Nothing Like Golf

It was beautiful outside today. Fantastic weather. So perfect that I had to golfing.

Golf is a funny thing. Most of us are pretty lousy at it but there's something irresistible about hitting the links. Golfing is without a doubt my favorite pastime. If it weren't so darn expensive, I'd play every day. At least I have retirement to look forward to.

Today, I went out past Interstate 90 to a little course called Orchard Ponds. It's pretty flat and short and only nine holes. There's only one par 5 and a couple of the par 4's are right around 300 yards. But it's a well thought-out lay out considering they didn't have much to work with. Water is in play on a couple holes, there are some tight driving holes and it really does make you think out your shots more than some small courses. The crew also does a fine job manicuring the grounds.

My favorite hole is No. 8. It's listed right around 287 yards but you need to be careful not to gun for the green off the tee. There's a deep creek running in front of a tiny green that slopes severely from the back to front toward the creek. At this point, the course was still playing very slow because of the lingering snow melt-off and rain, but on a normal day, any approach shot behind the green and you are done. Of course today, I hit a wedge from 90 yards right over the flag stick in the back rough. It was an impossible chip shot. So I chunked it on purpose, landing it in the fringe just so it wouldn't run 30 feet past the hole and possible into the creek. The putt was not much easier but fortunately, the greens were running slow and I was able to hang it out to the right and tap in from there. I just love courses that penalize mistakes and reward good shots.

Best of all, Orchard Ponds is only eight bucks to walk and even though it was a beautiful day, there were only about seven or eight cars in the parking lot at 4:30 p.m. Sometimes it almost feels like your own private course. I could play there every day and not get tired of it.

Hopefully this will be the first of many times I get to play this year. By the way, my birthday is May 1. I'm in need of a new sand wedge and a 60 degree wedge, as well. Hint, hint.