Golf No Matter What

The picture above is something that I found on the internet. The caption that accompanied it said "When you are playing golf, no matter what happens, keep your head down". It also illustrates the theme for this week...golfing no matter what the conditions are like.

So...it didn't rain on Mens' Night this week. That might be surprising for anyone that looked outside at 1:00 or 3:30 or even at 6:00 pm for that matter. But once we got going at 6:30 pm there wasn't a drop of rain for the next few hours. Fortunately, we hit the requisite number of 10 golfers to make it an official Mens' Night.

Following the final night of 2013, I wrote a blog entry entitled "Seven Alone" which talked about the seven guys who braved the cold and damp conditions to play. Interestingly of those 7, 5 played this past week.

It shows that there are some people that golf no matter what the conditions. This statement isn't intended to be critical of those who like it warmer and dryer. It is simply an observation. Some of us are willing to golf even when reason and logic suggests that we should not.

I think this speaks to the allure of Mens' Night. It isn't merely about the golf and the scores. It is a night where we clear personal and work schedules to ensure that we get a chance to get out and hang with the boys. Occasionally there are conflicts that we can't avoid, mainly on the recommendation of our significant others. But generally, we play whenever we can.

For the most part it is only exceptionally bad weather that keeps us away. Even that is relative. A couple of weeks ago, for example, we played on an evening when wind gusts were bending the tops of the flags until they almost touched the ground. We played and were grateful that we didn't have the "almost tornado" of two night prior.

I have only a few pictures of golf on my phone. A common theme is the fun that results when we golf when we shouldn't. There's a shot of the fifth green with a double rainbow after a wicked thunderstorm. There's another one of a bunch of us riding out a torrential rainfall while visiting in the maintenance shed. Finally I have one of four of us bundled up with layers of clothing, toques, and mitts. That one is from a cool day last October.

So thanks to the other nine guys who came out this week. And for those that couldn't come, maybe we will see you on Wednesday.

Skins went on five of nine holes with two double winners including Dan Stokes / Scott Maynes ($20 on #1 and $75.50 on #2) and Jason Hunter / Jason Gorrell ($20 on #4 and $66 on #9). Joe Shwaluk and Brad Benton teamed up for the other skin, $20 on #7. Closest to the pins were Robin on #5 and Brad on #9. There were no deuces.

There are only two more nights to add scores to the ringer board - August 12 and 19. Remember if there are any holes for which you do not enter a score you get the Mens' Night triple bogey. Good luck making sure that is not the case.

Let's hope the weather is fairer this week. If not, good luck for those that are willing to brave the elements.