start silly season in earnest next week. If anyone wants a special format bring it up at lunch.

Don't forget The stag on Thursday so we have to play in the AM. Congats again and see you at the training table.

Sitting In The Rain

That's right. Instead of playing in it I sat in it at the Rabbit Wrangler's 4Th grade football game. It is amazing how many people do that in Ohio on a Saturday afternoon. It must be something in our genetics because I was one of a couple of hundred people sitting in a lawn chair under an umbrella trying to keep dry and watch 9 year old's slip and slide on the field. And no his team didn't win. Earlier in the day I sat through a bumble bee soccer game with the grand daughter. No rain but still painful to watch. At five most kids are still playing with the grass and don't really have an interest in running up and down a field kicking a ball in an organized manner. But, a grand parent does what a grand parent must (at least according to Nurse Crachit). The best part I only got a little damp around the edges.

I talked to the pro shop yesterday and was informed we have 32 signed up for the Pig Open. There are 9 women's teams and 7 men's. We may get a few more by Tuesday. That's not too bad considering the middle of the week and this being the 1st time for the event. If you can't play I hope you plan on attending the dinner and awards ceremony. I'm sure there will be a lot of squealing going on ( a little pig humor). Don't forget to bring a dollar for the SOTD.

Records

Yesterday was a day for records to be made and broken. Four of us showed up on time and one a little late. The LR Dr. meet us on the course complaining of jet lag or not being able to understand his email (take your pick). Thus we changed the format from COD to a standard skins game. The first record to fall was when TTS (soon to be known as TTC) at the end of nine this was the first time in 27 years that he hadn't made a par on the front side. By the way TTC stands for Tommy Two Chunks and that's the reason he had no pars. Personally I still like TTS but he was answering to both monikers.

The second record was the fact that Gilhooley did not win a skin the entire round. Believe me it wasn't for the lack of effort but rather LOFT on this day. I'll give him credit, he autographed a $1.00 bill for each of us to commemorate the occasion. It isn't very often we get any money from him let alone signed. Mine is already laminated and in the safe.

We adjourned without having lunch so we could change clothes and attend the memorial service for Ashel Byran. For those unable to attend it was a very fine tribute to an exceptional person we will all miss. It is always sad to lose a friend but doubly so to lose one who contributed so much in so many ways.

I'm not sure I'll be playing Saturday due to bumble bee soccer and the rabbit wrangler's pee wee football game but I'll definitely be raring to go next week. Can't miss the Pig Outing on Tuesday. I hear rumors the Piglets are fielding a strong team they think will be tough to beat. Do they know we are all playing from the blue tees?

PS anyone see the TV coverage of the Ryder Cup this AM? Can't believe the US team can't get rain suits that don't leak. What was somebody thinking about when they picked them out! At a minimum I might have tested them with a garden hose.

PPS LBB won SOTD on his last day (only 1/2 the pot) for $65.

Coming Close

Yes we came close on Saturday, but still came up a little short. The SD said he only played three times while on the west coast. It looked like it was more like three times a week. They both posted lower scores than their handicaps would indicate but informed us their handicaps trended up. Never seems to work that way for me. In fact it is just the opposite. Oh well, their day will come. I still can't figure out how the GWH runs in a putt from nowhere. History shows he has trouble with 3 footers (sometimes less than that).

It was sad to hear of Ashel Byran passing away on Sunday morning. I believe he may have been the last charter member of BCC. But most of all a fine gentlemen and a friend to many. I've had a number of people say that as a banker he believed in them when no one else would and helped get their business started on the road to success. In my estimation this country needs more like him and less of the myopic bankers we mostly have today.

The weather may be finally turning toward Fall. Seems like it rained most of last night and is very cool and damp this AM. We'll see if we get the round in today. At a bare minimum it will be sweater weather. Now TTS won't look out of place. I wonder where I put the mock turtle necks last Spring?

Thursday Skins

Just five of us yesterday morning ( stag in the PM). So we played a fivesome skin game with a lot of woofing going on. The greens are almost back to normal but I can't remember so many "Hi Ho Silvers" being made in one round by so many different people. No one could make a short putt, but were deadly from 30+ feet. Go figure. I'm not sure but a skin was worth about 95 cents. Unless you had multiple skins that was not even enough to cover TSOD. I think TTS was the big winner, but am really not sure. Surprising how busy the course was. We had to start on the backside to insure we could be done by 12:30 PM. In fact we played in about 4 hours. Not bad for 5 chops.

Not much else new. The weather is being erratic. Lots of wind and warm temps, but supposed to cool off by Saturday. Based on the gale blowing right now HMGC will be a lot of fun for the Senior Inter Club. Hope BCC continues to play well. I can't make this one due to a conflict and will miss not playing HMGC this year. The SD did return from out west and is chomping at the bit to play Saturday morning. He must have a big wine bill he's trying to cover from his trip. Hopefully Dr. AH can turn the tables and get into his pocket for a change.

See ya next week at the training table.

PS - Can you believe the LR Dr. would rather go to Paris for his wedding anniversary than play golf with his buds? He mumbled something about 20 years and he wanted the next 20 to be peaceful.

Fall and The Golf Is Easy

Well the SD is still in Calliyfornia (due to return Tuesday) so Silk made another cameo appearance to team up with The GWH. As usual The GWH only played a couple of holes but at an opportune time. However, when all was said and done, and the adding and subtracting completed I think I lost a buck. Not bad when you consider he is still getting 10 strokes.

The greens weren't too bad and should really start to heal by this week. Nice weather for growing grass and snoozing on the deck. Is there anything much better than an afternoon nap in the early Fall? It was a nice break from all the football on TV. Did you catch the end of the ND vs. MSU game? What a gutsy call in OT. The Browns and the Lions are still up to their losing ways, but at least the Lions were exciting till the end. Without much effort the Browns could start 0-8 with their schedule.

What happened to the Men's closing event? I heard they have canceled it. Sounds like someone dropped the ball again. Well at least we have our Pig Open to look forward to. Make sure you sign up.

See ya at the training table.

Score Card Playoff

The LR Dr. drew the short straw and got me for a partner. I told him I wouldn't hurt him on the backside but the front could be problematic. Surprisingly we lost second in a scorecard playoff. Not bad considering all the turmoil on the course yesterday. Funny thing was we lost to TTS and his partner. So much for him playing so poorly.

I'm sure the greens will get a little worse before they get better. The grass will grow and they won't be cut for a while. Plus it will take a little time for the sand to work its way into the surface. The rain this AM should help speed the process. Wish it would do the same for the grubs. This is as bad as I've ever seen for the coons and skunks digging for the little white morsels. The GWH says it is really bad around Curtice, OH as the skunks are migrating into to town in search of grubs. Hope they don't decide Perrysburg would be a more desirable place to move to.

Has anyone paid attention to Silk and his new weapons. He has a new Ping driver and says he is 30 yards longer off the tee. We may have to verify that since golfers and fishermen are a little prone to exaggeration. But if that is only half true I imagine there will be a rush on the pro shop. Personally I think this is a set up by Ping and Brad, but I may demo one to see if there is any truth to his claims. I do know that I demoed one of the Taylor Speed Burners and thought it was at least 10 yards longer. Now if I could only find some extra cash I might be tempted to make an investment. I wonder how much they paid him to buy a game?

I hear the Piglets are excited about the Pig Open and would like to call it the "Men Are From Mars and Women Are From Venus Open". I seem to remember a book with that tile from eons ago. This sounds like it could turn into a serious run at our trophy. Make sure you find a partner and sign up to play. With some luck this could turn into a classic way to end the season. And, if we lose it could be along winter.

Hope the weather holds and we can get a few holes in on Thursday. See ya.

Perfect Greens

It always happens when we have perfect greens. We either get monsoons or it is time to punch them. The later is the case this time. Eric's crew started last night and should be finished by Thursday. I know it is necessary for the health of the grass but it is frustrating none the less. Although I don't know why I'm complaining since my putter went on vacation and I couldn't putt it in a bushel basket yesterday. Needless to say I wasn't in the money yesterday morning.

The Pig Outing has been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 5Th. There is a new twist this year. The Piglet's have been itching to get involved. So they have challenged the men to a little competition. We'll use the Senior Inter Club format (1 ball of 2 with the low five teams for trophy purposes). The winning team holds the trophy for the next year and has bragging rights. There will also be low net prizes. You basically know the routine. The entry fee will be in the $5-10 range. Final details have to be negotiated with the Piglets and the pro shop, but should be completed by the end of the week. Of course we'll have the awards ceremony during dinner which will primarily consist of roast pig. Stay tuned for further details.

The rest of the week looks decent weather wise. Maybe a little rain early Thursday. See ya.

Lots Of Winners

The JPK was an interesting two days with people doing a lot of crazy things. I heard a lot of stories about being put in unusual spots during the alternate shot portion; bizarre scores during the 2 ball portion; and how slick the greens were. Pretty typical stuff for the JPK. Congrats to DT and Tony for winning. The other big winner was Dr. AH for hitting the SOTD for half the pot. -$204.00. I knew someone was close, there have been too many close calls recently. As far as the JPK went The Dr. and I played pretty well; only had one real blow up that cost us being in the money. We were able to win a skin on Sunday and that helped ease the pain of me scoring a 10 on #15. As someone once said "what a stupid I am". Oh well, there is always next year.

With the JPK in the books Silly Season can't be far off. There is still lots of golf to be played before the weather turns ugly. Watch for a new Pig Outing. I'm working with Brad and others to come up with a new format that is more inclusive and that should create renewed interest in this event. Hopefully, we'll hold it early in October.

Enos should be happy camper again. His lost 9 iron returned home yesterday. It took a 2 week vacation in someone else's bag. The club had been found; put in the finder's bag; forgotten about until it was discovered while on a trip and returned upon the persons return. The real confusion was why the finder had two of the same 9 irons. I guess that person doesn't use his much since he found Enos's early in the and never noticed it in his bag.

Tuesday looks to be a good day for golf. I think we have to be off by 12:30 since there is an outing at 1PM. See ya.

What A Mistake!!

That's right I made a big mistake yesterday when I made up the teams and the game. In an effort to equalize the teams I allowed the LR Dr., LBB and TZ to play together (they were the only threesome). I then compounded the mistake by allowing them to count one player's ball twice in the "overkill" format. Well they took advantage of the situation and scored -29 in a one best ball with "overkill". Needless to say that won't happen again anytime soon. I know how to correct this error, but will keep it secret until the proper time.

I think everyone loved the way the course was playing yesterday. After all the strong winds things have finally dried out and the greens, fairways and rough were pretty firm. The conditions made for some interesting bounces and it took a while to figure out distance control. If we don't get any rain and the wind picks up a little we could have really fun time for the JPK. Especially if the greens speed up with some of the pin placements I anticipate.

We had several near misses with SOTD, but the pot continues to grow. We are starting to get into the serious money territory. And, with all the $1 bills you could have a real Chicago bankroll to flash to all your friends.

Hope to see everyone at the JPK and/or at the Member Appreciation Party Saurtday night. Hit em long and straight.

Fall Is In The Air

It never really warmed up yesterday and was almost perfect for golf. After all the hot weather it was nice to have a break. The only complaint it was a little breezy. Must be a function of all the tropical weather coupled with cool air moving down from Canada. According to the Weather Channel Thursday will be much of the same. Sounds like the beginning of Autumn.

Dr. AH called the game, and it looked like no one could take advantage of "over kill" since the scores were a little anemic. For once I was on the winning team. And, it was a team effort. Thank goodness Bob D's game has returned or we would have been in trouble.

I seem to be suffering from a little writer's block today. Must be a let down after all the thinking about rabbits over the past week. See ya at the training table Thursday.

Trail's End

Like all good wranglers the Rabbit Wrangler brought his herd to market. In this case it was the Champions Livestock Sale at the Montgomery County Junior Fair. If you haven't been to one of these you should know this is Americana at its best. I've never known much about 4-H or the FFA, but I think they get it and are really good for young people to be involved with. Anyway I digress as they say.

The sale started off with the Grand Champion Steer and went from there. In case your wondering what kind of money is involved the steer sold for $6000.00. That's pretty expensive hamburger. Everything went well until the Reserve Champion Steer decided to bolt during the photo op after being sold (guess he didn't care for the hamburger idea). After he was corralled and everything calmed down the sale proceeded smoothly. It was finally show time for the Rabbit Wrangler and we had no clue what these rabbits would fetch. Well after a lot of lively bidding the auctioneer dropped the gavel at $750.00. My mouth dropped open, and my only comment was "for three rabbits". I did a quick calculation and found out that was about $79/lb vs. $4.38/lb. for the champion steer. As the Wrangler's grandmother said "we don't have any dummies in the family. We learned later that the rabbits were going for breding stock and not stew.

After all the hoopla everyone was kinda of wiped out and realized it was going to be back to normal on Tuesday with school, and all the other things a nine year old does. Frankly, I think they were all kinda of relieved and ready for that to happen. Being a rabbit wrangler at that level is pretty tough when you've never done it before.

I don't know if 4-H is in the future for 2011 but it was a great experience for all this year.

PS - One funny thing happened during the auction. There are a number of Ring Men who work the crowd and try to get the bidding as high as possible. These guys are good at what they do and have eyes like hawks, and can pick up any little movement in the crowd. You should have seen the look on the face of a women when see realized she had bid $1100 on a goat while waving to a friend across the barn. The auctioneer realized the error and didn't drop the gavel on her because she would have been the highest bid. To say she was relieved is an understatement. I guess she had no place to walk it.

Same Song, New Chorus

Yep, you guessed it. Dr. AH and I had the normal Saturday affair with the GWH and TZ who was making a cameo for the SD who is watching the surf in Northern California. These cameo guys must pass the script around. TZ played better than he had all year and got into our wallets for a few bucks. Neither Dr. AH or I could get anything to fall on Saturday, but both of us played well on Sunday.

Sunday was a great day for golf. The Nurse and I played with Mr. and Mrs. LBB and had a great time. Mrs. LBB and I paired up and put a hurt on the Nurse and LBB. After all the wind of the past several days there was a marked change in the course. Everything was drying out and the greens were markedly faster. If this holds the should play long and fast for the JPK. By the way LBB has reverted to form after cracking his old driver. Ping sent a new one that he really likes.

We were going to play today but begged off. We're going back to the Montgomery County Fair for the Grand Champion Livestock Sale. This is the final day for the Rabbit Wrangler's day in the spotlight. Since this may not ever happen again (and probably won't) we thought it would be a good idea to be there. Maybe I can get a corn dog and elephant ear this time. I really don't want a chicken fried anything and funnel cake isn't my favorite.

Since the club is closed on Tuesday hope to see everyone on Wednesday for lunch.

Only In America!!

Yesterday was our trip to the Montgomery County Fair to see the grandson show his rabbit(s) as the completion to his summer long 4-H project. I don't know about you but spending the afternoon, and as it turned out most of the evening, in a hot noisy livestock barn full of rabbits and chickens is not my idea of fun. Well Grandpa had to eat his thoughts. Here 's the story and it could only be scripted in Hollywood. By the way have any of you ever taken your goat for a walk? It must be the big thing because a lot of people do it at fairs.

The day didn't start so well since we got lost on the way to the fairgrounds. Why would anyone put a fairgrounds almost in the middle of the University of Dayton? We zigged when we should have zagged. We soon found out that we weren't late since rabbit judging takes a long time and there were lots of rabbits (made sense to me based on their reproduction habits). And, of course our grandson was in the last group. Based on the crowd size rabbits are really popular with grandparents. There must have been 150 of us there under one medium sized tent. Well, the Showman competition didn't go according to plan. Both the rabbit and grandson were nervous and or hot or something because no ribbons were forthcoming. Well I thought that was too bad but the experience was what counted. Besides some of these kids had obviously been doing this for years and really knew how to pick out a cooperative rabbit. By the time this was over it was well passed 7:00 PM and I thought we would soon be on I-75 headed north. Wrong!!

We had to now wait for the Meat Rabbit Pens Competition which was the real reason for the 4-H project. For you novices this is where you try to control 3 rabbits at once while the judge tries to select the best group. Since there were 23 entrants you can imagine the length of time and potential chaos this could have. Thank God no one had a dog in the area since these rabbits were always looking for an escape route. Because of the group size the judge broke it down into two sessions. Based on my observations Seth was the youngest one showing rabbits and the competition was full of professional rabbit breeders. So I didn't think this was going to last long. Wrong again! He made the first cut. And then like the Westminster Dog Show the judge started to arrange everyone in his order of finish. The improbable happened and Seth won Grand Champion. I soon found out this was a really Big Deal! Not only did he get a big ribbon, a banner, and his own chair. He's now a fair dignitary and gets to participate in the Grand Champions Livestock Sale on Monday and who knows what else. We were told these rabbits could bring in big money (weight to dollar ratio) at the auction. Not bad for a nine year old that raised a couple of rescue rabbits (the rabbit parents) as a summer project. I know there were a lot of disappointed breeders that didn't make the cut.

Of course we had to have a quick victory party. So it was chicken fried pork steaks all around with funnel cake for desert. We finally got on the road (but had to wait for a sulky race since our car was parked in the infield) and were home by 1 AM. My father,a former livestock buyer, and no stranger to county fairs was amazed and confirmed being the Grand Champion in any category was a big deal and something no one ever wins on their first try, except maybe for great grandsons. Way to go Seth!

PS Where does one really walk their Goat?

A Split Day

It was still hot enough to fry an egg on your driver so some played in the morning rather than roast in the afternoon. I unfortunately chose the PM time due to a conflict in the AM. In all honesty it was hot but a nice breeze made it bearable. We all agreed that if the wind died we would quit at no. 9. Well it didn't and Twinkle Toes, Gilhooley and I made it around without heat exhaustion. I even won $2 in a skins game.

I'm not totally sure what went on in the AM. All I know is there were winners and losers and an exchange of funds. We did do the SOTD over lunch and had no winners. So the pot continues to grow.

I'm off today to my grandson's county fair to see him show his 4-H rabbit. How a kid living in a city environment is in 4-H is beyond me. I also think this summer has cured him of wanting to have more rabbits. But, all in all I'm sure it was a good experience. All except for the part about his grandad sitting in a hot livestock barn in late Summer watching nine year olds struggling with hot rabbits.

Keep cool! See ya Thursday.

Dog Days

The dog days of summer are here as August is winding down. The Nurse and I played with the Gilhooley's yesterday and I thought we all were going to need a nurse because of the heat. But, we all survived but I can't say the same for our games. We took on the women and got Shanged and Ziemed all afternoon. Chef Kiel did a great job with the grilled food after the round.

Saturday was interesting. the SD headed west and the GWH was off somewhere doing what GWHs do when they aren't hunting. So we had 2 cameos for the Saturday fun. One was TTS and the other was the Chairman. The Chairman made 4 on 18 this time and is now averaging only double par plus for the week. Not sure how the scoring went, but I was still on the paying side of the bet.

Pretty good party Saturday night with over 110 people showing up. The patio was rocking with a good DJ and I didn't know we had so much vocal talent. Hope everyone had fun. I know we did.

BCC came close at SOCC on Friday. Second place and not far behind SOCC's team. One more event left at HMGC. Let's keep it up, and win one for the Commish.

I think we are back to our afternoon schedule starting Tuesday. See ya at the training table.

Into To The Valley Of Golf Played The Nineteen

Into the JR/SR history book another chapter has been recorded. It was truly a day for great things to happen and some of the guys didn't disappoint. It all started innocently enough with Twinkle Toes and I on the range discussing the literary merits of a recent Brad Thor novel we had read when Roy MacAvoy (from Tin Cup) aka the LR Dr. showed up firing hosel rockets at us. With a sheepisp look on his face he was heard to mutter " I didn't think you'd notice".

The assembling for the group photo was interesting. The Commish would have had trouble trying to heard these cats. Getting nineteen JR/SRS to follow instructions is almost impossible. What was even more interesting was to see who couldn't get up from kneeling for thirty seconds while the picture was taken. Considering the number of knee replacements in the group it was amazing anyone could knee at all.

After the picture the first group teed off and the fun really started. Most everyone had at least one blowup hole. Some even had blowup rounds. The most memorable was John B (aka The Chairman). Seems he managed to shot 17 on hole No. 18. When interviewed after the round on how that happened he said with a straight face, " I one putted." His playing companions confirmed the one putt and also the fact he feed the fishes with 5 balls. I guess it got so confusing they had to put pencil to paper to try to reconstruct the carnage. But, the positive side is we have a new term - A Bachey, any hole where you score more than double par.

After a lengthy wait for the last group the pro shop was able to complete the scoring so we could have the awards ceremony. By the way, thanks to Brad and his crew for doing a great job. The winners were John L (low gross) and JJ (low net). It was then on to the photos. We dusted off the trophy (literally), took a picture and got back to Golf Talk Live, telling tall golf tales and generally having a good time. There were several near misses with the SOTD but no winners like last year. For those interested the full tournament summary will posted on the bulletin board.

Finally the Executive Comm. met and started the planning for the Third Annual JR/SR Championship to be held about the same date in August of 2011. Mark your calendars because this thing is only getting better with time.

The Peck On The Cheek

Now that we have turned into fair weather golfers we decided 9 holes was enough yesterday. While it wasn't raining hard at the turn we thought a spot of lunch would be good before returning for the backside. The rain became heavier and our decision became easy - quit. The bright side was Dr. AH and I were able to hold the GWH and the SD off and break even. That is in spite of the GWH continuing to play his above skill level for the second straight week. Thus a half kiss of your sister (aka a peck on the cheek).

The JR/SR Championship field continues to fluctuate, but promises to be big. Look for final details coming out from the SD in the next day or so.

Now to something a little more serious. One of our members pulled me aside and said a member from another club was complaining about one of our own cheating at the last Senior Inter Club. He related a story of one of our guys moving his ball repeatedly during the round. I don't who the reference was to, but I am sure we don't want a reputation like that with other clubs. Remember this is a game of honor. Besides we are only playing for "socks". Enough said.

Today will be the first time Nurse Crachcit and I have played couples golf on Sunday in a long, long time. This is a test to see if I hold up. I'm not sure which way she is betting.

See ya Tuesday.

Many Were Called, But Few Answered

Thursday was just the opposite of Tuesday. Only 4 brave souls showed up to play. Plus we pretty much had the whole course to ourselves. Wonder where everyone was? Golf was just so so with a lot of heroic shots when I had a good hole.

Plans are pretty much for complete for the JR/SR Championship. The field keeps growing and I think the last count was 19. Should be an interesting time. I suggest everyone brush up on the rules since we are going to be playing this one by the book. Remember OB is stroke and distance. A lost ball is also stroke and distance. If anyone has any questions about options when in a water hazard see me. I've got some good explanations for you to look at. Golf is a game of honor but everyone has a responsibility to know the rules and if you don't then be prepared for your playing partners to correct you in the rare instance where needed. As noted recently it can be pretty costly when you make a mistake.

See ya at the training table.

PS Bring those dollars for the SOTD. We had at least one winner last year at the championship celebration.

Big Crowd

Everyone must like playing in the morning. We had one of the biggest groups of the year. The weather was absolutely great and I wish my golf was too. I left a lot of singe marks around the cups. It could have a decent round if my putter was working. Needless to say I wasn't in the money.

The SD and I are almost finished with the plans for the JR/SR Championship. Ask for an extra $10.00 next week in your allowance since you'll need it for the entry fee for the prize and skins pools ($10 entry and $5 skins). We'll pay 3 places for low gross and low net and have a field skin pool. Wear your best golf clothes for the group picture to be taken before we play. We'll also take a picture of the low gross and net winners at the trophy presentation before dinner. Just a heads up, only one ball off the 1st tee; putt everything out; and no equitable stroke control when you reach your max. Also USGA rules will govern play along with any local rules as indicated on the score card. We'll also be going off in assigned tee times, with groups aligned by handicap. This should keep things moving along at a nice pace. To date we have a field of 16, and I expect a few more to sign up before the cutoff Sunday night when the club closes.

See ya Thursday.

Same Song, New Verse

Dr AH and I showed up with great expectations yesterday and even started out with very positive results. Somewhere along the way the golf gods awoke and gave the GWH the power to play beyond his skill set. To the best of our knowledge he had the best round of the season, especially with his putter. While we didn't lose as much as we have in the past it was the same song with a new verse. At least the loses were minimized with the skins and the SD went "Oscar Meyer" for a change. As they say, "there is always next time".

The course was drying out and the weather promises to be better next week. I wonder where all the players were? Getting ready for the Divorce Open? Probably not. My guess is a lot of vacations before school starts and the hangover from the club championships. Anyway play looked to be below what we have been experiencing this summer. Don't forget to sign up for the JR/SR Championship. Had dinner on the balcony Friday with our granddaughter (she's five) and have to say there isn't a better place in the area to dine (with the view and everything.) It was very pleasant even with the heat and humidity.

I continue to read news articles about tough weather conditions around the country. One course after another having major turf problems. To date we've been really lucky, but you can see stress signs around the course. Keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't get any worse. Most of our problems seem to be in the rough but things can change in a flash.

See ya at the coffee bar.

Really Wet

After Wednesday's rain the course was really wet. Very unusual for August but there was casual water everywhere. Slow greens made for an interesting round. In fact the GHIN computer didn't believe my score at first. The cast of characters was pretty much the same as were the winners. There wasn't even any entertainment value to my $5.00 entry fee. The only real positive was the sun stayed behind the clouds and the humidity was tolerable.

Watched a lot of the PGA at Whistling Straights and am glad I don't have to play with 1200 bunkers every day. I imagine the pros feel the same way. Should be an interesting three days to see who can survive. I wonder how many wedges will be worn out?

I think I'll go practice today. I need to work on everything so I won't embarrass myself too much on Saturday. But, my handicap is approaching parity with the opponents so maybe I'll have half a chance.

Two Shirt Day!!

Not only two shirts, but two gloves and hats. That's what I went through yesterday morning I was so wet. Now I know why I have a locker even though I live less than 1/2 mile from the course. I think most of us were soaked before leaving the range and it didn't take long to warm up.

You can always tell when TTS thinks he's in the money. First of all he is still there when the last group comes in. Second, he drools and gets a dumb look on his face. Seems he and his posse finished one better than everyone else. While an audit was demanded it was impossible to decipher the chicken scratching they called a score card.

The final round of the women's championship went out in front of us. Holly B held off Trina M for a well earned win. Sounds like it was a good match with a lot of back and forth. Also understand Mrs. Gilhooley took second in her flight and won more glass for JG to dust. Congats to all.

Thursday looks to be another hot one. Let's keep cool and hydrated. See ya at the iced coffee bar.

PS We were all so wiped out we forgot to roll the bones, so no change in the pot.

Still Holding Up

The knee is still holding up. I wish I could say the same for my game. The SD decided to change things up since the GWH was running his golf course yesterday. He decided that his luck was running out and he thought mine was on the upswing. So he and I partnered against Silk and Dr. AH. Well he was partially right since we "kissed the sister" and broke even. There was some skin money lost and a lot of missed putts from Dr. AH. (we played our match while trying to compete in the SR Club Championship). Not much to show for the championship. I hope the Golf Comm. revisits the idea of combining the championships. Personally I thought keeping them separate was much better and fairer for everyone.

For all you complaining about green speed there is a great article in Saturday's WSJ addressing the issue of hot, humid weather and the impact on greens and golf courses. I'll live with what we we've got versus the alternative. I'm going to post the article on the bulletin board for those of you who don't get the WSJ. Kudos to Eric and staff for the condition of the course.

Based on what I saw on TV the hot, humid weather is returning this week. My guess is that will translate into morning golf. See ya at the coffee bar. Stay cool.

Test Passed

Well I showed up Thursday AM just intending to play along chipping and putting. But the SD had other ideas and threw me into the fray. While I was able to play without physical discomfort my game showed the effects of not playing for the prior week and half. Once I realized there wasn't any pain I started drive the ball OK, but the rest of the game was pretty rusty. While my two partners were very gracious I'm sure they were thinking how did we get this chop as a third. You guessed it. I didn't really contribute a lot and we came in DFL. I'm not sure who won, but there was a lot of money and BS flying around the room. But I was glad to be back and hopefully will show some game by the time the JR/SR Championship rolls around.

I noticed the green speed was a bit off. Based on the high humidity I'm not surprised. Humidity can have a real impact on how fast they run. This weekend should have better conditions and maybe they will speed up for the Championship.

How about Tiger? Hard to believe he is playing that poorly. Maye Hank and Butch really know what they're talking about. Or maybe The Golf God is upset. It is also possible the pendulum took a really long time to swing back. Whatever the case Tiger sure doesn't look good. And, how about Phil shortening his driver to 44 inches? He doesn't seem to have lost any distance and gained better control. Any message there guys?

Gotta go. See you on the tee.

Free At Last!

Well, I went to see Dr. Steve for my my first post op visit and was given clearance to resume normal activity, including golf. Having learned a lot of lessons over the past few weeks I decided to work my way back into golf gradually. So I didn't rush to the course but rather went to Five Guys for a burger and fries and then home for a nap. I told the Nurse C that I would ride around with her on Tuesday and just chip and putt. Probably Thursday will be my first day back at full go. Even though they took the stitches out there is still some healing going on at one of the puncture spots and there was a little leakage last night. Nothing serious but just enough to remind me this has gone very quickly and well and I shouldn't push my luck.

How about Appleby shooting 59 Sunday at the Greenbrier?! I don't care what you say about an easy course you have to be doing something right to put up a number like that. By the way, the 18Th hole is where the LR Nurse (aka Mrs. LR Dr.) got her hole in one last year. Too bad they weren't offering a million dollars that day. Now back to Firestone for one of my favorite tournaments and then on to Whistling Straights for the PGA.

Are you getting ready for the JR/SR Championship. If not, you should be! This becoming a very prestigious event and a real feather in the cap if you can win it.

See ya.

On The Mend

Well it's Saturday morning and I watched the SD and the GWH roll down #2 form my post on our deck. Suffice it to say I don't think the GWH was going to make par from the lake. Besides after calling the SD I learned they didn't have their normal start on #1. Maybe Dr. AH and Silk will fare better this week. I'll find out later since I think I'll join them for lunch.

It feels like I'm on the mend. The soreness is almost gone although there is still some swelling. Mobility is improving and I'm not as tentative as I was two days ago. I wish I could get used taking all these pills but I've never really done that before and I forget about them half the time. With all these pill bottles sitting around I feel like my parents. Back to see Dr. Steve on Monday and the stitches should be coming out. Now for clearance on the chipping and putting.

I did show up for lunch on Thursday and to help the LR Dr. straighten out the game TTS ran. How 15 players ended up being 3 threesomes, 1 foursome and a twosome is beyond me. Plus Front, back and total turned into 1BB (3 places) is also a mystery. But this is from a guy who once said "you three guys are a foursome".

Dr. AH had a good day rolling the bones and walked away with $96.00 (1/2 the pot). Hope to see ya next week.

The Day After

Well yesterday was a rather long drawn out affair with positive results. At first I thought my first cold in two years might throw a "monkey wrench" in the surgical party, but the medical staff put that thought to rest and said everything should be OK. In fact my temperature was slightly below normal. When they say take a couple of deep breaths and you won't know what happened they aren't kidding. Two deep breaths and I was in recovery asking when I could start chipping and putting. According to Dr. Steve 10 to 14 days I should be ready. Anyway I was home by 6:15 PM being attended to by Nurse Crachit (just kidding), and sitting in my favorite recliner. To date I haven't had any real pain (probably the Vicodin), but I haven't had to take much pain medication. And I got the best night's sleep I've had in two months (when this all started). I'd say so far I'm pretty much back to as normal as I get. But I'm going to be the good patient and follow instructions. So I won't go to lunch today (the nurse hid the car keys), and I'll stay in the recliner and put ice on the elevated knee. I may even watch some videos that have been sitting here for a while (one can only take so much of the news).

I would like thank everyone for the phone calls of concern. It's nice to know that you have good friends. Hope to see everyone Thursday at lunch.

PS - I will hold a seminar, including pictures, on the subject of minimally evasive knee surgery for those in tested. Our own LR Dr. will probably be a guest speaker and provide his expert evaluation of the pictures (that is if he can break away from his new found calling as a mixologist).

PPS - When asking what I could eat last night I was told anything I felt like. I thought the rib eye in the frig would be great. But, the Nurse thought soup was better and then decided to have pizza for herself. Now that almost borders on cruel and unusual punishment of the lame, but when you haven't eaten all day soup and slatines aren't bad.

A New Theory

No cameos this weekend. Everyone made it to the tee Saturday morning. Unfortunately the result was the same. The GWH and the Social Director ham and egged it at he right times on the backside to stick it to Dr. AH and yours truly. It was our balky putters that did us in but I have developed another theory on why it is hard to beat this dynamic duo. They have an unfair advantage based on the fact that their limited skills are deteriorating at a geometric rater compared to our skills which are diminishing at linear rate. The change of handicaps provides the proof. While ours have gone up by a minuscule 1 or 2 points theirs have gone up by 4 to 5 points. Thus the number of strokes we have to give them is growing at an unfair rate. We all know it is difficult to overcome such an advantage like this. Then throw in the fact they play way above their abilities it becomes almost impossible to win when they get strokes on half the holes. My guess is this will equalize over time but it is costing us a lot of money in the meantime.

Wow the course was really wet today, but that was some storm that came through last night. Another monsoon around 8 PM. We watched it from the club balcony while trying to keep cool after the margarita tasting party. For those of you who missed it there were about 100 people tasting 8 different entries. It looked like a great time was had by all and our LR Dr. was one of the mixologists for the winning entry (the things you learn in medical school).

Supposed to have my knee surgery on Monday afternoon but I now have the first cold I've had in 2 years. I don't know what impact that will have but I suppose it could derail things for few days.

This And That

Decided not to temp fate a second time and didn't play three says in a row. But, I did stop by so I could chat with you all. Not sure how many played and who won since there was money being laundered and a lot of accusations flying around the room. The group was asking for sanctions against the Social Director. They were trying to say he skipped out without paying. I'm sure that really wasn't the case since he is usually in a hurry to get to the office to count the cash. The sanction action was being lead by Bill S (aka Dr. AH) and the LR Dr.. They much have been the big winners based on their whining. John L (another one of our legal eagles) showed up looking for a game. Said he couldn't make the morning round because he was out over charging clients, oops I mean working. TZ was able to rearrange his busy morning schedule, played and came in looking a a little damp and put a soggy $5.00 on the table. He didn't have any better luck rolling the bones ( the pot is now $180.00) and rolled nuts.

In my never ending search for knowledge (and also trying to keep you characters from sticking you proverbial feet in your mouths) I was talking with Eric about the inconsistency of green speed. He indicated they are not able to roll the greens with same frequency as prior years due to limited staff. Thus, they are not as smooth some days. He also said the brown spots you see is the Poa reacting to the high heat. I'm sure the weather is a real challenge this year and the grounds guys are doing a great job with a limited budget and the heat wave.

Hope everyone is coming to the Margarita Throw Down. I chatted with our club El Presidenta last night as he was delivering his entry for the taste testing and he said he thought his was an exceptionally good batch. Also saw some other entrants arriving at the club after they had a pre-tasting party and they weren't walking too straight (Mr & Mrs. LR Dr. were noted among the group). They said something making a new batch since their entry was gone. Where's the discipline these days?

Where's TTS? I wonder if the rumor about his kitchen over heating is true. I can't believe he was really seen sitting in front of a block of ice with a fan blowing on it to keep cool. But, based on my walk to the road with the trash they may not be a bad idea. Today looks to be a real scorcher with a heat index of about 100.

Keep the faith and cool.

And The Heat Rolls On

With little break in sight it was decided to play in the AM to avoid the Heat of the day. A good idea for us soon to be old farts, but I'm sure it screwed up a couple of schedules. Especially for those who still think they work - guys like TZ and Twinkle Toes who likes to sleep in late (or maybe come in) Anyway we played: still got hot and; and payed off to the same set of characters. Sarge and his posse somehow won in a scorecard playoff. Best comment of the day came from the Airline Pilot (AP for Short): Golf and flying are alike, both inherently safe but the smallest miscalculation can be disastrous. I think we understand his point.

I tempted fate and played two days in a row. Uncle Bob and I played in the TDGA 2 Man Jumble at Defiance. For those of you who don't know, a jumble is 6 holes of scramble, 6 holes of 1 best ball, and 6 holes of true alternate shot. First we're still friends and second we finished under par (net). We found out a couple of things. One, it isn't hard to miss a 3 foot putt ( did that twice); it is easy to hit a short chip fat; and sometimes you get plain lucky when you don't know the course. Also there is no feeling like knowing you on your own when teeing off on the first hole of best ball (your partner is in the hazard) and you're playing the toughest hole on the course. While Defiance is a nice course it did make me appreciate what we we really have BCC.

I was reminded that I put in the wrong date for the Senior Club Championship. Check the sign up sheet in the Pro Shop for the proper date. Remember it's a great tuneup for the JR/SR Championship in August. Also the SD's Lobster Bash is quickly approaching. Advance reservations are necessary and there are 70 signed up already. Should be another good time.

His One Day In The Sun

Well the Social Director brought in another cameo star since the GWH was off shooting pigeons at the SOCC Invitational. Rob S (aka Silk) brought his skills to Saturday morning and lived up to his name. He wasn't the problem though. The SD came out of hibernation on his stroke holes to perform feats he only dreamed about previously. Needless to say we couldn't overcome his 15 minutes of fame and lost our lunch money again. This is is beginning to sound like a broken record but I'm sure the pendulum will swing.

How about this heatwave? Saturday was one of the few times I was glad to be off the golf course. Sunday we were content to stay inside and watch the British Open. I guess we'll all know Louis is now. I wonder if we have the same number of dents in the tennis bldg as railroad sheds do on the 17th does at St. Andrews? Somebody check that out and let me know.

Went to the movie Sunday night to see Despicable Me. Pretty funny and the Minions reminded me of the JR/SR crowd. Lots of hidden references that only adults would appreciate. Sarge, our locker room doctor is a big animation fan, and should find this movie right up his alley.

Thursday golf was different since we played in the morning. Uncle Bob was the big winner again.
We also had our club mgr join us and he is a pretty good stick from all accounts. The SD says we're going to try this morning thing again since the heat isn't supposed to let up for a while. Maybe TTS will be happy since he'll have all afternoon to prepare his biscuits and gravy for dinner. Now if he can only find his game.

Lots of events going on at the club. Make sure you check them out and sign up. Don't forget the Sr Club Championship on 7/31. It's only a one day event, and a great tune up for the JR/SR Championship in August.

See ya Tuesday at the coffee pot.

The Dirty Dozen

Having nothing better to do with their time (or money) 12 showed up on Tuesday to play. Since it's mid-season the daily captain decided on a fairly tough format - 3 best ball of 4. Unfortunately the weather wouldn't cooperate and the thunder and lightning rolled in after 9 holes. Having nothing better to do, and not wanting to show up at home too early a lively dice game ensued with some of the money. After much explanation of the changing rules and controversy over some of the rolls LBB finally walked away with $10. TTS was seen roaring off on his "harley" muttering something about smelling a pie burning in his oven, and Gilhooley finally found someone willing to risk life and limb and go back on the course. The rest of us spent a little money at the bar and went home at a reasonable time so we wouldn't be late for cocktails.

The weather for the rest of the week looks like it will be hot and dry. Hopefully good for golf. Thursday is a TDGA event and we are playing at 8 AM. Let's hope there won't be a big rush for the first tee. Sign up sheets are up for the Senior Club Championship (a one day event). This is a great warm-up for the JR/SR Championship later in August. Plus there are number of other events on the schedule and worthy of your consideration. We have a new golf chairman (John Bachey) who is seeking your input. Be constructive, but let him know what you think.

See ya later.

These Summer Days

Last week was just one of those summer weeks we all think about when there is snow on the ground. Clear skies, high temperatures and humidity. Personally, I'll take that over the 20's and snow.

Played during the week without much fanfare, but couldn't play on Saturday due to another family garage sale. Think this may be the last one but there is still a lot of stuff to disposed of. Can anyone spell Goodwill? We did find some real hidden treasures though. Some great family photos in antique frames. My dad's WWII Army Air Corp uniform, fully decked out, was of great interest to the professional flea market buyers. Also found a duster worn by my great great grandmother when riding in their first open air car. Both were in great shape and could be worn today. E-Bay is a great source to use when trying to figure out values and saves a lot of time.

Talked with Mrs Social Director late last week about her knee surgery. She said it really went well and her doctor let her watch the monitor during the procedure. Mine feels so good right now I'm trying to figure out when to have it done. Probably the best thing would be to get it out of the way, but I hate to lose any more of the Summer. It would be a no brainer if they could assure me of a quick recovery.

Well it the British Open week and based on the TV schedule a lot of coverage for all you early risers. See you all tomorrow at lunch.

The Big Bang

Friday night's fireworks were a big success for the club. Lots of people having a good time and watching a great display of color and sound at 10 PM.

Saturday saw me coming off the IR list to play in the Saturday grudge match. Bill S and I easily handled our opponents on the front side and had to give them more strokes on the backside. Do you know how hard it is to beat two guys that get double strokes almost everywhere? Darn near impossible! Especially when one of them is asleep for all but the last two holes and pulls off a Ziem on 18. Anyway our losses were minimal. The course was really playing great and the greens were perfect. I'm not sure why the GWH is putting well, but he is. Must be one of the great mysteries of the universe that even Stephen Hawking can't explain.

We are getting into serious "gas money" territory with the shake of the day money. The recent audit showed we have $129 currently. several close calls on Saturday but no winners.

The weather looks good for the upcoming week. Hot on Sunday, but typical summer. See ya on Tuesday if not before.

PS Almost forgot. Last night while fisihing on the lake with my son and grandson I caught something I have never caught before, a $1 bill. that starts to make up for all the tackle I've lost in the rocks. By the way the ball pickings have been kinda of slim. I know you're hitting them in there, but closer to the shore would be nicer.

Let the Party Begin

Well the holiday weekend begins today and the weather looks great. Last thing I heard was that the club had over 650 reservations for the fireworks tonight. That's shades of yesteryear, and sounds like everyone is stepping up and supporting the club. I understand we have even received contributions from former members to help pay for the fireworks.

Yesterday was a perfect day for golf. The course is playing fast and the greens can be a real challenge if you are in the wrong spot. LBB and his crew took most of the money even though their partner par was their best player. There was a lot of play which is good as long as we take the time to fill divots and fix pitch marks. Hope everyone has read Eric's piece in the July newsletter. He does a good job of telling us what is happening or could happen with the turf under various conditions. You will probably note some fungus problems on certain fairways and tees. I don't think we really appreciate the job he is doing with the budget he is working with.

The Founders Day Tournament is fast approaching. I understand TZ is the chairman and hopes we all support it. I don't think a project has been decided on for this year. If you have any thoughts pass them on to him. Personally I think the money should go towards range improvements or drainage issues.

That's it for now. I'm planning on playing in the Saturday grudge match, gimpy or not. Bill S can't find a suitable sub that can deal with the inflated handicaps of our opponents. Even on one leg I'm sure I can compete against those birds.

PS Hope you saw the WSJ editorial on Michele Rhee in Friday's paper. Maybe there is hope for public education yet.

Summertime And The Swinging Is Easy

Could the weather yesterday be any better? Just a light wind and a mid 70's temperature made for a great day for golf. TTS finally showed signs of playing like he used to and had his best round of 2010 (even though he cursed his team on the backside). The same old bandits won, but not by much. The greens were rolling pretty good and the course has pretty well dried out from the heavy rains and is playing like we all want.

Now if we only play like we want life would be great. Twinkle Toes and TZ played their Old Pal match and got their heads handed to them. The most embarrassing part was only one of their opponents played. I think we need to have an intervention and explain to them the importance of being a JR/SR and playing up to their potential. You may not always win but 2 guys should be competitive.

Looks like the July 4TH party is on it's way to being a success. From what I'm hearing attendance is starting to get back to where it used to be. That's great for all of us. Plus the weather looks good for the weekend.

We had several close calls on the SOTD, but the pot continues to grow. We should be getting to serious "gas money" soon.

Since the course is closed for all intensive purposes on Wednesday I'll look forward to seeing you on Thursday.

Time Passes Quickly

Wow, another 4Th of July is here. The best part is that we're all here and in one piece. We're expecting the wrecking crew for the weekend. This should be a lot of fun since the kids are a year older and into a lot more activities. I'm sure I'll be ready for a rest after their visit.

Not much to report on golf-wise since I only played once last week. But when I did play my ball striking was better. There is something to be said for a slower tempo. You make better contact and the length and accuracy goes up. We'll see if I can maintain it this week. There maybe a silver lining to this knee problem.

Bill S turned 80 last week and his brother was in town for the celebration. He took my spot on Saturday, shot 77 and lost. Not hard to figure that one out when you are playing against 2 skilled thieves like the Social Director and the Great White Hunter. I hope to get back in the game this weekend and give Bill S some hope and inspiration.

On the medical side I passed all my tests and the docs have given me clearance to proceed with the knee surgery. Now I'll see when I can schedule it.

Not sure how much is in the STD pot but believe we are in six figures again. See you at the training table Tuesday.

PS If you ever need someone to work on your garage door call EB&H sales on Dixie Highway. Good people and reasonably priced. Also Lavoy Appliance Service is good (got them through Appliance Center).

Summer Is Upon Us

Well it's Father's Day and that means Summer is officially around the calendar corner. Plus it is the last round of the US Open. Based on Saturday's play Sunday should be very interesting. I keep looking for Dr J in the background but haven't spotted him yet. One final thought - ABT.



Looks like BCC is in great shape. Eric is doing a great job with limited staff and budget. I know he's concerned about the weather turning too hot too quickly. That combination with all the moisture in the ground could create real problems with the turf. Keep your fingers crossed.



Talked with my embedded northern reporter. He said the group had a great time and Uncle Bob was the big winner (can't lose with LBB as your partner). Also there was something about Bill S winning the "cup". I'm not sure what that is about but there must be a good story there. Even Gilhooley wasn't caught "specking mop squeezers" and didn't lose at gin (much to Fred's relief). Also saw Steve S and he said they made it back from Russia without being thrown in the gulag. Kind of suprising since Jim E does look like an aging spy.



On a personal front I hope to have the knee surgery rescheduled after Tuesday. With a little luck I can be in good shape for the JR/SR Championship in August. There's lots of rust to be knocked off the game!