(ish)

I am inveterate. It was a nice, warm(ish) day today. I, however, was working.

Driving home, I could see from the overlook that people were, in fact, playing at Ingleside. It’s a short course with a linksy feel, par 68, but with two legit par fives, elevation changes, and a couple of extremely tricky greens. It’s also where I broke 100 for the first time after getting on the Tour Tempo plan. During the summer, it’s a nice place to sneak in nine after work, because it’s halfway home. You wouldn’t exactly make a special trip to play it, but if you were in the neighborhood, you might give it a go.

Anyway, there I am at Slick’s office with a rather pathetic assortment of petty miscreants, when outside the sun is shining, the wind is quiet, and the grass thin and wispy as it is in the winter. All I could think was, “I could be golfing right now.”

I have Monday off, and it should be simlarly nice out. If so, I will play- maybe. There’s so much going on these days. Dad is sick. The car is in the shop (and needs to be picked up). I have to spank it into a cup. I have a fairly nasty cold. So much more than golf.

On the other hand, I have a fair bit of confidence right now. Spent some time in the simulator at Golf Galaxy, and I was consistently hitting the ball long(ish) and straight(ish), meaning just enough that I could play a second shot. I really feel that I will get my average into the 90s, and maybe even shoot in the 80s at some point.

I also have to get some practice in. In February, I will be going to New Orleans and will play Bayou Oaks. It’s the perfect course- a cheap ($20!!!) city park course, that’s hosted PGA Tour events. I will need to be up on my game if I hope to survive that course with my handicap intact. On the other hand, I’m in N’awlins and I only spent $20 to play golf, so I can drink pretty hard. Hopefully in celebration, but I’ll drink for consolation too.

Anyway, it’s New Years Eve, and I’m home alone, in my jammies, watching the Liberty Bowl (a pretty good game, actually). I’m nursing a cold, so I don’t think I’ll be partying later. And yet, all I can think is, “I could go golfing...”

I am inveterate.