Let me start off this post with a quiz. Which of the following is the worst:
1.) Standing at the altar just before your wedding vows and realizing you've forgotten the ring.
2.) Rushing to the hospital with your wife in labor and when you're halfway there, realizing you have left her at home.
3.) Rushing to your next golf course so you're not late for your tee time and when you're halfway there, realizing you left your golf clubs on the cart at the previous course.
If your answer was #3, you have a future in aggressive golf tripping. More on this below.
The day was sweltering but successful. The Illinois portion of my Route 66 Golf Adventure is complete. Eleven courses down, thirty-three to go. I played the Staunton Country Club with a true gentleman, played the Sunset Hills Country Club with an impressive Millennial, and played the American Legion's On the Hill Golf Course as a single. And then had a relaxing meal at Edwardsville's top rated Italian Restaurant.
And as I write this, I am still replacing fluids.
1.) Standing at the altar just before your wedding vows and realizing you've forgotten the ring.
2.) Rushing to the hospital with your wife in labor and when you're halfway there, realizing you have left her at home.
3.) Rushing to your next golf course so you're not late for your tee time and when you're halfway there, realizing you left your golf clubs on the cart at the previous course.
If your answer was #3, you have a future in aggressive golf tripping. More on this below.
The day was sweltering but successful. The Illinois portion of my Route 66 Golf Adventure is complete. Eleven courses down, thirty-three to go. I played the Staunton Country Club with a true gentleman, played the Sunset Hills Country Club with an impressive Millennial, and played the American Legion's On the Hill Golf Course as a single. And then had a relaxing meal at Edwardsville's top rated Italian Restaurant.
And as I write this, I am still replacing fluids.
How to Blow Up a Golf Trip
I left the Carlin Villa Motel early this morning hoping, as I often do, to get out on the golf course earlier than the scheduled tee time to take the pressure off the rest of the day's schedule. I made the 19 mile drive and was there by 7:00 A.M. There wasn't a soul in sight, not a car in the lot. So I drove the five or so miles into town and had a breakfast sandwich at Hardee's. When I got back to the course at 7:45, the place was still empty. By 8:15, a woman with a young man showed up in their own golf cart to play. I asked when the Pro Shop would open and she wasn't sure it would. Hmmm, now I'm getting a bit worried.
Just then, a gentleman showed up in his own golf cart and seemed to know who I was. He introduced himself as Brad McNaughton and told me to strap my clubs on his cart and we would play the course together.
Just then, a gentleman showed up in his own golf cart and seemed to know who I was. He introduced himself as Brad McNaughton and told me to strap my clubs on his cart and we would play the course together.
Brad McNaughton, My Host at Staunton Country Club Brad is a key person at the Country Club (he had keys to the Pro Shop). His home is on the seventh hole. As we played, he filled me in on the history of the club. We had a marvelous time! He took many pictures as we played and I was getting concerned about the time as I had an 11:15 tee time at Sunset Hills in Edwardsville, IL.
When we completed the nine hole track, Brad was interested in taking a few pictures of my transportation, the 1966 Mustang. He asked me to move the car so he could have the first green in the background.
When we completed the photo shoot, we said our goodbye's and I rushed off to Route 66 at 10:20 facing a 25 mile ride that would take 40 minutes or so.
At about 10:30, I received a call from Brad (thank goodness I had given him my business card). He told me I had left the head cover of my driver in his cart. I debated about turning around and he graciously said he'd meet me at the Hardee's in Staunton.
Then I began to recall my final minutes with Brad and didn't remember taking my clubs off his cart. I called his cell phone back but got his voice mail. When I got to Hardee's, I opened my trunk and didn't see my clubs.
What a dumb butt.
When Brad got to Hardee's, I asked if he also brought my clubs and received a puzzled look. He did have the head cover. I followed Brad back to his home, PUT MY CLUBS IN THE TRUNK, met his wife, posed for a few more pictures, and I was off to a course where I would miss my tee time!
I called Sunset Hills and communicated I'd be late for the 11:15 tee time. The pro, John DePriest, told me I'd be fine. Wow. What if their tee sheet had been full? What if I hadn't given Brad my contact information. I would have gotten to Sunset Hills, opened my trunk, and ....
That, my friends, is the way you blow up a golf trip.
This dumb ass attack could have forced a domino to fall putting the rest of the trip in disarray. I would not have left Illinois without playing Sunset Hills and everything may have had to be pushed back a day. Think of all the tee times and hotel reservations that would have had to change.
But all's well that ends well.
On the logo ball front, Staunton Country Club has never had any in Brad's recollection. But he is on it! So I'm now five for nine.
When we completed the nine hole track, Brad was interested in taking a few pictures of my transportation, the 1966 Mustang. He asked me to move the car so he could have the first green in the background.
When we completed the photo shoot, we said our goodbye's and I rushed off to Route 66 at 10:20 facing a 25 mile ride that would take 40 minutes or so.
At about 10:30, I received a call from Brad (thank goodness I had given him my business card). He told me I had left the head cover of my driver in his cart. I debated about turning around and he graciously said he'd meet me at the Hardee's in Staunton.
Then I began to recall my final minutes with Brad and didn't remember taking my clubs off his cart. I called his cell phone back but got his voice mail. When I got to Hardee's, I opened my trunk and didn't see my clubs.
What a dumb butt.
When Brad got to Hardee's, I asked if he also brought my clubs and received a puzzled look. He did have the head cover. I followed Brad back to his home, PUT MY CLUBS IN THE TRUNK, met his wife, posed for a few more pictures, and I was off to a course where I would miss my tee time!
I called Sunset Hills and communicated I'd be late for the 11:15 tee time. The pro, John DePriest, told me I'd be fine. Wow. What if their tee sheet had been full? What if I hadn't given Brad my contact information. I would have gotten to Sunset Hills, opened my trunk, and ....
That, my friends, is the way you blow up a golf trip.
This dumb ass attack could have forced a domino to fall putting the rest of the trip in disarray. I would not have left Illinois without playing Sunset Hills and everything may have had to be pushed back a day. Think of all the tee times and hotel reservations that would have had to change.
But all's well that ends well.
On the logo ball front, Staunton Country Club has never had any in Brad's recollection. But he is on it! So I'm now five for nine.
John DePriest, Sunset Hills' Head PGA Professional, bailed me out. We talked about senior moments we've had. Brad from Staunton called his disease CRS (can't remember shit).
John took me outside and explained the layout of the course. I would be playing the back nine first.
As I prepared to hit my tee shot on hole twelve, a young man, Matt Groves, pulled up in his cart. I asked him if he'd like to join me. He worked as a cart attendant at the course and was playing all the golf he could on his day off. Matt is a sophomore at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.
As we played the second hole, the skies began to darken. As we prepared to hit our second shots at the third hole, the horn blew and we were called off the course. Matt left for the day and I waited what turned out to be about a 30 minutes for a lightning delay with no rain. When I got back out on the course, I completed the last six holes quickly, thanked John, and was off to my next course.
I was able to get a logo ball at Sunset Hills and now I'm six for ten.
John took me outside and explained the layout of the course. I would be playing the back nine first.
As I prepared to hit my tee shot on hole twelve, a young man, Matt Groves, pulled up in his cart. I asked him if he'd like to join me. He worked as a cart attendant at the course and was playing all the golf he could on his day off. Matt is a sophomore at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.
As we played the second hole, the skies began to darken. As we prepared to hit our second shots at the third hole, the horn blew and we were called off the course. Matt left for the day and I waited what turned out to be about a 30 minutes for a lightning delay with no rain. When I got back out on the course, I completed the last six holes quickly, thanked John, and was off to my next course.
I was able to get a logo ball at Sunset Hills and now I'm six for ten.
On the Hill Golf Course is owned by the American Legion Post in Edwardsville. It was less than four miles from Sunset Hills. The parking lot was nearly empty.
There was a sign on the door instructing golfers to go to the lounge to pay for the round. As I walked into the bar, I felt like I was in Cheers. Jeff, the bartender, took my greens fee and explained the layout of the course. Al was the first patron to speak to me. He asked if I just drove up in a Mustang. We talked about classic cars and Barry, another patron chimed in. It was a fun scene.
I asked about logo balls and Al told me they are out for now but will be restocking. So that takes the count to a very disappointing six for eleven.
The course is short...2652 yards, par 35. But it has character and is perfect for leagues and for beginners. The greens were shaggy, probably not mowed for three days but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
When I completed the round, I noticed a 2004 Shelby Mustang was parked right next to me. The owner approached me as I was loading my clubs into my trunk. He was as proud of his machine as I am of mine.
There was a sign on the door instructing golfers to go to the lounge to pay for the round. As I walked into the bar, I felt like I was in Cheers. Jeff, the bartender, took my greens fee and explained the layout of the course. Al was the first patron to speak to me. He asked if I just drove up in a Mustang. We talked about classic cars and Barry, another patron chimed in. It was a fun scene.
I asked about logo balls and Al told me they are out for now but will be restocking. So that takes the count to a very disappointing six for eleven.
The course is short...2652 yards, par 35. But it has character and is perfect for leagues and for beginners. The greens were shaggy, probably not mowed for three days but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
When I completed the round, I noticed a 2004 Shelby Mustang was parked right next to me. The owner approached me as I was loading my clubs into my trunk. He was as proud of his machine as I am of mine.
1966 Mustang and 2004 Shelby Mustang Before I left for my hotel, I checked back at the bar to report how much I enjoyed the round. Most were still there. Rob, the leader of the Legion, asked me how many American Legion Posts have a golf course. I sure couldn't cite one. He was quite proud. As I was in a hurry (as usual) to get to my hotel and shower, I couldn't take advantage of his dinner offer of rib steak, fresh corn on the cob, and potatoes but he told me the next time through, the meal was on him.
Barry, another patron, wouldn't let me leave until I promised to travel less than a mile to meet him at his house to see his classic cars. There were easily 10 cars in his driveway, among them a Rolls Royce, a Mercedes, a BMW, a Woody, and Leslie Nielsen's Cadillac.
Barry, another patron, wouldn't let me leave until I promised to travel less than a mile to meet him at his house to see his classic cars. There were easily 10 cars in his driveway, among them a Rolls Royce, a Mercedes, a BMW, a Woody, and Leslie Nielsen's Cadillac.
There are no "classic" hotels on my route today so I am staying at a Quality Inn. My restaurant choice for the evening was Edwardsville's finest Italian restaurant, Bella Milano. I had the Pasta Three Way, spaghetti, ravioli and penne baked in the house meat sauce topped with a blend of cheese and a meatball (outstanding!) with a glass of Louis Martini Cabernet.
So that ends the Illinois slice of the Route 66 adventure. A severe storm passed over Edwardsville tonight and there is more rain in store for tomorrow. The forecast calls for a high temperature of 98 with a heat index of 100 to 104.
Tomorrow I begin the twelve courses of Missouri by playing the nine hole Highlands Golf Course in St. Louis, Tapawingo National Golf Club in Sunset Hills, and Riverside Golf Course in Fenton.
Tomorrow I begin the twelve courses of Missouri by playing the nine hole Highlands Golf Course in St. Louis, Tapawingo National Golf Club in Sunset Hills, and Riverside Golf Course in Fenton.
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