Player's Club and Backyard BarbQ

I got up at 6:30am on the nose. This time it was sunny and looked to stay that way. It was bit warmer, and much more humid too. After exercising, I headed out with Ykraps. We made quick work of our walk. The way I saw it, I had only 2 hours from the minute I woke until departure for Player’s Club. I sipped coffee then prepared for a run. I wasted little time fooling around on the PC. I did check the forecast. It called for a sunny morning but a cloudy afternoon, and there was even a chance of rain for late in the afternoon. Oh well. I left for my run around 7:30am. I ran just three miles again in the name of managing my time. Plus, I’d be getting plenty of exercise golfing. I finished my run around 8:00am. I went straight to the shower, although I took Mindy a cup of coffee. Like Friday morning, I used Thursday morning’s leftover eggs and bacon to make another breakfast sandwich. I used the last of it. It was good. I called Kenny to measure his status. He was going to meet us there after picking up his daughter. He thought that he might even be able to make it on time. I agreed to get his green fees up front. Worst case, they’ run him out to us where ever we were on the course. Mindy was awake & about when I left. She’d be spending her day shopping and preparing for our Saturday night cookout. I left the house at 8:30am. Traffic wasn’t an issue at all. It was the 4th of July. I arrived at the Player’s Club after Tom Clark. He’s usually one of the last to arrive. Bob wasn’t far behind. We walked in the clubhouse to pay together. I covered Kenny’s fee and also verified that they’d bring him to us on the course. He called to let me know he was about 15 minutes out. An old friend, Craig Coffman, was our starter. He used to do the same thing at Split Rock. We grew up together. We chatted for a while mostly about the struggle many local golf courses are facing with the economy. We chatted long enough for Kenny to arrive, and ended up getting off the tee in our original slot, albeit a few minutes late. I started OK, but just like Friday, I struggled a bit afterwards. But so did every body else. Player’s Club is quite the challenge. My worst hole was a rather benign looking par 3 with a green protected by water. I duffed my 8-iron off the tee leaving myself about 50 yards to the pin right in front of the water. I hit my sad wedge in the water. I dropped another and hit it in the water. Suddenly, I was lying in five and still wasn’t safe. I hit my next wedge off the back edge into a sand trap. I took a nine. I was steamed! Bob Imber caught fire on the back nine after a dismal front. By far, Tom Clark struggled the most, but this was only his second time out all year, Friday being his first. By far, the toughest holes, water aside, are 14-16. And 14 & 15 are both long, narrow par fives with undulating wooded fairways. I went bogey, par, bogey on the three. Not bad. I’d take that score any day on these holes. I didn’t shy away from my new driver on them either. I hit two really well and the other just good enough. Too, my new putter began to feel familiar. I finally had a few one putts on the finishing five holes, this just my second round of 18 using it. I was pleased. We won’t talk about my final score. It wasn’t good, but that’s OK. I had fun. We all headed our separate ways after golf. It was about 2:15pm. I phoned Mindy, who was home boiling brats and preparing other foods for the party. She reminded me to stop for ice on my drive home. I arrived home about 25 minutes later. One of the first things I did was stock a beer cooler then finished cutting the lawn (the section I overlooked on Friday). That didn’t take long, 15 minutes start to finish. Afterwards, I helped organize things inside. I grabbed a much needed shower too. We weren’t expecting any guests until 630pm or so. That gave us plenty of time. The Jumps phoned around 5pm to say they weren’t gonna make it. The wee ones were a bit fussy after a long drive home from Willard. We already knew that none of our neighbors would be able to make it either. Pat & Lisa already had other plans. Same with Kenny & Crissy, and also Mike & Teri. We never did hear from Dave & Becky. They’ve been gone a lot lately. I know this, Mindy had a lot of food prepped and ready. 6:30pm came quickly. My dad was first to arrive. Then not that much later, Bob & Mary Ann and Uncle Kenny showed up. Courtney came over too. And unless I am mistaken, that was it. We hung out enjoying finger foods, grilled meats, good beer & wine and scrumptious desserts all night long. We ended up out back lighting a fire in Mindy’s fire ring around 11pm. Dad left about the same time as Uncle Kenny a bit earlier. However, he returned with Glenn’s guitar not 30 minutes later. Bob Imber kindly taught Jacob how to catch frogs with only his bare hands and a flashlight. Impressive! Jacob was very excited when they finally caught one. Neighbor Becky stopped over. It must’ve been around midnight. They’d been at the Crew game. We hung out until 1am. I was getting tired. I doused the fire with two vessels of water making sure all the glowing embers were out. We probably didn’t get to sleep until 2am.