Every time we set up for an approach shot, we all expect the ball to finish close to the pin. Unfortunately, it does not happen as often as we want, but the intent is always there. The challenge most of us have is not hitting to distance, on line or just a miss hit. These challenges are universal for all amateur golfers and yet some seem to mitigate the error percentage better than others. I wish I could wave my magic golf club and make all those challenges disappear. If I could, would I wonder if I would still want to play this magical game. Would you?
Continue readinggrateful
Golf Season Is Over – So, Now What?
This time of year happens without fanfare. At the end of each golf season, I wonder what I am going to do with my extra time. Of course this is said with tongue and cheek because I always seem to fill my time with something. After washing my clubs yesterday, sad day for me, I came to realize that I am on the back nine of my career. Time is clicking away and as such the number of times I will hit the links is becoming limited. At this time, the only thing stopping me for golfing (excluding the cold weather for the next six months) is myself. Life has so much to offer and I want to do it all. Hence, golf sometimes takes a back seat and that is okay. With all this in mind, what is next? What am I going to do for the next six months as I wait for my local course to reopen?
Continue readingMy Golf Season Is Coming To An End
It is always a challenge during the fall season to get out on the links to play a round of golf. Most of the time, I am engaged in other activities, but once in a while I hit the links in order to play that one last fantastic round with friends. Yesterday was one of those days. I had not swung a club in a bit and was a bit rusty which is to be a expected. However, no matter how I hit the ball, nothing replaced the great time I had with my friend Mike as we looped the Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort.
Mike does not live in the area, so we try to play a round or two when he visits. We met about 8 years ago at the Osprey Links Golf Course and have become good friends every since. Over the years, we developed a little match play game where the winner can receive the maximum of three dollars, but the real prize is the bragging rights. I have to admit that before yesterday Mike has dominated the matches over the past three years. Well, yesterday is a different story.
When we hit the links yesterday it was sunny and 20° C (68° F). The course was in good shape, it was empty and it felt like we owned the place. Overall, the conditions were fantastic to play a round of golf.
We both started off rough that led to me being up one after the first hole. It took a couple more swings for the both of us to start hitting some decent shots. We trade points (and jabs at each other) so that we were tied heading into the 9th hole. This is where Mike’s wheels fell off. Normally a very consistent player, Mike struggled for three holes and that was enough for me to step on the gas and win the match. Interestingly, we still were trading blows for the rest of the round, but not enough to Mike to make a dent in the score. The final tally was that I won three dollars and all the bragging rights!
The golf was secondary to the great time I had on the links. We laughed, joked, told stories and just enjoyed the moment of playing golf with friends. We scooted around the course as if we did not have a care in the world. And at the end of the round we went into the golf course for Brenda’s world famous turkey club sandwich. I raved about this sandwich to Mike for years and I am happy to say that the meal did not disappoint. Mike loved the turkey club and agreed that it was on of the best he ever tasted. What a fantastic way to top of our round.
Hitting a white ball around a huge open space is always fun. What makes the round fantastic is playing golf with friends. That is what happened yesterday as Mike and I had the chance to enjoy on of the final days of my golf season for 2025. I hope I can get a couple more rounds in before the snow flies, but for now, if my season was to end, I am grateful it ended on a high note.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Playing Early In The Morning
One of the benefits of being a member of the Mattawa Golf and Ski Resort is the ability to play early bird golf. This allows me to play a quick round of golf with no other players on the course. It usually takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to play two balls on the nine hole course. I love it because I have an entire day to do whatever with my time. There are other benefits that are often overlooked, yet I am reminded ever time I hit the links early.
Continue readingHappy New Year – 2025
With 2024 behind us, it is time to look forward with hope and anticipation for 2025. The first day of every new year starts the slate clean. This year I hope to hit the links more and play some exciting golf with my hickory sticks. Regardless, 2025 is going to be awesome.
I will create the year I want and I will be grateful for all the blessings in my life.
I hope you and your special loved ones have a healthy and joyous new year in 2025!
The Grateful Golfer 