Yesterday we had a really nice day at the Jersey Shore for the first day of winter. I decided I couldn't let it pass, so I wandered down to Shark River Golf Course about 10:30. The county courses close for the winter on Wednesday, so this is probably the last chance I'll get to play Shark until late March or maybe April.
A lot of other guys had the same idea. A bunch of walk-on singles signed up right behind me. One of them was a big guy with a big belly. Looked about 60, with very white hair. He had smiles and hellos all around -- for me too, though I never saw him before.
Anyway, the starter put me in with three other walk-ons and sent us out. He held the big guy for 15-20 minutes to see if anybody else would show up; when nobody did, he was sent out as a single. We caught the group ahead of us -- and the general traffic jam of the crowded course -- by the fourth hole; he was right behind us by the seventh.
Coupla' things I guess I didn't mention about the big guy. His white hair was fairly long in back, and matched by a large beard that easily covered his neck. He wore a bright red sweater and a red golf hat.
By the tenth hole, he had been on our tails for four holes. He seemed surprisingly content there, playing several balls and practicing his short game on the green so he wouldn't come up as we were teeing off. He clearly understood that we were as backed up as he was. Even so, one of the guys in my foursome wondered aloud, "Hey, isn't it bad karma this time of year not to let Santa play through?" Actually, it hadn't occurred to us until that moment -- but the reference was perfectly apt.
Happy holidays! DaveT
