Conference 7.286::golf

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      Need any programmers out there? No? Oh well, I'll probably keep
    playing until they close up Stow Acres. Then play indoor putt-putt
    until spring. Not a good prospect.
    
    -Steve

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    In our house the Austaad's catalog and old issues of Golf Digest
    become reduced to the consistency of kleenex through use, and we
    start planning our April Florida vacation.
    
    And sigh alot.

    Well, we prepare for end of the season by planning our skiing season!
    
    John

    At my course, we tee it up as long as there's no snow on the ground.
    It's great, no waiting, 3 1/2 hr rounds and you can skip the ball
    across frozen water hazards!
    
    Brrr,
    Dan

    Last year we golfed up until December 18th... then started again
    in February. The amount of quality days here in Mass. become fewer
    and fewer as winter snows in, but if snow hits northern Mass... a
    bit on the deeep side we head for the Cape. Depending on how tough/
    weak a winter snow is can really fluctuate the end of season date.
                                                                   
    Some of the advantages of winter golf are rather enjoyable... 
    when it gets real c-c-c-cooold ;
    	
    		1. No more waiting to tee off
    		2. No more mosquitos
    		3. No more sand shots
    		4. No more morning dew
    		5. No more water hazards
    		6. No more ball marks on the green
                7. No more removing the flag
    		8. you'll be a master at the pitch and rooollllllllll,
    	           anywhere from 300 yards and out.
    
    Some of the downfalls to winter golf , when it gets
    real cold;
    
    		1. when your body reaches its resonant frequency
    		   after hitting a shot fat.
    		2. Hitting the green in regulation means you just bounced
    		   your approach shot into the next area code.
    		3. requirement for a black and decker battery powered
    		   drill to insert tee into ground.
                4. Spending money replacing the various household items
    		   that have been damaged. oops!
                5. Cracking golf balls.
    
    	It really is tough ending the season...  :) !!!
    
    	Walt
    
    		

       It's too early to think about winter -- fall golf is too good.
       
       This time of year, when it's cold in the morning and the sun is
       still low, most of the summer golfers stay home or go to the
       office or hang out for an extra cup of coffee at the donut shop.
       Which means that it's often possible to play an early 18 in 3
       hours or less. 
       
       --Mr Topaz

    Winter golf in Maine is tough to find, although I know some
    people who go to the coast to play...This one group has the
    distinction of playing at least 18 holes every month in Maine.
    Now that's dedication..
    
    As the season wraps up in Maine, I have 3 more majors. The
    first is the Annual DEC League Tournament at Springbrook. Eighteen
    hole handicap tournament. Sunda I am playing in a tournament at
    Val Halla in Falmouth (I think that's where it is). October 
    18 and 19 I am playing at Sugarloaf in a Housing and Urban
    Developement Tournament. This will be fun seeing as how it is free
    to me..Two nights at the Inn, 2 rounds of golf....Only problem
    would be if it snows. It did last year....Had to use an orange ball.
    
    Of course my club will not close until November, but that's hunting
    season. Bird season starts Oct 2...I'll be putting my shotgun in
    my golf bag for the mid October tournament. 
    
    I wonder, does a shotgun count as one of my 14 clubs ?
    
    Jim
    

    
    re .-1
    
    >I wonder, does a shotgun count as one of my 14 clubs ?
    
    Remember you can't "shoot" an eagle :-)

    
    	#1 It is much to early to even think about the season ending...
    
    	#2 Last year I was able to play every month and without having
    	   to go to the Cape... (I can't expect anything like that this
    	   year, but it would be nice)
    
    	#3 The Cape usually provides enough golf to be able to play at
    	   least once a month (from what I hear, I have not been to Cape
    	   during the winter "YET")
    
    	Gene (who_is_hopeing_for_another_long_season_this_year, WHERE THE
    	      HECK DID THE SUMMER GO ANY WAYS...?)

    Marketing looks for all of the opportunities to get south and to
    CA during the "off season".
    
    Chip

    Looking at the fall from a greatly different perspective.....
    
    Here in Phoenix the rates double in the period from 10/1 to 11/1.
    Now we have to pay $45 and up for the good courses.
    The snowbirds start to come with the advent of cold weather in the
    North. Tee times at the muni courses are nigh unto impossible to get.
    More out-of-state plates in the parking lots than from AZ.
    The days are too short to get in 18 after work.  Maybe 9 with a little
    bit of luck.
    
    But still................
    
    No snow to shovel.
    Little frost on the windshields in the pre-dawn darkness.
    A windbreaker is the winter coat.
    No snow tires.
    Have to keep the beer in the fridge to keep it cold.
    
    Still rather be here than back there.
    
    Harold
    
    
    
    

    
    Myself I really don't mind the seson ending. First, I was still hitting
    golf balls last year in to Dec. I was not on the course but hitting
    practice balls in the field out back. During the real cold months I
    practice my swing in the garage and putt on the carpet. But the reason
    I don't mind the season ending is that it really makes it exciting when
    the snow starts to melt, the air starts to warm up and you get the
    fever. I play alot during the season and sometimes I get a little
    burned out. The little gap in the winter keeps the excitment in the
    game for me. When I played serious tennis I played all year around.
    everyday I could atleast three or four times a week and after a while it
    was like breathing it was just something I did and the fun and
    excitment kind of was gone after a while. Every once in a while I can
    feel that way about golf. Sometimes I just go out and play mindless
    golf. But that's just me.
    
    Pete 

    For those of you who really want a challenge, try living here in
    MN and try to keep a decent swing through many long months of winter.
    I have lived here 10 years (I still don't believe it) and have played
    every month here in MN except DEC. and JAN - though others have
    on rare occasions.
    
    Since I don't ski, skate, or snowmobile the winter does get a little
    long. Last night a record low was set here in Minneapolis - 27 degrees
    F. Could be long cold winter. We usually play until late OCT. -
    but I have my doubts this year.
    
    "Fearful of the dreaded double bogey".
    
    Gene.

    Not to rub it in, guys, BUT, the good season is just beginning here
    in good 'ol South Carolina!  The mega-hot humid days have given
    way to bright, dry, 75 degree golf heaven days. The good news is
    it runs up to Christmas (sometimes), AND there are numerous weekends
    in Jan, Feb, Mar, when it's VERY comfortable for golf. C'mon down
    y'all!!!!
    
    Steve

    
    re .14
    
    Move to Upstate NY and after 1 year you'll be screaming to get back
    to MN. Besides the fact they have the MOST snowfall of any other
    place in the US, their summers are hot and humid, with plenty of
    bugs. The golf courses get a lot of rain and a lot of sun, so their
    in excellent shape. It's just that they have such a short season,
    and the season they do have is so hot and humid, you don't want
    to play that much.
    
    Mike

    If the ground is bare, I am there!
    
    Last winter was heaven in Mass. -- played in late January and early
    February. I hope this winter is the same.
    
    I don't mind playing down to about 30 degrees or so, and it sure
    keeps the crowds down. I suffered through a 5:45 round at the Captains
    Course on Cape Cod last Saturday. Magnificent course, but we waited
    5 minutes or more over every fairway shot, and often found 3 foursomes
    ahead of us waiting on each tee. You can't score like that -- every
    shot is like your first drive of the day.
    
    But in December.....ah! You can play so fast you don't have time
    to get cold.  I can't wait, as long as the snow stays away.

    Well Steve, I started this topic to see what everyone had
    in mind for the rest of their golfing seasons and I'm glad
    to hear that your season is as long as mine here in California.
    I look forward to playing all the time!!! My golf league plays
    their last tournament in December and then we take two months
    off from competition just for a break. By the way, what kind
    of damage did Myrtle Beach suffer during Hugo?
    
    THE MAD HACKER

    Ahh! That time of the year to talk/write about fall reflections!!!
    
    I, like  many  previous replies, refuse to think about the end of the
    season  until the first snow flake is in the  ground,  and  based  on
    having  played nine holes this weekend in over 3 ours,  not  to  many
    people do.
    
    I guess then I'll try to escape to the cape, or  maybe arrange a trip
    to the south in the middle of the winter.  At least  I'll  give  that
    indoor club in Worcester a try.
    
    Tavo, who may get out today early to play

    
    Geeze, I didn't think the season was over yet, but from the lack
    of action in this file this week you would think it was (could
    have a lot to do with the weather, I guess)...

    I have 2 more club tournaments this year so golf is still
    a major part of my routine. We had the annual Reno trip
    this last weekend with 36 members of the Digital Duffers
    teeing off at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. I shot an abysmal
    106 (retching sounds!!!) but had the only birdie in the
    foursome. Maybe if my shoulder hadn't been sore from pulling
    all those slot machine handles !!! The weather has been
    fantastic for several weeks now and should hold for another
    2 to 3 so I will be playing as much as possible while there
    is still light after work and this beautiful weather holds up!
    
    THE MAD HACKER

    	Hacker,
    
    	Hope the quake didn't affect the golf courses too much! How's
    everone holding up out there.

    The office I work in is 40 miles east of San Francisco so we 
    suffered no physical damage. A lot of us have friends and/or
    relatives that live in the affected areas and it has been
    almost immpossible to make phone contact. Most of the DEC
    offices in Santa Clara and San Francisco are closed as are
    most other businesses. The district I work in was supposed to
    go to San Francisco in 10 days for an awards dinner but a lot
    of people are saying that they don't want to go there right now!
    I didn't think much of the quake at the time it happened because
    I have lived here all my life and it seemed like just any other
    one. As the reports of damage rolled in though from other areas
    a somber atmosphere pretty much took over. I moved from the
    mountainous area where the quake was centered just 5 years ago
    and am having some interesting thoughts about that!!! Oh well,
    the geologists are already starting to say that this wasn't
    the "BIG ONE" that they have been expecting all these years!!!
    I CAN HARDLY WAIT  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    THE MAD HACKER

    
    I was there, in San Jose, and I'll take the Northeast anytime.  Here
    they mess with your mind, not the topography...

    I know this has nothing to do with golf but I just found out
    how long a 3-month pay freeze really is and it busts my chops!!
    I was hoping to join a Country Club or get some new clubs or
    something equally exciting with my next massive pay raise but
    I guess it will be in 1990 now. Sure glad I find these things
    out in the paper and not from any internal sources !!!!!~
    
    THE REALLY MAD HACKER