So in the spirit of new starts or restarts or whatever you want to call this latest iteration of a blogging renaissance, I’m going for two days in a row. Unfortunately, this post won’t feature any exotic trips abroad, but I can at least try and entertain you a little bit as I try to get back into the writing flow. The last few days have centered around the theme of golf, a clause I wasn’t sure I’d ever say/write/think before the age of 49, but hey, life is full of surprises.
The golf motif revolved around two big undertakings – the Masters, and a social event unlike any other, Dan L’s Beer Golf. I’ll take them in chronological order, which unfortunately for you all, is the opposite order I mentioned them. Beer Golf is in essence a themed pub crawl that rewards endurance, determination, and an almost inhuman tolerance for mind-altering substances. As well all know, Tiger Woods has two out of the three down, but can’t quite nail the last one. Zing! Cheap jokes aside, it was an excellent time that carried on for roughly 14 hours, 9 pubs, 414 questionable comments, and approximately 7 different snack foods provided for the masses by the lovely and eminently prepared Diane S. For a better idea of the theme, peep this snapshot:
I'm partial to the final hole...
As you can see, chaos is sometimes planned, and Dan did a beautiful job in designing a challenging yet rewarding course. Fun was had by all, although I can’t speak for everyone’s quality of life on Sunday morning. However, I can speak to the quality of my Sunday evening. I was invited to a somewhat swank (in price, though sadly not in ambiance) pub to check out the last round of the Masters, an annual excuse for Jim Nantz to speak reverentially and feminists to protest the exclusion of women from Augusta National Golf Club. In between the parking lot placards and the announcing booth there’s a bit of golf played with the winner getting to don the fabled green jacket. It was also the aforementioned Tiger Woods’ first return to golf since his life was turned upside down on Thanksgiving. As the day moved along, it became clear that Tiger was no longer the big story, but rather, Phil Mickelson, the longtime provider of spills and thrills, was either going to finish a dynamite round or else blow his chances of victory with an ill-advised trick shot. Ultimately, with the outcome of the tournament still in doubt, it all came down to the 13th hole, and the drama in the pub was palpable. Numerous times, such shots have proven to be his undoing:
Obviously, it wasn’t this time around. Provided a nice family moment, as his wife is battling some health problems right now and clearly it’s been a tough year for them all. So, that was the denouement of the weekend, and provided a neat theme this update. Congrats are in order to Dan and all the other Beer Golfers, and in a different way, to those who trained not for a party marathon, but a pseudo-athletic endeavor. Pats on the back, but not while driving, please. 10 and 2, 10 and 2. Drive safe and get home happy, everybody.
*Yeah, it’s obviously from NBA Jam. I have to work a video game tag in there every once in a while, right?
