Extending The Streak to 59 – A January Golf Round In Michigan
On January 2, 2020, I got out to play a round of golf at Washtenaw Golf Club in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The round marked the 59th consecutive month in which I have played at least one round in Michigan.
Contrary to what many think of Michigan, rounds in November and December are fairly routine in the southeast part of the state. Temperatures are generally in the upper thirties and forties, and if there the snow is off the ground, there are several courses open.
January golf rounds are a little trickier. February is touch and go. Last year, I played on the last day of the month in positively frigid weather.
On this January morning, I was skeptical about getting in a round. Although temperatures were in the mid 40s, there was a blanket of snow on the ground from the previous day’s storm. By one pm, however, it had mostly melted away and I was good to go.
January golf (as well as February golf) has its own set of special issues, not least of which is simply getting a tee into the ground. Fortunately, like any good Eagle Scout, I was prepared. Several companies make conical rubber golf tees that are designed to sit on the hard ground. They are, as far as I can tell, indistinguishable from one another. I bought a random set on Amazon.
The rubber golf tees actually work pretty well, and the cord that keeps them together prevents the tees from flying off into oblivion.
As luck would have it, I managed to roll my ball into several of the random “snow traps” that were left on the course. The snow was wet, and heavy and as difficult to advance as a ball stuck in mud.
Someone needs to develop a snow wedge.
On the round, I encountered an “old friend,” a hawk that I see regularly on holes fifteen and sixteen. It is a magnificent bird.
There also is a fox that lives on the course, but I did not see her today.
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Friday (01/03/2020) was much nicer. Everything was thawed so tees could be inserted in the ground and there was virtually no snow anywhere on the course. The green conditions and speeds are still decent, compared to some other local courses.
We will see what February brings.
Where did you play?
Washtenaw on 1/3/2020. I was told I was the 2nd one off that day at around 10:30am. The person in front of me must have played 1,2,3 and 9 because he disappeared. When I was done there must have been close to 30 people playing.