The Links Lounge (*** NO POLITICS/RELIGION/LIV ***)

[touch]

Beautiful weather.

Beautiful resort. 

Beautiful golf course. 

This afternoon the group is Plattsburgh Bill, Stan and the Detroit kid. 

 

[chisag]

2 hours ago, touch said:

Beautiful weather.

Beautiful resort. 

Beautiful golf course. 

This afternoon the group is Plattsburgh Bill, Stan and the Detroit kid. 

 

 

 

... I love the desert with the rocky, craggy mountains in the distance, the hard and fast fairways, the unique Flora and Fauna and the clear blue skies and ever present sunshine. But I really miss the opposite with lush green grass, plants, bushes and plethora of trees. You can feel the oxygen in the air after spending time in an arid climate. And yea, I miss rain.   

[touch]

I spotted this sassy Audi at the resort. Was the owner playing golf or might they have been going over the final details with the wedding planner because their daughter is having an expensive wedding reception at the stunning looking Event Pavilion at the GPI? The Pavillion has a large deck and the entire building has a wonderful view. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 5 by touch

[DLeightonReid]

Good morning, Loungers!  I was able to get out early yesterday morning and walk 18; it was great therapy for the mind and body.  

 

Our youngest daughter does professional photography as a second job.  I like to take the credit for this apple falling close to the tree, because I have been an amateur photographer for 40+ years.  Last week, she had a wedding scheduled and her second camera person had a conflict and had to cancel.  When she asked me to fill in, I was hesitant, but how do you tell your daughter "no"?  It was actually a lot of fun and I enjoyed watching her perform her job as a photographer.    

 

 

 

 

Edited May 29 by DLeightonReid

[touch]

20 minutes ago, DLeightonReid said:

Good morning, Loungers!  I was able to get out early yesterday morning and walk 18; it was great therapy for the mind and body.  

 

Our youngest daughter does professional photography as a second job.  I like to take the credit for this apple falling close to the tree, because I have been an amateur photographer for 40+ years.  Last week, she had a wedding scheduled and her second camera person had a conflict and had to cancel.  When she asked me to fill in, I was hesitant, but how do you tell your daughter "no"?  It was actually a lot of fun and I enjoyed watching her perform her job as a photographer.    

 

 

 

 

 

What a magnificent and touching post DLR. Awesome stuff. How great was that experience for you two to do together! Thanks for starting the day off in the Lounge with that dandy bit. Your daughter didn't fall far from the mommy tree either being that she is a stunning looking lady.

You Go DLR!!! Way to fill in. 

In my career (I've worked over 10O weddings) I've had the chance to chat with a good many pro photographer's and I have enjoyed having conversations with them. 

 

I myself have enjoyed amateur photography for many years as well.

📸 

 

 

[mshills]

12 hours ago, touch said:

I spotted this sassy Audi at the resort. Was the owner playing golf or might they have been going over the final details with the wedding planner because their daughter is having an expensive wedding reception at the stunning looking Event Pavilion at the GPI? The Pavillion has a large deck and the entire building has a wonderful view. 

 

 

My guess is that is the bride’s car. 🙂

[Double Mocha Man]

17 minutes ago, mshills said:

My guess is that is the bride’s car. 🙂

 

I'm going to say it's the dad's midlife crisis car.

[touch]

It's day two of my 3 day Golf Staycation. 🏌️⛳⭐

The theme for today's round is " It's About Time."

 

Mike and Erik are driving up from South Carolina to play with me this afternoon. It's been a few months since I have gotten out with my SC golf buddies so I'm looking forward to playing 18 with them. I haven't played The Creek in months either. Since I've been playing predominantly the hilly challenging courses around town for a few months I thought for a change I would play a flat and much easier golf course and that is Crooked Creek. The weather is spectacular with sunshine and low humidity... breezy and temps in the middle 70's.

At 1 PM we start our round. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 5 by touch

[Double Mocha Man]

 

@touch   

 

[aenemated]

46 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

@touch   

 

 

My favorite artist of any type ... and one of my favorite tunes. 

[NCLancer]

85 degrees with a slight breeze yesterday at noon as Mrs. NCL and myself graced the grounds of The Challenge in Graham, NC.  Enjoyed the weather but my play wasn't even up to my mediocre standards.

50+49=99, 36 putts, 9-14 fairways 

4 PS (perhaps it's cathartic to write them out??):

1st hole: drive left in light brush but we couldn't find it

7th hole: 140 to green with pond in front, 6H went about 135 and skipped but ended up in reeds/muck, did not find

11th hole:  5W from 180 pulled left greenside into woods, could not find

12th hole: drive left into woods, did not even send in a search team

Highlight was my strong finish as I played the final 5 holes in 3 over.  Nice!  3 putted both 17 and 18.  Ugly! 

 

 

Edited May 29 by NCLancer

[chisag]

5 minutes ago, NCLancer said:

85 degrees with a slight breeze yesterday at noon as Mrs. NCL and myself graced the grounds of The Challenge in Graham, NC. 

 

 

... You and Touch constantly tug at my golf course heart strings. I love The Challenge and sounds like you guys at least had fun other than a frustrating score. 

[NCLancer]

42 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

 

... You and Touch constantly tug at my golf course heart strings. I love The Challenge and sounds like you guys at least had fun other than a frustrating score. 

I know I speak for the "other" LP when I say I wish you could come back to The Old North State for a visit.  It would be an epic meet-up!!

 

[chisag]

20 minutes ago, NCLancer said:

I know I speak for the "other" LP when I say I wish you could come back to The Old North State for a visit.  It would be an epic meet-up!!

 

 

 

... My sister in Burlington says the same thing. 🤔  Flying is just too tough on my back with a degenerative disc. And of course at this point driving is out of the question, especially with my EV GV60. But I never say never and it would be awesome to meet up with you guys! 

[NCLancer]

On Memorial Day at 3PM, musicians were asked to perform Taps then post their performances on social media.  It's known as Taps Across America.

Here's Mrs NCL playing her bass clarinet in front of our neighbor's farmhouse as their American flag provided an appropriate backdrop (I filmed on our IPhone):

 

 

 

 

   

[touch]

Seeing this today made me feel good. Perhaps there are still some neighborhoods in this country where things are pretty dandy.  🙂

 

 

 

 

[touch]

Two rounds with the new putter set up are in the books. I will share some words with more details on how it has been going with my new grip tomorrow after my third round with it. I am giving it a good test by playing 3 different courses with 3 different green speeds. It is definitely quite a different feel, but after only two rounds I'm growing rather fond of it. I'm pleased to say that the adjustment period I believe will be rather brief. 

 

Beware of the White Lightning this summer ! 😀

 

[aenemated]

12 hours ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

I'm going to say it's the dad's midlife crisis car.

 

[aenemated]

21 minutes ago, touch said:

Seeing this today made me feel good. Perhaps there are still some neighborhoods in this country where things are pretty dandy.  🙂

 

 

 

 

 

"Ok guys, here's a song about how the IRA, an Irish paramilitary force that sought to end British rule in Northern Ireland, facilitate Irish reunification and bring about an independent republic encompassing all of Ireland, wrought terror upon songwriter Dolores O'Riordan's childhood; leading to her lifelong alcohol abuse and eventual death in a hotel room in London. There's lemonade for sale at the merch booth." 

[touch]

My golf buddy's Honda. Erik moved to SC from lake Tahoe a few years ago, but it wasn't the Keep Tahoe Blue bumper sticker that had me howling, it was the other one 😅

 

 

Edited June 7 by touch

[chisag]

... Rough round today. I don't know how folks take time off and then pick it right back up. I took off 4 days to get a break from the sun, let my body rest over the long holiday weekend. Then just skipped Tuesday when my pard cancelled. Felt like I hadn't played in a month and it wasn't til the back 9 I started to feel comfortable with my swing. Took the 1 hr drive down to Aka Chin Southern Dunes on a Native American Reservation. Nothing but golf holes and nature without a building in site. Course architect Steve Smyer designed the course around more than 180 bunkers, and it is a big challenge for mid to high index golfers. Evidently low index players too. 🙄The killer part is most of the greenside bunkers are like concrete without even a dusting of sand on top, and the high lips make getting out impossible at times so I had to play away from the hole twice. Hard to tell from the pictures but two of those fairway bunkers are massive with a 15 ft lip.  Windy today and I was in them too many times and only had 2 birdies and 5 bogies to shoot a 75. 

... As we all know pictures never do a course justice but I wanted to give you guys a little bit of the rustic flavor of Southern Dunes and I am guessing you can see why it is one of my favorites.

Edited May 30 by chisag

[aenemated]

27 minutes ago, chisag said:

I don't know how folks take time off and then pick it right back up

 

I sure can't. Feels just go away and I gotta go to the range to find 'em again. 

 

It's why I've been committed to playing every weekend and at the very least going over to the Aliante chipping green a couple times a week. Though today - against my better judgement - I did go hit a medium bucket off the cursed mats as I was done with work stuff a bit early.

 

Lately been trying to load my wrists earlier (ideally by lead arm parallel) as a very longtime fault is a bit of a float load that - for me - is a speed leak and/or throws my transition out of wack causing me to come over the top and produce a tragically ugly pull hook. 

 

So I ONLY hit 4 and 5 irons. Lil bit of a stripe show. Just don't know why anyone wouldn't be playing Axiom equipped T100s! 🙂

 

Rad lookin course! 

[aenemated]

Made a tee time on June 19th to play Cascata ... epic desert mountain course out towards Boulder City. It ain't cheap but ... June 19th will be 25 years since I lost my dad. I went to Scotland for the 20th. For the 25th, I think a really rad course is pretty good. 

 

 

I've noted my greatest shot before; my albatross (or "double eagle" if that's your thing) that happened at Hyland Hills just outside of Pinehurst. Holed out 4 iron from about 180yds. 

 

That happened on June 20th, 1999. The day after dad passed. Which happened to be Father's Day. Same day Payne Stewart won at #2 just down the road. 

 

We were supposed to play there at Hyland that day. It was one of his absolute favorites. Then go get dinner at his favorite steak house; the name of which I can't recall. Obviously that didn't happen but two of my buddies woke me up that Sunday morning - I'd come home from my apartment by NCSU - all "You have a tee time at Hyland Hills, dude. Get up." 

 

When I found my ball in the cup on #7 after thinking it was lost, my guy Brandon said "Dude, your dad kicked that one in for you" ... I just lost it. 

 

If dad were still around; he'd be dragging mom to Vegas all the time - and still lining up 40 yards right and playing that hard pull that always found a fairway ... 

 

"The fairway's over there, dad."

"I know what I'm doing, boy." 

 

😂

Edited May 30 by aenemated

[DLeightonReid]

16 hours ago, chisag said:

 

My sister in Burlington says the same thing. 🤔  Flying is just too tough on my back with a degenerative disc. And of course at this point driving is out of the question, especially with my EV GV60. But I never say never and it would be awesome to meet up with you guys! 

Or maybe a meet-up in the middle of the country....say Lake of the Ozarks...and I will be your fourth!

[DLeightonReid]

Good Thursday morning, golfers!  Yesterday evening, in our Wednesday league, my partner and I put the smack down on the opposing team by winning 16 of the possible 25 points.  In total, we had to give 9 strokes for the nine holes, but we persevered by shooting 1 stroke less than our handicap.  

 

 

 

 

[touch]

Take time away from golf, what is that and why would you do something dumb like that? 😄

 

Aen, my ex wife's brother was on the course construction crew at Cascata. I had many tours of the property as it was being built and then when it opened I got to play it with him a few times. It was MGM's answer to Steve Wynn's Shadow Creek at the time. MGM wanted to have something nice for their "Whale's" to play. It is lovely, but to me it's no Shadow Creek. 

[Bob Cat]

2 hours ago, DLeightonReid said:

Or maybe a meet-up in the middle of the country....say Lake of the Ozarks...and I will be your fourth!

 

Um, IN!  I've often thought a 2-day-play would be great with this group.

[NJBigFish22]

2 hours ago, touch said:

Take time away from golf, what is that and why would you do something dumb like that? 😄

Only a dumb person that has a new golf shoe that looks like this.  I’m sure there will be a starting over period when I am able to lose the boot.  

[Triple Lindy]

11 minutes ago, NJBigFish22 said:

Only a dumb person that has a new golf shoe that looks like this.  I’m sure there will be a starting over period when I am able to lose the boot.  

Ouch - what happened? I’ve been in those things more than I like to admit. Most times due to basketball.

[deadsolid...shank]

11 hours ago, chisag said:

... Rough round today. I don't know how folks take time off and then pick it right back up. I took off 4 days to get a break from the sun, let my body rest over the long holiday weekend. Then just skipped Tuesday when my pard cancelled. Felt like I hadn't played in a month and it wasn't til the back 9 I started to feel comfortable with my swing. Took the 1 hr drive down to Aka Chin Southern Dunes on a Native American Reservation. Nothing but golf holes and nature without a building in site. Course architect Steve Smyer designed the course around more than 180 bunkers, and it is a big challenge for mid to high index golfers. Evidently low index players too. 🙄The killer part is most of the greenside bunkers are like concrete without even a dusting of sand on top, and the high lips make getting out impossible at times so I had to play away from the hole twice. Hard to tell from the pictures but two of those fairway bunkers are massive with a 15 ft lip.  Windy today and I was in them too many times and only had 2 birdies and 5 bogies to shoot a 75. 

... As we all know pictures never do a course justice but I wanted to give you guys a little bit of the rustic flavor of Southern Dunes and I am guessing you can see why it is one of my favorites.


 

My favorite golf course in Arizona.