Clubhouse Grille (*** NO LIV DISCUSSIONS ***) (*** NO POLITICS/RELIGION ***)

[nitram]

The bride and I haven't eaten in a real restaurant in a year and a half. We have friends who own businesses and struggle to find good help. So my reasoning is this; if the wait staff is less than desirable, what makes anyone think the kitchen help is any better??

[Jeremy876]

On 5/5/2021 at 10:11 AM, Divot License said:

I feel sorry for you guys that seem to be going into or have gone into Lockdown since I'm happily coming out of lockdown and "seem" to be returning to normal life. 

 

This week we have builders in replacing the shower unit in the bathroom. Tray of the old one cracked several weeks ago and I'm getting tired of using a handheld shower head to shower or wait for a bath to run. 

 

On a better note, heading to the range tonight with the daughter for her weekly range session. Both kids hit balls at the weekend and were flushing it. 

 

Instagram link for those interested: https://www.instagram.com/p/COVPZ-NM_33/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Now we are not having water in the house. Sounds like a catastrophe.

Edited July 11, 2021 by Jeremy876

[Conrad1953]

1 hour ago, nitram said:

The bride and I haven't eaten in a real restaurant in a year and a half. We have friends who own businesses and struggle to find good help. So my reasoning is this; if the wait staff is less than desirable, what makes anyone think the kitchen help is any better??

 

Good point. What a mess.

[Fellaheen51]

I appreciate what others are posting about dining out.  Not going to frequent any restaurant that has subpar food, questionable and/or inadequate service.  Challenging times for the restaurant industry.  Extended periods of closure due to Covid.  Difficulties finding adequate staffing is a big problem.  A tough business to establish and maintain viability.  Aware of a number of them have closed the doors.  

 

However, the Mrs. and I enjoy eating out.  Not quite willing to categorize all restaurants as "for sizzle".  One of the things missed when they were shut down for two extended periods.  The locale where we live use to be a dining wasteland.  Nothing nearby that was worth going to, the food not all that good.  However, in the last couple years, two have opened with owners experienced in the restaurant business.  And are doing quite well.  In particular, the 15th Street Tavern.  The proprietor bought a long abandoned building, invested heavily in renovation, opened about 6 months before everything went haywire.  Two extended periods of mandatory closure.  Then 25% capacity when they were able to open.  No doubt being well capitalized helped with transitioning through the periods.  The place is in-between two towns, on a well traveled state road, albeit somewhat rural.  Patrons have to make a point of going there.  Busy all the time.  Good food at a reasonable price, friendly and competent service, relaxed and aesthetically pleasing facilities.   They've made it very family friendly while also having a bar area where peeps can stop in for a drink.  We enjoy frequenting the place.  Never had a less than excellent meal or poor service.  Their fish tacos are killer.  

 

Last year they took advantage of one of those closures to begin adding an outdoor patio area.  Expanded it this year during the spring closure, and also added a permanent covering.  Flat screens, fans for air circulation on the warm days, heaters will be utilized during the winter.  They were fortunate to have the adjacent space.  Believe this will be the new normal for restaurants that have the capability.  Year round outdoor dining.  Given the space ability.  Anyhow, a pic of the outdoor dining area under the canopy and fully outside with table umbrellas beyond.  Do it right and they will come.  

 

 

 

[Soloman1]

Had sushi, tempura, sake and other Japanese treats last night at the only real Japanese restaurant in the Phoenix area and it was delicious. Service was outstanding.

See? I don't whine about everywhere!

 

Restaurants can be birdies or bogeys.

[scomac2002]

We've been out twice now to a very local joint down at the boat slip.  It's called JJ's on the Docks.  3 minutes from home by car or a 15 minute walk.  They were open for take out the entire time so the kitchen staff is the same and the wait staff all came back.  My go to is the fish and chips along with a hard cider.  Home made pies too for those inclined including Key Lime, also a go to.  Two thumbs up from me!

[tolmij]

2 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

I appreciate what others are posting about dining out.  Not going to frequent any restaurant that has subpar food, questionable and/or inadequate service.  Challenging times for the restaurant industry.  Extended periods of closure due to Covid.  Difficulties finding adequate staffing is a big problem.  A tough business to establish and maintain viability.  Aware of a number of them have closed the doors.  

 

However, the Mrs. and I enjoy eating out.  Not quite willing to categorize all restaurants as "for sizzle".  One of the things missed when they were shut down for two extended periods.  The locale where we live use to be a dining wasteland.  Nothing nearby that was worth going to, the food not all that good.  However, in the last couple years, two have opened with owners experienced in the restaurant business.  And are doing quite well.  In particular, the 15th Street Tavern.  The proprietor bought a long abandoned building, invested heavily in renovation, opened about 6 months before everything went haywire.  Two extended periods of mandatory closure.  Then 25% capacity when they were able to open.  No doubt being well capitalized helped with transitioning through the periods.  The place is in-between two towns, on a well traveled state road, albeit somewhat rural.  Patrons have to make a point of going there.  Busy all the time.  Good food at a reasonable price, friendly and competent service, relaxed and aesthetically pleasing facilities.   They've made it very family friendly while also having a bar area where peeps can stop in for a drink.  We enjoy frequenting the place.  Never had a less than excellent meal or poor service.  Their fish tacos are killer.  

 

Last year they took advantage of one of those closures to begin adding an outdoor patio area.  Expanded it this year during the spring closure, and also added a permanent covering.  Flat screens, fans for air circulation on the warm days, heaters will be utilized during the winter.  They were fortunate to have the adjacent space.  Believe this will be the new normal for restaurants that have the capability.  Year round outdoor dining.  Given the space ability.  Anyhow, a pic of the outdoor dining area under the canopy and fully outside with table umbrellas beyond.  Do it right and they will come.  

 

 

 

 

Having worked in the business I know the problems, there is a very small profit margin and most eating houses are always trying to cut costs, the only two costs easily cut are food quality and type and staff. Both of these obviously impact on the customers experience. Many go under when a new food fad  starts and they all crush into the few that serve it, then another starts and so on.

 

Restaurants have the greatest percentage of bankruptcies than any other business, that says it all.

Edited July 11, 2021 by tolmij

[Fellaheen51]

1 hour ago, scomac2002 said:

We've been out twice now to a very local joint down at the boat slip.  It's called JJ's on the Docks.  3 minutes from home by car or a 15 minute walk.  They were open for take out the entire time so the kitchen staff is the same and the wait staff all came back.  My go to is the fish and chips along with a hard cider.  Home made pies too for those inclined including Key Lime, also a go to.  Two thumbs up from me!

 

The one thing that makes a good restaurant even better.  Located on the water.  👍👍 

 

And Key Lime.  👍

 

[tolmij]

A point I missed out. The raw food cost is tripled for the serving price on average in a normal restaurant, that does not leave much for other costs.

[Conrad1953]

Tol, are you guys under lockdown again?

[tolmij]

49 minutes ago, Conrad1953 said:

Tol, are you guys under lockdown again?

Not in Queensland but New South Wales has had a massive spike that is getting worse, mainly because people do not adhere to the rules. Parts of NSW are in strict lockdown.

Edited July 13, 2021 by tolmij

[Conrad1953]

28 minutes ago, tolmij said:

Not in Queensland but New South Wales has had a massive spike that is getting worse, mainly because people do not adhere to the rules. Parts of NSW are in strict lockdown.

 

Thanks, I had read conflicting reports. I figured you would know the truth.

[tolmij]

4 hours ago, Conrad1953 said:

 

Thanks, I had read conflicting reports. I figured you would know the truth.

There are strict requirements for moving around. The really bad areas are banned  from going anywhere else in Australia but some are telling fibs and travelling around, the fine when caught is $4000 per person. Some who have told fibs were tracked by CCTV, so they have very little chance of getting away with it. To travel a declaration in writing has to be made that you have not been in the affected areas, all borders have police patrolls.

[billh17]

 @  Big Stu :  Saw a blurb on the news today that your Beach area is now the fastest growing area in the 

whole country !  Is that going to be helping the local golf business ,??  I am not that familiar with the area but i didn't think they had that much room for the growth they were talking about on the news ! Said new housing is selling  so fast that Realtors cant keep up with it !

Edited July 14, 2021 by billh17

[tolmij]

2 hours ago, billh17 said:

 @  Big Stu :  Saw a blurb on the news today that your Beach area is now the fastest growing area in the 

whole country !  Is that going to be helping the local golf business ,??  I am not that familiar with the area but i didn't think they had that much room for the growth they were talking about on the news ! Said new housing is selling  so fast that Realtors cant keep up with it !

Same as in several areas near us, they are cramming houses in so close you can lean out of the window and touch next door. The council is greedy, they need more rates coming in to give themselves a pay rise. Its all about the money honey.

[nitram]

Mass influx is never a good thing. Even ol' Gus and the gals get a little testy when they get slammed.

[Conrad1953]

Best way too handle a mass influx is to pull out the old flux capacitor and zap the mass

back to the future.

[billh17]

Beautiful day on the course. Temperature of 82, a light breeze, course not crowded,  I tan out of gas around the 14th.

In my younger days, i would have finished, and probably played another 9. But in my age 74 wisdom, i went back

to the truck, loaded everything up, and proceeded to Witts  Ice  Creme  and  Custard Emporium ! Had a chocolate

Malt and  took a Lemon Raspberry frozen custard home for later ! On the golf side, hitting the irons ok, and the driver

not bad.   I can't refer to it as the Big Dog anymore as  My distance has rendered it into  a spayed house mouse...

[tolmij]

On 7/13/2021 at 11:18 AM, Conrad1953 said:

Tol, are you guys under lockdown again?

Over the past three days there has been a very large spike caused by two events.

 

1 . A furniture remover travelled into  area he should not have been, did several jobs and then when tested positive lied about where he had been, as a result hundreds now positive. One place he went was a high rise unit block, this is now closed down completely with no one allowed in or out for any reason as several residents are now positive.
 

2. A family tested positive and were allowed to quarantine from home, they did not stay in and went shopping to many stores and infected several hundred.

 

As we are finding out it only takes one to cause a major outbreak.

Edited July 14, 2021 by tolmij

[tolmij]

6 hours ago, billh17 said:

Beautiful day on the course. Temperature of 82, a light breeze, course not crowded,  I tan out of gas around the 14th.

In my younger days, i would have finished, and probably played another 9. But in my age 74 wisdom, i went back

to the truck, loaded everything up, and proceeded to Witts  Ice  Creme  and  Custard Emporium ! Had a chocolate

Malt and  took a Lemon Raspberry frozen custard home for later ! On the golf side, hitting the irons ok, and the driver

not bad.   I can't refer to it as the Big Dog anymore as  My distance has rendered it into  a spayed house mouse...

 

Welcome to REALITY😬👍🤫🦼⛳️🐀🙇

[Fellaheen51]

13 hours ago, billh17 said:

Beautiful day on the course. Temperature of 82, a light breeze, course not crowded,  I tan out of gas around the 14th.

In my younger days, i would have finished, and probably played another 9. But in my age 74 wisdom, i went back

to the truck, loaded everything up, and proceeded to Witts  Ice  Creme  and  Custard Emporium ! Had a chocolate

Malt and  took a Lemon Raspberry frozen custard home for later ! On the golf side, hitting the irons ok, and the driver

not bad.   I can't refer to it as the Big Dog anymore as  My distance has rendered it into  a spayed house mouse...

 A chocolate malt and frozen custard >> another 9.  These days, 18 holes is all the fun I can tolerate.  

_____________________________

 

Most of the buds had other things happening, so it was decided to take yesterday off from the normal golf gathering.  

 

The Mrs. has been taking some lessons, and hadn't had the opportunity to play on a course yet.  So we decided to go play 9 at the local goat track.  Except it was closed to carts (walking only) due to all the rain we've been getting.  And the Mrs. don't walk.  So opted to do the next best thing, headed to the range at the golf course I posted about recently.  Hit some balls at least.  Her lessons have improved her ball striking.  At least she was able to launch the ball again. We shared a large bucket.  Was muggy!!  We both sorta petered out before finishing.  Hitting ball after ball in the mid-afternoon gets boring fast.  Had the usual steel shafted irons along and they felt heavy and ponderous.  Tiring.  We decided that was enough, nothing further to be accomplished.  Stashed the clubs and went inside for beverages.  

 

Sure have been getting a lot of rain for the last month.  More headed in this direction for the afternoon.  Have a scramble outing tomorrow morning teeing off at 9:00 a.m.  Forecast....Rain.  Dislike playing in the rain, but I already paid my monies.  Not sure if refunds are available.  May have to dig out the rain gear.  Then a large patio gathering latter in the day into the evening.  Forecast.....more rain.   

 

The golf courses are all soggy.  Can't recall things being this wet in and long time.  Usually by this time in the summer, the courses are getting a bit "crispy" unless it has a very good irrigation system running all the time.  The rough areas have been extra lush and thick.  Problematic finding your ball, let alone hitting out of it.  

 

 

Edited July 15, 2021 by Fellaheen51

[nitram]

1 hour ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 Sure have been getting a lot of rain for the last month.  More headed in this direction for the afternoon.  Have a scramble outing tomorrow morning teeing off at 9:00 a.m.  Forecast....Rain.  Dislike playing in the rain, but I already paid my monies.  Not sure if refunds are available.  May have to dig out the rain gear.  Then a large patio gathering latter in the day into the evening.  Forecast.....more rain.   

 

The golf courses are all soggy.  Can't recall things being this wet in and long time.  Usually by this time in the summer, the courses are getting a bit "crispy" unless it has a very good irrigation system running all the time.  The rough areas have been extra lush and thick.  Problematic finding your ball, let alone hitting out of it.  

 

 

 

At least the drought is over...

[Fellaheen51]

Unlike what is occurring in the West, we never had drought conditions around here this summer.  

 

The lawn is on sandy subsoil, water percolates through it very quickly.  Normally, by this time of year, the grass is dried out and in some dormancy. Only have to mow every two weeks or so.  This year, if I wait a week, looks like a hayfield.  Fella looks forward to the mid-summer lawn maintenance reprieve. 

[scomac2002]

Been in Ogpogo land since Monday.  They say it hasn't rained here in two months!  I believe it as lots of crispy vegetation.   It's surprising how well some gardens are doing in town though.   Such is the benefit of drip irrigation. 

 

Supposed to go out for 9 with my son tomorrow.  We'll see what the day brings as it was 37°C yesterday!

 

We walk to a local coffee shop for breakfast each morning along the railtrail system.   It's getting to be more of a effort each day as the temperature goes up and air quality drops.   Lots of smoke from the various forest fires up and down the valley.  Summer in the Okanogan...

[Conrad1953]

Hitting the links tomorrow. Gonna swallow some Vitamin A and go play. Pass me a Schlitz!

[Divot License]

I've missed so much and only been absent a couple of days. 

 

Been super busy with work and also spending some time at our pro's house looking after his cats as the wife volunteered herself several years ago to be his cat sitter. So he's off for a few days golf trip playing Forest Pines (https://forestpinesgolfclub.co.uk/) and I'm popping into his house morning and night to feed his cats.

 

Not hit a golf ball since Sunday, in a little funk at the moment as wifey and I just don't have the motivation or desire to go play our own course. The condition is not great at the moment and with everything going on with the owners (spoken previously about developments etc) we're just in a disinterested mood to play it. I am playing both Sat and Sun however with my usual crowd, Sat is a monthly stableford and Sun just the usual inter group match. 

[Fellaheen51]

9 hours ago, Conrad1953 said:

Hitting the links tomorrow. Gonna swallow some Vitamin A and go play. Pass me a Schlitz!

 

You know what the saying is for Schlitz beer?  When I was swilling el cheapo beer, pass me a Pfeiffer. 

 

Good luck today.  Limit the hip turn.  Have fun.  "Hold my beer.  Watch this."

[Fellaheen51]

Hey BDC.  At times, my driver sucks to.  Might try dialing it back a bit to keep the ball in play.  

 

If someone was paying me "x" millions to play their clubs......."Greatest, bestest D evah.  Take it from me, go buy this club now.  Thank me latter."

 

Weekly drama from Da' Beast.  Jumping the shark?

Edited July 16, 2021 by Fellaheen51

[Fellaheen51]

How dat happen?

 

Edited July 16, 2021 by Fellaheen51

[Conrad1953]

8 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

You know what the saying is for Schlitz beer?  When I was swilling el cheapo beer, pass me a Pfeiffer. 

 

Good luck today.  Limit the hip turn.  Have fun.  "Hold my beer.  Watch this."

 

LOL, I knew I was gonna get a "Schlitz" reaction out of you.