Links Golf at Kearney Hills GC

This isn't Kearney Hills GC.  But, other than the Ocean View, it looks a lot like it.
I played from the White Tees today and shot a 43 - 44 = 87.  I didn't play bad except I never made a putt.  If I'd have putted better I'm sure I could have cut 4 or 5 strokes off that score.
I didn't putt well, didn't feel good standing over the ball.  But most of that was I had no idea how the ball was going to break.  After several greens reading the break wrong, I started getting a little gun shy.  Those greens had some little subtle breaks that you just couldn't see.  Plus, some were pretty fast and others slow, depending, I think, on how recently they were watered.  So, my putts were all over the place.  Plus, I hadn't played that course enough to know it well enough to keep out of trouble.  And, from the White Tees, it played pretty long for my game.  So, all-in-all, I'd say the 87 wasn't a bad round for my 33rd round of the year.

Well, at least my score was under the Temperature

I didn't play that bad today, just a couple of holes.  I had 2 bad holes on the front nine, but he rest of my round was pretty good.  I don't think I putted very good today.  It was one of those days when you stand over your putt and don't have a clue how hard to hit it.  I was leaving putts short and knocking them well past the hole.
I ended up shooting a 42 - 38 = 80 at Iroquois GC.  Another round where our team didn't play well enough to win any money.  I'me really in a bad rut.  My handicap is down and I'm not playing well enough to win any money, but playing well enough that my handicap is staying low.  I did hit a lot better tee shots today than I did Tuesday, so I was glad of that.
This would be my 32nd round of the year!

Round 31 for FTY wasn't anything to brag about.

Compared to the rounds I've been playing, this was a poor round.  But a 41 - 41 82 isn't that bad at Shawnee GC.  I really didn't feel comfortable over the ball at all today.  I probably hit as bad off the tee today as I've hit in the past 6-8 weeks.  But there was no part of my game I could single out as being bad.  They were all just a little below par, which led to a little higher score.  My goal of no double bogeys ended on the first hole.  Then, to top it off, I doubled number 18 to finish.  During the round I hit a few bad tee shots, bad fairway shots, bad chips, and bad putts.  But, in between, I hit a lot of good shots and good putts.  I birdied the 15 hole sinking a 25 footer.  I just wasn't as consistent today as I have been, so I hope it comes back.  I'll find out Thursday.  This was round 31 for the year.

Another Sunday at Willow Park

Tonight's band was "Appalatin".  A cross between Appalachian and Latin music.  A little different music than we've been hearing lately, but very good.  A lot of dancers thought so, too.

One thing a little different tonight was an artist who was there painting.  It didn't look to me like he was painting anything he was seeing.  I guess he either liked to listen to music while he painted or else likes to paint with a lot of people around.

I've seen this guy at the concerts before.  He sits and reads the whole two hours and bobs his head to the beat of the music.  I guess he has great concentration or just likes to listen to music while he reads.   Seems a little weird to me.

Next week at 7:00 pm at Willow Park will be Delicious Blues Stew, Cajun Blues.  Good dance music!

WASP WARS!!!

Our deck is in need of replacement, which we are doing.  But we were able to save a little money by putting it off until the Fall.  So, we haven't used our deck much this year. 
Mary Lynn was out on the deck yesterday reading.  Plus, she likes to sit out there and warm up from the air conditioned house.  When she came in she told me she thinks there's a wasp nest inside the umbrella, which hasn't been up this year.  So, I went out to check.  As I tried to raise the umbrella to see, a swarm of wasps came flying out and I took cover inside the back screen door. Even though they ran Mary Lynn inside and attacked me, I still tried to negotiate a peace.  I offered a place for them to move and would give them time to do it.  But, they answered by running me inside again.  So, after a few minutes, I went out and sprayed 'Ortho Hornet and Wasp Killer' up into the underside and down from the top.  A lot of wasps flew out and a few of them dropped.  But, this stuff comes out in a stream and I didn't think it was getting up inside the umbrella, so I tried 'Raid'.  I think the mist of the 'Raid' did a pretty good job, in that 7 or 8 wasps dropped to the table.  As I looked around, I noticed another nest under the eave of the house above out bedroom window.  This nest was about as big as a tennis ball.  So, a two front war.  I decided to wait until morning.  A dawn raid.  I knew they would be less active in the morning, and all of them would be at the nest. 
Morning came.  The temperature only dropped to 71 degrees.  Not nearly cold enough to make them immobile.  But, everything was in place, so I decided to attack!

First, I attacked the one on the house above the bedroom windows. I didn't want to have to fight on both fronts at the same time.  I sprayed the nest with the Hornet Spray, then ran inside.  After a few minutes, I went out at sprayed again, then, back inside.  When I went out, the nest was empty, and I knocked it down.  One nest down, the hardest one to go.
After another spray of Raid up into the bottom, and a spray down from the top, it was back inside to wait a while.
After a few minutes, I went out to raise the umbrella to see what I had.  I grabbed one of the umbrella ribs and raised......WHOA!  I thought there was a little nest about the size of a quarter, which has been pretty common in our umbrella.  But, there were TWO nests, and one of them was HUGE!  And, still had a lot of live wasps on it!  So, now that I knew what I was fighting, it was more spray, top, bottom, and on the side of the umbrella the nest was attached.  Back inside to wait a bit.  After  a few, I went back out to raise the umbrella.  I raised it and locked it up.  There were still several wasps on the nest, but looked intent on staying put.  I guess they were the guardians of the eggs.  Sorry......but I hit the nest with a direct hit of the  Ortho Hornet and Wasp Spray.  That took care of them.  Then, I knocked the 2 nests down, and the Wasp Wars came to an end.  I suffered no casualties, but can't say the same for the wasps.  I gave them a chance, but they didn't take it.

Good Playing, bad Putting

I think I hit the ball as well today as I've ever hit it.  And I didn't double bogey a single hole.  But my putting let me down.  I missed a lot of short putts and didn't get my long putts very close to the hole.  We played at Iroquois GC today and I shot a 41 - 38 = 79.  With a little putting help it could have easily been down to a 74-75.
I really can't complain.  I mean, how many times do you play that every part of your game is working?  Seldom!  So I'll take it.  My 79 and 6 handicap netted me a 73.  Our team didn't play well enough to win any money.  Our handicap is so low we all have to pretty much shoot our career lows to get any money.  I just can't complain any time I break 80. 
This was round 30 for the year.

Another good round, but from the Yellow Tees.

We were back to our usual Tuesday's at Shawnee GC today.  It was a hot one, but I decided to try and walk the whole 18.  We had a 3-some today, and one of them, Jerome, was in a cart.  I didn't hitch any rides on the front nine, but on the back nine I had to give in and take a few rides from the tee to our ball in the fairway.  It helped a lot.  I played pretty good today.  I shot a 38 - 38 = 76 on a 34 - 36 = 70 course.  Just 6 over par.  I didn't accomplish one of my goals though, which is to play without a double bogey.  I doubled the 5th hole.  A poor tee shot into the trees, which kicked out onto the fairway, but a long way from the green.  But my second shot was worse than the first. I hit it off the toe over into the trees again.  So my 3rd shot, I had to hit a 4 iron back in my stance to keep it low, and try and fade it up to the green 135 yards away.  And, I hit the green, which I thought was an excellent shot.  But, I proceeded to 3-putt for a 6 after being a little bold on my first putt and running it 6 feet past the hole.  But, that turned out to be my only bad hole of the 18.  My handicap down at Shawnee is a 7.  So, even shooting a good score, I don't think I have a chance to win any of the money. 

Overall, I was pleased with the round.  I believe this was round 29 for the year.  I'll double check and change it if it's wrong!

Another Rock'n Night at Willow Park!

You never know who you'll see on the dance floor at the Willow Park Concerts on Sunday nights. 
The music was by Blair Carmen and the Bellevue Boys, a good early Rock'n Roll music playing band.  A lot of Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly Music!

Erin even managed to get Grandpa Len up to dance a step or two.  Jill had Daddy up dancing a lot, too.  It was the kinda of music that got you on your feet!

Erin got everybody up to dance.  Here, she dances with Mommy. 
Late in the evening Pam even showed up at the Concert. 

We've been lucky so far this year.  Every Sunday night has been good weather to sit out and enjoy good music.  Last year is seems like every Sunday night was 95 degrees and Sunny.

Thursday Golf, This time at Shawnee GC

Our normal Thursday golf is at Iroquois, but the past couple of weeks it's been a little mixed up due to some events at the courses.  So, we've adjusted and should be back on the Tuesday at Shawnee, Thursday at Iroquois next week.
But, today we were at Shawnee GC.  And, as I've said, I moved back to the Senior, Yellow, Tees.  I wasn't at all pleased with my front nine, but played pretty well my back nine.  I shot a 42 - 40 = 82.  Started putting better on the back nine.  I think my frame of mind was wrong when putting.  I've always thought that you need to be thinking about making a putt while standing over it.  I don't care how long a putt it is.  If you start thinking about leaving it close, don't blow it by, don't leave it short, then, you start to do those things.  You have to get the proper alignment, realize the distance, then when standing over the putt, the only thought should be "make this putt!".  I don't think that is what was on my mind lately.  So, I've corrected that.
I hit more poor shots today than I've hit for awhile.  I just need to get my concentration better.  I think an 82 is OK, but I know it should be down around 75 if I'm playing well.  We'll see how it goes.

I have been Anointed! or Killer Chinchilla's!

I went on an 'Outreach' with the Louisville Zoo today.  We went to "Bright Horizons" Day Care, Downtown on 4th Street.  We took 3 animals with us, the Chinchilla, Bearded Dragon, and Pygmy Hedgehog.  I handled the Chinchilla.
He bit me!  Actually he bit me 3 or 4 times, but the first time was the only one that broke the skin and drew a little blood.  Because of that I had to report it to the Keeper when I got back.  Well, it seems  Elliot, the Chinchilla, has had a history of not behaving very well and has bitten several people here lately.  Thanks for the warning!  I was able to handle him OK, and let the young children touch him.  Of course, he's held where his head is away from the kids so they were in no danger of being bitten.
This was my first Outreach with Docents who have no more experience than I do.  All three of us graduated this past year, so it was good experience.  When you go on an Outreach with the older Docents you feel like you are still in school and learning.  And you really are.  Each trip is a learning experience, and watching some of the older Docents work can teach you a lot valuable tricks.
But, being bitten is part of being a Docent and handling animals.  Having them mess on you is also part of the experience.  When training, many of the trainees were concerned about being bitten, but the experienced Docents said that it's the other end you need to be concerned about.  So, I have now been anointed.  Of course, I've had the Tegu mess on my towel when I had him in my lap.  That's why the towel was there.  So, I'd already been anointed by the other end.

Back on the Yellow Tees for Round 27 FTY

Well, to prevent those Jugheads I play with from being upset, I moved back to the yellow tees.  Of course, my handicap will take a few rounds to adjust, but I don't think it will be much adjustment.  I've been playing well, no matter what tees I play from.
I played pretty good today, at least on the front nine.  I didn't putt well on the back nine, and it cost me at least 4 strokes, maybe more.  I shot a 37 - 42 = 79.  That 37 on the front was a 1 over par, with a 3 putt on hole #9!  I think that was the point my putting seemed to leave me for the round.  I then proceeded to 3-putt 3 of the next 4 holes.  I did manage to play without a double bogey until I got to #18.  Hmmm....seems like I had a little trouble on the finishing hole on each nine, doesn't it?  I look back at the round and I see it should have been easily a round of 73 or 74.  My handicap at Iroquois is down to a 6, so my net today was a 73.  I shoulda been there with an actual score.  Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Sleepover

We had Erin and Jillian sleepover last night after the Sunday night Concert.  At the Concert they were 'So Tired', sitting in their chairs, not wanting to dance, and trying to get to sleep.  Well, things changed when we got to our house.  Play-Play-Play!  We played 'Charades' for about an hour before we could get them to settle down for bed.

And, when they finally settled down, they decided to wear a 'sleep mask' while sleeping.  Erin wore hers all night. While writing this it's 9:30 am and she's still not awake.

Jillian didn't wear hers all night, but woke up about 8:00am, saw Erin in her mask, and decided she wanted hers on, too.  So, she put her mask on and went back to sleep and is still sleeping.





One nice thing about a 'sleep mask' is, you can take a flash picture of them and it won't wake them up!  I have Grampy's World Famous French Toast ready for them when they decide it's time to get up.

The Spring Slyder Cup of 2012 is in the Record Book

This was my partner, J. R. Harris hitting our 3rd shot to the 13th green, a par 5.  We were playing alternate shot on this hole and you can see I didn't leave him in very good position.  But, he made a nice shot and put it on the green.  However, we had already closed out our competition the hole before, 7 &  6!  A sound whipping!

In our Slyder Cup we mix up play by playing different holes alternate shot, scramble, play your own ball with team total, to have each hole worth 1 point.
Our teams, left to right:  Barry Rahn and Harold Goad, J. R. Harris and Bob Tabler. What?  You didn't think we had uniforms?

Of course, the losers buy the Slyders!  Here we are at White Castle with our Champions Towel after our hard fought victory!

We take turns being Captains and 'hosting' the big event.  In the Fall, Captain Goad will pick the course, probably up Georgetown way, and decide which holes are played in which format.  I was the Captain this time, and, I must have done a good job.  We got the Slyder Cup back!

Sorry 'I'll Have Another', but I hit MY Triple Crown!

I didn't pick the winner of the Belmont,  My Choice was 'Dullahan'.  I bet $5 to win and Place on him.  But, then I boxed four horses in the Trifecta, Dullahan, Union Rags, Paynter, and Atigun. 
So, Dullahan let me down, but the other 3 horses came in 1,2.3, and my $1 trifecta paid a whopping $248!
You might ask what did I possibly see in Atigun, who was 20-1?  Well, the jockey, Julien Leparoux.  I was looking for a long shot to put with my 3 favorites, and I figured he was as good as anybody.  So, I just think I might withdraw some money from my TVG account, which I've had for about 10 years,  for the very first time!

It's been awhile since I've played Sun Valley GC

Our Thursday golf group moved to Sun Valley GC today because both Iroquois and Shawnee had something going on.  I haven't been to Sun Valley GC for at least a year, and I'm not sure I played it at all last year. 
I don't care for Sun Valley GC much, but it was a nice change.  The weather was beautiful today, so it was nice to be out on the  course.
I didn't have a very good front nine, but had a good back nine.  So, my total 18 wasn't bad.  I shot a 41 - 36 = 77.  My par 36 on the back was with 1 bogey, 1 birdie, and the rest pars.  However, one par 5 should play just as a par 4 from the forward tees, and that was the hole I birdied.  So, really, I was 1 over, which isn't bad.
I found out today that some of the people are really upset that a few of us are playing from the forward tees.  I don't understand it myself.  Our handicap is established from that tee.  But, because I've been playing so well lately they've assumed it's because I'm getting that 5 yard advantage off the tees!  So, I'm moving back a tee.  If that's what it takes to make them happy, I'll do it.  But, I've lost a little of that good feeling towards our friendship.

Round 25 had it's ups and downs

OK, my computer crashed.  But, I'm still able to do most things, but haven't figured out how to get a picture on my blog yet.  So, you'll just have to imagine some golf type clip art.
My golf yesterday at Iroquois GC started out bad, but ended up pretty good.  I had a 43 - 38 = 81.  We played the back nine first, which played that way would be par 35 - 36 = 71.  So my best side was on the hardest side, only 2 over.  I did play the whole 18 without anything worse than a Bogey, which is always my goal.  I didn't play well on the front side.  Just a little off.  I hit most shots well, but I could tell I was off on my timing and wasn't getting the distance I should be getting.  Plus, not them straight.  I pulled a few tee shots, and let a couple of them drift a little right.  There was 2 holes on the front where I was very lucky to escape with just a Bogey.  One par 5 I chipped it close enough for a tap in Bogey, and another par 4 that I made a pretty long putt to save Bogey!
So, this was round 25 for the year.  Thursday, tomorrow, we will play at Sun Valley GC because Shawnee has something going on there.  I don't think I've ever played Sun Valley GC from the forward tees, so this will be a new experience. 

A new season of Concerts at Willow Park

Another Season of Concerts started last Weekend.  Every Sunday night,7:00 pm, at Willow Park, located at the intersection of Willow Avenue and Cherokee Parkway.  Lots of good music and dancing.  Bring a lawn chair, listen to the music, and watch good dancing from 7 to 9 pm every Sunday night!  You may want to get up and 'shake a leg' yourself!

A nice 'Thank You' from the Chance School Primary Classes

Erin's class at Chance had a Zoo Field Trip a couple of weeks ago and I made it a point to meet them and have out a snake to tell them about and let them be able to touch it.  They sent me a thank you card.

Here is the front of the card.  This picture was taken at the Giraffe feeding station as we waited to feed the Giraffe's.  Unfortunately, we ran out of time before the Giraffe's cooperated!

And this was the inside.  I nice thank you note to me and signed by all the Primary School Students. 

I really had fun with them at the Zoo, and I enjoyed being able to make their trip a little more memorable.  And, I really love this 'Thank You' note!

Bardstown Country Club pulls the old "Bait and Switch" !

I played golf with Greg Lynn, Harold Goad, and J. R. Harris today.  Greg lives in Versailles, Ky, and Harold lives in Georgetown.  We usually play at Weissinger Hills GC, because Greg and Harold come from up east and it's sorta a halfway point. But, when I called for a Tee Time, they had some kind of tournament going on.  So, I thought Bardstown would be OK, with it just being off the Bluegrass Parkway and pretty easy for them to get to,  plus not to difficult coming from Louisville. 
So, I called and made a Tee Time for Maywood GC for 9:30 Sunday morning.  No problem, Maywood and 9:30.  But, upon arrival, we were instructed our Tee Time was at their sister course, Maylawn GC, a few miles away.  Both Courses owned by the same people.  I don't like this course.  I don't think anybody else does either.  I think they pulled the old "Bait and Switch" on us, because they're just not getting the play at Maylawn GC that they are getting at Maywood GC.  You know a course is not getting the play when you arrive almost a half hour early for your Tee Time and they say "You can go off at any time!"  Maylawn is about 500 yards longer than Maywood.  Not suited to my game!  Plus not knowing the course I made a few shot selection mistakes that really cost me.
I shot a 42 - 46 + 88 for my 24th round of the year.  Not a real bad score, but knowing the course I believe I could have knocked off 5 or 6 strokes.  Plus, it was a lot longer than what I've been playing.  They had no senior tee, just Blue, White, and Red.  I don't think Greg and Harold would have played from the Red, but it would have been to my liking.  The Maylawn course is 6037 yards from the white tees.  That's 1000 yards longer than I've been playing.  Maywood  course, which we should have been on, is 5543 yards from the white tees, 500 yards shorter.  So, I really think they didn't tell me on purpose when I made the tee time that I was going to be on Maylawn, and let me believe we were playing Maywood until we arrived to play.  I don't like that.  Needless to say, neither course will see my business again.