Fair Weather Golf and the Power of the Tee Time

I have always loved playing golf. But some of the conditions I have played in have made me rethink when I play golf. Kathy and I have been playing golf for about 20 years now. We have played casual rounds of golf, we have played in fund raiser tournaments,  we have joined pro-am tournaments and we have organized get together events. Over the years that has put us in many different weather conditions under different playing circumstances. We have played in cold weather, hot weather, rain storms and even in a bit of hail. I can tell you my favorite conditions are partly cloudy, 80 degrees and a little breezy. I guess you could call me a a “Fair Weather Golfer”.  I can also tell you that I hate playing in a cold rain. How do I know this? Because I have played in all of these conditions more times than I wish to admit. And every time, I swear to myself and Kathy, that I will NEVER again play in whatever condition I am enduring at that time.  But before you know it, another Tee Time as been made. 

That is where the power of the tee time takes control and makes me do things I don’t want to do. When I make a tee time to play golf and it is just Kathy and I, I check the weather first. If it is a nice day, I book it and we go play. If the weather turns bad before we start playing, we cancel and live to play another day. No issue. But, if I am booked with a group of people in any way, the tee time is god. I show up early, warm up, and get to the tee box 10 minutes before I am supposed to tee off and then we are off to play.   No matter what the conditions are, I am there. I do my best to bring whatever I need to get through the round under whatever conditions that day brings. That means I have been standing under my umbrella in the middle of a course in Slovakia in a cold rain so heavy that you could not see the fairway. And playing in the jungle course of Indonesia during the warm monsoon season when the rain is all there is to play in. I have played on courses that were so hot I thought I was going to pass out standing still. I have even played wondering why I would put on five layers of cloths to hit a rock hard frozen ball or even be outside at all. I have endured all of this because someone made a tee time. The tee time is more important to me than a doctors appointment. I have and will in the future cancel other obligations before I cancel a tee time. I will go home early from a party or event the night before an early tee time. Just about the only thing I haven’t tested is having to choose between a funeral and a tee time. But, you can bet that if the person that died was a golfer that I knew, I would play the round of golf. 

I know a lot of golfers and I am sure not many of them feel the same way about the tee time as I do. It is understandable because I am a little overboard about it. But since both Kathy and I know this we make little accommodations to help me not look so pathetic. Like; I keep everything I need to play a round of golf in the car. I make tee times in the morning so I am not doing something else that I have to stop in order to go play. When I make the tee time, I only invite people that I know will show up on time. There are a couple exceptions to that rule. And it makes me a little anxious every time. 

I know this all may make me sound a little crazy. I can assure you that I am not. I have just come to learn that I play golf a little better if I don’t have to worry about my tee time. I am not angry at someone under my breath or rushed. And I know that the only thing I have to think about is golf. Then I can enjoy the day, the course, the people I am with and the round.

So, if you ever meet up with me and want to play a round of golf, I am there. And you better be as well. 

By: Marc Festa

We are 18 Holes and Counting.  Fairways and Greens.