Golf from the 1930s

A lifelong historian and history teacher for 42 years I am always looking for new/old adventures. And if it involves golf – all the better. This past week I hit some balls on a course that has been out of business for more than 70 years.

Great fun, still could find several of the tee-boxes and old sand greens, although they didn’t look much like it any longer. And no I didn’t use my new Adams irons. I used some clubs from the fifties as I was afraid I would break my old hickories if I tried them.

No old golf balls though, I just teed up a modern Tommy Armour, not because I like this ball but because the Worthington, Tommy Armour, was the ball of choice when this course was up and running in the 1930s.

Great way to spend a warm early spring day in Wyoming.

I have managed to play several rounds this month, today the wind is blowing, and I will settle for a hike in the state park and some TV golf.

New Clubs Time of Year

Are your clubs more than five years old? If they are you are likely missing out on the best of new technology. Now is a great time to buy new clubs. There are some great deals on end of the year clubs, new clubs are coming soon. If you buy the 2013 there are many, maybe too many, reviews of what you will get. Buy 2014 and you might be taking a bigger chance. Right now E-bay and Amazon have dozens of sellers hawking last year’s latest technology.

Not in the market for new clubs, did you know that you should change your grips every year. Some of mine are five years old and I play a lot of golf, 200 plus rounds per year. But I am not going to take my advice on grips; instead I am going to order new irons. I bought new Calloway woods last year, and love them. I bought a new putter two years ago and will probably buy a new one this year. I have been looking at some new Adams hybrid irons and Ping putters so believe that is the way I will go.

-Laugh for the day-

A golfer, playing a round by himself, is about to tee off, a non athletic looking salesman runs up to him, and yells, "Wait! Before you tee off, I have something really amazing to show you!"

The golfer, annoyed, says, "What is it?"

"It's a special golf ball," says the salesman. "You can never lose it!"

"Whattaya mean," laughs the golfer, "you can never lose it? What if I hit it into the water?"

"Not a problem," says the salesman. "It floats, and it detects where the shore is, and spins towards it."

"Well, what if I hit it into the woods?"

"Easy," says the salesman. "It emits a beeping sound, and you can find it with your eyes closed."

"Okay," says the golfer, impressed. "But what if my round goes late and it gets dark?"

"No problem, sir, this golf ball glows in the dark! I'm telling you, you can never lose this golf ball!"

The golfer buys it at once. "Just one question," he says to the salesman. "Where did you get it?"

"I found it."

Indoor Winter Practice

And old golf adage say’s most golfers practice too much, too little or just plain wrong. If you are not sure what to practice, start at about three feet and move out from there. A majority of all shots in a round are from 100 yards and in, practice hard from three feet to 100 yards and you will get better.

Best thing about this you can work on your putting stroke indoors, watching football. But make sure it is repeated and repeated, same setup, same takeaway and same smooth stroke.

Anyone else watching architects week on the golf channel, good stuff?

Winter Golf - You Bet

Played in shirtsleeves Tuesday and last night we had snow and zero temperature early this morning. But then again that is life in Wyoming, ski in the morning and play golf in the afternoon.

If you have not tried it yet, http://www.golf18network.com/, is terrific, try it. Deep discounts for golf in whatever area you wish. I have no connections with these people, just wanted to let you know about a great golf deal.

-JUST FOR FUN-

 Every Saturday morning, Josh headed to the golf course. It didn't matter what the weather was like. It could be raining and 40 degrees, but Josh didn't care. It was off to the course, every single Saturday morning for than ten years.

But one Saturday, Josh finally met his match with the weather. He got up early and drove out to the course, hoping the weather would improve by the time got off the first tee. But once at the course, he knew he couldn’t do it. It was just a few degrees above freezing, and snow was spitting down steady and icy cold.

For the first time in years, Josh headed back home on a Saturday morning.

His wife was still in bed when he got there, so he took off his clothes, snuggled up to his wife's backside and said "Terrible weather out there."

"Yeah," his wife replied, "and can you believe my idiot husband went to play golf