December Golf!!!

[DougE]

Walking nine a lot more in December. Here's a vid from my back nine round yesterday, Dec 23 in 20+ MPH wind. 11th hole. (Usually) an easy par 4. My voice is hard to hear over the wind at times, but basically I am saying that I started the ball well left of the pin and the wind had other plans, even though when I hit it, I thought it would be good. I suppose, other than the color of the landscape, this could be golf on any windy day. But this gives an idea of what it's like out there now, in December. Gets very cold next week, so doubt I'll get out there after today.

Oh BTW, my approach was with a 5 iron even though I got all of my drive. The drive was 30 yards shorter than typical due to wind. Normally on this hole my approach is with a PW, a 50* GW or 54* SW. I have even used a 58* LW after a few awesome drives here in the past. The pin was 138 in, but with the wind left to right and somewhat into my shot I pulled 6i out. As I went to the ball the wind got stronger, so went back for a 5, to be sure it got there. FYI, got up & down with a chip to about 12 or 13 inches. It was a wild day, but in the end I had a great round, despite the wind.
http://clubsg.skygolf.com/golfers/score.php?id=20634258

[legitimatebeef]

Dangit Doug fix your instagram.

Sitting on the boat now, trying to psyche myself up and get into game mode. Rather than my usual thing, which is wander around the course for the first few holes like a clueless, anxious jackass. No, I need to play smart and assertive from the very start. Let's go toughguy, focus.

[DougE]

What's wrong with the instagram? You couldn't see it?

[legitimatebeef]

Says its been deleted. Not showing on your page either.

[legitimatebeef]

Managed to change into my shoes while still on the bus. That helps me get into business-mode. Normally it's too crowded in here to even think about removing footwear. What a sad plight.

[DougE]

Evidently the video is over 60 seconds. Too long to share on Instagram.i'll edit and repost.

[DougE]

Try it now.

[legitimatebeef]

The time has come to December golf. So far weather outlook is good. No snow events and no unseasonable warm temps. I am going out today. 30-somethin degrees. Layering level is near max, like 9/10. Never actually been to level 10, it's still only theoretical at this point.

[legitimatebeef]

Today was a bitch. Never got above 40 degrees and the course is soaking wet. Lots of plugged balls and mud balls. I can't bring myself to play LCP so I just played as is. So what. If you search yourself deep down enough, you realize it is more fun to play like this. I am not some maniac. There are people who willingly run 100-mile ultramarathons. I don't think I am anywhere near those kind of people on the general masochism spectrum. So that still leaves me somewhere near the middle.

I failed to break 90. I was very, uh, challenged out there. Even though I dressed well enough to keep myself somewhat comfortable I could still feel the coldness making golf harder. I tried though. Had a good driver round at least. Gonna get back out there soon.

[DougE]

Elbow injury.

It started bothering me Sunday. Been out since the 9th hole on Monday, two holes after it seemed to really get tweaked (or something tore slightly) on a cut-off flopitch shot from alongside the green on the 7th. At least a week rest will be needed. Hoping not much more. Hurts to pick up a cup of coffee right now. Can't chip, or even putt, without irritating it. Damn! And, my new cart cover arrives tomorrow. Sunny and 30s. Would likely have been able to have the place mostly to myself for the next few days. Oh well. Just hoping it heals before trip to Florida in two and a half weeks. Still think I can make 175 rounds this year if I only need to take a week off for the elbow. But, if it's much more than that, it will be iffy. (I'm at 169 as of today.) At least for now, I am only missing cold days of golf. Below 40* highs forecast into next week.

[DougE]

Beef, LC&P out of season is virtually required, at least on a super wet course. No one says you need to do it on a decent lie, but if you have a plugged ball in the fairway, out of season, that's just silly. Even in season, with no LC&P in play, you can pull out a plugged ball from the short grass and drop with no penalty. (In 2019 you can do so within the rules through the green, not just short grass.) Why do you torture yourself abiding by rules that aren't even rules?

[legitimatebeef]

I take relief from plugged balls toughguy. I leave the mud on.

[DougE]

You ARE allowed to clean them, super-toughguy!

[legitimatebeef]

Sorry for being unclear. I treat plugged balls like a normal person, clean it and take a drop. What I meant is that I don't take relief from any mudballs.

[jasonfish11]

Hope your elbow gets it's ass back in shape soon. Don't want it screwing up your chance at 175.

[DougE]

3 full days. No swings. Tried chipping in basement, but it still irritates elbow. I'm actually glad it's so cold out right now. I don't feel like I'm missing much. On the other hand, my new cart cover was just delivered 15 minutes ago. I coulda been out there tomorrow using it.

[bkuehn1952]

It is hopeless to urge you to completely rest your body from any golf activity so I sort of hope you get a major snow storm and power outage for the next week.

[DougE]

Gee Brian, thanks, I think.

I could do without the power outage, though. No need to be uncomfortable while I wait it out.

[legitimatebeef]

Am considering playing today but it's so very cold. Forecasts are a little bit vague. The majority say it's too cold (<32°), but wunderground.com is showing some favorable numbers (high of 33°). Obviously they could easily be wrong, and I could freeze out there. I really could use one of them weather-modeling supercomputers right about now.

[DougE]

Maybe you should try weather-modelingsupercomputers.com. I hear they are offering a Holiday Special on last year's models.

[legitimatebeef]

I waffled so hard this morning over going to play. The thermo-meter says the high will be like 29 with windchill, but walking the dog this morning it felt not so bad. We actually went out by the east river for a longer stroll since I wasn't freezing. I will not go to golf but it was an excruciating decision. I still feel like I could have had some fun out there. But also factoring into the decision was the extendo forecast which shows a lot of great December golf weather coming up--no snow and temps near 40.

[srogers13]

In Hellabama, had a 45* morning with a 15mph wind and a heavy drizzle. Played in shorts.

[bkuehn1952]

In Hellabama, had a 45* morning with a 15mph wind and a heavy drizzle. Played in shorts.

Ha ha ha, you are one of "those guys". We have the "must wear shorts" golfers up here in the frigid mitten, too. None were out there today.

[DougE]

I have a name for "those guys" but I won't repeat it here. I'll give srogers the benefit of the doubt and just assume he doesn't own any long pants. Poor guy.

[legitimatebeef]

36 degrees no windchill, I am about to tee off.