Spring 2019 and Golf’s Golden Sombrero

In my late 20’s and early 30’s my real passion was baseball.  Even still, the game still stokes fond memories.  I love the purity of the game and its rich history.  Baseball radio announcers are sports greatest storytellers.  The term, Golden Sombrero, means when a player is 0 for 4 in a single game but each out is registered by strikeout.  A rather dubious distinction for sure.  Well, the kick off to my 2019 golf season has seen me achieve golf’s version of the golden sombrero.  Today, I will be 0 for 4 in my attempts to kick off my 2019 golf season.  Sure, I’ve hit the range and I have been able to get to my club and work on my putting.  I’m not alone either.  I see social media posts from Alberta to Newfoundland sharing late season snow, flooding or delays in the start of course openings.  It’s not easy for Canadian golfers who are keen to get out and play.  I anticipate the start of my season being Wednesday May 15, which will be my latest in years, likely since my early 30’s when baseball topped my interests and golf, while still a significant interest, was not at the top of my list.

Here’s a brief recap of the past two weeks and my inauspicious debut to the golf season:

Friday April 26 – Following a work meeting in Newmarket, ON I had time to get a round in at a bucket list course, Bond Head.  The pro shop staff were fabulous.  While the course was open they mentioned it was also waterlogged in many places and given it was mandatory carts and cart path only, for a first timer it may detract from the experience.  Rain was also forecast and it was unseasonably cool.  This exchange capped it off.

Me – Glad to see you’re open, but the course seems quite wet.

Pro Shop – Yes, we’re glad to be open, and the course is looking good, but it is wet.  Do you see that creek over there (points to an adjacent fairway)?

Me – Yes.

Pro Shop – Uh, there usually isn’t a creek there.

Me – Oh my (as I plan my exit strategy).

Wednesday May 1 – The kickoff for the weekly Men’s Night at Hidden Lake Golf Club in Burlington, ON was cancelled a day in advance with cold and wet weather forecast.  Temperatures were better than expected (it may have hit 10c) but there was a steady, hard rain which hit an already saturated course.  The right call was made.

Friday, May 3 – My stepson has finished school and our schedules aligned allowing for a round to kick off the season.  The forecast was excellent, sunshine and milder temperatures coming in.  However, it seems the milder weather brought an unsuspecting layer of dense fog in off Lake Ontario and with visibility less than 100 yards it was impossible for us to play.  Of course, my stepson chirped that with the distance I am hitting the ball I could have been ok to track it.  Smart guy.

Monday, May 6 – I travelled to Newfoundland on business and wrote to Clovelly to explore a midday round.  I have played golf in Newfoundland before at Pippy Park and was excited for this chance.  However, in my communication with the course there, they’re not open yet.  Yes, a cold spring is delaying their opening.  As I write this, on Thursday May 9, there’s been wet snow intermittently today.

So, there you have it.  Golf’s version of the golden sombrero.  Fellow Canadians can empathize.  Snow in Alberta and Saskatchewan, as recently as this past weekend; flooding in parts of Ontario and Quebec and a damp and cool spring in eastern Canada meant there’s many of us who are well below our quota for the early season.

Book that tee time, layer up and enjoy the early season.  Here’s hoping it’s a perfect summer for us Canadian golfers…the spring of 2019 has many of us waiting and wanting.

Cheers!