Brrr-y Cold Golf

As promised, the pictures of our chilly golf excursion on Friday. By the time we got onto the course, the temperature had risen enough that, in the sunshine, it wasn’t too bad. There was no wind, little shade, and it wasn’t warm enough to make you sweat just standing there. Even with as many layers of clothing everyone had on.

Of the four of us, 9 is far and away the best golfer, but he was having troubles getting a good drive. I think it was because he would put his sweatshirt sleeves over his hands and then try to hold the club through the material. But I’m guessing on that as the determining factor.

14 had his teen ‘tude going and wore shorts. But he gave up after the 14th hole to huddle in the golf cart. Because shorts and jeans? Not the same thing.

You’ll notice I’m nice and bundled up. I’ve got my ear-warmer on, my sweatshirt, my golf shirt and a long-sleeved t-shirt (which you can’t see because the sweatshirt is zipped up).

I was so glad the course wasn’t too formal and we could wear jeans. Because I think ski pants would have looked funny (and if I’d had a pair, I might have tried to wear them, so it’s a good thing I don’t ski). As it was, by the time the sun started to set, my hands, feet and legs were freezing. I had a blanket to put over my lap in the golf cart, but couldn’t wrap it around me while actually golfing. And my shoes fit too well to wear thick winter socks.

Not lookin’ as golfy as last time, but I was cold. Probably time to invest in some wool golf pants, if we’re going to practice on the odd dry winter day this year.

Pacific NW + Winter + Dry Day = VERY COLD.

This picture of Husband must have been very early on, because it wasn’t too long into our game until the sweatshirt came out. But he spent many years in Alaska, so sometimes I think he’s immune to the cold.

For beginners, we did okay. We played best-ball, sort of. The group behind us probably wondered what the heck kind of golf we were playing. The kids (ahem, 9 mostly, but 14 had his moments) really lacked the patience to wait until everyone had gathered around the best ball.

This was 14’s best drive–almost 160 yards. The black-and-white pole marks 150 yards from the hole. You’ll notice his ball is to the right of the marker (look between his legs, just above his socks). He waited for everyone else to gather around the best ball on that drive.

Husband had a good drive, too. He’s got a wicked curve (not intentional) though, and lucked out that this barn was there.

and that his ball hit this corner

and ricocheted back onto the fairway.

I had a passable drive here and there, but shortly after we started the back nine, I hit the “big ball” as UM calls the earth and it was dicey whether or not I could finish.  Apparently I did several things wrong:

1. I had the clubs in a death grip
2. I swung too hard
3. I hit the ground instead of the ball

I don’t think the back of my hand was supposed to change colors and swell a bit, but since I could still move all my fingers, I figured nothing was broken. It helped, I’m sure, that my hands were so cold, the temperature acting like nature’s ice pack.

I could barely grip the clubs after that, so my game improved immeasurably. I had a nice light grip on the clubs, and I swung lightly and with a good, soft rhythm to keep my hand from hurting more.

Most of my really good drives were on the last 5 holes (oh, and I made it all the way to the 18th hole on a single ball, and the drive that would have put me on the green landed in the lake–but it was a Really Good Drive otherwise).

Speaking of drives, these were the scariest of all

I think we’ll probably spend our winter golf days at the driving range and on the putting green and not on an actual course. 18 holes is exhausting, and in the cold, it’s just no fun. Unless UM and Sister want to come up and play some winter golf. I’d like to see those SoCalifornians playing chilly golf.

Wouldn’t you?