Growing up, my hometown had three golf courses. One was a pretty, but tough, eighteen hole course. Another was an easier and inexpensive, but always well manicured, nine-hole course. And last but not least, was a horribly maintained, bombed-out, mortar range of a nine-hole course which, I’m sure due to the low cost of greens fees, convenience and familiarity, was very popular with the seniors and some kids just learning the game. I played there once and still consider it to be some of the worst money I’ve ever spent.
But part of what made that particular course just awful was the fact that there were alternate uses for the course outside of golf. For instance, if I remember correctly, one of the local schools used part of the course for soccer practice. Soccer practice! A bunch of teenagers running around the course with cleats!
However, around this time of year, I’m remembering the main alternate use for the course – the town’s Fourth of July fireworks show. See, the town in which I grew up didn’t really have a town green or a general public space outside of a state park. So there was nowhere really conducive to setting off fireworks…except the golf course. I mentioned earlier the convenience of the course…it was only about a mile from the intersection of the two major roads that run through town. It was close to lots of businesses and shopping areas, so there was plenty of parking and places for people to setup chairs or blankets to watch from pretty much anywhere at any angle. It was the perfect spot. However, the condition of the course was sacrificed for it.
In hindsight, to me anyway, it was worth it. The course is gone now, replaced by a new middle school which was more important anyway. I no longer live in the town, but as I understand it, the fireworks are still blown off there. Concerts are held in the same place as well. Thinking about it now, did one town really need three golf courses anyway? However, I guess that’s a couple of different arguments for another time.
Swing ’til you’re happy!

Is it just me, or do all of us golfers look at holidays a little bit differently than everyone else? For instance, many people look at Memorial Day or Independence Day as a day for get-togethers with friends and family.., cookouts, parties and fireworks. Many look at Christmas as a time of giving, sharing and, again, gathering with family. Golfers look at these days and times this way too. However, they look at it other ways as well.
Wide open, as in “The course is wide open today.” I’m sure most golfers are always on the look out for the best time to play. Unfortunately, there are some that can only play once in a while and it’s during peak hours. But, if you are like me, I search for optimal times (and deals) and note them for future use. For example, yesterday, we squeezed in a quick nine between hot dogs, beers and fireworks. Before heading out we called to see if they were open and they were. We proceeded to ask “Are you busy today?” Their reply, just as the title hints, “We are wide open today. Only 2 groups out there.”