Argonne69

Beautiful photos.

Yeah, toss in Little Bennett, Maryland National, Raspberry Falls, Black Rock, and Richland in addition to Musket, PB Dye, Worthington, and Whiskey, and it's a heck of golfers paradise.

I wasn't planning to hit a brewery today, but I somehow managed to lose one of my rain gloves today. I normally don't play with a golf glove, but I've had to play with rain gloves for pretty much the last week or more. I found a Dick's Sporting Goods in Silver Spring, and swung by to pick up a new pair. Conveniently located a couple of miles away was Silver Branch Brewing. Twenty taps with a less than stellar taplist, but their Gnome de Guerre Belgian Tripel caught my eye. Excellent. The brewery is located at the entrance of the Silver Springs (Red) Metro station entrance. I've probably ridden the DC Metro a hundred times. My first job out of college brought me to DC monthly. In addition I've taken dozens of Amtrak trains that passes through DC Union Station. I'd say the Metro is the 2nd best public transit system in the country next to NYC. If my parking meter didn't expire in a half hour I'd probably hop on the train for a ride down to the Mall.

Northwest GC, Silver Spring, MD (#10 Start) Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/t2o6thq51v2bl34ku9qvh/AIZ-UHEnFyyxy_gLUsIZVmU?rlkey=vpnjc2lbrr8qyqxzrryldd272&st=ixgvo778&dl=0

Enjoyable morning, but I should have stuck with Frederick. Lol. Weather wasn't quite as bad today with a few clouds and a light breeze. Got lucky arriving early and joining a threesome a half hour before my tee time. We finished in 3:30. I couldn't see the group behind us. I know they were at least two full holes behind. Northwest GC today. Meh. The muni is one of nine operated by Montgomery County. Nice piece of wooded property, but they didn't do much with the design. A couple of minor elevation changes, but most holes were dead flat. Bunkering was very light. Water in play one three holes, but practically every hole had thick native areas that should be red staked. Eight holes with left/right movement including three doglegs. Very easy off the tee with generous fairways, light bunkering, and no forced carries. The rough was very generous, but rather thick. Minor misses were fairly penal. Big misses were goners in the junk/trees. Pretty sure my playing partners donated a couple dozen to the collection. Approaches were straightforward with moderate sized greens with light bunkering. Greens had gentle contouring and slope. Pretty boring. Putting was stress free. Up and downs were a little tricky due to the thick rough. Par 3s, 5s, and short 4s were simply boring. By next week I'm pretty sure I won't remember a single hole on the course. Variety of length on the 3s was poor playing 6i to FW. Very little trouble. Par 5s were snoozers. The dogleg 17th was reachable, but no risk. The pair of short 4s were toothless. Conditions were acceptable for an inexpensive muni. Fairways had numerous iffy patches, but were generally playable. Three holes on the front nine were cart path only with very wet turf. Rough was thick, but mostly consistent. Plenty of clover tossed in. Bunkers were very good. Greens were nice, but slow. Probably a hair over 9. Played the White tees at 6325 yds (70.0/121). Very good day with the big stick. Irons were solid, but missed a couple right. Wedges didn't hold up their part of the bargain. Other than one putt, the putter was icy. One birdie and five bogies. Shot of the day was finally making a putt, an 18 footer on my 17th hole, the par 5 8th. Highlight of the morning was not having a heat stroke after four grueling rounds in Frederick. Going to be nice and go with 5 cows, although it's probably closer to four. Definitely enjoyed the isolation of the layout, but the design misses on practically every element. The $50 senior weekday rate was acceptable. If I was a local I'm sure it would be in my regular rotation, but it can be skipped. Probably should have driven an hour to Frederick to play Maryland National. Lol. The nine hole course looked interesting.

It's a two day drive to Chicago. I'm not cut out for 11 hours straight. I might play a round here on Wednesday morning, and then drive four or five hours on Thursday. Option 2 is to drive six to seven hours on Wednesday morning, and then play a round early Thursday before driving the rest of the way. 'Looking at The Quarry in Canton, OH. Seems to be the only course on Golfweek's best in state list that I haven't played that's along the way and roughly halfway out.

Hmmm. Grace sick. Charley sick. Emily sick. 'Must have been something in the (Evian) water. 🙃

Grace had 26 putts in the final round. Jenno had 30. 'Only needed one of those misses to fall....

Dame Lydia is quite friendly with her competitors in the heat of the battle. Lures them into a false sense of security. Lol. Care for a piece of fruit?

Fake major or not, the tournament has been producing some great finishes. Really like the course. Produces some low scores, and some doozies.

Bummer. My favorite nephew passed away at the young age of 54. He had major health issues due to being a heavy smoker for most of his life, so it didn't come as a total shock, but it still hurts. He was an artist, musician, and walking music encyclopedia. He had just retired from Ford after 30+ years on the assembly line. Didn't get a chance to enjoy his early retirement. Family is having a memorial on Friday, so I'm going to drive to Chicago on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday. Probably be back in DC next Monday. The bad news just keeps coming. Got a second phone call informing me that another nephew had passed away a short time ago. He was a bit of a black sheep of the family, and I haven't talked with him in years. 48 years old. Sigh.

Speaking of May, it was great to see her make a run today.

I believe the tee was moved up to 454 yds.

Uneventful drive to College Park today. Traffic was fairly heavy for a Sunday morning, but manageable. Not much scenery along the way. Light rain starting falling just as I finished setting up camp. Big RV park. I stayed here three years ago during my first swing through DC. Gravel site could be more level. Thought I might have satellite trouble with the trees across from my site, but so far so good. No plans today. Going to kick back and relax. It's been a tiring week. Weather looks hot and humid again for the next few days with afternoon storms. I have a round booked at Northwest tomorrow morning, and Enterprise on Tuesday. I have to book an RV park near Allentown for the end of July.

That was wild. What a finish. Congrats Grace. Never gave up. Great week for Jeeno, but she just needed a few more putts to drop. Very impressed by Lottie's play this week. Last week was no fluke.

Advantage Grace?

Grace is not going away.

Lol. You'd think they'd be able to find a couple of golf carts with four seats so that the caddies don't have to stand on the back and hang on for dear life.

Clutch.

Wow. Stunning.

Soul crushing indeed.

Nice finish for Minjee, but that three putt for bogie on the 15th cost her a share of the playoff.

Great final day. Did not see this one coming, though. After Grace's double on the 12th I thought she would fade away, but four under in her last four holes was crazy. Still can't believe Jeeno missed that birdie putt on the 18th. She had numerous chances to run away with this.

The closest images of the Sun ever taken. These images from the Parker Solar Probe’s record-setting pass by the Sun late last year were released by NASA a few days ago. Image: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/J. Ng

I'll be in southwest Pennsylvania in mid-August, and Ohio in early September. I was considering a stay and play at Nemocolin (Mystic Rock), and Firestone CC (South), two of the few Top 100 public courses I haven't played. Cheapest room at Nemocolin is $1000+ a night. No idea what the golf runs. Pass. A room at Firestone seemed "reasonable" at $450, but the greens fee at the South course is $560. What? Is it my imagination, or is paying nearly as much as Pebble Beach for the 91st ranked course a little nuts, not to mention the hotel price? These stay and play deals have gotten absolutely insane. I have money to burn, but I'm not completely nuts.