After a very nice breakfast with a view while thunder booms out over the ocean in front of me, I’m in a fresh positive mindset to play well today. I’m off to Springfield Royal CC, a 27 hole design by Jack Nicklaus. It’s probably been awhile since Jack himself graced the course, but I’ve heard the greens here are extremely quick, and I’m looking forward to the test. When this lightly top dressed Bermuda is shiny and down hill…down grain it can be awfully dicey to control the pace.
As my Golf Asian driver wheels us up to the front of this impressive clubhouse I’m personally greeted by the bespectacled “JA”. She’s a bit quiet but nice as can be and won’t let me help her one bit with my somewhat heavy cart bag. I’m sure it’s a sense of pride in her job. As we finish our range warmup and join the others on the first tee, I meet Astrude, a rather solemn fellow from Finland and Helmut and Gabby from Austria.
We are a mixed bunch but it’s a much better mix than yesterday. They all speak English which is nice for me and extra humbling, as although I think I’m pretty worldly and can speak a very small bit of a couple languages, I’m not fluent in anything but “American”
The men have reasonable skills and can move it along down the course. If Gabby did not have golf apparel on, she’d fit right in at Octoberfest toting 8 big mugs of sloshing beer on each arm. She’s a big strong gal and hits the crap out of it. Good for her.
It’s a welcome relief after yesterday’s topped shot festival.
Even with a double on 9 after hitting my 3rd on the par five in the drink, I turn at even. 2 more bogeys and a birdie on the back gets me in at plus 1 to the delight of “JA”. I think decent play is a rarity here and when the caddie doesn’t have to look for balls every hole, her job is obviously easier. It gets all the other girls wound up as its luck of the draw for them. There is a lot of chatter among themselves and it’s probably best we players don’t understand it.
“JA” wrote a nice note on my scorecard which read “I Feel Lucky Today” Mr Mike.
I was touched by that as it sure seemed genuine.
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| Miss "Ja" |
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| Gabby, she's got power to burn & smoked a few drives... And putts right past the hole. Astrude... Mr Finland in the backgroud. |
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| Helmut & the gals |
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| Clubhouse entrance |
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| How these girls work in the heat bundled up is amazing. |
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| View from the course |
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| View from the course |
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| View from the course |
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| "Ja" keeping things in order... no touching the clubs or ball unless she hands it to you. |
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| Range work after... With grass & decent balls!!! |
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