The Links Lounge (*** NO POLITICS/RELIGION/LIV ***)

[NCLancer]

Saw this on a car window during our trip...

[Double Mocha Man]

5 minutes ago, NCLancer said:

Saw this on a car window during our trip...

 

Funny.  My how we've evolved.

[DLeightonReid]

It has been a busy week for this Ozark hillbilly.  Last Thursday, I traveled with two buddies to Gothenburg, NE to play Wild Horse Golf Course.  On Saturday, we drove 1.75 hours to play Bayside Golf Course.  Wild Horse was an amazing links style course with lots of sand bunkers, pristine fairways, and very large greens with lots of contours. We returned home late Sunday night and I left again early Tuesday morning to deliver an Interstate Battery truck to Bryan, TX.  Back home again Wednesday and today I played golf.  In late September I am going on another golf meet-up in Fairfield Glade, TN.  Life is good!

 

 

[DLeightonReid]

Cartoon time!

 

 

[touch]

8 hours ago, DLeightonReid said:

It has been a busy week for this Ozark hillbilly.  Last Thursday, I traveled with two buddies to Gothenburg, NE to play Wild Horse Golf Course.  On Saturday, we drove 1.75 hours to play Bayside Golf Course.  Wild Horse was an amazing links style course with lots of sand bunkers, pristine fairways, and very large greens with lots of contours. We returned home late Sunday night and I left again early Tuesday morning to deliver an Interstate Battery truck to Bryan, TX.  Back home again Wednesday and today I played golf.  In late September I am going on another golf meet-up in Fairfield Glade, TN.  Life is good!

 

 

 

 

 

You are a man that doesn't sit still sir. Cheers to you living your best retired life. That looks like a dandy course you and your golf buddies traveled to. Glad you had a fun golf trip. Thanks for sharing your recap and the nice photos. Looking good DLR. The lady of the house sure snagged a handsome husband.  

 

 

[touch]

 

 

 

Dang it, the extreme heat is back here in the mountains.

 

 

MAJOR HEAT WAVE COMING TO THE CAROLINAS

SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ARE WEATHER WARN DAYS FOR A DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY

 

ASHEVILLE FORECAST:

Friday: Scattered P.M. showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. (feels like: 93)

Saturday: Scattered P.M. showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 90s. (feels like: 95)

Sunday: Isolated P.M. showers and thunderstorms.Highs in the low 90s. (feels like: 97)
Monday: Isolated P.M. showers and thunderstorms.Highs in the low 90s. (feels like: 98)
Tuesday: Isolated P.M. showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. (feels like: 99)
Wednesday: Isolated P.M. showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. (feels like: 99)
Thursday: Scattered P.M. showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 90s. (feels like: 96)

[touch]

@mshills

 

I'm curious was Bojangles around when you were at Clemson?

I believe they have the best biscuits in the Carolinas. A member brought a few dozen for the staff this morning. Sometimes I do mustard and other times it's honey. 

 

 

 

[Bob Cat]

53 minutes ago, touch said:

@mshills

 

I'm curious was Bojangles around when you were at Clemson?

I believe they have the best biscuits in the Carolinas. A member brought a few dozen for the staff this morning. Sometimes I do mustard and other times it's honey. 

 

 

 

 

Dang, touch, you could make a turd look like exquisite cuisine.

 

[touch]

12 hours ago, Bob Cat said:

 

Dang, touch, you could make a turd look like exquisite cuisine.

 

 

 

Thanks BC.  Been in the game a long time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 26 by touch

[mshills]

1 hour ago, touch said:

@mshills

 

I'm curious was Bojangles around when you were at Clemson?

I believe they have the best biscuits in the Carolinas. A member brought a few dozen for the staff this morning. Sometimes I do mustard and other times it's honey. 

 

 

 

Bojangles

Hardees

Waffle King (no Waffle House, that was several miles away 🙂)

 

….all staples in those years. 

[Double Mocha Man]

4 hours ago, touch said:

 

 

 

Dang it, the extreme heat is back here in the mountains.

 

 

MAJOR HEAT WAVE COMING TO THE CAROLINAS

SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ARE WEATHER WARN DAYS FOR A DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY

 

ASHEVILLE FORECAST:

Friday: Scattered P.M. showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. (feels like: 93)

Saturday: Scattered P.M. showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 90s. (feels like: 95)

Sunday: Isolated P.M. showers and thunderstorms.Highs in the low 90s. (feels like: 97)
Monday: Isolated P.M. showers and thunderstorms.Highs in the low 90s. (feels like: 98)
Tuesday: Isolated P.M. showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. (feels like: 99)
Wednesday: Isolated P.M. showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 90s. (feels like: 99)
Thursday: Scattered P.M. showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 90s. (feels like: 96)

 

Delightful.

[Petethreeput]

I was 17 years old and I found myself in the Hardee's on Ardmore Blvd across from a college around 930 AM with my older brother and his college friends.  I had heard the stories but couldn't believe they were true, but this was the proof.

 

In the corner an old woman dressed in a leopard skin jumpsuit with firetruck red lipstick spread unevenly, drawn on eye brows, and thinning but very red hair was sitting at a table surrounded by newspapers and a stack of refill coffee cups.  My brother who had regaled me of the stories put his head down and walked straight to the counter to place his order, but this was unacceptable to me.  I walked over to the table and said quietly so I didn't startle her, "Hi Aunt Sue, it's P3P."  I got many hugs, my brother did too (much to his embarrassment in front of his friends).

 

The funny thing is, apparently she was absolutely loaded but couldn't bring herself to buy the newspapers so she would hit the fast food places and buy a coffee and read them all and apparently this was less expensive.  Loved her, but because of her and knowing I won't ever see her again I won't go into a Hardees because I know it will be a let down. 

[touch]

Lunch on Friday. 

Today is the busiest day on the course so far this summer. 

I'm a happy man because key lime pie is my favorite dessert.

 

 

Edited July 25 by touch

[NCLancer]

We played 3 times in northern NY on our vacation.  

 

Harmony in Port Kent:  I mentioned in an earlier post about playing this 14 hole course with 2 members who fly around and this day was no exception as we started on Hole 6, finished the 14 holes on 5, went back to 1 and played thru 6 again for a total of 20 holes in just about 3 hours.  In their agreed upon made up game, the final hole didn't count and the score on 19 (the Par 4 5th) can be substituted for any higher Par 4 therefore I shot an 89 and barely won the day.  So much fun was had.

 

The Barracks in Plattsburgh:  This course was built in 1962 on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base and we played there quite often as teens.  After the closure, the course was bought and in the mid 90's expanded into 18 holes.  We played with my BIL (1st round since last year) and our friend from Kansas City Paul, who is a very good ball striker.  We visited him last fall and it's always great to get together.  Another fun day. 

We had a variety of scores and we played a putting/poker game with a small $1 ante where a 1 putt gets a card, 2 putts get/owe nothing and a 3 putt puts a quarter into the pot.  The 3 putter also is assigned the "monkey" chip until someone else 3 putts and the chip is handed over.  If 2 3 putt, it's even/odds time on the green.  Whoever has the chip at the end of the day pays a dollar in the pot.  The pot ended up at a whopping $7.75 and with her 5 1-putts giving her 5 cards and 2 pair Mrs. NCL walked away richer.  Paul had 6 cards which garnered a King high, and I had 4 cards of nothing.  BIL had 2 cards (ace and a face) but it was poker not blackjack.

 

We also held our tournament at this course which I spoke of earlier.

 

Then it was thru Ontario and on to Cadillac, Michigan!! (stories to follow)

 

 

[touch]

1 hour ago, Petethreeput said:

I was 17 years old and I found myself in the Hardee's on Ardmore Blvd across from a college around 930 AM with my older brother and his college friends.  I had heard the stories but couldn't believe they were true, but this was the proof.

 

In the corner an old woman dressed in a leopard skin jumpsuit with firetruck red lipstick spread unevenly, drawn on eye brows, and thinning but very red hair was sitting at a table surrounded by newspapers and a stack of refill coffee cups.  My brother who had regaled me of the stories put his head down and walked straight to the counter to place his order, but this was unacceptable to me.  I walked over to the table and said quietly so I didn't startle her, "Hi Aunt Sue, it's P3P."  I got many hugs, my brother did too (much to his embarrassment in front of his friends).

 

The funny thing is, apparently she was absolutely loaded but couldn't bring herself to buy the newspapers so she would hit the fast food places and buy a coffee and read them all and apparently this was less expensive.  Loved her, but because of her and knowing I won't ever see her again I won't go into a Hardees because I know it will be a let down. 

 

 

All the money in the world but wouldn't subscribe to a newspaper aye? Shaking my head. 

 

I've got one for you along those lines. A few years back a member who was very wealthy came up to me and said he had a gift for me that he had gotten on his recent trip to New York. What was the gift? A pair of bath slippers that he had taken during his stay at a fancy NYC hotel. I threw the slippers in the Goodwill donation box on the way home from work. 

Edited July 25 by touch

[DLeightonReid]

Happy Friday, golfers!  I just returned home from walking 18 this morning in sweltering heat and humidity.  I have what we call a good case of swamp Word not allowed.  My wife and I are accompanying our oldest daughter and her family on vacation next week.  We will be playing the role of tourist in Oregon, Washington, and northern California.  Maybe I will run into @Double Mocha Man.  I hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend.  Hit em well and not too often.  

 

 

Edited July 25 by DLeightonReid

[Double Mocha Man]

3 minutes ago, DLeightonReid said:

Happy Friday, golfers!  I just returned home from walking 18 this morning in sweltering heat and humidity.  I have what we call a good case of swamp Word not allowed.  My wife and I are accompanying our oldest daughter and her family on vacation next week.  We will be playing the role of tourist in Oregon, Washington, and northern California.  Maybe I will run into @Double Mocha Man.  I hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend.  Hit em well and not too often.  

 

 

 

I see you're headed toward cooler weather. Bring your sweater.

[Triple Lindy]

Speaking of weather, summer has hit back with a vengeance here. After the mildest start that I can remember, we’re into the “walk outside into an oven” climate that is our norm for this time of year. I played several hours of pickleball yesterday, but indoors at 75° or so. I wouldn’t have lasted an hour if outdoors. There are 4 nearby large pickleball-only facilities that have popped up in the past 12-15 months. They’re packed. A couple of them are converted retail space and others are old warehouse space - nothing new was built. Leases were probably pretty attractive. I played at one earlier in the year when it was cold and rainy and there was hardly anyone there. I wondered how they were going to make it, but summer is their season apparently.

[mshills]

Fundraiser scramble for the United Way of Washington County today. 
 

Me

Former boss, 9 index, on the United Way board

Former colleague, no handicap

Friend of former boss, 22 index

 

With that lineup I would have been happy with something around par. 
 

We were approaching our 15th hole (started on 11) when a huge storm with lots of lightning came up. That made the third rain delay of the day. Course couldn’t take any more water so the event was called. Bummer. 
 

We were six under, very respectable due to some serious ham and egging. I hit a 9i to a blind green, third shot on a par 5 tight, to about 8”. Also hit a killer 5w to another blind green 185 up the hill, got up there and it was 24” away. As usual for me in a scramble, I made those contributions but also had some shocking bad swings. I think anyone struggles to concentrate in the hit and giggle events.

 

Playing in the Ohio Adaptive Open next weekend outside Cleveland. Some great golf courses over there…..I don’t think we are playing at one….

[touch]

1 hour ago, mshills said:

Fundraiser scramble for the United Way of Washington County today. 
 

 

 

We were six under, very respectable due to some serious ham and egging. I hit a 9i to a blind green, third shot on a par 5 tight, to about 8”. Also hit a killer 5w to another blind green 185 up the hill, got up there and it was 24” away. As usual for me in a scramble, I made those contributions but also had some shocking bad swings. I think anyone struggles to concentrate in the hit and giggle events.

 

 

 

 

True that. I can't get into a rhythm playing in those formats. One has to have a different mindset and lower their expectations. 

Congrats of the handful of "Pure" shots that you did hit for the team MS. Was the tournament on your home course? 

 

[chisag]

2 hours ago, Triple Lindy said:

Speaking of weather, summer has hit back with a vengeance here. After the mildest start that I can remember, we’re into the “walk outside into an oven” climate that is our norm for this time of year.

 

 

... I hear ya heat brother. I played Sun/Mon/Tues with temps around 100* and now back up to 107*. Mon was with a friend so that was fun. Interestingly I kinda get used to the heat when it is always 108-115* but when the temp drops to 95* like it did Sunday and 99* on Mon but Tues it went back up to 107* and it just seemed crazy hot. Combined with aerated/sanded greens and playing with strangers I can't muster up the desire to play for a few days. Played with a nice enough guy Wed but he worked in the Health Care industry owning his own small firm and never stopped talking about it. Thankfully he quit after 9 averaging a double, triple or worse every hole and talking his company when in ear shot. I got in a good 9 hole practice round on the back 9  hitting multiple shots an getting my swing back, but hitting 3 irons from the fairway when the sun is beating down on me at 107* got old and 9 holes was perfect. 

[mshills]

6 minutes ago, touch said:

 

 

True that. I can't get into a rhythm playing in those formats. One has to have a different mindset and lower their expectations. 

Congrats of the handful of "Pure" shots that you did hit for the team MS. Was the tournament on your home course? 

 

It was not. Our membership, me included, has been raising Cain about hosting outside events on Fridays. IMO that should never happen. Monday only. We have had few on Fridays this summer and upcoming in August, which I find totally unacceptable unless we are getting club management advice from CPG. 👎🏼

 

I wrote a letter to the board on this topic and also had a very direct discussion with the club president. The scheduling will be very different next summer I expect. 

[touch]

The Rematch

 

Back on Tuesday we got out there to continue our match from the previous Tuesday that was cut short after 7 holes when storms took over. 

 

CCA

Senior tees

5836

68.6/127

84* with 70% humidity with partly cloudy skies

We were fortunate as there were storms in the area but none came close enough bother us.

 

2 man teams - combined scores of both players on a team 

 

On the 1st tee Bill B and I started the round 3 down (where we left off last week) to Stan and Bill M. We both bogeyed and we lost the hole. 4 down. I said to my partner " this is a deep enough hole, let's get going and get wining."  We did just that. We had the match tied after the 8th hole. I was the only one to make Par on 9 and my partner made double. Our opponents both made double so we won the hole and headed to the back 9 1 UP. 

 

On the back the lead bounced back and fourth between the teams. The match was AS on the 16th tee. I swore off hitting driver on that zig zag downhill par 5 over a year ago and my scores on the hole have improved by doing so. I don't know why the thought came to me to rip a driver in an effort to make getting a birdie easier?  It was my worst drive of the day. It was my worst hole of the round. I made a triple after hitting my drive OB Left. We were 1 down thru 16.  17 is a very tough Par 3. It was playing 187. There is a substantial carry over a deep valley to reach the green complex. It is a 170 yards minimum to a safe landing. There are bunkers left and front right. I hit last. All the others in the group missed the green. I hit my 5 wood to the right side of the green. It was on my intended line. You can see your shot hit the green on 17 but due to the terrain and distance you can't see where you shot ends up until you drive up to the green. I thought my 5 wood possibly just rolled off the green. No it was better than that (last photo) I was on the back apron. While looking over my birdie putt form the collar the others in the group all hit their pitches from three different parts of the hillside short of the green to 25 feet or better. " very nice shots boys, y'all got good chances at saving par with those pitches" was my comment. All 4 of us missed our putts. Two bogeys for the opponents and one bogey and one par for my team. AS as we headed to the 18th hole. It was a win the hole and win the match situation or if the hole ended in a draw we would go to the 1st hole and start a playoff is what we decided. I hit a solid drive and had 118 in. 1/2 a club uphill. I pulled 9 and hit it to 10 feet. I missed the putt for birdie just like I missed every other putt for birdie that I had during the round, but I made a par and so did my partner. The other team had a par and a bogey. Our combined 8 beat their combined 9. 

 

I had a double and a triple. I missed many putts from 15 feet or closer and many were for birdie. On other holes I played right steady. I shot an 85 on my own ball.

 

Game ball? Has to go to my 5 wood that set me up nice on 17, it certainly wasn't my putter. 😄

 

Bill and I together reeled off pars to erase the 4 down deficit in the middle of the front 9 and made some pars when we needed to keep it close on the back. Our two pars on the last hole sealed the win. 

 

The wager was the losing team picked up the tab for the foursome's after round beers and bites at a casual spot down the road. ⚡

 

 

 

[chisag]

2 hours ago, touch said:

The Rematch

 

 

... Thanks for the recap. That was a fun match to follow. 187yd 5 wood with 170 to cover, I imagine you chocked down and took a smooth little 3/4 swing? 😇  (What were the bites? Gotta hear about the winnings) 

[sandpounder]

6 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

 

... Thanks for the recap. That was a fun match to follow. 187yd 5 wood with 170 to cover, I imagine you chocked down and took a smooth little 3/4 swing? 😇  (What were the bites? Gotta hear about the winnings) 

Sam, not everyone can hit irons as far as you 🙂

[touch]

5 hours ago, chisag said:

 

 

... Thanks for the recap. That was a fun match to follow. 187yd 5 wood with 170 to cover, I imagine you chocked down and took a smooth little 3/4 swing? 😇  (What were the bites? Gotta hear about the winnings) 

 

 

Thanks Sam. No 3/4 and no choked down on the 5 wood, it was all I got to go 180 and a wee bit of change.  

 

The bites were empanadas and tamales which I love. We went to Cecilia's.

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.ceciliaskitchen.com/our-menu

 

 

 

 

    

[DLeightonReid]

Good Saturday morning!  My course is hosting a benefit 4 person scramble this morning that myself and 3 buddies are playing in.  I need to play as if it is a normal solo round or I will fall into the scramble trap of swinging too hard from the tees. 
 

 

[touch]

25 minutes ago, DLeightonReid said:

Good Saturday morning!  My course is hosting a benefit 4 person scramble this morning that myself and 3 buddies are playing in.  I need to play as if it is a normal solo round or I will fall into the scramble trap of swinging too hard from the tees. 
 

 

 

 

Go have a great time and show them your golf talent DLR. 

[touch]

Good Saturday Morning Loungers. 

The first groups going off starting at 8 AM will be playing in the fog. 

The Stimp score is more gentle today. 

That's my golf buddy Nicolas setting up the push carts. 

I spied this headcover and thought P3P and MS our resident Deadheads would approve.

 

 

Edited July 27 by touch

[mshills]

53 minutes ago, touch said:

Good Saturday Morning Loungers. 

The first groups going off starting at 8 AM will be playing in the fog. 

The Stimp score is more gentle today. 

That's my golf buddy Nicolas setting up the push carts. 

I spied this headcover and thought P3P and MS our resident Dead Heads would approve.

 

 

That’s a Smathers & Branson headcover. They make NICE stuff, the headcovers and belts are tremendous. Nice taste there!
 

I sure do wish we had a line of push carts like that at my place. We have some walkers, everyone carries. Probably 6 guys push….I am one of them but not this time of year. 
 

2:30 tee time with the missus today.