Phoenix & CBC

Slept in until almost 8am. I woke to another spectacularly clear morning, and this one more than 10 degrees warmer than Friday. The clear skies weren’t expected to last and there was a significant chance of rain later in the day. Steven and I made plans to golf, however, other than figuring on playing Phoenix, I hadn’t yet reserved a tee-time. I checked online and the earliest they had was 110pm for a twosome.

I headed out for a run around 9am doing my usual three mile weekend run. When I got back to the house Steven and I volleyed a few texts back and forth, me sharing that we’d be playing at Phoenix at 110pm. I waited before committing to that time because I invited neighbor Kenny and brother Tommy. I never did hear back from Kenny and Tommy had too many work related commitments.

When I called Phoenix to book the 110pm they told me 230pm would be the earliest possible tee time for three, which I quoted so to avoid being teamed with strangers, which I abhor. No sweat. I accepted and then sent another text to Steven sharing as much. Agreed to meet there near 2pm.

Between 10am and 130pm, I dilly-dallied around the house. Mindy and the kids were going to Gloria’s fudge party, where she would teach the family how to make her famous peanut butter fudge. The event was slated to begin at 2pm and would go until about 5pm. Mindy made pasta salad and sandwiches too. Everybody was brining something.

I pulled some weeds and trimmed a few dead branches from the sweetgum tree out front but little else. I didn’t feel that great. I wouldn’t say I felt sick. Instead, I felt lethargic and tired. I showered up for golf around 1pm and left the house near 135pm. Made great time arriving no more than 15 minutes later. By then it had turned mostly cloudy but with scattered sunshine and no immediate threat of rain. Steven showed up about 10 minute after me. Once I saw him pull in I headed inside to pay.

I was a little surprised with the back-up. Must’ve been 4 or 5 groups waiting in front of us. They said they were out of working carts and would get us all out as soon as carts started coming in. Aside from the cool links layout of Phoenix, one of the main reasons I like it is because there’s rarely ever a back-up, so I was a little bummed that it looked like we’d be waiting lots.

The starter also shared that they had a large outing earlier but that they were just finishing up. Carts came in one after the other, and soon we were headed up to the 1st tee box. There were still two groups, a foursome and a twosome waiting in front of us. Ugh!

Despite the wait, which we made the best of by chatting and joking with the starter, the groups immediately in front of us teed off and moved quickly. Even by the 2nd hole the foursome in front of the twosome was nowhere in sight. Steven struggled early losing at least a half dozen balls. Me, I had a rough first hole but recovered nicely with a string of pars and bogeys. But for some reason that doggone par three, I believe #6, I hit a nasty sharp fade from the tee box. Do that an awful lot on that hole for some reason. I lost three balls between hole #1 and hole #6 but also found about a half dozen. More often than not, I find more balls than I lose at Phoenix.

Hole #7 is a relatively short par 4 but even still, I was very impressed with Stevens drive which rolled up on the green leaving him pin high and putting for an eagle. I, on the other hand, hit my tee shot into the neighboring heather and then struggled to get out. All of the sudden it felt like my golf swing had gotten away from me, no matter what I did. Steven left his 20’ eagle putt about 8’ short. He quickly regrouped and sunk the birdie putt ,though. 

For some reason that twosome in front of us started playing really slow. We had a considerable wait on the tee box on holes 7 through 9. The heather it seemed, was getting the best of their tee shots. Played 8 and 9 OK and seemed to find my swing, but my accuracy was still a little shaken. By the time we finished 9, the skies were looking a little scary and rain imminent. We noticed, too, that there was a back-up on the #10 tee box. The foursome and twosome in front of us were both waiting for the group in front of them. Oh boy!

Neither one of us were in the mood to wait, and with the sky threating to storm we decided to bag it. I suggested we peak at hole #1 again and play a few more if it was clear. It wasn’t. Still groups teeing off. You drive past the par 3 #17, which is their signature hole – down a steep drop off, maybe 50-60 feet to a narrow green surrounded by moat-like creek. No one was on it or coming towards it off of #16 so we opted to play 17 &18.

The tee box was moved and the pin about 165 yards out. Steven went first and went long and left far off the back of the green, but still safe from the water. I hit pin high with a 6-iron but off the side of the hill, which kindly released until coming to stop about 5 or 6 feet off the green. 

We both bogeyed the hole. Number 18 requires a tee shot over 150-180 yards of water, and preferable with a little right to left bend lest you end up where Steven’s drive landed, which was in the thick brush and trees across the fairway. I hit a superb drive leaving me center of the fairway and perhaps 130 yards out. I was excited for my 2nd shot. 4 shots later I was on the green – 2 in the water – what an epic collapse. We’ll call it the yips. I dunno.

We got in 11 holes and felt good about it. It was about 430pm. With rain imminent, we decided to bag it. At our cars, Steven handed off the camping dining canopy I let them borrow, and I handed off Olivia’s baseball cleats she left at our place the day before. As soon as we pulled out of the lot it began to pour. And by the time I arrived home it was an all-out thunderstorm. Good timing!

Mindy and the kids were apparently still at Gloria’s. I made myself a snack and then enjoyed some reading and a nap. It was nice having the house all to myself. Mindy called around 6pm letting me know that she was on the way home to pick-up the kids things and then taking them to Jimaken’s for an overnight. She asked if I wanted to ride along. I passed on that and instead opted for a 2nd shower in preparation for our dinner date at CBC.

Thinking it was near 730pm by the time Mindy was back from dropping the kids and both of us ready for dinner. We left for CBC shortly thereafter. I at least attempted to find parking in their main lot but it was packed. We ended parking in the adjacent parking lot directly across the street like we do most other times. Mindy brought along a mini-chocolate pie for Vince. She made enough for one large pie as well a few mini pies. Like me, Vince told Mindy some time ago that chocolate pie is his all-time fave.

Seating at the bar was at a premium. After all, it was restaurant week in Columbus, which always packs ‘em in. Soon the couple closest to us at the bar were paged and seated for dinner. We took their stools. Vince was apologetic for being out of Bodhi, but we didn’t mind. Anymore, they carry an excellent array of quality guest beers. I happily went with the Hoof Hearted IIPA, which they called Wangbar. We ordered some risotto balls too, and they were superb.

Aubre’ was back working as a server after having a baby just six weeks prior. Said she was only helping out because of restaurant week, but still officially on leave. Cute and sweet as ever! She and Mindy made plans for her to bring the baby over. We talked at length with Jen, too, who is also expecting a baby with her partner, Keri.

We hung out for quite a while before ordering any more food. And even though I had thoughts of going with the yummy walleye or a steak, I ended up going with their tried and true wings. In the end, I guess I have a very simple palette. The wings came exactly as I ordered them, well done and extra saucy. I appreciate that. By night’s end I consumed three of those Wangbars, and Mindy two of the guest stouts. Before we left, we purchased a new blue CBC t-shirt for Tommy. She opted to drive. Wise choice.

Tucked under our windshield wiper was a small yellow envelope from a parking lot vendor sharing that we owed them $2 for parking as well as a $50 penalty. Having none of that, Mindy walked back into CBC and presented it to Kevin and Vince, who have always shared that we could park in that lot if theirs was full. They immediately agreed to take the envelope and take care of any misunderstandings. Friends, that’s service!

At home we were quickly off to bed, both of us incredibly tired.