Family Golf

Yesterday my two brothers, my elder son and I went golfing.

Years ago we used to golf year round but now we golf only in the summertime, and even then only when it's not raining, too windy or suffering from any other inclement weather. Yesterday was perfect for our kind of golf. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, but not too hard, and the course wasn't too crowded.

The four of us go by nicknames while on the golf course, and other times for that matter. I, as the oldest, and in consideration of my term as president of the local Eagles club, am known as The Prez. Comes my next brother, Harry, known as The Chief for his years as Battalion chief with the Bellingham fire Department. The comes our little brother, Keith, known as The Shacho because he is the owner (shacho in Japanese means company boss) of a meat supply house in Bellingham (previous mentioned in this blog as the best west of the Mississippi and east of Hawaii). Then comes Glenn, my son, who because of his age is known as The JP (Junior Partner).

The Prez being helped along by a kibitzer

The Chief following through on a fine shot

The Shacho preparing to out drive us all as usual

The JP preparing to smite a mighty blow

Yesterday we played at the Swinomish Links, previously known as Similk Beach Golf Course. The course is in transition from a rather nondescript, duffer friendly (wide open) course with lots of potential to one with more challenges, as they say in the game. What that means to golfers like our family is we lose more balls because of the increased height of the rough and the increasingly large areas of long grass, deep bunkers and sand traps. Even after the recent warm spell the course was a lush green where it would have had brown fairways in years past.

We teed off at 0940 and played a relaxed game with no one pushing us and nobody in front to slow us down. When we were younger we kept score but as we've grown older we don't bother. We play for the camaraderie and exercise. The camaraderie is wonderful and raises the spirits for the rest of the week. The exercise feels good that day but I suffer for a couple days after with sore muscles and stiff joints. I suppose it doesn't bother the younger members of our foursome but I'm beginning to notice the after effects.

We finished up our round at about ten to two, changed shoes, loaded up our clubs and headed to the Mexico Cafe in Mt Vernon for some chips, salsa, fried jalapenos, cold bean salad and posole or menudo with the mandatory tortillas. 

As I get older I appreciate more and more the time spent with my family. I realize the time is short when we can play together so best to enjoy it while we can.