The last day of April and my 12th round for the Year!

It was the best weather day for golf so far this year.  Great day, temps in the upper 70's, slight breeze, sun.  Wish my game was a nice as the day.  I shot a 42 - 43 = 85, net 75.  My 3 man team shot a net 75, 75, 85.  Needles to say, we didn't win low team or low man.  I think 65 won low man and somewhere around a net 72 average won low team.  We had about 20 people today, so it would have been a good day to win.  It would be about $15 each.
Still at a 10 handicap after my round last week.  Surely my 85 this week will raise my handicap 1 stroke.
I won't be playing this Thursday.  We're headed to Dawn at The Downs with Dub and Linda, then breakfast at Wagner's.  Then, we'll be headed to Chance School for their Derby Hat Parade!
Do you want my Derby Pick?  Hmmm.....I guess I'd better save that for another blog. This is called a teaser.

Monthly Docent Meeting

We have a Docent meeting the last Monday of every month.  During the winter it's in the mornings at 10 am, but during the summer it's changed to evenings at 6 pm.  This was our first evening meeting of the year.  We usually have between 40-60 Docents in attendance.
I like to try and make it to the meetings.  There's a lot of information given out you don't get to hear, plus they usually have a guest speaker that's interesting.
Some of the things I learned tonight was that the train doesn't have a start-up date set.  There has been a lot of trouble with the tracks, being in worse shape than thought, and repairs have taken a long time.  The Zoo Director wants to make sure everything is done the right way, therefore he won't give a start up date to make sure none of this work is rushed and not done properly.  Safety First!
We got in a new Snow Leopard and it's still in quarantine.  One of the ones we had died last month.
We lost a couple of our Meta Zoo animals.  A pygmy hedgehog and a Snake.  We're looking to get another hedgehog.  We still have one.
Plus and update on medical conditions and procedures done to several of the animals.
The Stellar Sea Eagle exhibit is open, however the Eagles are still inside a small enclosure getting used to the new surrounding.  So, it's not up to par yet, but is open.  There are magpies and Mandarin Ducks available in the exhibit for viewing.
The baby giraffe Amani was being loaded for shipment to the Cincinnati Zoo while the meeting was going on, so he won't be around.  The newest baby giraffe, Silvester, is still there.
Other reports had to do with Docent matters, health report on sick Docents, Docent funds, and just completed School at the Zoo for the winter.
Our next meeting, the May meeting, will be our Annual Awards Banquet.

Hold on tight!!!! The wheels fell off!!!

Things seemed to going so well.  All winter I've been playing bad golf, and I thought now that the weather was warming up my game was back.  Not to be.
We played our usual Thursday golf at Iroquois GC today and I shot a 47 - 46  = 93.  Can't point to any part of my game that I can blame....it was all pretty bad.  Usually, even when I'm playing bad I putt pretty well.  Not today.  I did leave a couple of long putts close enough for a gimme, but those were the only bright spots in a lousy day on the course.  It was fun, but I played bad in all parts of my game.  It has gotten cold again, and today was pretty  breezy and cool.  But I really can't say that's the reason.  I just played bad. 
I'm playing in a Scramble Sunday.  I hope some part of my game comes around so I can contribute a little.
This was lucky round #11 for the year.

Tuesday Golf, Round 10 for the year

When you play golf in the Spring you never know what weather to expect.  Today was supposed to get up into the 70's with mostly sunny skies.  I don't think it ever got out of the 60's and stayed cloudy all day.  With the brisk wind from the West it stayed a little cool all day.  I still played in shorts and short sleeve shirt and was comfortable, but it could have been a little warmer.
We played Shawnee GC today, and started on the back nine.  I shot a 43 - 39 = 82.  Not bad, but the main problem was that I had a lot a good holes, but threw in a few terrible holes.   I was one under after 4 holes on the back nine, then double bogied the next two holes.  Couldn't stand the pressure.
I found out today that I did have low round last Thursday, and got $12 for my effort!  That was nice.  Didn't play well enough today to get any money.  My handicap dropped one to an  11, and I don't think the  82 today will make a change, but you never know.  I'll see what the 77 I had last Thursday does to my handicap at Iroquois this Thursday.  I find it amazing that one bad round never raises my handicap but one good round ALWAYS lowers it.

A losing effort in the Spring "Slyder Cup"!

We have new Slyder Cup Champions!  Barry Rahn and Harold Goad won the Spring Classic held this time at the Eagle Creek GC in LaGrange, KY.  Harold and Barry came rolling right out of the gate and won the first 5 holes before we knew what was happening.  We made a little run starting the back nine and closed to down 2, but that was it.  We ended up losing 5 and 3 in match that really wasn't even that close.
We had a little trouble with the Senior Tees, in that on most holes there was -zero- advantage, and a lot of holes very small advantage.  J. R. and I depend on having a little edge off the tee because of their long distance drives.  However, we agreed that we played so bad today it wouldn't have made any difference.  We'd have lost no matter what.
So, Congratulations to Barry and Harold, and we look forward to a rematch in the Fall!

Well, I guess I'd better report on a little Metal Detecting

I did a little metal detecting today for the first time in a long time.  Didn't have much luck, but it was nice to get out again.  I found $1.24.  With a few coins I had in the bottom of the detecting box from earlier hunts, it brings my total detecting finds to $152.02.
I need to find a place to do a little hunting.  Checking school yards and parks  that have been detecting to death, just isn't going to yield much.  I'd like to check a bunch of those yards over off Highland and Hepburn.  Those houses are all over 100 years old.  Everyone of them has had clotheslines in their backyard.   That's always a good place to check for old coins.  Oh well, if any readers of my blog have a yard they'd like me to check, let me know.

The weather is warmer, and my game is heating up!

I played Iroquois GC  today in our usual Thursday golf. I found out today that the back nine I played Tuesday in a 38 won me $20!  I thought my game was starting to come around with the weather warming up and the grass starting to grow in.  Well, today I shot a 38 - 39 = 77.  That's the best round I've had since early last summer.  I've been hitting the ball well but haven't been making putts.  The same today.  I shot a 77 and didn't make any putts.  It's amazing how my game has improved and I'm convinced it's mainly because the weather has warmed up and my ball is carrying further.
I left today before all the groups got in.  Our 3-some won't win low team, but I was low man when I left.  My 11 handicap at Iroquois netted me a 66.  I'll find out Tuesday if I won low man today.

This was round 9 for the year!

Round 8 for the year a little different from front to back

I played round 8 for the year today at Shawnee GC.  I really didn't play that bad, but seemed to find a lot of trouble on the front nine.  I didn't make any putts all day, so I really played well on the back nine without sinking any putts.
I shot a 45 - 38 = 83.  The front nine 45 wasn't that bad.  I just managed to get in a little tree trouble and hit in a few bunkers.  The shots weren't that bad, just a little off.  I didn't make any putts on the back nine shooting a 38, so I really feel like that was an excellent 9 holes. 
My handicap at Shawnee is 12, so the back nine will net me a 32.  I left before we found out who won the money.  It will be nice to win today....we had a pretty good crowd.  I think we had 22 people there today.  Warm weather seems to bring everybody out. 
The warm weather sure does make a difference in how far the ball goes.  It's amazing the difference.  I hit some nice drives today.  I know they went over 200 yards, so my 160 yard drives I've been hitting all winter made the drives today feel like Tiger Woods was hitting them!

Chance School Chorus Sings at Barnes and Noble Booksellers

The Chance School Chorus sang at Barnes & Noble this past Saturday morning.  Saturday mornings are a little tough to try and get a group of kids together, due to ball games, Scout Meetings, Dance Lessons, etc.  So, only about half the Chorus could make it.  So they had to adjust their parts they normally sing, and sing a little louder to compensate.  They did a great job!

Because of the low numbers, Jilly was asked to help out by sitting up front and singing loud!  She knew all the words from singing with Erin all the time, and she was glad to help.  You can tell she really wished she could be up on stage with her sister and the others, but she had a good time helping from her position.  She did a good job, too!

I just wonder how many songs those girls know.  They have to know hundreds!  For one thing, they can hear a song once and know it!  And, they love to sing.

8th Round for the Year played at Weissinger Hill GC in Shelbyville

I played at Weissinger Hill GC yesterday.  I shot a 48 - 43 = 91.  Not so good, but I feel like my game is starting to get back to it's summer level.  I played a lot better on the back nine.  Seven bogies and ended with 2 pars.  Nothing worse than a bogey on the back nine.  I feel like that's pretty consistent.
I'll make a few comments about scoring.  One stroke.  That's what a putt counts.  One stroke, that's what a 300 yard drive counts!  They count the same.  Also, whether you get a 4 or a 5 on a whole, or an 8 or 9 on a hole, that one stroke counts!  It seems when someone has a bad hole, they don't think that one stroke counts much.  "Oh, give me a 8 or 9, it doesn't make any difference".  Well, do they say, "I had a par 4, but give me a 4 or 5, it doesn't make any difference".  If they have a bad hole, that one stroke makes no difference, but it makes a difference if they have a good hole.  So,I'm saying, "what's the difference, it's still one stroke!"  Count all your strokes, no matter how you play the hole.  I have people tell me "Put down what you want."  No, I'd like to put down what you HAD!

Going for a walk on the Pedestrian Bridge

Mary Lynn and I met Kim, Judy and the girls at the base of the Big Four Bridge yesterday.  We walked across the bridge to the Jeffersonville side.  Its about one mile from one end of the walkway to the other side.  So, a 2 mile walk over and back.  Erin and Jill had their scooters, but got tired of riding them about half way up the ramp, so we carried them the rest of the way.  I think they had problems with their helmets more than anything else.
I think this walkway will be a really nice tourist attraction for the downtown area.  It was a nice day, and the bridge was very crowded.

I think Jeffersonville has really missed the boat by not having their ramp finished by now. This picture was taken at the end of the bridge on the Jeff side.  They are working on the ramp behind them. They would be attracting a lot of people.  I believe shops opened at the foot of the ramps will do a booming business.   Ice cream shops, souvenir shops, lunch stands, etc., would do really well.  Even during the hot time of year you would get a cool breeze on the bridge as you're walking.
One item of note:  There has been a lot of talk a problems with the dogs leaving their business on the bridge and owners not picking up after them. Yesterday, we didn't notice a single pile left behind.  Maybe the problem will no longer continue to be a problem.  Let's hope so.  The only other alternative is to ban pets from the bridge.  It would be a shame, but that would be the only way to handle it.  A few irresponsible people ruin something for everyone else. 

Report on the last 2 rounds of golf

Rounds of golf have been hard to get in this year.  I played Shawnee GC this past Tuesday, shooting a poor 46 - 47 -- 93.  Every year at this time I'm amazed at how far my ball 'doesn't' go. I really have a hard time getting 150 yard drives, and if I'm more than 150 yards from the green, I can't reach it!  Pretty discouraging.  At least, beginning April 1st, my rounds will count towards my handicap, and it will start going up.  We kept the same handicap over the winter and it wasn't nearly enough for these cold conditions.  I'm sure I won't start playing decent until the weather warms up.
I played Iroquois GC today, for my 7th round of the year.  I shot a 46 - 45 -- 91.  This is the same course during the summer I was shooting pretty consistently around 80!  We did win low team today, so I got $10!  We played pretty bad, but the other teams played worser!  During the summer it takes a team total average close to 70 to win.  Today our team average, after handicap, was 79.5.  Pretty bad, but better than the others.  My 9 handicap netted my score to an 82.
It was amazing how much different the greens were at Shawnee Tuesday and Iroquois Wednesday.  The greens at Iroquois were very fast, and if you were above the hole, you would pretty much be putting your second putt from just off the front of the green.  On hole #2, the pin was near the front of the green.  Mike and Buddy both had a ball near the back of the green on the left fringe.  Both not only putted off the front of the green, but their ball rolled down the hill and their next shot was 50 yards from the green. 
I think the weather is finally getting warmer and it won't be long before we'll be out there playing in shorts and complaining about how hot it is.

Easter Egg Roll

We had an Easter Egg Roll contest in the back yard on Easter Sunday.  The course was set up with small stakes in the ground that had you go around the yard, downhill and finishing uphill.  You had to finish with your egg UN CRACKED!  Erin here set the course record for the women with a whopping 45 seconds flat!  The winner of the men's division was Mark T. at 35 seconds.  As you can see by the picture, a lot of effort was involved.  Several contestants seemed to not know they needed to roll the egg, not HIT it!  After 2 cracked eggs, you were disqualified.  We had medical personnel standing by in case of injury.  We had one contestant go down, but was able to get back up and finish to a standing ovation.