The cooler weather finds me back on the golf course more often this past week, with a few rounds at Hangman.  Even though I’ve griped about the sand traps, which by the way I still find unreasonable, I really love the course.   It’s in great shape right now.  I’m going to give the grounds keepers there special kudos for ensuring the forward tee boxes are as nice as those where the white and blue’s are located. 

This is not typical at many courses and a bit of an insult to those of us who often use the forward tee boxes.   While those who shoot from the white and blue tees often get to stand on level, nicely mowed ground, the forward tee boxes are often full of divots, lumpy and somewhat neglected. 

So I appreciate Hangman even more for being such a nice local county course with reasonable green fees, beautiful panoramic scenery, and well-groomed forward tee boxes.

I don’t have much to report from my golf experiences of late because even I have a heat tolerance index.  This past week, my motivation to go out and walk around chasing my little white golf ball just wasn’t there so much.   I realized this after we played River’s Bend in Thompson Falls, MT, late last week.   As if the first nine-hole round wasn’t hot enough, we decided we needed to try again to conquer the course and went for another nine holes.  With the Clark Fork running alongside the course, humidity added to the heat index.  It was a nice course to play.  I hope to get back there when the temperature isn’t quite so blazing. 

 

Since then, I have played one other nine-hole round at Hangman, where, I have to say that the whole new sand thing they have going on there is absolutely no fun.  You’d think after a few months it’d be settled and easier to manage, but not so for me.  Okay, so after all this griping, I’ll end by saying that I still love the game and with cooler weather in the forecast, I’ll be out there and actually enjoying chasing that little white ball.

 

 

If you want to play a challenging nine holes, I recommend Mirror Lake Golf Course in Bonner’s Ferry, ID.   Michael and I play it when we’re in the area, and each time we say we’re going to play it well.  Hmmph.   Not so much today.  I walked to the car baffled by how this course challenges me.   I have to remember to play it well, it requires good course management skills.  The chances for troube are many, and I seem to find them.  I’ll be back there this week, and hope to walk away feeling a bit better about than I did today.

I played golf four days in a row starting last Thursday with intramurals; the Bobbie Salmon tournament at The Links on Friday; our Executive Women’s Golf Association chapter championships on Saturday and just for fun with friends on Sunday.  I have to say that by Sunday my swing was no up to par, so to speak.   It was lazy; not by any intention on my part, but after that fourth round on Sunday I realized that my swing was tired, and I was ready to let my golf clubs and myself rest for a few days.

This gives me even more appreciation for those on tour who play four days in a row consistently.   I admire that on the fourth day some even improve their swing.    I guess this serves as another reminder that I will, for now, have to keep my day job and enjoy our local courses on weekends and the by-chance days I can get away from the office.

What a great day. 

I just arrived home after playing in the Bobbie Salmon Benefit Tournament at The Links.  The tournament hosted  by Patti Marquis is a fund-raising event to help her good friend Bobbi who suffers from scleroderma.   Also, a LPGA Pro-Am event, Wendy Ward our hometown LPGA touring pro was there, as well as Bobbi herself.   Bobbi hung out with us for a few holes.  What a great person — North Caroline charm and great sense of humor.   After handing out trophies, in which my team took first for its flight, Bobbi humbly thanked everyone for coming out to support the benefit and teared up as she thanked her long-time friend Patti for hosting such a great tournament.

And although pin placements were as tricky as I’d ever seen them at The Links, I look forward to playing the tournament again next year.

Golf season is in full swing so to speak, and it seems my game has finally kicked in to my level of play at the end of last season.   I came into this season thinking I’d pick it up and shoot as well as I was at the end of last year, but not the case.   I don’t know why it takes me time to get back to the fundamentals.  If I figure that out, I’ll let you know. 

 

However, each year as I get back to the fundamentals, I also realize new shots that help improve my game.  For example, when to use a bump and run and when to use a more lofted shot.  I’ve gotten much better at recognizing this, and my green approach has improved greatly.

 

Now it’s time to work on hitting a consistently good second shot.  Wish me luck.

 

 

Women of the LPGA are competing in their U.S. Open this week.  I personally don’t have a favorite to win, although it’s nice to see Cristie Kerr currently in the lead.  Curiousity makes me wonder if the major networks sportscasters will mention who wins Women’s U.S. Open.  Last week, while Federer and Tiger made Wimbledon and PGA headlines, respectively, I noticed their wasn’t a a single mention of Selena or Yi winning in the women’s realm of these sports.

Word on the street is the Idaho Club is now open to the public.  A bit spendy for the likes of most of us Spokanites who are used to good courses with very reasonable fees, but I’m thinking I need to play it just to see what the hype is about.    Pictures show a lot of water, and I spoke to one person who said only big hiters can get from some tee boxes over the water.  I hope this isn’t true.  I’d lke to hear from those of you out there who have played it.  What do you think?  It is worth the cost?  Is it going to be a good experience for someone who doesn’t drive the ball more than 175-200 yards?  Thoughts?

In the past few weeks when my slice has gotten the better of me, I’ve twice experienced my lost ball not so lost, rather picked up by someone in the opposite fairway.  I guess they can’t afford their own Titleist, so they figure mine is fair game, so to speak.    

Feeling good about tomorrow as I anticipate our first day of intramurals at The Fairways. I enjoy it so much because it’s match play competition, which along with handicap. it really allows  the opportunity to win the round.  To me it’s easier to forget any loses or blow-ups on when your oppenent wins the hole because you shot a double bogey when he or she pared.  The next hole pressents a new opportunity to come back, becuase in the end your score doesn’t matter, it’s whether or not you won more holes.  The forecast looks good, oh yeah the weather looks promising, too.

I flew home from a business trip to Florida Friday just in time to enjoy a weekend of golf with more than 20 women from the Seattle EWGA chapter who came to enjoy our pleasant summer weather and golf at our very reasonably-priced courses. Some of the girls started their weekend early by playing Palouse Ridge on Thursday. They loved it; who could blame them. So jealous I couldn’t be there.

Coeur d’Alene Public was Friday’s course du jour. Again I’m jealous, because I didn’t get home in time to join them at one of my favorite courses. Finally, I got to connect with them Saturday at an early morning shotgun start at The Links in Post Falls. While I am very fond of The Links and play it often, it proved to be a challenge for many of the more experienced Seattle golfers and basically handed the not so experienced golfers their lunch.

A burger burn helped soothe the pain and all was forgiven. Not having enough golf for one day, a few girls headed to Hangman for another 18 holes. The Highlands hosted our Sunday outing, and proved to be a weekend favorite for many of the players. My lucky high bounce off the cart path to within a few feet of the pin on hole 14 earned me the K-P prize which consisted of a cooler filled with a hodge-podge of adult beverages. I will enjoy a few of those as I sit and think about how I look forward to next year when our sisters from Seattle join us for our third annual Seattle-Spokanarama.

To modify an old adage: My worst day on the golf course is better than any day of torture by Powerpoint.

All week long I looked forward to this Friday. The weather looked promising, and I was planning on getting out for my first 18 holes.

I envisioned myself on the assorted tee boxes, anticipated setting up various putts, all while enjoying a sunny spring day at The Links.

Eighteen holes was cut short as cold winds off the snowy mountains whipped around the open range of North Idaho and raindrops blurred visibility on the cart’s windshield.

I was able to tolerate the weather for nine holes, my wind jacket zipped up to my chin and hands tucked in my pockets when not on the grip of one of my clubs. So not the best first day out; yet despite the shivers I was happy to get out there and even happier as I felt the improvements in swing and technique I gained last year come back (mostly).

Calling all women golfers.

I’m encouraging you all to think about joining the EWGA. This women’s golf association is one of the best things going for women since Mary Queen of Scots defied protocol and took up the sport herself in the 1500s.

EWGA is a national organization with chapters around the nation to include our local Inland Northwest Spokane chapter. Over the last few years our chapter’s membership has doubled in size because more and more women have found it to so wonderful to golf and mingle with other women from so many different backgrounds and careers, yet they all share either the same passion for playing golf or the same passion to learn more about the sport.

Diversified, there are women who play well and women who are just learning and many of us in between. We encourage learning without pressure of competition, but also offer competition to those women who want that to take their skills to that level. Even then, our competitions have various levels in which to compete and offer fair competition to everyone based on the handicap system.

There’s so mcuh good I can say about this association, so many benefits: Weekend golf, weekday after-work play, social events, learning clinics, fun, more fun and the opportunity to make more friends. Check out the local chapter’s website at www.ewgainlandnw.com. Soon our season schedule will be posted.

Our kick-off even is April 16th at Manito Country Club. The event is open to all members and women who are interested in joining. Contact me at susanmconard@comcast.net for more information. I’d love to hear from you.

It’s hard to think or write about golf when there’s 20 inches of snow in my backyard. My mind wanders more to waxing my skis rather than fine tuning my swing. Virtual golf is only minutely satisfying.

I like reading Eric’s blog on travels to sunny warm places where golf is more than a dream, but I must leave it to my imagination as economics keep me to the confines of the local area. I’m not complaining. I love the NW and its seasons. That’s why I live here. I could’ve chosen a warmer climate to plant roots where golf is a year-round activity, but I didn’t. So in the meantime,

I’ll dream of sunny places and give thought to springtime when the clubs will come out of hibernation.

While I’m waiting for the snow to fly and the bull wheels to start turning Schweitzer lifts, I’m working to keep my swing loose on my newly acquired Nintendo Wii. It’s not going to work for technique. Can’t work your wrists or count on putter control, but it still has my shoulders moving and hips twisting. It also makes me analyze my shots, and it’s the only time I’ll ever have Hank Haney as a golf coach. Seriously, the Tiger Woods 09 golf has Hank Haney giving lessons after each round. He knows which shots I really duff and makes me practice them until I get it right, almost frustratingly so in some cases.

I’ve only had the game a week, so there is a lot to be learned at this point. Creating my character in itself was quite interesting. There are so many options and adjustments. I have her looking quite a bit like myself, possibly a bit taller and slender than, but that’s beside the point. Oh yeah, she also has a consistent 260-yard drive which I have never achieved - not even close. I think the best I can brag at this point is 210 yards.

Like I said, there’s quite a bit of the game to explore.

Send me your tips and advice.

I recently discovered a web site that allows you to compete in golf from the luxury of your favorite winter lazy boy chair. Worldgolftour.com is worth checking out. I haven’t explored its full spectrum of applications, but it seems promising. Check it out yourself and let me know your thoughts.