Conference 7.286::golf

    I payed my dues for next year in the middle of January so the countdown
    started then.  The cabin fever started then and gets worse each
    weekend.  
    
    The first of April!  That would be unheard of here.  Last year was
    the earliest in the 8 years I've been here, and that was April 15.
    I guess the 180 miles from Spitbrook to here makes a big difference.
    I feel real good if I don't have to shovel snow on my daughter's
    birthday (March 30).
    
    If I'm still working this project in LTN when things open up, I'll
    bring my worn out old clubs, my broken down shoes and my golf ball
    and look you up!!!!!!!
    
    
    					KO

     re .1:
     
     Terrific!.  Bring your worn out old clubs (or if you forget, I'll lend
     you my 35+ year-old Tommy Armours that I used until last year), your
     broken down shoes and your golf ball.  Also bring a pencil, since
     you'll be giving me a dozen or so strokes. 
     
     --Mr Topaz

    		
    
    	I guess this is really an apology to you poor fella's who have
    to wait for a couple of seasons to play....
    The apology is that I had plenty of free hours and a willing partner
    last Sunday and it was a bit windy and cloudy so we decided to stay
    home.....what whimps..
    
    	I can't see clear to not having my "forget the world outlet"
    available. So I apologise greatly for not taking more advantage
    of Australias blessing....golf allllllllllll year.
                                                      
    
    			This afternoon for sure..
    
    
    lb

    I've been getting psyched too. Soon I am going to be shopping for
    a brand new 4-wood. There's a discount golf store on route 9 in
    Framingham, MA that has a practice cage so I can test the club before
    I buy it.
    
    FORE!
    
    Mike

    	I too, am just itching to get out there.  I've gone twice to
    the local golf shop and hit some into the net, as I am still in
    the process of getting new clubs, but it just isn't the same.  I
    have already purchased new shoes, head covers for my new irons
    coming in March and have received for gifts, numerous towles and
    golf balls.  It doesn't look like the snow here in western Mass.
    will be gone until the middle of April though.
    	If I'm out east for training though, I'll look a few of you
    up and play a round.
                                                 Beak

	 Sure, the countdown is starting - I'm now at about T minus 3 months
	 and  counting...   My  course will probably open in the 2nd week of
	 May. Yesterday I got the bill for '87 - about $380. Ugh.

	 My first  real  round will probably be in Valbonne during the first
	 week of May. I'm looking forward to that!

	 For this  season  I  need  new shoes, my Etonics gave up last fall.
	 Any tips on what to buy?

	 -- Mr Litby

            
    We have been playing down on Cape Cod ( Cape Cod Country Club ),
    until they got all this snow.   We wear our Damart Thermal Underwear,
    Damart socks, winter gloves ( and hand warmers ) and have a ball!
    It is odd hitting to greens that act like slate pool tables, but
    when you can reach a par 4 in 1 ( over the hill accross the ice
    on the pond roll up on the green ) really makes you feel LONG. 
    But till the snow melts ( couple of weeks ) its back to hitting
    wiffle balls in the living room.

    	Bill, You've got my vote for "Most Dedicated Golfer" in this
    conference!!!  I love to golf, but I put the brakes on when I have
    to start wearing long underwear and gloves.  I've played in some
    pretty bad weather before, but that wind on the Cape in December
    and January must be incredibly cold.  By th way, how are the traps?
    Are they solid enough to putt out of?
                                              Beak

    re: .9
    
       Beak,  I only wish I had real dedication.  Actually it isn't
    as bad as you think.  That Damart thermal-lactic underwear is great,
    it comes in 2 weights, single-force (lighter warmth) and double-force
    (really warm), and its comfortable.  If there is wind we wear rain
    gear.  But we don't wear much more that when we play in late March
    or early April.  We don't play in sub-zero or sub-freezing weather,
    after all we aren't crazy.   As for the sand traps, it depends on
    thier depth, whether we putt or chip out.  The conditions dictate
    a pitch and run type short game, and the old-timers (mostly Swedes)
    are quite good at that game.  The best part of it all is that about
    20 of us more or less usually play in four ball format and its a
    good outing.  Any how, thanks for the vote, but I don't play enough.

	Can't wait to get out.  Every day when I get home I stare
	mournfully at my bag in the corner of the room.  If I'm
	lucky I might be able to start in early April.  The courses
	I usualy play around here (Augusta, Maine) have a habit of
	being wet in the best weather.  After all this snow melts
	it'll be a swamp for a while.  Oh well.  I'll have to settle
	for playing the VMS golf game till then.

	MRM

    	Well, here in western Mass. today it's 35-40 degrees and sunny
    outside.  With the temps predicted to be in the high 40's and
    possibly low 50's from Wednesday thru Sunday, there will be a big
    melt down going on.  With any luck at all, some of the less notable
    courses in the area, who don't give much attention to course condition
    early in the year, will open up within the next 3 weeks.  At last
    the end is near!!!  The new clubs should be in my hands in 2 weeks.
    The new shoes are waiting to be worn on grass for the first time.
    Plenty of balls and tees acquired over the winter, along with a
    few towels.  The wife is already complaining how little time I'm
    around the house.  I'm starting to itch all over.  The carpet in
    the living room has an 8 foot line worn down in it.  
    	Yes, yes it's here.  That 3 week period that every golfer fears
    the most. ( At least all of us who can't golf year round )  The
    longest 3 weeks of the year.
    
    AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Hurry up SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    
    Sorry, I got a little carried away guys.
                                                          Beak
   

    
    Its been the lightest winter I can ever remember here (Des Moines,Iowa)
    and I actually have spring fever worse now than if there were a
    foot of snow on the ground.
    I think all of the snow we usually get around here went to you lucky
    devels out in DEC heaven.
    Its about 50 degrees outside, not a drop of snow on the ground (its
    wet though), but they have predicted mid 70's for this weekend.
    If that comes true, take a wild guess where Ill be!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    					...mike
    

    
    It's not often that a Minnesotan brags about the weather, BUT this
    has been one of the four mildest winters.  The temperature has been
    above average for the last 34 days.  It snowed 2" last Saturday,
    but is almost melted.  Temperatures are predicted to be in the 60's
    Thursday (my usual league day), Friday, and Saturday.  
    
    I have a presentation Thursday morning that I've been working all
    weekend on.  If I can just sneak out, my nephew is the manager at
    my home course, and........
    
    Let you know how it goes.

    Yup...I'm with you folks and I think three months of winter is just
    plenty!!  I can't wait to get out there swinging!  *This* year (don't
    I say this *every* year?) I'm hoping to shave at least six strokes
    off my score (to lower my handicap to a very legal (if not all that
    respectable) 20 strokes!  Actually, my shots almost always remain
    on the fareway...they just don't travel all that far!
    
    I may even join a team in the golf league this summer.  After subbing
    last summer through a few heavy rainstorms, I discovered that the league
    provides a great opportunity for learning "all-weather" golf
    techniques!!
    
    At any rate, as soon as the temperature hits a solid 40 degrees
    and we begin to see some green (or brown!) turf...I'll be game for
    some fun trips around the tees & greens!
    
    + Marian + 
    

    Ahhhhhhhh, it was GREATTTTTTTTT!!
    
    Couldn't resist the urge today.  A bright and sunny day in Minnesota,
    temps tied a record of 56, slight breeze.  Another Digit and I trucked
    on down and teed 'em up a few.  All greens and tees were off-limits,
    no cups, but the fairways were wide open.  The frost is still down in the
    ground, and the surface is wet from the melting, there's no roll,
    but a club travels just fine through the short, brown grass.  
    
    It was almost like riding a bike, even after a few months, the swing
    seemed to almost be there.  Not in the groove yet, but kept the
    swing slow, made good contact, and hit most of them reasonably
    straight.  Got in 13 holes before the backs started feeling the
    weight that hasn't been there since October.
    
    Hope the rest of you can get out soon too.   

    
    It's now 4:30 pm on Friday afternoon. Its 71 degree's outside.
    Tomorrow its supposed to hit 75.  Already have my foursome. Already
    picked out the course.  Will call at 07:30 to set a 11:00ish tee
    time. Am going straight home from work, get the clubs and go to
    the driving range. Play at least 18 tomorrow, hopefully 18 on Sunday.
    	Hope you are all jealous, because I live in Iowa, and this is
    the first year, ever that I have said all the above before April
    15.           Ill think about you all tomorrow...on 19!!!
    
    		Have to quit now, my hands are SWEATING!!!!!
    
    					...mike

    	Mike, if you think I'm going to let it get to me, just because
    you're going to be playing 36 holes of golf this weekend, 
    
    
    
    		You're  RIGHT!!!!
    
    	But seriously.  I hope you have, or should I say had, a good
    round(s).  Here in western Mass., it was 70 degrees on Sunday, and
    the snow took a real beating this weekend.  I'd say we'll be golfing
    possibly next weekend, but definetly by the weekend of the 21st
    of March.  Not bad considering the amount of snow we got this year.
    I really thought that I wouldn't be able to golf until the middle
    of April!  What a relief.
                                                Beak

    Last summer was my first season of pasture pool after a 10-year
    layoff (after about 15 years of addicted hacking). Yes, it is like
    riding a bicycle - after a few adventuresome rounds of unguided
    missilery, the swing started getting back into its once semi-awesome
    groove (and the propensity for 3-putting was there from the start),
    and I looked forward to some pleasant weekends of Cape Cod golf over
    the winter...wouldn't you know this would turn out to be the snowiest
    winter the Cape has suffered in memory! 
    
    Re. 11 - It's a bit of a hike from Augusta, but there's a very pretty
    (and sporty) little 9-holer just south of Belfast: The Northport
    Golf Club. I don't know how wet it is early in the season, but it
    stays dry most of the summer, and offers some really nice views
    of Penobscot Bay (I used to summer in Bayside).
    
    
    

    
                           -< official tee time >-
    
                    adding to the long winter of no golf, was the
                    defeat of the shhhh (red sox).so to start off
                    the season the way it should be it only makes
                    sense to do it this way.
    
    
                             APRIL 6
    
                      1.    day off from work
                      2.    golf in the a.m. (and one beer)
                      3.    RED SOX opener in the a.m. to p.m.
                             (quanity of beer depends on game)
                      4.    hagler vs leanord fight in the p.m.
    
    
    
    
    mike

                                  APRIL 7
    
                      1.    call in sick to work.
     
     
     
     --Mr Topaz
 

The countdown is OVER!!!

I'm not sure how many courses in the Boston area are open yet,
but I saw the President (in Quincy) jammed with golfers yesterday,
and my soon-to-be home course, Glenn Ellen (in Millis), just opened
Saturday.  I drive by Wayland and Sandy Burr every day, and they don't 
seem to be ready (too marshy there). I called Stow Acres and they said 
they open Wednesday!!  It's good for the company that I have hardwood
floors in by cube instead of carpet... I can't practice putting all 
day!

How about noting the courses here as they open up?

    This note was called "Stow Topic" but 90% of the content had nothing
    to do with Stow.  I moved the Butternut related replies to note
    1671.*, and re-titled this base note.
    

                                Andy Ostrom
                                Moderator