One for the history books...

Usually, writing the blog is fun. Even though I know it isn't widely read, I actually enjoy doing the recap of the previous Mens' Night. While it is fun to occasionally have someone mention something that they read, the reality is I get enough satisfaction out of the writing that I don't really care if it is seen by many.

Some times, however, when I get busy with other things, writing the blog is a bit of a chore. I end up dreading having to do it a bit...pushing it until the Tuesday before golf before I complete it because of some weird sense of responsibility. I even have to talk myself into believing someone is waiting for it...lest I simply say the hell with it. Tonight, this was almost the case.

I have decided that I am no longer simply the blogger for Mens' Night...I am now the self appointed historian. Twenty five years from now, when someone gives a 75 year old Brad Benton heck for hitting from the red tees, people will be able to look back to the blog to see that the rule for the red tees is 90 years and over. When a young man by the name of Dustin Gorrell gets teased for his crazy slice, people can check the blog to read how his old man was the same way back near the turn of the century. When Nathan Maynes comes home from university for one night and wins a few skins, everyone will remark how his dad could likely wheel himself out of Morley House and still kick his ass. When old man Derhak gives some golfers a ride home 25 years in the future, he will likely tell them stories of how he used to do the rounds of town after poker, dropping off the late nighters. An eighty year old Wes Arnfinson, riding shotgun, will confirm this. When one of Blake Cramer's sons brags about winning a $200 skin, someone will tell him old Mr. Kimpinski won $212 once.

So tonight I am not writing a blog, I am writing another chapter in the Mens' Night history book. Let it always be remembered, that one September 19, 2012, Blake Cramer won a $63 deuce pot after hitting it close on #9.  Earlier, Sport hit the closest to the pin on #4. Also, never forget that on the same night, six skins were won, including Neuf and Dale ($20 on #1), Ronnie and Jason Hunter ($39.50 on #2  $105 on #8), Scott Maynes and Benton ($31 on #3, $31 on #6), and Murray and Blake ($20 on #9).

May they also remember the following week (tomorrow night), when all the farmers were done and the weather was sunny and in the 20's, when Mens' Night had the best September turnout ever. So it is written...so let it be done.

Hit it easy when it's breezy

Last week was a windy time for golfers, both at home and abroad. Those of us in Shoal Lake experienced steady wind and gusts of up to 65 km/hr. Across the pond, the British Womens’ Open  cancelled Friday's round because of the wind. The gusts there were over 100 km/hr. I suppose we can’t complain given that we were able to complete our round on Wednesday.

Brad Benton took advantage of the windy conditions to issue a challenge to other golfers. He ended up betting a dozen guys that they could not score at a certain level above their handicap. At the end of the evening, it was close to a wash as some guys came in lower than expected while others carded season-high rounds. Brad chirped me and told me that I was the only one who did not take the bet. He must have forgotten about the other nine guys who wisely took a pass.

You may have heard how a low compression golf ball is best for cold weather golf. Did you also know that a golf ball with lots of dimples is best for windy days? Adding dimples to the cover of a golf ball increases the potential distance of flight due to improved aerodynamics. Increasing the number of dimples on the ball will further increase the resulting benefit. A company called Dixon Golf manufactures a specially-designed golf ball with a 428 dimple pattern that assists that player in maintaining distance in the windiest of conditions.

Robin Kimpinski actually provided some evidence that a special golf ball is helpful on windy days. He found a yellow Sponge Bob ball on the second hole which he used for the remainder of the round. On a night when there were several scores in the fifties, Robin and Sponge Bob came in with a 35.

There were 22 golfers but only two skins went on Wednesday. Mike Susinski and Dick Edgeworth cashed in for $29.50 on #1 while Scott Maynes and I won $21.00 on #9. Closest to the pins were recorded by Ron Susinski on #5 and Maynes on #9. Neither they, nor anyone else, carded a deuce.

There are not many Wednesday's remaining before we pack it in for the season. Let's make this week a good one!

Wine at Mens' Night?

Twenty golfers came out on a cooler Wednesday evening, on our twentieth mens' night of the year. The 6:00 pm start was very necessary given that it was already getting dark at 8:10 when most golfers were finishing. It was really dark when Neuf and his BFF's from the railroad crew found their way to the Club House after 9:00 pm. We weren't sure what they were doing for that extra hour or so...although Brad and Robin were willing to speculate for those of us waiting.

There was excitement in the air as some of our farmers and farm-industry guys made a reappearance. Many golfers excitedly texted their friends and spouses to report the return of local legends such as Ron Susinski and Hubey. Given the returning of these big shots, other guys tried to impress them by using utensils to eat and by drinking fancy wine from a bottle. Consequently, I will bringing forward a motion that wine may only be served during ladies night or Nine and Dine.

Whether it was the result of the lower temperature or other factors, it was not a great evening for scoring. There were reports of slices, hooks, shanks, chunks, skulls, pop-ups, chili dips, and worm burners. On a positive note, I did not hit anyone with a golf ball fired from a three wood from 140 yards away. Thankfully, it has been like three weeks since this last happened.

Scott Maynes and Dale Watson won the only skin of the evening, cashing in for $20 on #4. Closest to the pins were recorded by Benton on #5 and Jason Hunter on #9. Jason converted the two-footer for the only deuce of the evening...and cashed in for $99.50 as a result. As expected, Benton complained about the poor pin placement that caused him to two-putt. This was actually a legitimate gripe this time given that Joel tucked the flag on the ridge in the middle of the green. There were actually some four putts there last night.

The early tee-off time will continue until the end of season...whenever that might occur. We are supposed to have above average temperatures through September...and we went until October 6th last year. Personally, my hope is we golf until December. Realistically, I imagine at least 3-4 more weeks at a minimum.

Here's to the ladies!

On Friday evening at the nine and dine, a female golfer told me that she liked my blog about the farmers. I appreciated the kind words but then I became slightly rattled. I realized that females were reading my posts...and I felt badly that I have not been catering more to that segment of the golfing population. So...to honour our better halves...this blog is dedicated to the ladies who golf and who allow their husbands and boyfriends to come out to mens' night.

Where to begin? Mrs. Eastcott's son Robbie was closest to the pin on both par 3's and converted both putts for deuces. I bet she is very proud of him. Tina Maynes' husband Scott also had a two, as did Mrs. Juce's son Michael and Mrs. Anderson's husband Ron. The five would have split a $69.50 deuce pot had they not generously donated it back for next week.

Tracy Kimpinski's significant other Robin had a fine night on Wednesday...winning three skins on his own. Robin paired with the dummy card to win $212 in total, the largest single haul in mens' night history. Of course, my sense of history only goes back twelve years, so I apologize to anyone who did better before 2001. Robin won $65 on #3, $20 on #4, and $127 on #6 to catapult him to the top of the money list.

The dummy card is used when we have an odd number of golfers. The middle score card goes with the low pot, and a copy of it goes to the high pot. This is the first time anyone has found cash with the dummy card. On other occasions, people have won skins with dummies, but in those instances the dummies have been actual people such as myself. Robin has Karen Juce's husband Dave to thank for contributing to the dummy card.

The other skins were won by the Eastcott and Maynes boys who won $20 on #5 and $84 on #9. I am sure they dedicated their victory to their moms.

For those ladies who might these columns, I thought I would give you a bit of perspective from the golf world to help you appreciate your men a little bit more. In golf, a below par performance is considered really good...so feel free to take that same approach when you deal with us at home.

With the shortening days, we have decided to roll back the start time this coming week to 6:00 pm. Spread the word. By the way, this will be our 20th mens' night of the season!