It is virtually impossible to play golf in the rain without someone quoting Caddyshack. The title of this post, arguably the most famous quote from one of the most quotable movies ever, is said, by someone, as soon as the rain starts. In the movie, it is an answer to the direct question of whether The Bishop should stop his round due to weather. In life, it is usually the answer to an unasked question.
This past weekend, I played 4 rounds of golf and the only time I heard a quote from Caddyshack was driving to the course. This is probably because "the heavy stuff" started before we did. We left the house before we had confirmation that anyone was even at the course. We were able to contact the course during a stop at WaWa for breakfast, at which time we were told that we could play, "but it's like a swamp out there." That was both obvious and a slight understatement.
I first posted about my golf weekend last year. I have played this weekend for more than 10 years. We play in late March for various reasons. The weekend started as a Masters watching and playing weekend. However, we soon realized (duh?) that playing 2 rounds of golf leaves very little time for watching the Masters. Not to mention that 30-40 X-Box Nascar races also eat into golf watching. So we moved it away from the Masters. We settled on late March to take advantage of the end of "winter" rates and play before spring sports start for the kids. When this started, only one person had kids. Now we all do and we all have various spring commitments.
The biggest problem with a late March weekend is inconsistent weather. I chuckled as I wrote that, because "inconsistent" is a generous way to say potentially brutal. This year, weather ranged from grey and mildly chilly to "Where's Noah and that boat?" We drove to the course in steady rain and chilly weather. We had sprinkles, wind, downpours and cold for 24 hours. It took five runs of the dryer to dry all the clothes when we got home from the course.
Sunday brought a whole new level of inconsistent. We started in cloudy, chilly weather, with some wind, but no rain. For most of the first round I was pleased with the weather. For the last 45 minutes of the first round, I was soaked and freezing. It sleeted for a while. We played the final three holes, including a 560 yard par 5, into a driving rain. When I stepped into the course restaurant to get lunch, the bartender actually gasped. He then asked if we were at the turn. We told him we finished 18 and he congratulated us on finishing. Upon being informed that we were not finished and we had 18 more holes to play, he laughed and said, "You are as crazy as those guys who played 36 yesterday."
"Yeah. That was us."
After lunch, we headed back out in relatively benign conditions. Once again, things picked up on the back 9 and my partner and I finished playing into a cold, driving rain and 20-30 mile per hour winds. There was no reference to Caddyshack. There were no "heavy stuff" jokes or claims that the Good Lord would never ruin my best game ever. There was no mention of the Dalai Lama - big hitter, the Lama. There was no Cinderella story. There were 72 holes. Cold weather. Every shot landing in a splash, whether there was a hazard or not. And animals, scurrying 2 by 2, to some unknown destination, away from the golf course.
As I look back on my weekend, I am amazed at a few things. First, for as bad as the weather was, and at times it was miserable, we were not the only people on the course, either day. Although, we did close the place down both days. The one guy who had to stay until we finished did not look pleased.
Second, under what conditions would they not let us play?
Third, and most amazingly, we spent a great deal of time discussing whether this weekend was the worst weather we have played in. This was not a runaway, as we have played in some pretty tough weather in the past. Sunday night, when only three of us were left, we agreed that this was the worst weather for four full rounds. We've played in colder weather, windier weather and rainier weather. We have never played 4 rounds over two days with this combination and no let up.
Last year I posted about an "unbreakable tradition." That explains, in part, why we played in such conditions. We also play because that is why we are there - to play golf. If they let us on the course, we will play. Ultimately, though, I think the conditions make the weekend more special. This weekend was brutal. I loved it. Most of the reason I loved it was because I endured it with friends. I endured it with a select group of people who will also endure such conditions. Honestly, other people who played on one of those two days were amazed that we put in 36 holes both days. We went extreme even on other golfers, even on other extreme golfers. There is something special about that. And every year, we get to do it again, compare it to past years, and relive memories...and war stories.
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