Rained out

For the first time in a long we did not have Mens' Night. It technically was not a cancellation. We just didn't get enough guys. We got up to seven golfers and had a soft commitment from an eighth, but we did not get the requisite ten players needed.

We texted and called everyone we could think of to fill out the slate but no one was interested. It is amazing what a solid day of rain can do to deter even the most avid golfers. On a positive note it was some much needed precipitation for farmers, gardeners, and homeowners.

All the skins carry over until next week which is the first day of June. Have fun. Scott Martin and I will be at the school Band Concert...which I know will be awesome.

Happy long weekend!

My shortest blog entries are when I have something going on that limits my time. It's a long weekend and the weather is nice already...so I am just going to do a quick update and get outside.

Among the 26 golfers on Wednesday, several were making their first appearance of the season. I heard lots of guys finished seeding already so that is promising for next week.

Skins went on 4 holes. Winners included Rob Eastcott / Bob Moffatt ($20 on #2), Blake Hunter / Chris Kimpinski ($20 on #6), Dan Stokes / Brad Benton ($46 on #7), and Stephen David / Jason Gorrell ($29.50 on #8).

Closet to the holes were Brad on #5 and Joe Shwaluk on #9. Neither converted the deuce. The only two of the evening went to Darcy Kowalchuk who chipped in on #9 for $39.

Scott Martin recorded a birdie on #1 to move to the top of the ringer board standing with Brad at -3.

Brad moved to the top of the season money list while last year's top winner, Jason Gorrell, recorded his first cash of the year.

I am done. I need to go clean my cart for an 11:00 am tee off. Have a safe and relaxing holiday weekend.

Optimistic Golf

This entry will be about optimism...which is ironic given the date of the calendar. It is Friday the 13th. To get yourself in the proper mindset, think about how you feel about today. Do you think it is cool that it's the 13th or did you wake up expecting bad things to happen?

I get called an optimist quite often. This past week was no exception. Despite a less than ideal weather forecast for Mens' Night, I  kept texting people with my perceived good news. I noted how the drizzle was probably going to stop before golf began and resume after we finished. I mentioned how the temperatures were going to be warmer than initially projected. Several people who responded noted my optimism. Some seemed to suggest that I was delusional. One or two noted that I was crazy and stated how there was no way that they would golf on such a night.

I even had an interesting moment during the round that epitomized my take on things. On the 8th tee when I almost missed my ball. I grazed it and it rolled two feet from the tee. My first reaction was to laugh, walk to my cart and get a 3 wood, while saying "At least I can still make par".

For the record, I didn't par that hole...but I thought I was going to do so. I should also mention that it was pretty cold out and we did end up getting a little wet. But who cares? We got to hit some golf balls, hang out with some friends, and have a couple of beverages. I went home at the end of the evening a little damp, a little cold, somewhat tired, but pretty darn happy. I expect a few others felt it was one of the worst nights ever.

I have trouble with those who should be playing a game who spend more time golfing than complaining. If you are one of those people try a little experiment next time. Try to note the good things that happen during the round. Don't get hung up on the fact that it isn't as warm as you'd like. Don't lament the wind that blows shots off line, the bad bounces on the green, the lip outs, or the double bogeys. Just be happy that winter is finally over and you get to whack a little white ball around a great little golf course in our small town.

I expect the relationship between optimist and pessimists is similar to that between extroverts and introverts. Opposites that can't figure out why the other takes the perspective that they do. I know when I am around people with a less than rosy outlook on things, I try first to encourage them, before invariably just letting them do their thing while thinking something is slightly off within them.

Pessimists complain that it is only 9 degrees outside. Optimists talk about how that's better than 8 degrees. Pessimists are scorecard watchers who point out how the one errant shot or one bad hole attributed to their less than stellar performance. Optimists are ringer board people. They can have a string of triples leading up to a hole but know that just one birdie gives them a chance to lock in another score.

Of the 11 people that actually showed up on Wednesday in less than ideal conditions, I have to assume the majority were optimists. When we finished, everyone seemed to be smiling...although a few were less than happy with their final score.

Sonny Blackbird and Brad Benton were happy, having won two skins for a combined $60 on #1 and 4. Milt won a skin alone on #5 for $27.50 after pairing with the dummy card. The final skin of the evening fell on #6 to Robin Kimpinski and Dan Stokes who won $20 for their efforts.

There were actually two people who hit the par 3's this week, unlike the previous Mens' Night. Brad was closest on #5 and Blake Hunter was best on #9. There were no deuces or hole-in-ones...so that means both pots get bigger next week.

A few more words on the optimism thing before I sign off. You may have heard that people with positive outlooks on life tend to be happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer. If you haven't, it is true. There's actual research to back it up.

By the way, I just heard the Shoal Lake Band Concert is on a Wednesday in June this year. My daughter is in Grade 7 and plays the trumpet...so I will not be at Mens' Night. How lucky am I? I get to hear some awesome music before joining friends for a drink or two after their round of golf. Heck, I bet I even win Chase the Ace!

That's it for this week. See you next Wednesday when the weather will be much warmer and lots more golfers will be out on the course.

Until then, I encourage you all to be the yellow ball.

New Year's Golf

It's another new year of golf, and with it comes the many new things that start any season. Interestingly, the second week of Mens' Night is like the day after the actual new year's eve.

Often the new golf shirts stay on the hanger for the old favourites that are more comfortable and lucky. Our new clubs are no longer bright and shiny and our brand new golf balls may be scuffed a bit and are missing one or two from their original dozen. The shiny golf shoes that you wore the previous week are already breaking in and showing some signs of wear. The healthy bodies that we started with in April are becoming scuffed from trips through the bush looking for balls. Many of us also have a couple of those itchy bumps from the increasingly present wood tics.

But their is still hope and optimism. Those with new clubs are still excited about how great they will play once they figure things out finally. Some of us are finding balls that once belonged to our slick shooting brethren and we quietly enjoy the satisfaction that comes with knowing that even they don't hit it perfectly. We are hoping for a summer of great weather and looking forward to future Mens' Nights, tournaments, and golf trips. Like New Years' Day, we make resolutions about playing better, getting out more often, and enjoying the game even more.

Scott Martin enjoyed the game more this past week. He was the only person under 40, carding a 37. His score was helped by a chip in for a two on #2...from 95 yards. He split the $33 deuce pot with Milt and Hubey who both got their two's on #9.

Mr. Martin also shared the $22 skin on #2 with Carson McLennan. Skins went on three other holes. Jamie McCutchin and Darcy Kowalchuk cashed in for $22 on #6 while Milt and Blake Hunter won twice, on #1 and #9, for a total of $42.

Closet to the pins were Hubey on #5 and Milt on #9. Milt was in the New Year's spirit buying a round...maybe not for the full club house, but at least for his table.

Two weeks in we had the same numbers as the previous week with 22 golfers coming out to play. Many of our friends in the farming industry were off getting their own seasons going. Hopefully they all get their crops in quickly so that we may enjoy even hire numbers in the weeks to come.

While the forecast isn't perfect for this week, don't despair. Remember it is New Years. We need to be as optimistic as possible. Already the predicted precipitation has decreased and they are no longer calling for rainfall but merely showers. Additionally, you need to be selective about where you get you weather information. For example, as of this moment, Environment Canada's site is calling for temperatures 4 degrees warmer than the Weather Network. On behalf of all golfers, let me say "Screw you Weather Network". This Wednesday is going to be awesome...and someone will buy a round for the whole group after they get their $1500 hole-in-one. Just three more sleeps!