Whoo... did I have a fun birthday, and a fun story to tell. Warning though, as you can see, it's a long story, and probably not that interesting. Although if you like hearing about me doing something dumb, you may want to stick around. : ) I do apologize for the length, but then again, these updates aren't just for other people to read, they're kind of like a diary for us.
So, I went into work in the morning, and actually got some work done, before I started feeling antsy, especially because the weather was absolutely beautiful outside. So, I decided to play hooky and go for a round of golf. To be a little different, I decided I had to cross the state line, but I still picked a course not too far away. I tried to convince Charlie, the guy who works right beside me, to go with me, but he was too busy. So I went by myself. When I booked the tee time they told me I would be put with three other golfers.
Anyway, I get to the course and go to pay the greens fee. On the web it said that the fee would be $36, but when I get to the clubhouse the sign says "Fall Special: $29". "Cool", I think. But when I go to pay, the woman says, "That'll be fourty-six dollars...". Not wanting to look like a hick, I hand over my credit card anyway, but I 'casually' ask, "How did that get up to $46?" "Well, the greens fees are $29, and the cart rental is another $14." "And if I don't want a cart?" "Oh.... well.... then it'll be a lot cheaper, but almost everybody who plays here uses a cart." "Really? Is it that bad?" "Yeah, it's very hilly. Quite often people go out, and either want a cart by the time they reach the first tee, or they'll struggle through nine holes before taking a cart for a back nine." "Huh, well, I guess that's what I'll do if I start feeling too bad."
Now, they were playing the back nine first on this day, so I walk to the 10th tee, and even that little walk has me reconsidering. I have to go down and then back up quite a ways. And heaven knows I'm not in particularly good shape right now. Not to mention the fact that I'm usually pretty pooped after a normal 18 holes. But I decide to keep going. As it turns out, there's no one at the tee when I get there, so the starter lets me go out by myself. This I like. Don't get me wrong. I love playing with other people, but there's also something special about playing alone. As I'm getting ready to tee off the next group comes up behind me, and I ask them whether I'm crazy for trying to walk the course, and they tell me I pretty much am. To make matters worse, they tell me the front nine is much harder than the back nine, so that will confuse my decision about whether to get a cart for my last nine holes. Anyway, I tee off, and start walking the course. Sure enough, the course is MUCH more extreme than any other course I've played. But, I soon catch up with a foursome ahead of me, and I'm able to take my time and I feel fine. The course itself is magnificent. Beautiful views, lots of trees, lots of water. I'm feeling VERY relaxed. Just for fun, I decide to play from the blue tees. And you know what? I'm not playing half bad.
Several times throughout the day I pass by people and they are amazed that I'm walking. I end up talking to the woman selling refreshments several times. She thinks they ought to take my picture because, "You never see anyone walking out here!" The general manager of the course drives by and we talk for a couple of minutes. Even HE has only walked the course once : ).
Well, I get through the first nine, feeling fine, and I decide to push through. I'm a little worried because of the warning I got, but oh well. Sure enough though, the walk to the first tee is almost straight up. I get to the tee and I swear you could feel acrophobic standing up there. But I'm still feeling fine, and having fun. So much fun, in fact, that I decide to play these holes from the BLACK tees. I have to wonder just how far my drive on that first tee went, because I did hit it well, and because the ball went almost as far down as it did out : ).
By the way... I think I may have found something out today, and please forgive me for stating the obvious for the experienced golfers out there. You know how when you watch golf on tv, and every time one of the pros hits an iron shot a huge clump of grass comes up? Well, up until today, every time I took a shot and a clump of grass came up, it was because I had badly mishit, and the ball dribbled about 20 yards away. On this day I came to understand that the pros play on much better turf than I usually get at the public course around me. Because now I was throwing up grass with the best of them, and still hitting the ball a mile. Wow, that was nice grass : )
Anyway, I keep going, doing a lot of climbing, and feeling fine. In fact, I'm feeling so fine, that when I get to the 5th tee, I'm starting to feel wistful because the round is approaching it's end. My game has started to fall apart, so I stop trying to keep score, stop paying too much attention and just play. A couple of holes later I step onto the tee, and I look around. "Huh, this looks familiar." I look over to the sign, and it says I'm on the 5th tee. Yup, I got myself lost. The worst part is that I had forgotten to take a scorecard with me in the first place, so I have no idea where on the course I am. So I back up to the last green, and ask the guys there if I can check out their scorecard. Now, this is one of those courses that just loops out and back, so at this point I am at the furthest point of the course from the clubhouse. Perhaps more embarrassing... it turns out I played #4 a second time without even noticing. So, I grab my bag and start walking. I walk over 5 & 6, which I had already played, and when I get to #7, there's no one there, so I go ahead and tee off, and play out. So, I actually got 19 holes out of the course.
By the way, I felt just great at the end. A little tired, but all in all, not bad at all. I think the weather was a big help. I don't think it got over 62 all day. That course would VERY difficult on a hot, humid day.
Well, this is getting awfully long, so I think I'll talk about the rest of my birthday on the updates pages... which of course won't come out until next week. Take care!
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