Time to Laugh

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from December, 2008 Reader's Digest:

My buddy is a lousy golfer, but that doesn't stop him from playing. One day, on the first hole, he teed up, took a couple of practice swings, then swung in earnest and missed the ball entirely. He tried again and missed again. The third time was the charm. He swung--and really missed.

"You were right," he said, taking a breather, "This is a tough course."

Took A While Longer Today

Allen and I played Friday at Seven Springs Golf and Country Club. We played on the Championship course. It was a gorgeous day. Because of a slow group, we finished later than usual.

score from the white: 103
Allen: 105

Birdie Day!

I met up with another twosome at even Springs Golf and Country Club today at the par 72 Champion course. We teed off at 7:20 with the temperature at 75º.


I made a birdie on Hole #16. The first ball went 175 feet, the second went 130, and the 8 foot putt hovered over the hole before it dropped in. WOO HOO! A BIRDIE!


I also made three pars on Holes #1, #2, and #11.


score from the gold: 97
Dave: 89
Frank: 92

Hooked Up with A Twosome

Today was Seven Springs Golf and Country Clubagain, the championship course. Although I planned on playing with Allen, he got stuck in a meeting and couldn't make it. So, I hooked up with a twosome. Wayne, who it turns out goes to my church and another guy, whose name I didn't get. They were very nice guys; we had a good time together.

It was 85º and quite humid.

score from the white: 102
Wayne: 100
Other guy: kept his own score

Twosome

The par 72 Champion course at
Seven Springs Golf and Country Club

It was an overcast day with the temperature around 85º--not too hot. Van, my breakfast buddy from McDonald's, joined me today. He hadn't played often, but it turned out to be a close match. I made a par on Hole #2, and Van made a par on Hole #9.

They started us on Hole #10, and we played 10-18 first. Then we finished up with 1 through 9.

For my par, I made a 50 ft putt from off the green. From the tee, I hit the ball toward the left, actually clipping the roof of a house before it rolled into the fairway. Then, I overcompensated and hit it too much to the right! Finally, I made a good shot and hit the ball 50 feet into the hole. I couldn't believe it myself!

Van's par was his final stroke, ending the day on an up note.

score from the white: 114
Van: 116

Only Nine Holes

"This tee shot is intimidating. The green is small, there is a hazard down the entire left side, and a greenside bunker on the right side of the green. The green is elevated, giving the appearance of a small green with no place to land the ball."

Here's a drawing of Hole #14 from Seven Springs Golf and Country Club Championship course where I made one par today.

I met up with three guys who only wanted to play nine holes. I had already waited forty-five minutes to join someone for golf, and rather than wait any longer, I joined them. They were a pleasant bunch, but they were quite slow. I'm a speed demon, so I'm hoping to meet up with others more like me.

The starting temperature was 85º with a slight breeze. It was HOT!

score from the white: 53
Frank: 53
Rush: 56
Quinby: 66

Bad Day!

I played the Challenger course at Seven Springs Golf and Country Club. They paired me up with a fellow who chose not to keep score. He was pretty good. I sure wasn't. I did so badly that I'm glad I didn't keep score! Don't even ask!

Golf in the Woods

Today I played at World Woods Golf Club. "The Pine Barrens Course at World Woods, is ranked #26 by Golf Week 'Americas Best Modern Course'." Click here for more information.

Look at all of that sand! There were rolling hills and many trees. Believe it or not, I did not lose one ball! I started with a Titleist and finished with it!



It was a nice, dry course. There wasn't a wet spot on the greens. Afterward, Paul and I enjoyed lunch at the club.


Here's a picture of Hole #15 where I made par.


score from the white: 106
Paul: 86
Two others: kept their own scores

Good Course!

Today I played the Challenger course at Seven Springs Golf and Country Club. It's a par 64. It cost $17.20, and I could not believe that there existed such a beautiful course at such a reasonable price! The greens were fast. I'll go back there any time.

I joined three fellows to make a foursome. They made me feel welcome and invited me back again. I hope I do get to meet up with them in the future. Once again, we saw an alligator--4 foot long. I made certain that I stayed a good distance away.

I made 4 pars (Hole #2, #10, #11, and #13).

Rain chased us out on the eighteenth hole and followed me home where it began dumping buckets.

score from the blue: 92
Ron: 87
Tom: kept his own score
Fred: kept his own score

At Last--A Foursome!

I met up with three guys who regularly play together; they invited me to join in to make a foursome. I enjoyed their company, and they suggested that we do it again. I had a good morning, so I think I will meet up with them in the future.


We played on Pebble Creek Golf Club. I made one par on Hole #4. The temperature was 85º and quite humid. The price was $25. The course was wet--soaked actually! There was water standing in the middle of the fairway. I spotted two alligators up close!





score from the white: 105
Dave kept his own score
Dave kept his own score
Gene kept his own score

Computers on the Golf Course

The new course I tried out today was Pebble Creek. The temperature was 85º and it was humid! There were quite a few water hazards. I lost seven balls!

It had an electronic gadget that was attached to the roof of the cart that told how far people were in front of us, how long each hole was, and how far we were from the hole.


The shot above is Hole #16 where I made a 50' putt for par.



I made another par, but I forgot which hole. Allen made 4 pars. I'll return to this course.

score from the yellow: 78 after 14 Holes (We had to quit; Allen had a meeting.)
Allen from the yellow: 74 after 14 Holes
Larry from the yellow: about the same, but he finished the course

Golfing on A Swamp

I went to Lansbrook Golf Club at 6:30 AM and met up with two guys who usually play in a twosome. JR and Herman allowed me to join them for a round. The cost was $19, and it was terrible. The course was a swamp! Everything was wet; I'm sure it's better when it's dry, but today was miserable. I'll try it again after these heavy rains stop.

I saw 5 deer, 1 alligator eating a fish, and 2,000 mosquitos trying to eat their lunches!

It was hot, with the temperature around 85º and no wind to speak of.

I made a 70 foot putt to make a par on Hole #10.

score: 96
JR and Herman kept their own scores.

Thumbs Down on This One

Today my son and I tried yet another course. Eagles Golf Club was terrible. We've recently had super heavy rains, and there was water all over the fairways. Traps were filled with water, and the greens were very slow. We were so turned off that we actually stopped playing after Hole #14. They charged $25 for this soggy adventure. I won't go back here. They should never have opened the course nor taken our money.

Temperature at tee time was 86º with no wind.

score after 14: 80
Allen: 81

New Town, New Course

I went to a new golf course with my son today. Plantation Palms Golf Club; it was beautiful. The cost was $35. Here's a shot of Hole #5. I made a par on this one.


Temperatures are so high that the course is empty. The fellow at the clubhouse counter said that not many play during these summer days. I'm a true blue golfer, so I play regardless. It was 85º at tee time with no wind--not even a small breeze.

score: 97
Allen: 107

A Birdie! What a Way to Go!

On my final round of golf with my South Florida buddies, I made a birdie on Hole #12! What a way to say good-bye to twenty years of golfing glee.


Of course, I'll continue to play in my new neighborhood, after I find some new friends. I'll sure miss these happy times, though.

It was hot today--close to 90º. 

score: 94

Tom: 101

Doug: 91

Nelson: 76