UCRBF

I played nine holes this morning and was matched up with some uptight cart-riding ball fluffers (UCRBF). Allow me to explain.

Golf is a walking game, and although I am not anti-cart, I feel that walking is the best way around the course. It's better exercise, it keeps you loose, and you can better enjoy the surroundings. Admittedly, there are resort-style courses where riding is a necessity, but this is not the case at most places I play.

Secondly, I like to follow the rules of golf. Improving your lie (ball fluffing) is cheating. Improving your lie when you have a good lie to begin with is ridiculous.

Finally, being uptight, particularly about the pace of play, is annoying at best and can in extreme cases poison the universe.

There are, in fact, two distinct flavors of CRBFs: the uptight cart-riding ball fluffer (UCRBF), and the laid-back cart-riding ball fluffer (LBCRBF). I have no beef with the later, those who just want to ride around the course with their buddies and don't really care about their score. In a sense, I envy the LBCRBF's indifference toward an impending triple bogey. Ball under a tree? Just kick it out! Put me down for a five.

If you are a cart-riding ball fluffer, the following questions can help you determine which class of CRBF you fall into.

1) Must you point out every group of walkers on the course and exclaim (with a sigh) "We're behind a foursome of walkers, looks like a six hour round."

2) When you reach the green, do you simply knock the ball in the general vicinity of the hole, then walk over and pick it up for a self-conceded two putt? (Bonus points if you do so with a putter that cost more than $150.) When others are putting, do you instinctively stand two feet from the hole with the flag stick in hand and stare them down until they're finished?

3) Are you incapable of writing a number larger than six on your scorecard? After the round, do you ceremoniously declare your score as if it's legitimate, failing to mention the mulligans and gimmes?

If you answered yes to the above questions, you may have a problem with UCRBF-iness.

It's A Girl!

One other big piece of golf news this week--it's a girl! Tiger's wife Elin gave birth to their first child, Sam Alexis Woods, on Monday. Thankfully Tiger couldn't make a birdie coming down the stretch Sunday. Had he pulled into a tie, he would have been in an 18-hole playoff Monday morning just after the baby was born.

Angel Wins US Open

Angel Cabrera of Argentina won the US Open on Sunday, beating Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk by a single stroke. Congrats Angel!

He's looking pretty relaxed with the trophy, but earlier he was stressin'. Bob Verdi of Golf World nailed it when he said Cabrera could make coffee nervous. Here's Angel in the home stretch:

The US Open is put on by the USGA (as opposed to the PGA) and is known for its brutal setups. For the second year in a row, the winning score was five over par. If that doesn't mean anything to you, check out this picture of one of Oakmont's "church pew" bunkers. Those are golfers out there, not ants.

Photo credits: Simon Bruty/SI, J.D. Cuban, Fred Vuich/SI

Lake Placid Club - Mountain Course

I finished off the long weekend by playing 18 holes at the Lake Placid Club's Mountain Course. The Mountain Course was built in 1910 by Alexander Findlay, and then remodeled in 1931 by Alister MacKenzie. Golf nerds will recognize Mr. MacKenzie as a co-designer of Augusta National, home of the Masters Tournament. The round cost me only $30 and there was barely anyone on the course. Perfect. I ended up playing with a friendly chap named Stewart who teaches cooking at a chef school. He played lacrosse for Syracuse University, and believe it or not, this is not the first time I've been paired up with an ex-Syracuse lacrosse player. Small world.

Here's a stock photo of the first hole. Notice the Olympic ski jumps in the background. They're so tall they look like TV towers.

I was happy to shoot an 89, although my card was rife with penalty strokes due to a few humdingers that I launched into trouble. The one piece of local knowledge that I was sorely lacking is the fact that there are no water fountains on the course. To make matters worse, the first nine holes take you away from the clubhouse, and then the back nine bring you back. In other words, after nine holes you are really far from anywhere to get a beverage. I ended up buying a bottle of water from some construction guys who where working across the street at a motel.

Car Pod

I figured out who makes these...a company called T@B. I also found out that Airstream make a competing model called the Basecamp. Gear is neat.

Big Purchase

We men have few accessories. Wee men have small accessories. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Anyway, as I was saying, we men have few accessories, so when we upgrade it's a big deal. I think it took me six months to pick out a watch. I have my watch, glasses, wedding ring, earrings, and my wallet. I've had them all for years. That is, until this weekend, when I sprung spontaneously for a new Timbuk2 bifold wallet! Crazy! It even has a little band to hold it shut, you know, for when I'm mountain climbing and such.

Rae and Kate Run Half Marathon!

Rae and Kate ran the Lake Placid Half Marathon! That's 13 miles. Holy smokes. Their times were 2:29. Impressive stuff! Ruth/Mom and I helped out by handing out water and directing traffic at the mile-twelve water station. Here's the chronology:






Congrats Rae and Kate!

Long Weekend In Lake Placid

Rae, Kate, Ruth/Mom and I just got back from our four-day weekend in Lake Placid. After living in New York for five years, this is the first time I've been anywhere nice in the state. Well, New York City is nice, but in a big-expensive-city sort of way.

Here's the lowdown: we ate the good food, hung out in town and by the lakes, spent some money at EMS, Rae and Kate ran a half marathon, and I played some golf. Not bad! I'll spread things out over a few posts. Here we are down by Mirror Lake, and canoing on Lake Placid.


By the way, Rae and I are going steady. Here's our senior picture.

Rae Completes The AIDS Run!

This post is a bit of a placeholder. I'm trying to keep up with all the summer events around here, and I've already fallen two races behind Rae's running schedule.

Rae completed the AIDS run, and thanks to all the folks who donnated, she raised $525! That put her in the 500 Club which, in addition to being a great help to charity, earned her a crown and VIP parking at the race.

There are pictures from the race, and also from the barbecue we had afterwards, but they're all on the camera at home. Also, I'll let you know how fast she ran once I get it figured out. Check back soon!

Gardening Phase II: The Front Of The House

We got the flowers planted in front of the house! My favorite is the yellow banana flower. We need to keep an eye on the grass-looking plant in the lower right corner; last year it grew humongously out of control and tried to take over the yard.