NCLancer

I knew a guy who had just bought some new Nike irons and was selling his TA 855s graphite shaft irons for real cheap so I snagged them from him. Found them to be somewhat forgiving and when (if?) I hit the sweet spot the ball flew nicely.

Coming down I-77 in Virginia:

@touch All this Bobby Grace talk...if I'm not mistaken doesn't he reside in the western NC region??

Yesterday morning was steamy but a slight breeze helped. 84 in the car at 8AM and 94 when we finished at noon as Mrs NCL and I played at a local course, Lake Winds. Could have finished quicker but a foursome somehow must not have seen us behind them on the back 9 as we watched them tee off on 12 and then waited on every shot behind them. We slowed our pace but caught them again on the 16th as they, on a Par 3, searched the pond and also the brush looking for balls. Just complete rudeness and/or utter unawareness on a hot day. I was proud that I did not allow the frustration to derail my game as I carded a 43/45=88 from 5600 yards. 5 lost ball penalties ( 1 in the rough, 1 in the trees, 3 went swimming), 31 putts with no 3 putts, 11-14 fairways hit. I have really tried to improve my lag putting by being more aggressive on long putts and I like the results. The occasional squirrely shot is still in my bag and could rear it's ugly head at anytime...have no control over how or when it might strike. Any club at anytime! BTW, Mrs NCL had another good day as she had a LWPB (Lake Winds personal best) score of 94. She missed 1 fairway all day and even then she hit a strong drive but it hit the right side cart path and bounded into the rough. She's been playing well the last few months. The 17th fairway looks to be in very rough shape but it actually plays okay. The pond behind us features 2 white swans and we tried to get them in the background of our selfie. They appear more majestic in real life!

I feel every golf cart and/or course should have this posted! This was on the cart windshield at Lancaster...loved it.

We checked out of Cadillac early Sunday morning and travelled southeast to the Novi area of Metro Detroit to spend a few hours with some friends who we haven't seen since our wedding 30 years ago. They now live in very nice retirement complex and keep busy with various volunteer activities that keep them moving. Great folks and it was wonderful to reconnect in person. We then made our way into Ohio, staying south of Columbus in Lancaster where on Monday we played the Lancaster Golf Club. Original 9 holes were built in 1909, redesigned in 1926 by some guy named Donald Ross, then in 1961 a second 9 was added. Rolling farmland with plenty of blind shots, the course was both entertaining and frustrating. Beautiful green lush rough was difficult, the greens were undulating and on the slow side and the bunkers, while groomed, were full of stones and pebbles. For Mrs. NCL, the forward most tees were rated however they were simply marked in the fairway with a single green block. She rarely had a tee box to herself and her lies were almost all unlevel. The layout was fantastic and the course was in fine shape but looks aren't everything. On Tuesday we returned home and have been settling in with the hot weather hounding us at every step...but tommorrow we are teeing it up at 8:30 AM in an attempt to play (and hopefully score) in the 80's!

That's a beauty😄

I feel that "3PUTTDBL" should be my vanity plate...

The Cadillac Country Club featured a unique measuring apparatus on their Par 3 contest holes. Simple to use and very accurate! The guy in the pro shop said one of their members constructed them.

Crumbled oatmeal cookies mixed with tears of regret!

I approve the cracker choice😜

Our vacation continued as we said goodbye to New York State and crossed the St. Lawrence River into Canada at the Cornwall, Ontario border stop. Our trip thru Ontario to Sarnia was uneventful and we crossed over the St. Clair River into Port Huron Michigan the next morning. We met up with a friend (Paul from KC's brother) who has a group of about 15 former softball buddies and some wives from the Battle Creek area who, for the last 15+ years, spend a few days playing golf in the Cadillac, MI area every July. They stay at the Evergreen Resort and meet at breakfast to discuss the days agenda, usually teeing off around 10 AM. Dinners find small groups doing their own thing then everyone checks into "The Meeting Room" which is a ground level room with a patio adjacent to the 18th hole of the resort's Spruce Course. The room is filled with snacks, desserts, (and alcohol) with the vibe being very chill with some good-natured ribbing and reminiscing. We were the only newbies but all the folks made us feel welcome. The format was a 4-person scramble each day and Mrs NCL and I were partnered with different players for each round. The scores weren't really important but birdies and closest to the pins were paid out post-round at the course in a small ceremony. Sleeves of balls were the awards given and Mrs. NCL and I won 10 sleeves, and Mrs NCL herself won 4 for 2 CTTP's including an 18 inch near miss on Day 2. Day 1 we played Lakewood On the Green, a very tight residential and tree-lined course. Slightly hilly and wet from overnight showers. Overcast with temps in the low 60's at tee off which felt very refreshing. After the round I spoke with my friend KC Paul about playing a late play round at the resort when we got back and he agreed. Mrs NCL declined as we still had the next 2 to days to play and she knew she was needed for some birdies! The Spruce Course was lush and the greens were slow and soft. Fairly flat with some ponds and marshes providing trouble. Bunkers were in tough shape. Highlight was the Par 3 18th in front of the Meeting Room. Playing about 145, both hitting the green, I was 20 feet out and Paul was 25. He just missed and I drained my birdie in front of the gallery (maybe 8 people who really didn't care but cheered anyway). Cadillac Country Club was played on a very sunny 80 degree Day 2. Very open course built in 1919, short and easily walkable. Conditions were spot on and the staff was welcoming. A few mature trees dotted the landscape but not much trouble otherwise. Would love to play this course daily! Rain in the forecast for around noon of Day 3 pushed up the tee time to 8:45 but we had no weather problems as the clouds kept the sun at bay at Emerald Vale in Manton, MI. Very big piece of rolling farmland with an outstanding variety of holes. No homes and some beautiful vistas. Conditions were just okay as some of the greens had some bad areas and the bunkers were water-filled rocky messes. Loved the layout but some TLC is needed. Still had a fun time. Next stop: OH IO

We played 3 times in northern NY on our vacation. Harmony in Port Kent: I mentioned in an earlier post about playing this 14 hole course with 2 members who fly around and this day was no exception as we started on Hole 6, finished the 14 holes on 5, went back to 1 and played thru 6 again for a total of 20 holes in just about 3 hours. In their agreed upon made up game, the final hole didn't count and the score on 19 (the Par 4 5th) can be substituted for any higher Par 4 therefore I shot an 89 and barely won the day. So much fun was had. The Barracks in Plattsburgh: This course was built in 1962 on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base and we played there quite often as teens. After the closure, the course was bought and in the mid 90's expanded into 18 holes. We played with my BIL (1st round since last year) and our friend from Kansas City Paul, who is a very good ball striker. We visited him last fall and it's always great to get together. Another fun day. We had a variety of scores and we played a putting/poker game with a small $1 ante where a 1 putt gets a card, 2 putts get/owe nothing and a 3 putt puts a quarter into the pot. The 3 putter also is assigned the "monkey" chip until someone else 3 putts and the chip is handed over. If 2 3 putt, it's even/odds time on the green. Whoever has the chip at the end of the day pays a dollar in the pot. The pot ended up at a whopping $7.75 and with her 5 1-putts giving her 5 cards and 2 pair Mrs. NCL walked away richer. Paul had 6 cards which garnered a King high, and I had 4 cards of nothing. BIL had 2 cards (ace and a face) but it was poker not blackjack. We also held our tournament at this course which I spoke of earlier. Then it was thru Ontario and on to Cadillac, Michigan!! (stories to follow)

Saw this on a car window during our trip...

You say that you're leavingWell, that comes as no surpriseStill, I kinda like this feelin'Of being left behindThis ain't nothing new to meWell, it's just like goin' homeIt's kinda like those sunsetsThat leave you feelin' so stonedHey, hey, I guess it hasn't hit me yetI fell through this crack and I kinda lost my headI stand transfixed before this streetlightWatching the snow fall on this cold December nightNever thought this could happenBut somehow the feeling's goneYou got sick of the patternAnd I got lost in this songHey, hey, I guess it hasn't hit me yetI fell through this crack and I kinda lost my headI stand transfixed before this streetlightWatching the snow fall on this cold December nightHey, hey, I guess it hasn't hit me yetI fell through this crack and I kinda lost my headI stand transfixed before this streetlightWatching the snow fall on this cold December nightAnd out in the middle of Lake OntarioThe same snow is falling (the same snow is falling)On the deep silent water (on the deep silent water)The great dark wonderInto the waves of my heartInto the waves of my heartOf my heart Hasn't Hit Me Yet by Blue Rodeo

in

Returned back yesterday to North Carolina after 3 weeks on the road as Mrs. NCL and I visited family and friends in northern New York and then travelled over to Michigan to play 3 days with some friends and their group. Played 8 times on 7 courses in 3 states adding 5 new courses to my list. Myself and 7 other guys got together in Ticonderoga in 1990 to play and we have kept up the tradition as this year was our 36th annual Limited Knowledge Golf Association golf tournament. We have different people host each year at different courses and this year we hosted in Plattsburgh at The Barracks. We have morphed into a 4-person scramble with teams chosen by the host. We had 8 teams competing and with a 4 under 68 2 teams were tied so we ventured to Hole 1 for a playoff and Mrs NCL sunk the winning birdie putt from 15 feet on the 1st playoff hole to win it for her team. I felt like a proud PGA Tour wife on the fringe waiting to run out on the green to congratulate her! Awards/dinner/cake/firepit were back at our house and I think the day was a rousing success. I certainly have more to report but I've got a lawn to mow! 3 weeks away and a ton of rain have made the grass/weeds that I call a lawn very lush...and it needs some attention.

I had these guys pictured in my head as Pete's "companions"...

The Open Final Tally: McIntyre T7 10 Fleetwood T16 5 Rai T34 5 Stracka T52 5 Hovland T63 5 Total: 30 pts. (a new personal record)

NCL Fleetwood Hovland McIntyre Rai Straka That's a 5 for 5 lineup!

Damn...missed it.

I'm going for it...wish me luck?