Golf Day with Mark

This is the 18th hole at Sky Mountain, Hurricane, UT. I had to miss the homes on the left and the rough,out of bounds desert, on the right. Approx four hours earlier, we'd Tee'd off at 0648 hours and we weren't even the first out there! Not a Tiger-Woods-type-swing, not the best form, but it went straight down the middle, 225-235 yards... felt great to to end with my best drive of the day.
And, look at the gorgeous views (Carol and Linda need to come along some day, Carol could get some much better pictures with her super-camera) I'd love to live along here. . .our golf partner who joined us today, Von, does. He plays 3-4 days a week here, and at 76 years old plays very well. I think he was wearing his first pair of golf shoes. I guess retired physiology university professors can live this life :)

Here's my mentor, my coach-playing panther, my favorite bro-in-law Mark, on the same T shot.

Here we are, all done, ready for the club house to scarf down our free lunch, grilled bratwurst, before getting a bucket of balls for a little follow-up practice before leaving this paradise. I'm smiling in above picture only because, late in life, (not too late I hope) I've realized what I'd missed out on. Great to be out doors, healthy enough to enjoy it, no siren, barking dogs, police helicopters, smog, graffiti or low-life's. Now, as I blog on my lap-top, reclining in my lazy-boy pull out section of our sectional couch, my back a little achy, I realize how blessed I truly am; golf seems to be a catalyst for this feeling. I had been lead to believe golf was a worthless activity because of what I'd heard Dad say about this game: "I can't see the joy in spending money to hit and then chase a little ball around. . . " I love my dad. Too bad we couldn't have gotten out on a golf course, but then again, he did teach me how to fish & hunt, two very important aspects of life from his generation.