05-18-12
SSP Open-Day negative 1
I escaped Orlando, listening to another Serge A Storms audio book; “Electric Barracuda”. I got to Bobby Jones golf course in time for doubles, but eschewed it in favor of playing between groups and taking a shot or two, while attempting to get used to playing in my brand spankin’ new New Balance 479s. It did not go well.
They’re too new, or more to the point, too grippy. My shots were usually underpowered and left. And, ooooh did both of my knees ache at the end of the round. I took a siesta in the luxury accommodations located just behind the anti-chrysler’s driver’s seat. And emerged to work on a few nuts & bolts of my mechanics, this time donning the much older pair of NB479s, which have been acting as a manageable substitute for my prior pair.
Then, as with most trips to Sarasota, an evening hang with the maternal unit, who had steamy sloppy joes awaiting her youngest son.
05-19-12
OK, NOW SSP-Day 1
I was hoping to arrive at Bobby Jones early enough to score one of the very few parking spots with shade. I got preoccupied and drove nearly all the way to Water Tower park, before I took a big gulp of some hideous coffee and realized I was heading to the wrong venue.
Naturally, I arrived too late to have a chance at shade, yet there were two spots I could get into, so I pulled into the one with hanging branches that were least likely to scratch my paint.
I get shade all day. I haven’t thrown a disc yet…but… I WIN!
The knees still felt a little shaky, but not as achy. I was feeling much more adept with the older NB479s. Despite being natural grass tees, my nearly bald soles rarely failed to provide ample traction.
I started off the round with 3 quick birdies and gathered 5 more on par 3s and at least 2 more on par 4s for a solid opening bid of 46, which lead the open leader, John E. McCray by 1. (of course he feels as if his collar bone or clavicle are out of whack, which might account for my round topping his.
In round two, I was a bit fatigued and partially distracted, texting my GF up in RI for the 1st few holes. I finally had to stop flirting and hunker down & concentrate. T’hassee’s Mike Paulette gained a few strokes on me since my putt wasn’t quite delivering the same satisfying “ching” at the end of its flight as in round 1.
Mike brought it to within 1. He added up the card and handed it to me. I was lazy and only checked my own score, which was a meager –2 and turned it in. As it turns out, Mike’s score incorrectly stated he’d shot –6…but apparently it was –5, so his card was corrected and he picked up two penalty strokes. I feel awful, though it wasn’t actually my responsibility.
Afterward, I was talking to a guy who wanted my biz card. I didn’t have a biz card handy, so I gave him one of my minis. I showed him how to snap it and then broke into some trick mini snaps followed by some air brushes. There was a 20’ deep ditch behind me, I kept adjusting the direction of the mini until I was facing the wind and the ditch. After a few body rolls, back rolls and a fully extended right legged side kick, which brushed it back into play I brushed it again over the ditch and lunged for the catch.
I probably landed at least two feet lower down the steep grade than expected then rolled over where the rest of the fall was broken by my head in the soft dirt…as I continued to roll and finished sitting up a few feet from the water, which was waaaay down from years past.
I felt no pain, which at first was alarming. But the lack of pain continued, so I made my way to Water Tower park to refamiliarize myself with some of the holes. I was at hole #9 trying a balls-out 360 turnaround drive when my plant foot hit too near the front edge of the pad and I slipped off, rolling my ankle. I didn’t even try to save it and just fell to my hands and rolled from there. By the time I managed a visual on the fairway, the disc was nowhere to be seen. I looked for quite a while, getting side-tracked by a down-on-her-luck homeless woman who tried to engage me in order to get a ride.
I did think about it, but I’d already emerged unscathed from two big falls today, and I didn’t want to push my luck with falling for a possible rouse.
SNL Alumnus Kevin Nealon is at McCurdy’s comedy club I drove by, considering checking out the show, but felt the need to just get food in me and call it an early evening.
Tomorrow: SSP Open- Day 2 at North Water Tower park.
