Ok, enough already. It is April 4th and we still have over 18 inches of snow on the ground. I am not sure if the ground will be clear or the ice will be off the lakes in time for fishing opener. With that being said, it is getting lighter out earlier and staying light later. Sun has been out for several days in a row without snow coming down, so there is some positives to take from this month so far. One of my residents asked me today, “If April showers bring May flowers, what do April snowfalls bring?” I did not have an answer for him as I couldn’t thing of anything that was good that rhymed. So I figured I would write about the top 5 things I look forward to each and every spring that get me excited for summer and golfing season.
1st- KC Trip
Each and every spring, my brother and I and several close friends, cousins, uncles etc. go to KC golfing. It has been one of the highlights of my spring every year. Even though my golf game was atrocious this year, it was a blast. Visiting the whole way down and back, amazing courses, and the Kansas City BBQ scene is unreal. They have got some great food down there, that is for sure. Courses we went to this year are Shoal Creek(www.shoalcreekgolf.com/), Tiffany Greens(http://www.tiffanygreensgolf.com/) and Winterstone(http://www.winterstonegolf.com/). We went to eat at Arthur Bryant’s BBQ and would strongly recommend it to anyone in the area. Even worth the trip on its own.
2nd- Twins Baseball
I am always cautiously optimistic for the MN Twins season. They always seem to have young talent up an coming and forever Joe Mauer. This year they even went and got some pitching so hopefully this is a good year for them. I am not a die hard that watches or listens to them every day, but I do follow them in the box scores and standings throughout the year. And if they make the playoffs, I wait to see how they will bow out of the playoffs(if they make it) like a typical MN sports team. Except the Lynx. They get it done.
3rd- The Masters
I love The Masters Tournament for the PGA and if you haven’t heard, Tiger Woods is back in action this year. I am a Tiger golf fan. I am not a fan of the things he did, but I truly enjoy watching him on a golf course and the excitement he brings the world of golf. It is obvious that he draws fans like no other golfer alive and I am one of them. I am a casual fan except major tournaments unless Tiger is in it and doing well. Sad to say, but he has that kind of pull for me. I keep waiting for another golfer to make that kind of impact on my attention span but none have yet so far. McIlroy, Spieth, Thomas, Johnson, Watson, and the list goes on. All great, just not Woods. And today, I watched on of the more amazing things I have seen with the Masters when GT Nicklaus got a hole in one on #9 as a caddie for his grandpa, Jack Nicklaus.
4th-Track Season
Although the track season will be indoors for the current future until the snow decides to make it exit, the track season is in full swing in the north country. Had two indoor meets so far and with 1000+ kids at each meet, it was a crazy two days. I am just volunteering this year as I am running our business, but meet day is still a lot of fun as I am helping the horizontal jumpers with their events. My old school got a foreign exchange student this year from Italy and he has a chance to do special things in the jumps this year. Plus there is a lot of kids out for the program this year so it is fun to see the program continue to grow year after year.
5th- Half Marathon
Each spring, one of my close friends and I attempt to train for a half marathon on a local trail. We both have run the Fargo Half Marathon and figured we could do a run together on a flat trail near our home. We both run and train during the winter months in different ways(boot hockey, treadmill, bike trainer), but the end goal is the same. That is to be able to complete a 13.1 mile race in May. No land speed records being set, just a “fun enjoyable” distance run. This year there is a few other guys that might join us, but we will see. Be fun to have a group to do it with, but still enjoy it if its just the two of us.
Till next time, keep thinking spring. Maybe be here before you know it. But more then likely it will be May before I am not putting wood in my outdoor wood stove.
