Hanukkah Bush

It's that time again. We're in town for the holidays, so decided to get a tree for the first time in a couple years. . First stop - the Guardsmen Lot at Fort Mason...

... because Bloody Marys.

Found a perfect tree in short order, and didn't even mind the usual madhouse getting out.

This year's decorating drink of choice - Brandy Alexander.

The goal was to get it done before the end of Hanukkah.

 Mission Accomplished

Wide Stance at Sharp Park

We had a foursome booked for a round at Sharp Park, but Brad had a hangover (my interpretation) so Ed, Zach, and I played as a threesome on a clear, brisk, windy morning. Brad has, of course, now been delegated to the Double Secret Probation Unreliable Golfer List.  

I've once again abandoned the "Live" aspect of my usual "Live Blogging" rounds, in favor of a single post with selected shots. While a relief to my playing partners, not live blogging the rounds to concentrate on my swing does not appear to be helping my game.

 After two rounds in two days at Lincoln and Sharp, with virtually identical (bad) scores, my widely anticipated golf breakthrough will apparently be pushed into 2016. This despite some coaching on the course, as Zach took it upon himself to begin proffering swing advice to both of us. Here he is coaching Ed on weight shift during the swing:

He was also highly critical of my wide stance. I adjusted it to humor him. Surprisingly, some of my best drives were realized with the narrower stance. This might be the golfing breakthrough I've been waiting for.

I've not been to Sharp Park in few months, so was curious to see some of the improvements that were finally implemented at the course after years of pointless litigation. The most dramatic change on the course was the rebuilt bridge and conduit at the 12th hole over the now cleared connecting channel from Horse Stable Pond to Laguna Salada. There should be a name for this bridge, like the "Hogan Bridge" at Augusta, or the "Swilcan Bridge" at St. Andrews. I'm thinking "Brent's Bane"... Just a thought. 

In any case, the frogs are going to love it. With tules partially dredged, algae filling in and an optimal open water breeding channel, we can expect a veritable population explosion of California Red Legged Frogs at the course. It will just make inevitable future litigation by the W.E.B.L.E.E.D.U. Axis that much more difficult for them.  Back to golf....

16th Tee

17th Tee Portrait

Ed brings us home on 18th Tee

We ran into Butch over beer and burgers at the 19th hole...

... where the Sharp Park Social Media Strike Force planned strategy for the coming year.

Oh yeah.

108.

I know.

Pathetic. But another good day of bad golf. 

Bad Day at Lincoln Park

Actually, it was a very good day. A little cool - in the 50's - but sunshine and crystal clear. One of those days when you feel like you can see for miles. Quite literally in this case. If you biggify the pic on the 5th green at the top of the post, you can see the Farallons in the distance - some 30 miles away.  I'm playing with Bob and Rick. The starter added Matias to fill out the foursome.  He said he was game to be documented for my live blogging golf fetish - so here we go.

The day was good, my golf was bad. By the time we got to the 5th tee I already had 3 snowmen on my scorecard with more to come. Rick did what he could to let me close the gap on the back, but to no avail. He beat me this round, which always makes me wonder whether it is time to give up the game.

I spent time distracting myself from the horror of my scorecard with underused features on the Samsung, including "Burst Mode".  I was hoping it would allow me to catch the ball in the air off the tee, and possibly create an animated gif or two.

That exceeded my technology bandwidth, so there was no "live blogging" this round. Instead, we are settling for this EOD post with pics from the round. Deal with it.

Missing a birdie putt on 11

Bob on 13th tee

Rick on 13th tee

Bob waiting for Rick's 2nd on 13

Matias on 17th Tee

Traditional 17th Tee Portrait

19th Hole

Matias had a 76.

In retrospect, none of the other scores matter.

Dawn Patrol at Lincoln Park

A rare fog free morning - on the 9th green

I generally do not blog my frequent back 9 Dawn Patrol outings at Lincoln Park. Today was an exception. Got a text yesterday from Tim, a bay area expat, now living in the frozen wasteland of Wisconsin. He was in town and suggested we get together. He is one of the few - perhaps only - golf buddy who ever joined me on my Lincoln Dawn Patrol excursions. He immediately signed up for this morning's outing. I brought an old set of backup clubs, which turned out to be relevant.., as you will see from this screenshot...

This is called "Foreshadowing"

On the 11th tee

Out of the trap and over the green on 14

This is where I break him....

On the 15th green, after my 200 yard uphill drive to the center of the fairway, and my Scottish style bump and run approach to the green in regulation. Shortly after this clip, TM broke down sobbing unconsolably on the green. 

Posted by Michael Wallach on Saturday, November 21, 2015

On the 15th green, after my 200 yard uphill drive to the center of the fairway and my Scottish-style, bump and run, approach lands on the green in regulation. Shortly after this clip, Tim broke down sobbing inconsolably on the green.

A practice shot on 17

17th Tee

Tim is complaining about the clubs. It's a poor carpenter who blames his tools. 

Final score:

MW - 48
TM - 53

Just sayin.... 

Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device

A Random Celebration

There was no reason for the gifts, balloons, cards or flowers on this day. None whatsoever.

Nor was there any reason for champagne on our way out for the evening.

Nor was there any reason to go out for dinner and enjoy our recently re-legalized  favorite - foie gras at L'ardoise - a French Bistro we wanted to try...
.

No reason at all. This was just a random Thursday celebration and absolutely no one involved was celebrating a birthday.  I just wanted to clear that up.

Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing to see here. Move along.