It was dark when I ventured out this morning and I didn't give the weather forecast a second thought. Yesterday's weather was picture-perfect and I expected something similar for today.
I left the hotel a little before 5:00 A.M. and never even turned on the TV. I had no idea there was an extremely large severe weather front bearing down on Central Illinois.
When I began my first round of the day at Pontiac Elks Country Club at 6:45, it was overcast but it did not look like rain. It was pleasant with little wind. About three holes into the back nine, I thought I heard a faint sound of thunder. So I checked my phone. And I was surprised. The radar showed a wide swath of red and yellow and it wasn't far away. We were going to get blasted soon.
Can you say "speed golf?" I played the last five holes in less than 30 minutes and had all my gear in the Mustang just as the torrent hit. I began my drive to Wolf Creek Golf Club, north of The Elks and also in Pontiac, IL. But it was raining so hard, I looked for a gas station so I could park under the canopy in case it started hailing. But I found something even better--an empty self service auto wash and I pulled into a bay where I waited out the storm. From 9:30 A.M. to 11:00 A.M., it rained over 2 inches in Pontiac, IL.
So that was the downside of the day. The rest was much better.
I left the hotel a little before 5:00 A.M. and never even turned on the TV. I had no idea there was an extremely large severe weather front bearing down on Central Illinois.
When I began my first round of the day at Pontiac Elks Country Club at 6:45, it was overcast but it did not look like rain. It was pleasant with little wind. About three holes into the back nine, I thought I heard a faint sound of thunder. So I checked my phone. And I was surprised. The radar showed a wide swath of red and yellow and it wasn't far away. We were going to get blasted soon.
Can you say "speed golf?" I played the last five holes in less than 30 minutes and had all my gear in the Mustang just as the torrent hit. I began my drive to Wolf Creek Golf Club, north of The Elks and also in Pontiac, IL. But it was raining so hard, I looked for a gas station so I could park under the canopy in case it started hailing. But I found something even better--an empty self service auto wash and I pulled into a bay where I waited out the storm. From 9:30 A.M. to 11:00 A.M., it rained over 2 inches in Pontiac, IL.
So that was the downside of the day. The rest was much better.
My first stop of the day was the Old Route 66 Family Restaurant, 18 miles down the road from the Braidwood Motel in Dwight, IL. I was there before 5:30.
Take a look at that cool neon sign. I am guessing I'll see many more as my trip progresses.
The interior of the restaurant is decorated in a Route 66 theme. And the exterior of the restaurant is decorated with Route 66 themed murals.
With my first tee time at 6:45, I needed to be on the road by 6:00 so I ordered the most basic of breakfasts. When Betty (yes, the server's name was Betty; Alice would have worked just as well) delivered the food, she lingered at my table and talked my ear off. Very friendly.
Take a look at that cool neon sign. I am guessing I'll see many more as my trip progresses.
The interior of the restaurant is decorated in a Route 66 theme. And the exterior of the restaurant is decorated with Route 66 themed murals.
With my first tee time at 6:45, I needed to be on the road by 6:00 so I ordered the most basic of breakfasts. When Betty (yes, the server's name was Betty; Alice would have worked just as well) delivered the food, she lingered at my table and talked my ear off. Very friendly.
The Pontiac Elks Country Club was 19 miles south of Dwight, IL and I made the trip with a few minutes to spare. Along the way in Odell, I noticed a restored Standard Oil Gas Station. If not pressed for time, I would have stopped.
The Pontiac Elks Country Club is a relatively flat but well-manicured semi-private course. The greens are large and very sloped. Three of the par 3's are over 200 yards in length. The original nine was built in 1919 and the second nine added in 1973.
With a tee time of 6:45, I expected to zoom around the course. But I soon found out there was a threesome in front of me and even though I caught up to them by the seventh hole, it was obvious they had no interest in letting me play through. I could have avoided the weather situation if they had.
On a positive note, the Pontiac Elks Country Club was well-stocked with logo balls so after four courses played, I'm two for four in logo balls.
The Pontiac Elks Country Club is a relatively flat but well-manicured semi-private course. The greens are large and very sloped. Three of the par 3's are over 200 yards in length. The original nine was built in 1919 and the second nine added in 1973.
With a tee time of 6:45, I expected to zoom around the course. But I soon found out there was a threesome in front of me and even though I caught up to them by the seventh hole, it was obvious they had no interest in letting me play through. I could have avoided the weather situation if they had.
On a positive note, the Pontiac Elks Country Club was well-stocked with logo balls so after four courses played, I'm two for four in logo balls.
After my 90 minute hiatus at the car wash and with the sun now trying to peak through, I began the seven mile trip back north to Wolf Creek Golf Course.
As I was driving north on Old Route 66, to my left I noticed remnants of the original Route 66 concrete road, grass and weeds growing through its cracks. But that old, very narrow road is still there.
Because the second round of the Pontiac City Tournament was being held on this Sunday morning, I had to flip-flop my rounds at the two courses in Pontiac which caused this backtrack. I was assured by Wolf Creek's pro that he could get me out on the course right after the last foursome teed off, around 11:15.
With the huge storm, that plan was out the door. When I got to the course, they were still in a delay waiting for the water to drain from the greens. This proved to be a good thing for me as the first group in the tournament had not yet reached the ninth green when the storm hit. So I was able to tee off on the tenth tee in front of the tournament and I played quickly until I caught the last group in the tournament as I played the front nine.
As for the logo ball count, Wolf Creek came through and now I'm three for five.
Some 40 miles to the south in Bloomington, IL is my lodging for the night, the Bloomington Chateau Hotel, a very nice hotel designed to resemble a European country mansion.
My restaurant selection for the evening proved to be a special treat. Have you ever visited a restaurant while on vacation and wish that restaurant was in your town? That's the way I felt as I sat in the Lucca Grill, a restaurant founded in 1939 by a pair of brothers and named after their hometown of Lucca, Italy. The restaurant has the feel of a pub with a mahogany bar and plenty of barstools. The building is old and has an ornate tin ceiling. Obviously an Italian restaurant, the menu is packed with Italian food favorites. Although there were many dishes that appealed to me, I opted for a 10 inch pizza and washed it down with a Stone IPA.
I highly recommend the Lucca Grill if you ever take a trip through Bloomington, IL.
As I was driving north on Old Route 66, to my left I noticed remnants of the original Route 66 concrete road, grass and weeds growing through its cracks. But that old, very narrow road is still there.
Because the second round of the Pontiac City Tournament was being held on this Sunday morning, I had to flip-flop my rounds at the two courses in Pontiac which caused this backtrack. I was assured by Wolf Creek's pro that he could get me out on the course right after the last foursome teed off, around 11:15.
With the huge storm, that plan was out the door. When I got to the course, they were still in a delay waiting for the water to drain from the greens. This proved to be a good thing for me as the first group in the tournament had not yet reached the ninth green when the storm hit. So I was able to tee off on the tenth tee in front of the tournament and I played quickly until I caught the last group in the tournament as I played the front nine.
As for the logo ball count, Wolf Creek came through and now I'm three for five.
Some 40 miles to the south in Bloomington, IL is my lodging for the night, the Bloomington Chateau Hotel, a very nice hotel designed to resemble a European country mansion.
My restaurant selection for the evening proved to be a special treat. Have you ever visited a restaurant while on vacation and wish that restaurant was in your town? That's the way I felt as I sat in the Lucca Grill, a restaurant founded in 1939 by a pair of brothers and named after their hometown of Lucca, Italy. The restaurant has the feel of a pub with a mahogany bar and plenty of barstools. The building is old and has an ornate tin ceiling. Obviously an Italian restaurant, the menu is packed with Italian food favorites. Although there were many dishes that appealed to me, I opted for a 10 inch pizza and washed it down with a Stone IPA.
I highly recommend the Lucca Grill if you ever take a trip through Bloomington, IL.
 The Bloomington Chateau Hotel |  Lucca Grill in Bloomington |
Tomorrow takes me 115 miles further down the Mother Road with nine-hole rounds in Bloomington, Atlanta, and Carlinville.
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