Saturday the 18th was about as gorgeous a day to chase the little white ball as you see this time of year. My buddy Glenn came up from Carolina for the weekend, so we planned to get out. Wiz and Shagg offered an invite for Saturday, too, so we had them meet us for a round at Indian Spring in Marlton.
Now, with my hours, I rarely get to see my son Eric play, and I was thrilled to get to his game Saturday morning (he did great and they won!), but that meant the dreaded afternoon start. Me? I like to get there when the crickets are still chirping, if I am going to play on the weekend. Pulling up to “the Spring,” I saw a line of carts heading towards the first tee.
After taking care of business in the pro shop, the verbal antics began. Glenn had hit Golden Pheasant on Friday with his brother, and was “feelin’ it.” I was feeling the tightness in my lower back that tells me I need to stretch more, and take it slow. Glenn and Wiz, both good golfers, traded jibes while we waited.
Now, one of my pet peeves on a crowded course is people who don’t know etiquette or how to play. I’m a guy who can stroke it occasionally, but am not even close to being good, so you gotta be really bad to get to me. The young foursome in front of us was not even sure where to tee off from. Given the weather, and the fact that we knew it’d be a slow-play round any way, made it easy to not stress over that omen. These boys actually added to a fun (and funny) round. Multiple clubs left on greens as we approached, clubs falling off the back of the cart, not once but twice, errant shots aplenty and a general sense that they had no idea of what they were doing, normally would make the group behind them angry, but we were enjoying our round, and having a chuckle or five about theirs.
We played for Skins, Glenn and I teamed against “the pros from Dover.” We staked a small lead, in the middle of the front nine, but needed to stretch it out. In my only great string of shots all day, I got a par, and grabbed the next bunch of Skins, then proceeded to hit double-triple-double-triple (that’s bogeys for those who don’t know). Imagine if I was drinking how bad it would be. On second thought, maybe that’s what I need to do. I limped to the 18th green bringing up the rear with a score that was high, even for me.
Off to the 19th hole for libations and to settle up the Skins, and Par 3 “greenies,” which Wiz won with a killer tee shot on the final par 3.
More adventures to come, including my first ever golf getaway. In mid-May, a few of the guys will be heading to Ocean City, Maryland for the weekend. Makes plans for your golf getaway to OC, MD at: www.oceancitygolf.com!