I did a minor clean-up for
readability!
gonfission:
Thanks to Doctor Larry, for the clean up
Alright, here's the first installment
as I have no pictures of the first day.
I might drag this out, akin to the
Game of Thrones series. I binge watched that in 70 hours after a friend told me
I may have family members involved.
She was right. Another day...
Also, I had to prepare this in WORD.
So, the formatting may be off. Don't kill the messenger!
This is going to come in pieces as
the size of one post does not allow the time on the forums it takes to down
size the pictures and post, without timing out.
Before I start; My hat is off
to Mike's knowledge of the golf courses in SW Florida, if not the entire
country, Mike possesses in his cranium.
I would like to get it out there,
that if any of you ever want to go on one of these golfing adventures, Mike,
aka, “conveyorguy” is the man to speak to. He put a package together that was
just awesome. It was a ½ dozen packages that he kept changing, to get to the
unbelievable outcome we then took part of. From the courses he chose, to the
accommodations, the trip was a very memorable one. I mean that in a GOOD way.
I'll talk crap behind his back, like
he is doing to me. LMAO HA HA!
Someone should give him the clap.
Wait, wait, I meant give him “A clap”
Just don’t let him navigate. I find
it enthralling that he finds his way home every day… After him arguing with the
Nissan’s GPS, we spent a good amount of time doing U-turns, over and over, on
the same route.
Arrowhead;
The first day was at the course that
had the driving range into the water. The only way I figure this to be a viable
solution for water usage, (as it is plentiful in south west FL.) is to have a
sloped concrete bottom to which all the balls are captured, then pumped up to a
cleaning room. IDK. My best guess. Divers are expensive.
We were paired up with a 70 + year
old Gary, and a 32-year-old, Ryan, I think. His (Ryan) back swing could hit the
ball further than my drives. Gary worked him over pretty good.
I think Mikey mentioned how grateful
we were for Gary’s presence. He was a veteran of the course. The use of
undulating fairways was at its pinnacle, on Arrowhead. Water intruded on almost
every fairway either from the left, or, right. Never to be seen from the tee.
This is a public course.
The fairways growth is very close to
the greens down here on the Cape, on some courses. Second cut was reminiscent
of a military haircut. I couldn’t have cared less. I was happy to be in South
West Florida again. It’s mighty nice not to have any 2” (screw metric) rough to
hack out of for a change.
Due to unnamed circumstances, I had
to leave SW FL. for more than a ten-year period. Leaving all I had accrued
during my incursion, in the way back… I digress.
I used an older DSL camera on
Arrowhead the first day. It turned out inadequate, as it was 13 years old.
Apparently $1500.00 bucks doesn’t last 13 years anymore. Mike took the pics
that were kindly posted by Wayne.
Gary knew all the sneaky Pete water
intrusions. This course had to be managed. Nothing short of that, would put you
into the Floridian Everglades. All land south of Okeechobee Lake, was once the
entire Everglades…
There were two dog legs, 1 right
& 1 left that Ryan tried to sky the water to the green. Youth, if only it
came in bottles. I’ll take a 30 pack. The first one to the left was a par 4. He
didn’t go for the green; however, he did try to hit the entire length of the
pond for a small pitch& roll.
Alas, he was 15 yards short. All
slopes are about 5 feet in height, making them very steep from fairway to the
water. Anywhere within the top area, and you’re losing a ball.
The second one, dog leg right, he hit
the roof of a condo. Very reminiscing of hitting over the roof on St. Andrews.
He pulled it off. The SOB… About a 15-yard pitch over a small hill guarding the
green. He shot par.
Pay no attention to the cracked roof
tiles in his wake. LOL
I think I was in normal attire for
the first day. Well, normal is relative, after all. I did not want to be
expelled on the first day. I miss Fort Meyers. Joanna, palms, planes, boats…
Whoa there…… Drifting.
Gary was helpful with my lifting my
left foot on my backswing, as well as other observations, “I generally suck at
the game”. He caught on quickly to that slice of pie. That one shot keeps us
all coming back for more though. Mike outplayed me by probably 10 + strokes on
the first day. His winter lessons started paying off. I was more enthralled
with the scenery. We forgot the card. Of course, when I said we, I meant him.
Jimmy cracked corn and I didn’t
care……
Putting was like being on concrete,
everywhere! Difficult for me the entire time. The just “tap it in theory” was
leaving me beyond the cup, and comprehension, by fathoms, at times. Had to get
some seamen in the story somewhere.
I think it was 65 – 68 degrees that
day. The beer-cart chick had a hoodie, and a winter coat on. Alas, no pictures.
Mikes knowledge of everything golf,
is matched only by my disdain for such information. I learned a long time ago,
play your own game. Count the score at the END of the round. Playing ketchup,
is not my bag.
Speaking of bags, Mikey had a
service, “Ship Sticks” pick up our bags and ship them. After we were all done
& in the Fort Meyers airport, about to leave, I asked a couple of golfers
dragging their bags out of the terminal, how much to put them on the plane.
$30.00 dollars was their response. I asked Mike how much we paid. $100.00 and
something was all I heard. Mumbles& deaf people. Like crocodiles and
everything, they just don’t go together.
Asking Mikey why we paid so much, he
retorted, “I am not letting the airport personnel handle my clubs”. I said
nothing else, however envisioned a pack mule carrying our bags from the NE, to
SW FL. I have a vivid imagination. It was cool thinking about it. Juan Valdez
and his mule retired to SW Fl. After making millions in the coffee bean
business. However, the reality of the bags being handled by the pickup service,
Fed EX peeps, AND, the airport personnel, then the delivery drivers, never
seemed to bother Mike. LMMFAO. Good one Mikey.
Obla di, obla da……
Shenanigans were everywhere to be
found. The first evening, Mike wanted to eat at the hotel restaurant. That was
to be the last as well… Something about $15.00 smackers a drink…... LOL. Live
& learn. I don’t drink, so I don’t know. I did have 3 beers over the time
period. The maid gets the rest.
Next instalment to have pictures.