Golf Tournament Fun

If you live in the South, e.g. Florida, golf tournaments are already starting. I am scheduled to play in a golf tournament on Jan24, 2009 at Pine Ridge, a golf course in Citrus County Florida. This is certainly not the time of year for a northern golf tournament; they would have to remove the snow and ice from the golf course first. Golf tournaments are year around in Florida and actually most enjoyable during the winter months because sometimes the summer heat can be unbearable. Some of the best ones are in March, April and May, with one of my favorites being the Citrus Score Annual Tournament, scheduled for March 23 this year.

Why do I play in golf tournaments? Biggest reason, have some fun with good friends and fellow golfers. Second reason, even a lousy golfer can look good when you play “best ball”, providing you have a least one decent golfer in the group. If all group members play lousy golf, well have fun and don’t expect to win anything. My fellow golfing friend, Frank, and I played a golf tournament some time ago where we were paired with a golfer that had a handicap of three. Frank and I have a handicap of between 18 and 20. The three of us together did quite well that day completing second in the tournament. The foursome that beat us had a one stroke advantage; perhaps their pencil was a little sharper, or they purchased more mulligan’s? 

Let use not forget one of the best reasons to attend a golf tournament, the food and drinks. Good tournaments have lots of food, plenty of beer and sometimes liquor. I have a friend who told me of the Dewar’s Scotch Golf Tournament he attended which had a shot available at each hole; WOW! Personally, I would have trouble after the first four or five holes. Knowing my friend, he probably took advantage of a shot of Dewar’s at every hole. Then there are the golf tournaments with the beer carts, sometimes staffed with “Hooters” girls if you are lucky. Beer, “Hooters” girls, and golf; doesn’t get much better. Seem to remember one time we got lost trying to find the next tee.

Finally, when the tournament is over the awards are waiting. These prizes, which are the fruits of your arduous day on the golf course, while drinking beer and consuming large amounts of food, are the final event that brings to closure a good day out with friends and fellow golfers. What makes up these prizes? The best usually being golf club sets, drivers, putters and golf bags to the worst I ever saw being a putter that appeared to have been stored in someone’s attic several years prior to it being used as a golf tournament award. Then of course there are the door prizes, which usually consist of free passes to game parks that you have no interest in visiting.

Golf tournaments are fun. If you haven’t played in one don’t miss out on the opportunity to have fun with friends and fellow golfers, and occasionally win a golf tournament award.