Golf & Pretzel Bites

I woke at 7am to make sure I would have enough time to enjoy coffee and a run before leaving at 915am for a 1030am tee time at Groveport Country Club. The house was silent, and it was clear and sunny. I started a pot of coffee then took to the computer. Since it was a Sunday, I didn’t plan to do calisthenics.

I enjoyed coffee and a stretch ahead of a run. It was real close to 745am after I completed a stretch then headed out the door for a run. It was really warm, almost 70 degrees. I didn’t bother to wear a shirt.

I ran just three miles and found myself back at home by 815am. That left an hour before I planned to leave. I loaded my golf gear into the BM’er’s trunk. First time my new bag has ever made been in it. I wasn’t sure that it would fit, though I assumed it would.

I headed up for shower around 830am taking a cup of coffee for Mindy along with me. The shower felt great. I dressed in purple plaid shorts and a black wicking golf shirt. I felt good. I decided to wear my well-worn black running ball cap too.

After asking if I had time to hang out, Mindy joined me downstairs and eventually on the deck for more coffee. I warmed a leftover cheeseburger for breakfast – not exactly the healthiest selection but it sounded really good. It tasted good, too. J

I had a little time before I needed to leave. We talked about our relationship as well as our quest for a new car and what that means to our budgets. Mom and the kids were either still asleep or in their rooms watching TV. My mom’s been following the Casey Anthony trial. I assumed her awake but watching from her room. I left for golf right on time – 915am. Mindy asked when she might expect me home. Around 330pm.

It was a gorgeous drive out 70E to 33E to Hamilton Road to Groveport Road and finally Groveport Country Club on Richardson Road. It’s a beautiful old golf course that was formerly private. Lots of cool old trees and rickety old suspension bridges over a deep, wide, winding creek.

I arrived around 950am. No surprise, I was the first one there from our group. After paying my green fee I called Bob Imber to see where he was. Told him to call my cell once he was in the lot. I went to practice my putting. While up there, I remembered that I wanted to cover Bob’s green fees as a late b-day gift (late April).

Bob called around 1015am. I headed down to meet him. By the time I got to the parking lot Bob & Randall B. were there and carting their gear already too. I already knew we were next on the tee box. The prior group, a Schottenstein twosome, was teeing off just before I headed down to fetch Bob. There’d be plenty of distance between us.

The others warmed up a little too before we teed off. I picked up right where I left off in Myrtle Beach hitting my initial drive right down the middle. Sadly, it took me three shots to get on and then I three putted for a double-bogey. I ended up double bogeying the first two holes, but was swinging well if that makes any sense.  And even though I was reading the practice greens well, I couldn’t translate that into scoring on the course. Like a broken record, the three putting was killing me.

Tee to green, I was playing fairly well, and just missed hitting a number of greens in regulation. I two or three putted everything and ended up with a 49 on the front. Thinking back, I hit only one bad drive on the front and missed one 2’ or less putt.

As we started the back the heat and humidity became a factor for everyone. We did our best to find shade wherever possible the few times we had to wait. I played bogey golf on the back nine with only one bad hole where I carded an 8. The finishing hole is a difficult par 5 dog leg right with a deep crevice protecting the green from 80 yards in. I was sitting just in front of the crevice in the first cut of rough in two after two super good shots. I had an easy sandwedge in. I was hoping to close with a birdie. Sadly, though, I hit a weak pull leaving myself in the greenside bunker. Can you say CHOKE? I hit a nice sand shot leaving myself about a 10-12’ putt for par. I missed the putt and carded a bogey. Story of my day.

It was already 315pm and darn near 330pm by the time we were ready to head for home. I called Mindy, who was hanging out with my mom and Jimaken, who was there to pick-up the kids. Jimaken had one of his good buddies with him, Pez, I believe. I let Mindy know that I was on way home.

It was a fun, quick drive home. Gorgeous weather. I was famished and thirsty once at home. I poured some lemonade and ate a couple pieces of the fried chicken that Mindy picked up at the grocery on Friday. My mom was busy watching the Casey Anthony trial. I watched some of it with her while Mindy headed to the neighbors to meet Chrissy's sister, Missy’s mother-in-law, Joyce.

Mindy must've sent Lillian and Makayla for me. Wanted me to come down and meet Joyce too. After a brief nap, I headed over to say hello. She’s not at all what I expected given Guy’s quiet personality. Let’s just call her outgoing and perhaps a tad eccentric. Fun.

Kenny was grillin’ steaks and chicken for their company. We weren’t staying, however. Instead, we planned to take my mom out to dinner. Thought we’d do Matt the Miller’s in Grandview. I headed home for my 2^nd shower of the day around 5pm. And unless I’m mistaken, we left for Matt the Miller’s near 6pm. The neighbors asked to keep Eiknarf until we got back. Sure.

It was Sunday, so the parking meters were free along

Grandview Ave.

We got a meter directly across the street from the tavern. And even though it was near 90 degrees, my mom wore a zip hoodie. Said she gets cold in places like that. They did have the AC cranking. Good call mom. We picked a table in the center of the tavern. Annie was our server. Not much of crowd at all. I ordered the CBC Hop Odyssey entrant, Big Frank. My mom ordered an iced tea, and Mindy only water.

We ordered some pretzel bites as an appetizer then stared at the menu for quite awhile before deciding on dinner entrees. I was gonna have the scallops until I learned that it was a pasta dish. No pasta for me, thank you. Mindy ordered calamari and salad. My mom ordered ????.  I eventually settled on a burger and then opted for a side salad in lieu of fries.

Dinner was good. The burger wasn't quite on par with Barley’s but still pretty darn good. I ordered a 2^nd beer with dinner, an Avery Maharaja IIPA. It came served in a sniffer. Before we left, I suggested we make a quick stop at Barley’s so mom could get a sniff of the place. But I have to admit that I was a little surprised when Mindy & mom willingly agreed. I asked Mindy to purse my pint glass, a CBC pint glass. She did.

The Barley’s lot was fuller than expected. Sunday’s are usually dead, but then again, Monday would be a holiday.  Inside, staffing was minimal. Monica was working bar like most other Sunday’s. She was stressed, this I could easily tell. Too many customers and not enough help. Our new manager friend Zach was scrambling to help both the servers and Monica.

I ordered a Centennial. Don’t think Mindy or my mom was drinking. Can’t remember if it was me, my mom or Mindy who suggested we order some sauerkraut balls. 

We didn’t stay too long. Mindy wanted to leave after about 45 minutes. Monica refilled my pint glass abut ½ full with Centennial, gratis. I tipped her well, of course.

Back at home mom was quick to head off to bed. Meanwhile, Mindy and I walked down to the neighbors to fetch our dog. We hung out for a few before heading back home. Mindy left before me, but signaled for me to come home by turning the spots on and off. I soon joined her just before she headed off to bed. It couldn’t have been any later than 10-1030pm. Good night mosquitoes.