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So it’s Tuesday, and somehow I’m outside putting (it’s 55 degrees) even though it’s January 23rd and I’m in Maryland. There’s no global warming, right? Even so, it will be a lot nicer when I get to Orlando on Thursday night. That is not always the case. If you happen to hit Florida when one of those Canadian cold fronts sweeps in it can be pretty cold and windy, but thankfully the 7 day forecast calls for temps in the 70’s. That’s extra good for me, because my old beat-up body functions much better in the heat than in the cold.
Friday is the day I attend the PGA show. If you’ve never been it’s worth the trip at least once, because you’ve never seen anything like it. The Orlando Convention Center is like a city with a roof over it, and you can literally walk over a mile to get from one end to the other. Of course, there are hundreds, maybe over a thousand booths lining the place with everything even remotely concerned with golf represented. The savvy marketers hire fine looking young women to hawk their wares, and your chances of seeing everything in one day are slim, as you take your time at strategic moments.
You may pass an equipment company or two, swing simulators, shaft manufacturers, driving range merchandise, the latest swing aids and gizmos, great pictures, books, and memorabilia, video analysis stuff, clothes, shoes, you name, it’s here for you to browse and maybe take something with you if you can talk the vendor into selling it to you. I always focus on the teaching aids, and every year I find something at least interesting enough to try. I like things that are small and specific that attack certain swing issues, although every manufacturer will claim their item will guarantee the perfect swing from start to finish. The day is exhausting but fun, and you run into people you know in the business about every 3 minutes. I’m thinking about getting a shirt that says “hi, how you doing, I’m fine, the family is fine, I’m still in Maryland, it’s cold there, good to see you, talk to you later”. Not that I’m antisocial or anything.
After the show I’m going down to Jupiter Saturday morning to play Jupiter Hills with one of the club site members, Jimmy Farina. I’ve given Jimmy a couple of online lessons, and he has driven down from Westchester (NY) to take a face to face lesson as well. He wants me to watch him play and take a few pictures of his swing so I can go back and analyze it. Not a bad deal, since Jupiter Hills is one of the best courses in the United States, a totally unique Florida golf course and a real pleasure to play.
Sunday I’m back in Orland for the Isleworth Invitational, a two-man team event where I play with a member of Woodmont. There is team competition (scratch) and an individual tourney for the 30 odd pros that play. Most of the players are club pros, but there is the odd mini-tour pro (Damon Green won last year), and Brandel Chamblee played as well. We play the course at 7000 yards, and it is a bitch. Almost every green is elevated, the bunkers deep, the pitching areas tight, and the greens fast and roly-poly. It is a real challenge, especially coming out of the snow country, although this year has been much warmer and I’ve been able to practice on the course more than usual. My training and therapy are doing quite well and my swing looks better than it almost ever has so I am hopeful that I can play better this year than in year’s past.
I think Isleworth has the best men’s locker room in history. Downstairs there is a huge bar, 7 massive TVs, extra- large and comfy lazy boys to watch from, a regulation basketball hoop with almost a full half court, a golf course simulator, a putting green, and two of those basketball hoop games where you toss the small balls through the small hoops from about 10 feet. It is a rich guy’s playground, and there is a chance that you could finish your round and never make it out of the locker room. Oh yes, there is a spiral staircase leading to the lockers upstairs, with the mandatory Jacuzzi, steam, and sauna. Trust me, you really don’t want to leave once you have a cold one in your hand and you’re laid out in one of those lazy boys watching golf or football. And the food is to die for. Anyway, I’ll let you know how I play next week.