5th Annual Slyder Cup at Heritage Hills GC

We played our Slyder Cup Tournament today at Heritage Hills GC.  Regular readers may know what this Slyder Cup is, but for you novices to my blog, it's a match play tournament between Two teams, J. R. Harris and me, and Harold Goad and Barry Rahn. They played from the white tees, we play  from the Gold.  They gave us two strokes a side, given on the low handicap holes.  The first six holes we played our  own ball, low team totat wins the hole. The next 6 holes we played alternate shot, low team wins each hole, and the last six holes we played as a scramble, low score winning each hole.  It has always been a close match, and today was no exception.  On the 18th tee, we were tied.  Both teams hit good drives down the left side, near the water, leaving a short 80 yard shot over the water to the green.  I hit a ball about 6-7 feet left of the hole.  Their best shot was short and just off the front of the green on the hillside.  They missed their chip.  J. R. stepped up and drilled the putt for the victory! So, we won and Harold and Barry had to buy the White Castles!
It's amazing that almost every time we play it comes down to the last putt.  I think both teams have won a match closing out the opposing team with several holes to go, but the others have been down to the last shot. 
The next Slyder Cup will be held sometime in September or October.  Get your tickets now and avoid the last minuite rush.

I'm in the money!

I played my usual Thursday golf at Iroquois GC today.  I found out that my 79 I shot on Tuesday won some money. I tied with 3 other people for low front nine, but I won low back nine and the low 18 by myself, for a total of $32! 
I rode a cart today. It makes playing 18 holes in this heat so much easier. It didn't take long today to get my first double bogey. I doubled the first hole! Then I doubled #8 for 2 double bogey's on the front side.  Then I doubled #15, a par 3, on the back nine.  But, I did manage to birdie two holes on the back side.  I had another good round today and our team won and I tied two other guys for low round.  I shot a 43 - 36 = 79.  We got $7 each for the team win and I got $4 for tying low score.  So, altogether today I got $43!  I'm thinking about retiring and playing golf for a living.
This was round 29 for the year.

The Big 4 Bridge Walk.....We were the first!

Mary Lynn and I went downtown to the ceremony starting the renovation of the Big 4 Bridge. 

Walking up the ramp was pretty easy.  It's long enough that it's not a very steep climb.  I asked a bike rider at the top what he thought of the climb up and he said it wasn't bad at all, not as bad as the new bridge down by the canals.  I'll have to agree with him on that.  Even driving over that bridge in a car it seems like you're going straight up!

It was a hot day with the sun shining brightly, but there was a nice breeze at the top.  I would think there would always be a good breeze up there.

It really gave you a good view of the surrounding area.  There was a real good view of downtown.  What a great place to stand and watch the Steamboat Races or Thunder Over Louisville!

This was the view look up the bridge.  I can see they'll have to pull up a lot of old wood.








We had a nice time there.  It was kinda neat.  During Mayor Fischer's speech he mentioned that upon completion of this project, with the view of the setting sun,  it just might be the most romantic spot in Louisville. And that he could foresee many proposals of marriage taking place on the bridge.  Well, I took advantage of the opportunity and gave Mary Lynn a big kiss!  So, in future generations, as this bridge becomes a romantic draw, let it be known that Bob and Mary Lynn were the first to kiss on the bridge!

It's hotter than the 4th of July!

I guess, because it's the 5th of July.  But it's hot! Once again Shawnee GC didn't have any drinking water on the back nine.  I carry water bottles with me, but in this heat I go through about 1 bottle every 2 or 3 holes, and I need a cooler or water fountain to keep my bottle full.  I called metro call last week and complained. It didn't do any good.  I complained again when I got home and told them I wanted someone to call me.

I tell ya, it's sweltering out there when you're walking 18 holes!  I made it all the way to hole #16 before I had a double bogey today. I got a lucky break when my drive went to the right, smack into the middle of a big tree, but bounced out into the middle of the fairway. Of course, it left me a lot further back than I'd like to have been, but I was in the middle of the fairway.  My three wood got me up to about 40 yards from the green, but then I didn't get a pitch shot on the green.  Ended up with a 6 on the par 4.  But, I shot pretty well today.  I had a 39 - 40 = 79.  I don't believe it will get me any money, but I'm satisfied with the score.  Just not satisfied getting that double bogey.

I believe this was round 28 for the year.  I'll check older posts and if I'm wrong I'll come back and correct it.

This and that, and one other thing.

Several things have gone on this past week that I havent blogged about.  Not that they weren't important or interesting, but I just haven't had time to put them on the blog.  And I know you're interested.

I didn't blog about the Willow Park Concert last Sunday night.  It was one of the best weather nights we've had.  The crowd was large and the music very good from the "Stray Cat Blues Band".  They played a lot of good dancing music.  This picture was taken from in front of the bandstand looking out at the crowd.  A very large crowd that wraps around to the left and right of the dance floor in the foreground. This was during the band break at 8:00p.m.. Notice June (lower right in white slacks and light blue blouse) coming back from getting her and Uncle George's normal halftime ice cream treat!  That's my empty green chair in the middle of the picture.

Uncle George and June wanted Mary Lynn to take their picture on the dance floor.  They love these concerts and are there almost every week! For those readers who don't know, Uncle George will be 100 years old this October 10th!

Friday night we went to Churchill Downs "Downs after Dark" for the first, and last, time. We paid $45 for seats in the Clubhouse. When we got there, they were the worst seats I've ever seen at the track.  Of course, it was a very hot night, and our seats were all the way up at the top of the Clubhouse box seat section, up where the heat collects and there is no air.  After being shown our seats by an usher, we opted to go sit in the air conditioning of one of the little cubby hole areas in the clubhouse, and wait for the rest of our gang to show up.
There were 5 couples, and we decided to sit in an empty box down by the rail, and move if the owners showed.  They never did, so we had decent seats for the evening.  Can't say much for Downs After Dark.  I guess it keeps all the teeny boppers out of the malls.  The Downs are catering to this crowd and running off all the horse players.  But, if that's what they want, they'd better close the track for racing and just have party's and concerts there. 
We didn't have a very good night betting on the horses, either.  We lost a little, but had an enjoyable evening with our friends.  Although, I'd rather have had an enjoyable evening with our friends somewhere else.
Last night was my monthly poker game.  I did pretty good there, came out a pretty good winner.  The last several months I've been a loser, so it was nice to turn that around.
The game was at Chuck's house, who lives down hwy 111 in New Albany, towards the Casino.  We went over early and brought our guns to do a little shooting.  I have a pistol and a BB gun that I like to take a little target practice with every once in awhile to stay familiar with my weapons.   It's nice to know what you can hit from what distance with a pistol.  It was a hot night, so we didn't spend a lot of time on the firing range and started the poker game a little earlier than normal. I say 'monthly poker club', but it's not actually once a month.  We play the first Saturday of the month, but with Derby, Christmas and winter months, we usually only play about 6 months out of the year.  Which is just about right.  It leaves you looking forward to it a little more than if it was once a month.
Well, tonight's another Willow Park Concert night.  Hope to see you all there.  "Another Mule" is the name of the group tonight.  They play some good dance music and there should be another good crowd.  Hope the rain stay away!

Well, so much for consistency.......

My round today got me out of that boring 80-81 routine.  I shot a 46 - 42 = 88 at Iroquois GC.  And, I had my first triple bogey in several rounds, with a big snowman on  par 5 #6. That hole I had a good drive, good 3 wood, then pulled my 7 iron, hit the cart path, and jumped into the high weeds out of bounds. I was playing pretty good until that happened.  Then it was all down hill. Oh, I still had some good holes, but overall, it wasn't a pretty round.  I double bogied #18 for I think the third time in a row.  The same way...push my tee shot to the right of the green, flop a shot up, then 3 putt.  I love to finish my round with a 3 putt.  My handicap on Thursdays is 10. So my 88 nets me a 78.  I'm sure our team didn't win any money today even though I didn't stay around to find out. Besides my out of bounds ball, I had one ball end up in the creek and had to drop out for a stroke.  Those of you familiar with Iroquois know it's those concrete creeks.  That's the first time I've been in one of those since I can remember. Oh well, I'll have to work to get back to those low 80 scores.

Dealing in 'High Finance'

I save a lot of stuff.  My regular readers know this.  I've got a basement full of different collectibles and, some might say, junk. This is one item I've saved for 43 years.  Why? I guess because it struck me funny then, and I still think it's neat.  It's the smallest check I've ever received. 

Sears mailed me my refund while I was in Vietnam.  You'll note on the envelope that it cost them 10 cents to mail this check for 5 cents.
Sears is the same company that, when Mary Lynn and I were in Fresno, turned me down for a credit card when I didn't want one in the first place.  We were shopping in Sears when this young lady walked up to us, clipboard in hand, and asked if we'd like to open a charge account with the company.  I politely declined, not wanting a Sears Charge Card.  She insisted, telling me how handy it would be, and I would really help her out if I'd sign up because she could win a prize for the most people signed. Well, I didn't really want a card, but finally I said OK, I'll go ahead and sign up.  I figure I'd just cut up the card when I got it anyway.  Well, filling out the application she noted that I was in the Navy.  "Oh, I'm sorry sir, but we won't give a credit card to anyone in the military!".  Well, I'll be damned!  I didn't want a crappy card anyway, and now she's gone and insulted me.  But, this is their check, never cashed.  I hope it messed up their books for years!  I've never much cared for Sear's anyway.