Is your golf cup half empty of half full?

I wasn't sure what to right about when I first sat down. No one is really giving me any Mens' Night news yet. Then I listened to the wind pounding the side of my house and became inspired.

This morning is the perfect day to write this blog entry. We have had a stretch of great weather from Monday through Mens' Night on Wednesday and up to yesterday. Today it is slightly cooler and windy and it is somewhat overcast.

There are those among us who will complain about how crappy it is outside. I am not referencing our farmer friends here because bad weather can seriously affect their livelihood. I am talking about those eternal pessimists who cannot enjoy a 30 degree day today without saying how it is going to change and be rainy in eleven days. These are the people who have already decided that next Saturday's Lions Club tournament will not be enjoyable because of a long range forecast.

Those same people tend to take their mindset and worldview to the golf course. They bemoan bad shots and higher scores and talk about how well they played a week ago, a month ago, or a year ago. They react to compliments for a birdie by saying "Wait until next hole...I'll probably screw it up again". Whether lamenting the weather or golf, there are people who make you wonder why they even step outside their houses in the morning.

I personally prefer to be more on the optimistic side...perhaps leaning toward being moderately delusional. On early Wednesday afternoons when it is rainy, I watch the weather maps online until I convince myself I see a sunny break somewhere over south eastern Saskatchewan that will hit Shoal Lake between 6:30 and 8:30 pm. I golf thinking that I am going to birdie every hole, that my next shot will be my best, and that I can beat Robin, Brad, and Scotty Maynes every time I play them. Of course I don't do these things as often as I would like, but it happens enough to keep encouraging me to stay calm and enjoy it. Also, while I might be prone to the occasional fleeting frustration on the golf course, I am fortunate that I move on quickly. I try to react to a bad shot by reminding myself that the only important shot is the next one. This is moderately challenging when I have to say it three times in a row on #4 but I quickly remind myself there is a par 3 next.

Life and golf are meant to be enjoyed, not endured. There are countless studies that show that a positive outlook on life reduces stress and anxiety and actually helps you to live longer.  Case in point would be Clayton Hunter. He usually seems to enjoy himself out there and I have yet to hear him curse or throw a club after a bad shot.

So to extend the phrase in the picture above...keep calm, and enjoy the weather and enjoy the golf. Take today for example. It is not hot outside, but it still going to be around 20 degrees. Remember the first of March when the windchill here was -53? That was three months ago. Today is tropical by comparison.

My soapbox sermon completed, I probably should make some reference to what actually happened on Mens' Night. Given my wordiness already, I will be brief.

There were 22 golfers with skins going on five holes. Winners included Bob Moffatt / Scott Maynes ($26 on #1), Ryan Merasty / Daryl McCharles ($20 on #2), Jason Hunter / Butch ($64 on #3), Brad Swereda / Greg Arnfinson ($20 on #7), and Jason Gorell / Neuf ($26 on #9). Ryan was closest to the pin on #5 and Greg hit it tightest on #9. Robin Kimpinski jumped into the ringer board lead with three posted birdies.

I can't wait until Mens' Night this week. The weather will be perfect, we will have fifty guys out, and I will win 5 or 6 skins. It is going to be great. However, if it is a bit rainy and there is only 25 players and I get shut out again...it will still be awesome.