Alas, the Sad Sign of the Inevitable

[Kevin Lynch]

This morning, I played at my favorite public course in the Southeast Suburbs of Buffalo (Byrncliff).   I was greeted by this sight in the Pro-Shop:



We had a 4 inch snowfall Thursday, but it was gone by Saturday.  Fortunately, the course will remain open until the bitter end when Mother Nature makes golf an impossibility.  At that time, the course will convert to it's winter skiing usage.  However, in the coming weeks, we'll have to maneuver around the ski paraphernalia when paying our green fees, as well as the snow fences used to delineate the ski runs.

I pledge to savor every remaining moment until the Bitter End!

[Jason Walker]

Just wondering, but is there a ski lift vs. tow rope argument that sparks up around December every year, a la the walking vs. cart drivel that happens around here? 

[Garland Bayley]

Just wondering, but is there a ski lift vs. tow rope argument that sparks up around December every year, a la the walking vs. cart drivel that happens around here? 

Tow rope?!?! Cross country is the only true skiing. None of this mechanical assisted stuff. That's chair skiing, not real skiing.

[Kevin Lynch]

Just wondering, but is there a ski lift vs. tow rope argument that sparks up around December every year, a la the walking vs. cart drivel that happens around here? 

This particular course is a higher-intensity cross-country complex, rather than downhill, so no lifts or ropes.  I'm in the 5-10% who walk at this couse (most WNY golfers get confused when I mention walking at Byrncliff).

Now, one of our other local golf/ski resorts (Holiday Valley) is downhill complex, and they use chair lifts.  The unfortunate side of the downhill resorts like Holiday Valley is that the back 9 doesn't open until June because of the time needed to melt a 36" base.  But I've been able to start the season at Byrncliff as early as March 10th (and end as late as January 10th).

[Garland Bayley]

Shoot. Looks like no one wants to argue with me. What's the purpose of a discussion group if people won't engage in "frank discussion"?













Or, maybe you have the answer to your original question Jason.

[Steve Lang]

  I always used to like winter golf in NW Ohio.. no problem with water hazards.. and too flat for lift hazards.. though an occaissional rogue toboggan had to be dealt with..

lift vs cross country.. each has their own benefits, speed and the thrill of death foremost amongst them, vs sweat..  in Northern michigan (lower penisula) there's great xcountry ..

and snowmobilling around Starvation Lake..

[Garland Bayley]

...
and snowmobilling around Starvation Lake..

Oh man, there you go cartskiing! Get out of the machine and enjoy nature!

[Kevin Lynch]

Shoot. Looks like no one wants to argue with me. What's the purpose of a discussion group if people won't engage in "frank discussion"?

Sorry, Garland - I don't have a strong feeling about skiing to engage in an argument.  But for $10, I can say "No, it isn't" for 5 minutes (hope there's some Python Fans).

Once the snow hits, I'm off to racquetball, curling, and the occasional Snow Golf event.

Now, if you want to have a frank discussion about Snow Golf Course Maintenance & Set-up, I'm in.  For my first Tournament last year, the snowmobilers forgot to show up the morning of the event to create our fairways.  The Ground Game was completely eliminated, and we had to rely solely on the Aerial Game.  It was very difficult and disappointing. 

However, if you want to identify the best pure ball-strikers, an aerial-only snow tournament will do that.

[Garland Bayley]

...the snowmobilers forgot to show up the morning of the event to create our fairways. ...

Just to be clear. I'm all for the grounds crew using cartski vehicles.

[Bruce Katona]

The SoCal/Florrida guys have no appreciation for frozen lateral hazards, rounders on the green or frozen green delays those of us who live in the more northern climates endure to play December-February.

[Kevin Lynch]

The SoCal/Florrida guys have no appreciation for frozen lateral hazards, rounders on the green or frozen green delays those of us who live in the more northern climates endure to play December-February.

You must not be too far North to contemplate playing in January / February.  There's only so much you can do to work around a 12-24" base of snow (except Buffalo's Flurrious Festival Golf Tournament).

I think I set a new threshold for weather today.  I've played in very cold temperatures before, but usually not with 25 MPH wind.  When I walked into the bar at Ivy Ridge for my post-round drinks, I saw the official tally:

Air Temp 35; Wind Chill 25. 

I do love this game!!

[Dan Kelly]

for $10, I can say "No, it isn't" for 5 minutes...

No, you can't.

(Someone had to say it. Or didn't.)

----------------

Garland sounds just like my cousin, back in 1971, when he'd just discovered cross-country skiing -- and learned, more or less overnight, that he was very, very, very good at it.

He met up with the rest of his family (and me) at Aspen, after he'd competed in the Junior Nationals out in California.

He wasn't kidding when he started talking about the moral superiority of Nordic skiing to the Alpine variety the rest of us loved (and he'd loved, too, till he got the Nordic religion).

Long story short: His dad ended up offering him a buck a mile, during the long drive back to Denver (over Loveland Pass; pre-tunnel), for every mile he'd keep his mouth shut.

Cost his dad about 50 bucks. His dad might have started ruing the proposition as we approached the sign for the Continental Divide, because he said: "Why don't we stop and get out and take a picture?"

My cousin said: "Christ, Dad, we've done that a million times!" (They spent a lot of time in Colorado.)

Gotcha, kid!

[Ronald Montesano]

While Kev was braving LAIR, I was doing 3 circuits of Delaware Park Meadows (5.5 miles) in anticipation of Thursday's Turkey Trot, the freaking oldest, continuously-run road race in the USA. There was a dude on the golf course with a red, black and white, 1970s-era Titleist cart bag and clubs with no covers, banging the ball around. I cheered for the mofo and thought, this is awesome. Golfers taking Mother Nature's best and giving it right back.

[Mike McGuire]

Kevin -

You must be in marketing. What a great title for a post.

This is the fourth time I have clicked on it, and I was not that interested the first time.

[Bill_McBride]

for $10, I can say "No, it isn't" for 5 minutes...

No, you can't.

(Someone had to say it. Or didn't.)

----------------

Garland sounds just like my cousin, back in 1971, when he'd just discovered cross-country skiing -- and learned, more or less overnight, that he was very, very, very good at it.

He met up with the rest of his family (and me) at Aspen, after he'd competed in the Junior Nationals out in California.

He wasn't kidding when he started talking about the moral superiority of Nordic skiing to the Alpine variety the rest of us loved (and he'd loved, too, till he got the Nordic religion).

Long story short: His dad ended up offering him a buck a mile, during the long drive back to Denver (over Loveland Pass; pre-tunnel), for every mile he'd keep his mouth shut.

Cost his dad about 50 bucks. His dad might have started ruing the proposition as we approached the sign for the Continental Divide, because he said: "Why don't we stop and get out and take a picture?"

My cousin said: "Christ, Dad, we've done that a million times!" (They spent a lot of time in Colorado.)

Gotcha, kid!

Chicks prefer Alpine skiers.