GOLF—
The Miniature Variety
Finally, the weather conspired with
our social calendar to allow us a round of golf.
This course, within walking
distance of our camper, is like a grand ole’ lady—showing lots of wrinkles,
however.
In its younger years the course
must have been a dandy. It is 36 holes
of challenging design combined with an artsy, jungle motif. It makes good use of the gently rolling
terrain. Streams full of BIG goldfish
meander along its fairways and artificial pools—now dried up—offer additional fairway
challenges.
In the upper picture Sue is putting
in a cave-like structure which has a nice waterfall flowing above her back,
outside the little window. Even here
there is evidence large decorations once graced the design. Now, only rusty iron fittings and hanging
wire remain.
The puddle of water in the middle
photo is evidently from a recent rain, likely trapped in the fairway depression
by a failed drain.
Note the rotted wooden steps in the left
foreground of the lower photo and the absence of landscaping detail in the
patches of bare ground.
Here and there around the course rotted wood has been
replaced by treated lumber or the newer, resin-based material creating a
pattern that seems totally dependent on the availability of scrap.
Elsewhere, old rotting ropes were
showing the ravages of sub-tropical humidity and the sun had bleached
colorfully painted tee markers.
The young man at the desk was
politely apologetic when he inquired if we would be returning. “We fix whatever we can as often as we can;
almost daily,” he lamented.
It’s the old business conundrum of
not having sufficient revenue to keep the place in tip-top condition which
leads to even less customers and revenue, and on and on….
The clubhouse is nice and offers
lots of other recreational amusements like batting cages and a large, indoor
arcade.
In spite
of its evident deterioration, it was a fun way to spend an hour or so on a warm
and lazy afternoon.
We’ll play it again,
and again; no doubt.
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