Lots of summer remaining

It is a common experience for many of us.  We are in the middle of enjoying summer vacation and the great weather when we start to hear from the pessimists.  This usually happens at the end of July or the first of August.  Those with a less rosy outlook on life begin to lament how summer is half over.  Some will even go so far to suggest that summer is almost done.  Let me be the first to state that this is crazy talk.

We have long and cold winters in Manitoba but excellent summers.  There is lots of daylight and our weather is usually extremely good.  To suggest that summer is ending when we are still in July is an extreme over reaction.  Heck, even the kids have 5.5 weeks of break remaining.  That's 37 days until September 6.

I am surprised sometimes that people don't complain that their life is half over when they hit 40.  I hope that doesn't happen because we have lots of us old guys who attend Men's Night.  If everyone realizes that we are nearly half dead we might stop coming.  What's the point of enjoying ourselves on Wednesday evenings when some of us will likely be gone by 2058.

I am reaching a little here but it is an important point.  Today is July 29th...a beautiful Sunday in the middle of summer.  It will be a long time before we can't golf anymore.  There are lots of more nice days and evenings to come.  No one needs to start packing away the patio furniture or getting out the snow shovels just yet.

Golf is a game best enjoyed by optimists and least enjoyed by pessimists.  Often these two groups view the identical experiences in completely different ways.  Optimists say they get pars on the second ball while pessimists note their double bogeys.  Optimists say they had an okay round and are happy with their 42.  Pessimists talk about how the triple bogey on seven screwed up their chance of scoring under 40.  Optimists talk about how they will make a long putt to save par.  Pessimists will mention how they dread getting another three-putt.

Last Wednesday was a cool and windy night from what I heard.  However, that didn't deter 24 optimistic golfers from bundling up and playing.  A first-timer, Wes Gregory from Hamiota, won the $166.89 deuce pot.  Skins went on three holes.  Winners included Austin Hunter / Jason Gorrell ($20 on #6), Blake Hunter / Keith Martin ($20 on #8), and Charlie McNabb ($91.26 on #9).

The best shots on the par 3's were Wes on #5 and Charlie on #9.  Combined they won almost $300  when you add their above winnings as well as the closest to prizes.

As an optimist, I look forward to this Wednesday having missed the last two weeks.  I still have a few open holes on my ringer board.  I can't wait to fill them in with some birdies.  And if I don't get them this week, I will have a few more cracks at it later in August.

Does this look like you?

Like many of you, I have the classic golf tan shown to the left.  You get that tan that stops abruptly at your ankles and upper arms with the cool v-tan shape at the neck.  Some of us even get that added tan line on one wrist from our golf glove.  Rather than wasting out time lounging shirtless by the lake, we devote our time to the golf course baking in the hot sun.

The golf tan doesn't affect everyone.  A few brave souls who are most comfortable with their bodies often whip off their shirts on the hottest days.  Being mild mannered and considerate, they wait until the second tee box before disrobing.  This ensures that the Club House diners don't have to see the middle-aged bodies on full display. 

I didn't get a chance to add to my golf tan last week...but 30 other golfers did.  On a warm evening on the course, skins went on only two holes.  Winners included Terry Brandon / Blake Hunter ($20 on # 6)and Mike Susinski / Mike Zenchyshyn ($59.38 on #7).

Closest to the pins were Darren Ostash on # 5and Chris Kimpinski on #9. There were no deuces.

The Susinki Machine

Ron Susinski has been on fire this year...winning money on a regular basis. Despite missing several Men's Nights at the start of the season, Ron is now on top the season money list with $221.64.  He has cashed in on five separate evenings including the last two.  On Wednesday, he split a $147.64 skin on hole #1 when both he and Terry Brandon birdied for a combined -2.  Ron is also in solid contention in the ringer board having already recorded 5 birdies.

Once in a while, a young golfer comes out of nowhere to raise to the top.  This year it looks like that young phenom might be Ron Susinski.  Our only hope is that we stay close to him until he leaves in August to go harvest.

There were 35 golfers last week.  Other skins went to Brad Benton / Devon Allen ($57.51 on #4,  $57.51 on #6) and Austin Hunter / Stephen David ($21.88 on #8).

Closest to the pins were Robin Kimpinski on #5 and Darcy Kowalchuk on #2.  There were no deuces recorded.

Brad Benton recorded two more birdies to move to -7 on the ringer board with three holes remaining.

The horse race sign up sheet is now on the blog and will be at Men's Night each week.  Sign up in person or by texting Stephen David at 847-0161.

Summer golf is the best

It's hard to beat summer golf....especially in July,  The weather is great and the days are long allowing us to play well into the evening.  Recently, many guys simply turn in their score cards after the Men's Night round and keep going for extra holes.  As long as we have the cards to do the prizes, feel free to hit balls until the sun goes down.  Summer golf bring nice greens and fairways as well as Thursday vacation days which make Wednesday evenings more enjoyable.

This past week we had 30 golfers which seems to be our standard number this year.  Skins went on three holes.  Winners included Terry Susinski / Ron Susinski ($101.26 on #2), Scott Maynes / Joel Ostash ($72.51 on #5), and Austin Hunter / Charlie McNabb ($20 on #8).

There were four deuces recorded by Robin Kimpinski, Mike Susinski, Scott Maynes, and Austin Hunter.   Mike had a very nice evening winning closest to the hole on both par 3's.

Robin's two on nine added another birdie to his ringer board total of -6.  He currently has a one stroke lead over Darcy Kowalchuk and Brad Benton.  Scott Maynes entered his first three scores of the year with birdies on 1, 2, and 5.

This year the Horse Race is on Saturday, August 11.  If you are interested in registering, there will be a sign up sheet at Men's Night.  You can also text Stephen David @ 847-0161.

Thanks for everyone who participated in the Fundraiser tournament on Friday and donated prizes.

Better late than never

I hope everyone had a great long weekend.  I know I did.  I was gone to the in-laws from Friday to Monday and spent the day in Brandon today.  I am telling you this so you will understand why the blog is so late and why it will be very brief.

There were 27 golfers last week.  Closest to the holes were Mike Zenchyshyn on #5 and Shane Kimpinski on #9.  There were no deuces.  Skins went on three holes. 

Winners included Shane Kimpinski / Jason Neufeld ($36.88 on #3), Ashley Brandon / Darren Ostash ($20 on #7), and Terry Brandon ($53.76 on #8).