That was a storm!

Last night was an interesting Mens’ Night. Not so much for the golf, but the weather conditions. A few people asked me this morning if it rained in Shoal Lake while we were playing. I explained that we had an hour long Biblical rain delay.

The amateur meteorologists among us were amazingly accurate with their forecasts. Several suggested that the storm would roll in around 7 pm, which it did. Many predicted it would last 45-60 minutes, which was correct. Others said it would be sunny after 8 pm, which again was correct.

 

Less than an hour into our round, a low bank of ominous black clouds rolled in from the west. I started to get a bit worried when I saw some different clouds moving in different directions at the same time. Then it was as if the light went out. Within seconds, the sky changed from an early evening one into something that you might see at 10:30 pm on a cloudy summer day. I grew even more concerned when I saw poor Neuf begin to lift from the ground because of the wind.

 

Like most of the guys on the course, my foursome hit tee shots and were driving up to play our second. As we approached the second green, light drops of water started falling around us. That warm-up shower lasted about twenty seconds before the sky opened up and unleashed a torrent of rain. Quickly, golfers jumped on carts, abandoning balls on greens and fairways, and high tailed it for safety.

During the rain delay, golfers either waited it out in the Club House or in the maintenance shed. I was one of ten in the maintenance shed with six golf carts parked bumper to bumper. We did the best we could to wait it out but began to panic as our inventory dwindled. Fortunately, a few brave souls among us volunteered to risk personal injury on supply missions to the Club House.

 

Then the rain stopped almost as quickly as it started. Most groups that stayed at the course headed back to their holes to continue their rounds. It was still somewhat surreal in terms of weather. It was sunny out and sort of warm on the face…yet simultaneously cool enough that one could see their breath.

At the end of round, a decision was made to carry over all of the entry fees from this week to next week so as not to penalize anyone who chose to leave. If anyone cannot play next week we would be willing to return your $8 entry fee from last night.

 

On a positive note, the forecast for next week looks promising. The forecasted high of 17 C is close to where it was last night. It looks as if it will only be an 80% chance of rain compared to yesterday’s 90% probability. Even better, the 20-25 mm of rain for which they are calling would be like a mild shower compared to what we were hit with yesterday evening.

 

Have a good week…and maybe see some of you at the Lions Club tournament this Saturday. Anyone who is interested in getting involved in this four-person scramble should contact Trevor Haygard at 365-0371.