Golf On Super Bowl Sunday?

Well, that was my favorite day of the year. People always ask others, "What's your favorite holiday?" Generally I answer with Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas, depending upon...well, actually I don't know what it depends upon. My answer just tends to change. But I think I'm going to start being more consistent with my response. From this point on, my answer is going to be Super Bowl Sunday.

After all, I think more people celebrate, or gather for Super Bowl Sunday than any other holiday. People of all race, religion and sex celebrate the championship game of the greatest spectator sport going. Even people who aren't really into football are there for the celebration! And whether the game is competitive or not, it doesn't make a difference. My eyes are pretty much glued to the TV until the final whistle...and then some.

But even on Super Bowl Sunday, I'll still make some time for another love - golf. Not a real round, it's too cold for that and it takes too long. I can't have any potential interruptions to either the game or the preparations leading up to it. I'm talking about indoor golf. Or, more specifically, the golf simulator.
,br>Now, I've mentioned before that I believe the simulator is more of a giant game video game than it is a useful tool. It's inaccurate distance-wise, doesn't have a real "golf course feel" obviously, and I'm not sure how accurate it is a far slices and hooks. But that doesn't make it any less fun! And much like regular golf, that's all I'm really there for. So when the invitation was extended earlier in the week, I was in immediately.

But I think using the simulator is more than just a game too. It's a way to get a few swings in over the winter. It will help me to stay in "golf shape" so I don't hit the course next season looking like I've never swung a club in my life. But then I think to myself..."Who am I kidding? I don't really give a crap about that. I just want to play a big video game!" I've still got a whole lot of kid in my heart, so the simulator is right up my alley...and I'm not going to pass up the opportunity.

But...the tee-time was beginning to cut things a little close. After all, it is Super Bowl Sunday still. But for the golf simulator I'm willing to risk cutting into a little bit of prep time. We had to change the tee-time twice. One more change and I may have had to backout. I have also mentioned before, for me, golf takes a backseat to football. And that's real golf! The simulator has no chance!

But I was there. I was there on Super Bowl Sunday. On the greatest day of the year for sports fans, I made sure to squeeze in a little bit of golf. Even if it was just a video game, nonetheless, I was there...

Swing 'til you're happy!

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Is Golf Still Fun When it's Freezing Out?

So it's Halloween and as I pen this post, there's 3 inches of snow outside. As some of you may know, the Northeast got hit with a pretty big snow storm Saturday (where I live, the snow drifts reached a whopping 5 inches)!

OK, so I realize that's not a lot of snow for Connecticut. But for October, it's a tremendous amount of snow. In fact, I don't ever remember this much snow prior to Halloween...ever. Temps are supposed to rise a bit this week and my guess is the snow will be melted by tomorrow, but that's too little too late for me.

If you follow this blog regularly, you'll know (well, first that this is Stinky Golfer Chris' day to post, but he's still in the dark after major power outages swept the area due to the storm)...but you'll also know my golf has been limited this season.

That being said, I actually had plans to play this weekend (albeit only 9-holes, but plans nonetheless). Needless-to-say those plans were squashed by the inclement weather. But all this snow got me thinking about golfing when it's cold. I've always held the position that if I can't get by with a Polo shirt over a thermal, then it's too cold. In other words, if I have to wear some sort of coat (which may hinder my swing), then the game is no longer fun.

Stinky Golfer Chris takes it a step further - he flat out states he won't play golf when the temp drops below 50 degrees (10 celsius). But don't tell any of this to golf retailers. You see, it seems they think we can (and should) be playing till the temps sink below freezing!

As proof, I submit this ad from the latest Golf Galaxy mailer:

Golf Galaxy is dead serious. So, apparently, is Footjoy, who is providing the WinterSof gloves on the guy at the far right. But at what point is all this pointless? Isn't your game going to suffer with all the extra layers? How about our friends up north in Canada - are they even still playing when the temps are hovering around freezing? Or is this all a ploy to get golfers to spend more money?

Perhaps.

But perhaps I'm thinking about this all wrong. Maybe it doesn't matter all that much if your score goes up. Maybe, if you're playing on a brisk winter day, you shouldn't even keep score. Maybe you should just enjoy the fact that you're outdoors and playing the game you love. Canadians, am I right?

Wow - this is exciting! I believe my golf season just got longer! Now, if they only gave out those gloves tonight instead of candy...

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Ghosts, Goblins and Golf

There are a few times in golf when you might have the crap scared out of you.

1. Hitting a shot and then realizing it is headed right at another golfer.

2. Being on the receiving end of #1.

3. Playing on a haunted golf course.

With the latter in mind and being in the Halloween spirit, I thought it would be interesting to explore some more haunted golf courses. Last year, Stinky Golfer Chris covered some with his frightening post and this year I wanted to continue. We'll go from the U.S. to overseas and take a look at some of these spooky tracks.

Many consider New Orleans to be a haunted city and what a great place to start. City Park Golf Course in N'awlins has seen its share of apparitions and ghosts. Stinky Golfer Chris mentioned the paranormal activity on the 18th green of the East course but, how about the the spirit of a murdered woman on the South Course? The next time you hear "Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?" Think twice...

Moving around the south we encounter courses that were built on old plantations and perhaps slave graveyards. Not to mention possible native burial grounds. These sacred final resting spots should have been left alone but the chance to make a buck over-ruled, such as Willow Brook Plantation in South Carolina.

Across the pond at perhaps the most famous golf course in the world, St. Andrews is also home to Martyr's Monument. The site, right behind the 18th green, on the Old Course where five Protestants were burned at the stake some 500 years ago. Was that cool breeze you just felt coming off the North Sea...or was it coming from something else?

Moving on to the land of kangaroos and shrimp on the barbie, we come to Mt. Lawley Golf Club in Perth, Australia. This course has a hole named "Satan's Elbow". And somewhere around that area a man named Michael Oakleigh, as legend has it, committed suicide. Double whammy, not only is the hole named Satan's elbow, some guy offed himself there too. I think I'll skip this hole.

This next story is a dead on (pun intended) match for Golfstinks.com! Apparently, Grande Oaks Golf Club (the old Rolling Hills Golf Club where they filmed Caddyshack) and some other South Florida courses seem to be the place where golfers are encountering the ghost of Ted Knight, a.k.a Judge Smails.

How great is that? If I had to go to a haunted place, I would want the ghost to be Judge Smails. Gambling might have been illegal at Bushwood but no one said anything about haunting it...

Hit'em long...yell FORE!!!

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What's More Frightening Than My Golf Game?

Up until now, the scariest thing for me about this great sport of golf has been my own game. I have seen fellow golfers cringe at the site of me in a trap. Some have stared on in horror as I line up a four-footer. Others have even released blood-curdling screams at the site of my drives! Well.., on second thought, that could have been laughter. But either way...the point is my golf game is scary!

As scary as it may be though, it doesn't quite qualify as that Halloween type scary. But what in golf does? A Mickelson meltdown? A Sergio blowup? John Daly's pants? If those don't do it for ya...how about a creepy, ghostly figure watching from the woods as you putt-out on 18?

Sound ridiculous? Well, some golfers at the City Park golf courses in New Orleans would argue otherwise. Here, on the 18th hole of the East Course, that's exactly what many golfers have reportedly witnessed. How's that for a gallery?

For some people however, fear lies in the unknown. So what about a supposed ghost that no one ever sees but causes mischief? A golf course poltergiest if you will. We'll have to travel to England for this one. The Church Stretton Golf Course in Shropshire, UK reportedly has a ghost inhabiting the thirteenth hole. Locals here talk of a ghost who will steal your tee shots right from the middle of the fairway! Supposedly, you can see your drive land, but it's a different story when you arrive at that spot as the ball is nowhere to be found. I'd like to see a ruling on that situation! Would it be considered an act of God? If it is a ghost...is it a hazard? If the ghost was murdered in its earthly life...then is it a man-made hazard and therefore you get a free drop?

Maybe watchers in the woods and ball thiefing spectres aren't enough for you. In that case, how about the reported sightings of the ghost of a woman murdered on the course she haunts? In 1936 a woman was murdered on the seventh fairway of the beautiful Victoria Golf Club in Victoria, BC, Canada. Reportedly, her presence can be spotted on that very fairway!

OK, but these are just reports. There's no proof or evidence of any type. Ah, but what if there was? The photograph above is one of two taken at the Aetna Springs Golf Course in Pope Valley, CA - arguably the oldest course west of the Mississippi. Supposedly, the pictures were taken on the course in 1963. Several shots were taken, but in only two, strange images showed up on film that were not visible at the time of the shots. As the story goes, the images of eight monks have been seen crossing a fairway on this course. Some witnesses have reportedly even been able to make out the agonized expressions on the monks faces! Now that's one for the Ghost Hunters!

There you have it. I didn't think I could do it, but in the spirit of Halloween, I found something out on the golf course scarier than my game. And I even found a picture to prove it. But not only did I find that, I have now also stumbled across a great new excuse for losing my ball - it was snatched up by a ghost! Let's see if I can get anyone to go along with that one!

Happy Halloween!

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My Halloween Costume

Stinky Golfer Greg mentioned in his last post, "You Know that Local Course You Love So Much?" that autumn sadly signifies the end of our golf season here in the Northeast.

Luckily, we have halloween though, a chance to dress up like a tool and still be accepted. Not that I dress like a tool normally, but you get the idea. What do you mean I can't wear cowboy boots and spandex shorts?

So, I put some thought into my halloween costume this year and decided it should be golf-related. Not wanting to jump on the bandwagon and be Cigar Guy, I thought I could go as a professional tour player. How about Phil Mickelson? Good ol' Lefty would be a good one. All I have to do is make it to the end and...not win. Oof! Maybe not as good an idea as I thought.

John Daly...bingo! This has two options; the fat version or the not so fat version. I'll raid a trailer park for some threads, solicit a hooker and get s@#%-faced everywhere I go. On top of that, I'll wager butt loads of money frivolously anywhere that I can gamble it away. Wait, I think Daly doesn't drink anymore and just chain smokes now. Plus, I really don't have the extra cash to be betting with. Scratch JD off the list. Next!

Tiger, Tiger Woods y'all!!! Oh man, I'll whip everyones' ass and sleep with all the women while sporting the red and black Nike get-up. Sweet! Actually, I won't even be available for Halloween because I gotta show the new beer-cart girl my putter. You know, I want her to see how I sink my balls in-person. This has potential...a little risky but has potential.

I could always go a little old school with someone like Greg Norman. That would be pretty cool. Fake a Down-Under accent, rock a pimp hat (come on, his hat is one feather away from Huggy Bear's collection) and throw some shrimp on the barbie. G'day mate, it sure is a lovely day. Golf? What is that? Would yoos care ta try some of me wine? Or maybe not...

The hell with it! Being a pro golfer is unrealistic. I need something that is more...me. Something I can really relate to. A costume that fits my persona and allows for an easy transition into character. Now where did I put that Mr. T wig?

Hit'em long, yell FORE!!! Cuz' I pity the fool with no golf etiquette!

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