Welcome to our August Newsletter!
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Tom F.
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August is National Golf Month
August is celebrated as National Golf Month, a time dedicated to promoting the sport and encouraging both seasoned players and beginners to hit the greens. This month-long celebration highlights the physical and mental benefits of golf, including improved fitness, stress relief, and social interaction. Golf courses and clubs across the country often host special events, discounts, and tournaments to attract new players and engage the community. Whether it’s enjoying the serene landscapes of the courses or the challenge of improving one’s handicap, National Golf Month is the perfect opportunity to appreciate and partake in this beloved sport.
July/August Golf
Although not as much as I had hoped I did get out in July and golf several rounds. Made it a few times to the regular courses Elmbrook Golf Course in Traverse City, Interlochen Golf Course in Interlochen. Also hit a couple of new ones as well Missaukee Golf Club in Lake City and Crystal Lake Golf Course in Beulah.
We have the Virginia kids coming out in about a week and I am hoping that I can get my son and at least one of the grandkids on the course. They are 7 and 5 and I know they are interested, and have hit the driving range and putting green with Dad. I am hoping to start them young.
No more Junior Clubs!
My 14-year-old grandson Ryker is out of the kiddie clubs and using a set from his parents. I golfed with him last year when he was still using junior clubs and he was pretty good. Now that he has adult clubs, he is anxious to fill his bag. He told Guy he needed a 60-degree wedge for his shorter shots. Guy found one for him. 😊 I promised I would take him golfing to a course he has not been to. Definitely in the cards after the VA kids head home.
Things should slow down a little come September and Guy’s league finishes up early September so we figure that is the perfect time to plan a trip to the Upper Peninsula to hit some of the courses up there.
I would also like to visit Black Bear in Vanderbilt; the online buzz is very promising about what the new owners have done to the course.
Crystal Lake Golf Club
I played this course the first year or two that I started golfing, I vaguely remember the course. But what I do remember is they had an event the day before and needed to finish the keg. Fortunately for them I was with some champion beer drinkers, especially when they are only a buck a glass. They handled it well!😊
We had a 1:40 tee time and as we always do, we arrived early. I had a drink (I was not the DD this trip) and we hung out in a small bar area that is part of the pro shop. The course sits in the middle of what looks like may have been an apple orchard at one time. Guy used to golf there with his Dad and seemed to remember it as an orchard. It was also at the back of a subdivision in Beulah in the northwest lower peninsula.
Friendly Staff
When you pull in it is exactly what it should be, a golf course in a small northern Michigan town (not a bad thing). You will be happy that you booked a round. Although the bar/food area, pro shop may not be as polished as other clubs, the people more than make up for it. From the minute we put our bags in the drop off area everyone was incredible friendly and helpful. The owner was very friendly and kept an eye on the service and starts. We said we were there early and expected to wait. We saw a 20-person group take off on a shotgun start. I thought we were in trouble and this was going to be a long day.
Engaged Owner
The owner checked in with us and kept us apprised as to when we could go off. He said to expect about 4 ¼-4 ½ hour round. At 1:30 he sent us out. Spoiler alert – no issues whatsoever with pace of play. We would have never known that a scramble had gone out ahead of us if we had not seen it ourselves. At 5:45 we were loading our clubs into our car. They definitely have a handle on managing tee times.
This is a par 72 course and should not have kicked my butt, but it did. Whether it had to do with the extra drink I had or that I came into the round all cocky from the previous week, it was a hard course for me. Guy did great, so it was most likely me and not the course.
Different Strokes for Different Folks
There was an older couple (older than me, so you know they were old 😊) behind us. They drove up to us and asked if we had golfed here before. I told them once about 7 or 8 years ago but that was it. That Guy had golfed here several times when he was younger. They said it was their first and last time golfing the course. She said it was a hard course and nothing like their home course. I said it was giving me a run for my money as well and asked where their home course was. They were from Arizona and lived in a development with 3 courses that were “manicured very nicely”. I smiled and just said it sounds nice. Expectations may have played into their perception of it being a difficult course.
Beautiful Course
Crystal Lake Golf Club may not be as crisply manicured as some higher end courses, but it is very well maintained throughout the grounds. I had tagged myself and guy in a Facebook post as being at the course and young man I know commented it is a fun course and that he plays it quite a bit.
I responded that it kicked my a$$. He said the back 9 is a bit more challenging and the greens are fast. I did better on the back nine (51) than on the front nine (56), so not sure I agree. What I did notice about the greens is that they were like an inverted bowl, it was very easy to end up going back and forth over the green.
From the Land to the Sea
On one of the holes, I ended up in the sand by the green, climb in and swung and got it out first swing. It landed right by the pin and then proceeded to roll down the other side right into the water. At that point all I could do was laugh.
I was having strong drives, great fairway wood shots and did fairly well with my irons (improving every day). Chipping and putting is what did me in that day because I could not get a handle on the greens. What was more frustrating, Guy handled them fine. ☹
Over Confident
After the great round, the previous weekend (more on that in a future issue) I rode up to that first hole full of confidence that under 100 was my new normal. I played well the first few holes then the wind changed direction, the pre-game cocktail kicked in, or who knows what, but something happened, and I started struggling. The turn of events did not stop me. I kept plugging along even though there were times I just wanted to head to the parking lot. But as happens to many of us, I ended with a par on hole 18 and left excited for my next round! Even losing more than 6 Golf Up North balls couldn’t put a damper on that hard won par!
We will play this course again but I will make sure I am the DD and not have an extra cocktail. I do think it is a challenging course because of the sloping greens but I watched Guy do fine on them. With better speed control on my putts I should not have so many roll off the green. Now that I have an idea of what to do, I think next time I will see a much lower score.
To see all the pictures from our round click here.
Did You Know?
That the first round of women’s golf was played in 1811?
Yes, the first recorded round of women’s golf was played in 1811 at Musselburgh Golf Club in Scotland. This historic event marked the beginning of women’s participation in the sport, paving the way for future generations of female golfers. In 1867, the first women’s club was developed. It’s fascinating to see how far women’s golf has come since then, evolving into a major segment of the sport with its own professional tours and global tournaments.
Fish Camp
July is Fish Camp month and they all met at Tullymore Golf Resort and shared a huge house. I give these guys credit, I do not think I could stay in a house with 20-30 people. But then again, I am not sure I know 20-30 people that would stay in a house with me. 😊 If you would like to see more of the resort click here, he took a few pictures that I can share.
Guy won “The Howie” trophy for his commitment, excellence and perseverance. This award is handed out to the guy that never called it quits, even on the last night (I do not want to know 😊). We have to take the trophy and get his named engraved and he hands it off to next years winner.
Guy has also been put in charge of the Champions dinner for next year, I have offered to send him with trays of my infamous lasagna if needed.
Anyways, while Guy was away the mouse did play. My downstate son asked if I wanted to meet him at a golf course between me and him (he was going to be at the cottage). We chose to golf Missaukee Golf Club in Lake City. Another son and his wife Arianna, who is also an owner of Golf Up North filled out the foursome. Lots to talk about in a future issue, but pictures of the course are on the website now.
Golf Quote of the Month
The reason I chose this quote was two-fold. I struggled so much on the Crystal Lake Golf Course after breaking 100 the previous weekend. I went from I got this, to time to go home to I am the greatest! 🙂 The next day I got a call from one of my sons as he was on his way to golf with some buddies. He went through a similar thing only at the driving range. When he golfed with me the previous weekend he was driving really well. Said he was feeling good and decided to head to the driving range. He was going to run his bag and see how he would do. The verdict is that he has decided that home maintenance and woodworking should be his hobby (although the next day he is on his way to a golf course 😊 ).
That old saying that it only takes one good hole to keep you coming back, is so very true. No matter how many “bad” holes I have, there always seems to be at least one that says “you can do this” and I am booking my next tee time.
This quote is attributed to Jack Nicklaus. I am not going to insult anyone’s intelligence by giving you Mr. Nicklaus’s bio. I am confident we all know who he is and what he has accomplished.
Click here to see all the pictures we have taken of courses over the years.
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