by Randy Ooney
My Nickel’s Worth by Randy Ooney
FORE !
Spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the flowers is? Pardon my spelling and grammar and I hope your connection with the IRS went well. As we slowly finish the long bowling season we may look for other pastimes to encounter in the summer months. There are always a few Spring leagues available at bowling centers, but I like to enjoy the outdoors with an occasional game of golf. At this writing, the Masters tournament is finishing up at Augusta National in Georgia. In case you are not familiar with Augusta, for many years it was a womenless membership of southern bigots. They have relaxed their membership rules a bit, although I think you still need to be a multi- millionaire. Anyway. The Augusta Masters golf course is famous and they really trick it up for the pros. Naturally, I am sure they move all the tees back 100 yards or so, and they groom the greens so that putting is like hitting your ball across a warped piece of plywood.
I have no desire to play a pro course, although I did get a few rounds in at Hazeltine with a member friend about 20 years ago. At that time it was member friendly and not groomed for a US Open or some other foolish tournament. I was treated to a round at the Refuge club in a northern suburb. I learned later that our own Lumpy, (Not Tim Herron) but Mr. Langer (Not Bernhard) holds the course record on that challenging course, I think the score was 65 from the back tees. I on the other hand challenged the lost ball record from the forward tees, and Lump beat me by about 40 strokes, but I keep telling myself that golf is fun.
I usually manage to stay North and West of the Metro and have enjoyed many rounds at Cedar Creek in Albertville, and Monticello Country Club a little farther west. Eagle Trace in Clearwater is fun and reasonably priced, and two courses in Annandale, Whispering Pines and Southbrook provide a challenge. I visited the Golf Show at the convention center this year and was treated to 8 free rounds of golf at various courses across the state. Of course, “free” has some strings attached but I think I’ll be busy for the next two months trying out some courses. I hope it doesn’t rain, (or snow). Happy summer everyone.
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