It's Coming to an End!

(Highland National GC, Tuesday, September 27, 2011)

Four months and eighteen days after it started, the 2011 MGA Tournament Season is coming to a close. Unfortunately, it is finishing much the same way it started - in the rain.

On May 9 at Bunker Hills, we endured a three hour delay due to lightning and heavy rain before we were able to start a US Open Local Qualifying. Today, we have endured light rain (but no delays) through the final round of the 38th MGA Senior Four-Ball Championship.

It is difficult to believe another season has come and gone. It seems just like yesterday that I was patiently waiting for the storms to pass, and then took a walk through a nearly completed clubhouse while five players earned their way to the regional qualifying for the US Open. Yet today, I am writing this as we wait for the final wave of 76 players to finish their rounds. In less than three hours, it will all be over!

Obviously, the end of the season is a mixed bag of emotions for me. I am relieved the pressure of a non-stop schedule of preparing for and then conducting events is off. Yet, it will mean not seeing our players, many of whom have become my friends, until next April 1 when they come into the MGA office to turn in their applications for the upcoming season. It also means that the warm sunshine, refreshing breezes and green grass will be replaced by low gray clouds, biting north winds and white landscapes. (Although, it will give me the opportunity for the aerobic exercise called "shoveling" to lose the extra pounds gained by eating the donuts, lunches and snacks often found at our tournament sites.)

With the end of the official golf season, my attention will turn to the baseball post-season. I'm hoping my Texas Rangers will make another successful run to the World Series (and win this time). My Arizona Wildcats are not playing well enough to garner much interest, and the NFL just doesn't have it any more. (The NBA ... at least the Mavericks won a championship before it goes away!) So, I can start looking toward Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year before the PGA TOUR resumes out in Hawaii in the warm sunshine, refreshing breezes and green grass.

Until next time-

Doug

7TH GOPHER INVITATIONAL, Spring Hill GC

The end of the golf season, or at least the tournament portion thereof, is within view. This is apparent for many reasons. First, football season has taken over the sports broadcasts and newspaper sections. Second, talk in baseball is the pennant races and upcoming playoffs. (The Twins abysmal performance has help promote the first reason.) Third, Labor Day has come and gone. Fourth, the weather is starting to cool. And, fifth, the Gopher Invitational is here.

This is the seventh edition of the Invitational - all here at Spring Hill. Spring Hill is a great facility. It has a very challenging course that is always in impeccable condition thanks to Superintendent Tim Johnson and his staff. Even with the challenging growing conditions of 2011, he has the course looking as good as ever. It is likely the most challenging and best conditioned course these players will play this entire 2011-2012 collegiate season.

Also, the food is wonderful! I am truly thankful that I don't have more events out here as I would weigh significantly more than I do already. Yet, I appreciate my one day out here annually. Fresh, homemade blueberry/white chocolate scones, some of the best bacon you can find, fresh cookies, 1919 Root Beer. I could go on and on but I won't so you don't get hungry.

This year marks John Carlson's first to oversee the entire Men's Gopher Golf program. Carlson was rehired to run the Men's program after he served as the Men's Coach under John Harris through a tumultuous 2010-2011 year. He looks to put his own stamp on the program that has seen significant highs and lows over the past ten years.

The weather looks to be perfect, so there will be no excuses blaming the weather for poor play, unless it is due to the sun getting in the player's eyes. This weather is why we (or many of us) suffer through playing in the cold spring and late fall days. Glorious is the best word to describe the next two days.

Lastly, on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, may we all remember the events of that tragic day and work to keep from them happening again. May we regain the unity we, as Americans, shared in the aftermath and overcome the partisan bickering that has taken over politics and society. And lastly, but most importantly, may we pray that God, through us, bring peace and harmony to an otherwise wonderful world.

Until next time-

Doug