We bring in August and it is nearing a year since I began this blogging experiment. I appreciate those of you willing to read and especially those who make comments. It keeps me doing it.
It could be the 10th annual(or so) Guys Golf Getaway that I will tell you about first. A bunch of name droppin in this edition.This year the fabtastic 4 (MikeyD, Jazzman,Peetah, and myself headed north again for golf and a stay at the Catbird Nest, the home away from home for friends, Keith and Cath. Located somewhere near Grayling where a renowned Michigan river runs through. We headed up on Thursday and stopped near St. Johns to golf at The Emerald, the "The Gem of Mid-Michigan". I will say they had the best greens I have played on in quite some time-public or private course. Things started off well-no greenies were won the first day and a quick round of animal golf left Jazz and Mike paying out. It was a very busy evening at The Emerald, as they had several leagues but play moved along as well as could be expected. Folks were friendly all around. A lovely start and we're off to Grayling with a scheduled, brief stop at Mt. Pleasant and the famed Soaring Eagle Casino. No big winners this day but we did experience the fine dining of the Water Lily where Peter would find they lack in knowledge of his preferred drink B n B, what it is and how to serve it. This is a repeated theme in our bar experience with Peter. We were off to our final destination by 8. We were in no great hurry as our host was not arriving til after 9:30 to greet us. A store stop for some provisions and a last call for final directions and we were there around 10. Keith had arrived and was opening up the place for the Fabtastic 4, now the Fab5. Even though we were all tired the first night adrenaline kicked in and we played cards and drank for a of couple hours, til we couldn't do either no more. A full moon out over the deck and a cool night over the deck fed the euphoria. We did have to get up, do breakfast in town and make it to the golf course for round 2. I lost at cards.
Round 2 was to be at the Black Forest near Gaylord, about 30-40 minutes north east. The most difficult and expensive course we would play. The day was beautiful, the pro-shop vibe wanting but we headed out up into the mountain of the Black Forest. The course was tree lined, you could hardly see the hole next to you, and we basically had the course to ourselves. We started off playing like we were hungover and tired. Imagine that. Mikey D. took the 8 carry over greenie away from Peter's grasp for a major win. We each had to pay him $8. We left there and headed to Benethem's just outside Gaylord to meet Keith for dinner. Excellent dinner with many selections and decent wine. We made it back with daylight to spare and a night of more cards. Keith had put together a music mix of some of our old faves from college and high school days. I lost at cards again.
Day 3 began with early morning rain, something we had not experienced much in our years of doing this. The Catbird nest at the river took on a different quality in the rain and it was quiet and misty. A good day for fishing as Keith would report later. We had an earlier tee off time over at Grandview, near Kalkaska. When we called they said they would possibly have all the groups tee off at the same time when the rain let up.
It was a half our drive over so we said let's go, get some bfast on the way and do the adventure, after it is why we do this. We found the sign for the course and took the long drive down the country road to get there. It was still raining pretty good and there was a low fog. Our experience with the staff at this unassuming course was great. It was pretty much a matriarchal run establishment and they not only made us bloody mary's but cooked us a made to order breakfast, while we waited with the other dudes hangin around for a couple of outings.
By 11:30 the rain was letting up as the radar had showed and they sent us all out. It rained lightly off and on for several holes but we got it in and we had a great Grandview round. Today was my day to win the greenies a 4x carry over, yeah! There were many interesting aspects to this day that I don't have the time to write about but one little tidbit is I found $10 on a tee and was a Good Samaritan and turned it over to the guys in front of us when they asked if we had found $10. Pay it forward is what we said.
We headed back to the CB nest where Dr. K was cooking us up a steak dinner of fabtastic proportions. He does it without any it little help from us, his choosing. After the great meal, there was much daylight so Mikey D. and Keith went for some evening fly fishing, while Peter, Jazz and I had cigars and after dinner libations down by the river. Upon darkness we headed up to the house for the poker jam. I lost again for the third straight night. The others all had won at least 1 night if not 2 or 3. Keith wanted me to mention Peter's ability to win at cards while not in the room but outside on the deck smoking. Strange but true.
We all were quite spent after 3 days and nights of this leisurely lifestyle-it was exhausting;) We awoke to Sunday becoming quite warm and we cleaned up, packed up and headed for home. Many thanks to the fifth in the party for his hospitality, hard hitting wit and friendship. Memories were made there at the place on the river and on the road again.
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