Mink Sighting

Got to the golf course,  Palatine Hills,  my old golf stomping grounds, with Bob,  Butch and Diana.   The course has changed a bit over the 15 years since I was last there.

I told the pro that the counter used to be on the other side of the pro shop.   That got a laugh.   It's still in a small brick building that dates from the 60's.  They've kept it up and it looked good,  but not large nor fancy.   But Tuesday they have bargain rates!  All good.

The course was quite green and the trees were larger.   They've added a bunch too.   The second hole used to have a tree line on the left,  now it has a forest.

One of my rarest wild life sightings was a long tailed weasel in CA,  but I spotted a brown weasel or mink (could it possibly be a stoat?)  cavorting along a brush line near the driving range.   Then the critter came out again and allowed me to fire off the trusty phone camera and get a shot.   Bad,  but I got him. It's hard to see on Facebook,  but I'll stick it up on Flickr where some better zooming might be possible.

It was good to get on the course again.   I remembered various rounds and hole results over the years.   It was in great shape and the greens were a lot more diabolical that I remember.   I think I had 3 three putts on the front nine.

We played pretty short tees and that was about right due to everyone's shrinking tee shot lengths.   But I remember being on the back tees with more challenging tee shots required.

It was fun day,  now Bob and I are gulping pills to help our old backs.

Great night last night as a thunder storm rolled through.   One more data point that it is not a benign planet.  But I do like the noise and the lightning. Flash,  bang,  rain against the window.  I was happy not to be in the tent,  though that might have been exciting too.

It's 9:30 now and the rain has gone.   The folks out here talk about needing the rain.   Rare talk for CA folks,  where don't expect it for 9 months of the year.

Golf with Bob and Chuck is out in Cary today.   A bit more to the northwest from Palatine.   I used to play on a course out there,  which seemed to be built on a ski Hill as I recall. Useful to have one leg shorter than the other for the side Hill lies.  

Pizza for dinner as old colleagues get together a meal and talk.

Rich