A February Round In Michigan – The Streak At 120

A February Round In Michigan – The Streak At 120

In this last week of the month of February, it finally warmed up enough to melt the snow and allow a round of golf.

This brings my streak of consecutive months in which I have played at least one round in Michigan to 120.

For my round, I headed to Huron Hills golf course in Ann Arbor, which is always open — or at least the lower seven are always open.

Huron Hills is a Tom Bendelow design that dates to 1922. Seven holes are on one side of Huron River drive; eleven — the hills part of Huron Hills — are on the other side. The eleven hilly holes are always closed in the winter.

Greens fees in the winter months are just $5 and the city has an “honor box” (in the upper left of the photo). I of course paid. No one needs bad karma following them around on the golf course.

Huron HIlls was notably wet, with large pools of standing water in places. Snow also was still hanging around in spots, particuarly those shaded by trees or hills.

I was, however, prepared with my Oregon Mudders golf boots. They are not the best for flexibility, but are warm and waterproof. They’ve got screw-in cleats on the bottoms. Another pair of Oregon Mudders I have are a cleatless design, but are only ankle high. I figured on this day I would need the full boot, and I was correct.

On winter rounds, I never worry about playing well or learning anything about either my swing or my game. Still, I thought I played passibly well after more several weeks’ layoff.

Only seven holes were open, so the way to get eighteen in at Huron Hills in the winter is to play 1 – 7 then 1 and 2; 1 – 7 then 1 and 2. One is a par 5 goes away from the clubhouse, and two is a par five that returns to the right of the clubhouse and the first tee.

I take a Sunday bag with just a few clubs. It makes it easier to navigate around puddles, ice and snow.

Normally on these winter rounds, I am not the only person on the course. Today was an exception. Perhaps that is becasue the temperatures are supposd to get to the mid fifties tomorrow.

Winter is by no means over, but I can see proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. And no, it’s not an oncoming train. We likely will get some more snow and ice over the next month, but the weather will steadily warm and the golf courses will be busy again.