And so, I'm off (to the Open Championship).
by turnover on Jul 1, 2010 3:18 PM EDT
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PrintFirst things first, a couple of confessions.
One: I do not like to fly. I'll do it, but I don't like it. If I had my druthers, I'd take a car or a train everywhere. But some destinations make flying the only reasonable option. And tomorrow, I must board an airplane. Two, actually.
Two: I'm 35, but I've only been a golfer (and, as such, a golf fan) for a few years. I would assume that like many others I was unable to truly enjoy watching hours of golf coverage on television until I took up the game myself and came to realize just how excruciatingly difficult it is. Anyway, though, I must confess to having never attended a professional golf tournament. I live in North Alabama, and the nearest PGA Tour stops are several hours away. And, historically, if I'm going to drive four or five hours to attend a sporting event, I'm going to Louisville or Lexington - to Churchill Downs or Keeneland. Those venues at least offer me a reasonable shot at returning home with more money than I left with.
But in a couple of weeks I'll be attending first ever golf tournament, and it just so happens that it will be The Open. A planned family vacation placed me in Ireland in July, and there was no way under the sun that I was going to be that close to Scotland and not attend The Open - especially at St. Andrews.
I have tickets for Wednesday's practice day and the first day of the championship itself. Interesting that I'll watch the first round at St. Andrews, miss coverage of the second round while in transit, and then watch the final two rounds jet-lagged and blurry-eyed from my couch in Alabama.
My hope is for windy, drizzly conditions on Thursday. If I'm gong to The Open, I want it to be The Open. I have a good umbrella.
My pick: I have a feeling about McIlroy, and it is on young Rory that I shall place my wager. Ah, legal bookmaking...what a concept. The only thing that would make it better is if it were parimutuel.
I will do my best to document what I see and hear and report back to Waggle Room. Bernard Darwin I ain't, but again, I'll do my best.
FanPosts are written by Waggle Room members. Viewpoints expressed do not necessarily reflect those of WaggleRoom.com, editor, Charles Boyer or any other writer or member.
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Hey Turnover
howdy, and have a good time….Watch out for a guy name Easingwald who will also be at the Open….Do not, I repeat, DO NOT under any circumstances start drinking with this guy….He can down more pints per hour than almost anyone over there, well,,,with the exception of Wendy, but she doesn’t really count,, cause she says she only drinks half pints or something like that…..And, do not forget to get the PUB GRUB….best stuff going…will be waiting to see what your impressions of the place are….STUB
Heh.
Pints will be consumed, my friend.
It’d be great to meet up with any of the UK Wagglers. I can best be reached at econogolfer(at)gmail.com.
"Golf is happiness. It's intoxication without the hangover." - Moe Norman
Hope you have an absolutely wonderful time, turnover
You’ve never attended a professional golf tournament before and you kick off at St. Andrews?
Sheesh. Look forward to your notes.
Saint Andrew is the patron saint of first-time golf major attendees.
Thought everyone knew that, especially over there.
by TXQ on Jul 1, 2010 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes.
Attending my first professional golf tournament at St. Andrews seems rather like my “first time” having been with, say, Angelina Jolie. It’ll be a lot to take in.
"Golf is happiness. It's intoxication without the hangover." - Moe Norman
So true. Let's start off with, say, Helen Mirren.
by TXQ on Jul 1, 2010 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
True, but surely not in Angelina's league/generation/ballpark.
by TXQ on Jul 1, 2010 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't know.
Something tells me Dame Helen has…skills.
"Golf is happiness. It's intoxication without the hangover." - Moe Norman
I'm more "So old, so disturbing," no?
(Not really)
by TXQ on Jul 1, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions
You're in your prime !
Come on TO – SWIM !! :-)
I enjoy flying – but the way I wish I could make a trip like that is by boat. A nice cruise ship making the trip in…what…3 days ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
The idea of crossing the pond via ship...
…is so appealing it’s beyond belief. Unfortunately, it’s time consuming and extremely expensive.
Still, it’d be nice to do just once, if only so I could pretend I was Bobby Jones or Scott Fitzgerald.
"Golf is happiness. It's intoxication without the hangover." - Moe Norman
My former wife...
…could never understand my periodic need to kick back with a bottle of bourbon and Gordon Lightfoot on the turntable.
"Golf is happiness. It's intoxication without the hangover." - Moe Norman
Thanks A LOT!
Now I can’t get Gordon Lightfoot songs out of my head!
I believe they have a memorial each year for the Edmund Fitzgerald at Split Rock Lighthouse.
We love our ore boats in Minnesota.
I write about golf at www.tees2greens.com, too.
And "Cold on the Shoulder" is one of his
underrated best. Buy it off iTunes if you can.
You're always pointing fingers, Court.
Someone will have to explain that one to Wendy.
And Court, do you really think I’d let wrong locales get in the way of a joke?
by TXQ on Jul 1, 2010 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Hell, I'll do it. Wendy, Lake Superior is one of the
Finger Lakes, along with Lake Erie, Huron, and Placid 1 and 2.
by TXQ on Jul 1, 2010 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I had no idea you were geographically challenged, TXQ
Does this constitute your Miss South Carolina impression? The Finger Lakes can be found exclusively in upstate New York.
Lake Superior (aka Gitchigumi) is the northernmost of the five Great Lakes that sit on the border between the US and Canada. The five lakes (Superior, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, Erie) form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface and volume.
"(I)f you think you've got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated." Saul Alinsky
The lakes I know
although I can’t recall the mnemonic for them we were taught at school. Actually dipped my toes in Lake Michigan on holiday in Chicago.
Perhaps Easing can give TO some tips re visit to St. Andrews – I’ve only been there once.
Be glad to...played it twice,
but been there 8 times. Turnover can e mail me at jkkharris@hotmail.com…I’ll send some pics of the place. I know some good drinking holes too.
Surely you know I was kidding, Diane. It was all leading to the
Placid punchline. Two flicks, Lake Placid 1 and a sequel.
You and Pelosi......funny people...
I loved the one about Unemployment leading to higher employment…..funny lady……she needs to give up her day job…..
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
My delivery is superior to Pelosi's.
Tough to prove in the comment section.
Sorry.......I didn't
mean to insult you, by including you in my Pelosi comment. I think she may be on to something……Maybe if we all quit our jobs, unemployment will go to 0%……..
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
Another diff between Pelosi and myself, Em:
I blink every now and then.
you only hear what you want to hear, em
She’s referring to legislation, specifically the bill being stalled by your friends that would extend unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed. Extending benefits would keep those people in their homes, buying food and other essential goods and services from people who ARE employed. As demand for those goods and services grows suppliers will need to hire more people, including those long-term unemployed. Eventually they’ll have disposable income to spend on items that increase demand for more than just the basics. It’s like the reverse of St. Ronnie of Hollywood’s “trickle down” economics, except it actually works.
"(I)f you think you've got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated." Saul Alinsky
Yeah, we all see how it's working....
and 65% of the country sees it too. My friends don’t have a problem with the benefits….it’s just that your friends need to cut spending some where else so we don’t go deeper into debt with Obammmma’s trickle up bankruptcy……
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
"you only hear what you want to hear"
That’s why I always want to hear what you say, Diane, notwithstanding that one time when you actually thought I thought Lake Placid was a Finger Lake, of course, but that’s water under the bridge.
by TXQ on Jul 2, 2010 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey D...please don't snark on
ol TX when he’s trying to get to a punch line…it ruins his entire day…now, he’ll probably sit an sulk all morning….OH, and I get a feeling…..were you ever a school teacher? jist askin….LOL :) ATUB
Why do I get the feeling that my ticket would be stamped for The Titanic ? ;-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
"Don't give me those negative vibes"
Luckily there’s no “The Titanic II”. Even I will contribute a $ or two to your St. Andrew’s fund (max. that is ;o).
The sister ship was called the Bronson ? :-D
I just thought there was a second ship built just like the Titanic…guess not.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
There was, Court, but it sank while being built.
Forty-one carpenters lost their lives.
by TXQ on Jul 2, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought so...
…from Wiki – “Titanic was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, and designed to compete with the rival Cunard Line’s Lusitania and Mauretania. Titanic, along with her Olympic-class sisters, Olympic and the soon-to-be-built Britannic (which was to be called Gigantic at first), were intended to be the largest, most luxurious ships ever to operate.”
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Did it ever sail ? How about Britannic ? (good choice not to rename it Gigantic, eh ?)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Yeah, she was funny in her small cow-bait role.
But Oliver Platt and the actor who played the cop stole the show.
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