Fore!!!!

As I said in a previous post, we rented a house right on the golf course. Since we are new to Traverse City, at least as residents, we thought joining the country club might be a good way to meet people and get connected to the local community. Neither of us had every belonged to a country club before. Claire has never played golf, and even though I love to play I have never been interested in joining a club. For one reason, there are so many great golf courses why limit yourself to one? Also, country clubs always seemed a bit “snooty” to me.

But, if there was ever a time to try joining a club, it was now. Our neighbor next door is a retired state trooper and member of the club. He offered to “sponsor” us, and we joined during our first week in TC.

The next day I played my first round of golf. Claire decided to just walk along with me. The course is short but pretty challenging. I haven’t played a lot of golf since my son went of to college a decade ago, so my game is pretty “rusty.” But we enjoyed being out, and met a few ladies on the course who are long time members. They told us our house used to be the “party house,” and encouraged Claire to begin playing.

A few days later, I played a round with John, or neighbor and some of his buddies. My game was still pretty “raggedy,” but they put up with me with good humor. After the round one of the guys in the pro shop told me my wife had signed us up for the couples scramble on Friday night. I though this very odd, since Claire continued to say she had no interest in actually playing. When I got home, I asked Claire why she had signed us up. She didn’t know what I was talking about … Apparently one of the ladies we met on the course during our first round signed us up!

Claire was willing to give it a go, but said she would simply ride along in the cart while I played. We were partnered up with another couple. They were so gracious and encouraging to Claire that on the first tee she agreed to try and hit a few shots. She did amazingly well considering she has never played! I week later we bought her a set of starter clubs, and we have now played at least a half dozen rounds together. She has gotten good enough to be frustrated when she doesn’t hit the ball well. She is also hitting some of her drives long enough to actually lose a ball or two.

My son has come up from Chicago twice and we have played a couple of rounds during each visit.

We have thoroughly enjoyed the club thus far. The restaurant is excellent, and now that the weather is turning cold we are using the workout facilities regularly. We’ll see if we still use the club once we move out to our new house next summer…

Sunrise on the golf course … This is the view from the living room of our little house on the course.

Most every time we play we see deer and/or turkeys on the course …

Turkey for a caddy.

Claire with her brand new golf clubs!

Still smiling after her first round of golf …

Claire has a very good swing and lots of cute golf outfits!

The Bancino’s are known as the “dew busters” at the club since we are usually the first ones out in the morning …

Jake playing from a fairway bunker during his first round at the club.

During Jake’s second visit we played our annual “Father vs. Son Fall Classic” in the pretty questionable weather. We finished the first round just a thunder and lightening started …

Round one of the Father vs. Son Fall Classic.

We played round #2 in monsoon rain and wind …

One morning I sat out on the patio of our little house while catching up on email and watching the local high school invitational.

Our first dinner at the Club!