Weekend Plans

This will be a short post!!!

Basically, not much.

I may play golf with Danny at Madison Club Saturday, but not sure yet.

Sunday, Marcia wants to play golf at Birdsfoot.

Any course after Oakmont will seem easy!!!

Other than that, I see myself doing some laundry, cleaning my apartment, and doing some food shopping.

Oh.... there is a baseball game that I have tickets to see Saturday night. One of the organizations I belong to sponsors a tailgate & game for underprivileged children. I might go there... but who really wants to see a bad baseball team.

Weekend Report 6/23-6/24

Well, this weekend was nothing special.

Saturday, I woke up early, as usual. Did 3 loads of laundry. Then got ready to play in a golf outing. This was a charity golf outing benefiting breast cancer research. It was a 4 person scramble. I would explain it, but MX would tune right out, so I'll pass. Anyway, our team was my friend Marcia, Teecy & Danny. We didn't do particularly well (2 under par) but had a great time. There was dinner after the golf. When that was done, I BS'd with a buddy Ed at the local bar for a while, then called it a night.

Sunday, I went to play golf with the "bar guys" at Rolling Fields. Played with a couple guys I never had before. They were pretty cool. I started out pretty good, but did not finish strong. I was hitting off the tee great... approach shots were ok... putting "lights out"... but... I could not chip to save my life. This is usually one of the strongest parts of my game. GASP!!! After that... I was going to go to a picnic. I went home to grab a shower and maybe a nap. Well, I fell asleep... and didn't wake up till it was really too late to go to the picnic. (Yes... I am a loser.)

This week should be ok. The only special thing is I am playing golf at Oakmont Wednesday. Yes... the course that Phil Mickelson called hazardous to your health. It is sooooo hard, if I score under 120 I'll be happy.

Weekend Update...

Well, this weekend was the US Open Eddition...

Friday, I took the day off work so I could go to the Open at Oakmont. My cousin Janet lives about 100 yards from the Country Club, so she let me park there for free. This was especially cool because the 2 spectator lots were so far away from where I live (which is about 10 min. away from the venue). So... Jim from work and his wife were going to the Open as well. I told them if they picked me up, we could leave the car there... it worked out great. We got to the club just as Michelson and Furyk were starting # 3 (with the "church pew" bunkers). We watched them for a little while... then sat at the green of #8 (the longest par 3 in US Open history). After, we wandered over by #18... this was where I ditched Jim & Molly. We agreed to meet at #14 tee in a couple hours. I was there & looked for them, but couldn't hook up... so I sat in the bleachers at the 18th tee. This was a great seat because you could see the players play 15, 16, 17 & tee off at 18 from that spot. I waited there until Tiger played past, then went to see if I could find Jim & Molly again. I did find them along the 18th fairway... we went to the merchandise tent (where I proceeded to spend too much money).

I thought it was a great day!!! This was my day to walk around the course and see a little of everything. What a great experience. Plus, I got to see all the players I like, who didn't make the cut.

Saturday was a lazy day. I was pretty beat from the day before and Craig was doing a little more work on my car. That made it a great day to lay around... do some laundry... watch the Open on TV.

Sunday I woke up early... I have every intention of heading down to the course and having breakfast in the Trophy Club, but since the leaders were not teeing off until between 2PM & 3PM... I decided to play a round of golf. I went to Rolling Fields with some friends. I played really well. I shot an 89... the first time I broke 90 this year. I then went home & took a shower and headed to Janet's to park.

I got to the course about 12 noon. I headed straight over to the 18th green... I wanted to camp out at a good spot. My friend Micheal was working the grandstand on the side of the green. By the time I got there, the stands were full and there were 2 couples waiting in front of me for spots to open up... I told Micheal to find me a single... he comes down maybe 20 min. later and calls out... "I have a single". The guy at the gate lets me in. I had a seat in the second row!!! So we sat there... and watched every player come in on 18. You could get up to use the bathroom or get something at the concessions & not lose your seat... but if you were gone too long, you had to get to the back of the line (which wasn't moving).

So... we watched the leader board... we could see the players tee off on #10, all of # 11, tee off again on #12 & #15... all of #14 and of course.... them play in and putt on #18. It was amazing!!! The drama... the majesty...

As you may know... Angel Cabrera held off Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk to win by 1 stroke. Tiger could have forced an 18 hole playoff with a birdy on 18... but put his drive in the first cut of rough & left himself a really difficult putt... which he missed.

All in all... a fantastic, once in a lifetime experience.

The US Open Begins Today

The US Open at Oakmont starts today. I will be going Friday & Sunday.

This should be fun.

200th Post- Weekend Report

Well, this makes 200 posts for me. It begs the question: Can someone make 200 posts and not really say anything?

Anyway...

This weekend was pretty good.

I cuaght a nice buzz at happy hour on Friday.

Saturday, I played golf at Murrysville with my friend Marcia and her friend Teecy. I played pretty well, I had a 92, but hurt my wrist. I am really hitting the ball well off the tee & my long game is working... but now my iron play is letting me down. Funny how, for non-professionals, it is just so hard to put it all together. We went back to Marica's for a cook out after.

Yesterday, I got up early. I was making h0t sausage to take over to my Mom & Dad's place. I let it simmer in the crock pot all morning and into the afternoon. Then went for a visit. I have not seen my folks for a few weeks & was not in town for my B-Day last week, so I wanted to spend some time with them.

On the way home I stopped at the Creek for a couple beers.

This week will be really busy. I have what we call the "I-80 depositions" all week... plus this week is the US Open at Oakmont. I have tickets for Friday & Sunday, but the whole city is just going nuts over this... it's like the Superbowl of golf, right here in my back yard. Now, when you are watching them later this week, just remember, I played there last year... I made par on holes #6 and #11... (we won't talk about the rest).

Details About My Trip to San Antonio

I left Pittsburgh about 8 AM. I had to change planes in Denver, then be on my way. I landed in SAT about 2:20PM. I picked up my rental car, then tried to drive over to my friend's new house (he bought it 2 months ago). The road construction near the airport is massive. I got so turned around & lost... it should have taken me about 10 min to get to his place, but instead, it took me about 1/2 an hour. Anyway... I got the nickle tour, changed clothes, then we headed to the golf course.

We played a course called the Quarry. It is built in an old stone quarry. You are playing golf around these massive sheer stone walls... pretty neat. The course was not in great shape, kinda burned out, but looked neat. I didn't start out playing real well, as we rushed to the tee, but I turned it around later. The heat was really getting to me, it was close to 100 and I am just not used to that.

After golf, which finished about 8:30... we went to a Mexican seafood restaurant. It was pretty good. I was beat after this and needed to sleep.

The next morning, we got up & got ready for some more golf. We played Cedar Creek. A nice muni course. It was not as visually attractive as the Quarry, but was in better shape. The heat still bothered me... but somewhat less than yesterday. We bet on this round. 1 beer for match play, 1 beer for stroke play & 1 beer for most fairways off the tee and greens in regulation (big gamblers that we are). I played pretty well & won all 3 beers.

After... we went back to Gary's place, got cleaned up, and went out. We stopped at a little hole in the wall kinda bar... just up the street, called Main Street. Then... we went to a strip club. We hung out there longer than we intended (imagine that?). They kept having drink specials... and we kept ordering them!!! LOL!!! Anyway... by the time we left there, we were pretty smashed and hadn't had dinner yet. So, we figured we better get closer to home. Back to Main Street we went. They had a nice crowd and a decent band. More beer... more shots... no food... it was getting ugly. Finally, Gary called to have a pizza delivered to the bar that we could take home. He was off BSing when I saw the kid approaching the bar. I ran out, paid for it, and put it in the car. When I went to get Gary... there was another round of shots & beers (just what I needed... not). We downed the shots... hid the beers in our pockets and got outta there. We got back home... that pizza was in serious jeopardy.

When I got up the next morning... I was feeling my age. I had a hangover that was crushing. We also had a tee time earlier than the day before... I was all Advil!!!.

So, we get to the course... all his golf league buddies are there. Gary is showing off the US Open 2007 Oakmont hat I brought him... generally being an assclown (hence the nick name). I played like crap... crushing hangover... oppressive heat... text messages from the girl I met the night before... it was not a good golfing effort. The wheels came off on number 6. This hole was a 540 yard par 5. A big one... I hook my tee shot out of bounds... so I am now hitting 3 off the tee. Got it out there... had a decent shot for 4... and was still look'n at about 185-190 to the green... with a pond guarding the front. I take out the 5 wood... and "plunk" right in the water (gasp!!!) So, I am 5 in, 6 out (of the water, for you non-golfers)... now hitting 7. Sure enough... right into a green side bunker. Up on the green in 8... then a 2 putt... A 10... a freak'n 10!!! (there goes any chance of a decent round). It went bad for almost the rest of the round. I got a couple pars near the end... but it was too late. I lost 3 beers that day.

We stopped for lunch on the way back... then I needed a nap. Got up... got cleaned up... then back the bars. Went to Charlie Browns, the local Steelers Bar (they are everywhere). Then hit another strip club. About midnight, I met the girl I met the night before & we went to breakfast and hung out till well after 5 AM. I had to be at the airport by 8:30 AM... not good.

I made it to the airport ok... returned the rental car. The flight was about 45 min late getting off the ground. I just made my connection in Washington Dulles airport. When I got back to Pittsburgh, I figured my bags would have never made it. I was happy to see my golf clubs come down the baggage claim, but my suitcase wasn't there. When I checked... they said it went to Providence (I hope it had a nice time...).

Anyway... that was it. Today (Wednesday) is the first day I am feeling normal.

WOW!!!

I had a great time in San Antonio!!!

I golfed pretty well. And... get this... girls in TX think I'm hot!!! (who'd
a thunk it?) LOL!!!

The only bad thing was we were 45 min late getting off the ground in SAT. I
just made my connection Washington Dulles. When I landed in Pittsburgh last
night... my golf clubs made it, but my suitcase took a trip to Providence.