A summery round and some quick brown fox

/ May 9, 2014

It took until our third round of 2014 for the golfing adventures of KP, Tater and myself to really warm up.

Yes, I did say Tater.

When we opened the season at Westvale, and when we same three took the traveling amateur show to Foxfire, I brought to you pictures and comments about myself, KP and Wags. Wags came up to me during the round today and read the riot act. OK, he was much, much nicer than that. He’d told me during round one, as we discussed my story about the many nicknames of my life, about how his friends growing up in Ohio called him Tater.

And lo and behold, he likes the way it feels again.

Tater chips up to the par-three seventh hole at Radisson Greens in Baldwinsville, N.Y.

Tater chips to the par-three seventh at Radisson Greens in Baldwinsville, N.Y.

Tater, KP and I played Radisson Greens Golf Course in Baldwinsvile, N.Y., Thursday. It’s a sprawling, beautiful layout designed by famed course architecht Robert Trent Jones Sr. Kingpin and his wonderful wife Sue life within the planned community, so when it’s in good shape — it has had its ups and downs during ownership shifts — it’s of our our go-to tracks.

It was in good shape, except for rock-hard sand traps. Tater called midway through that we should take a free drop outside the bunker any time in. KP had fashioned a nice escape or two by then, but he and I had also clunked our way to a can’t-get-out routine.

No matter.

KP putts on the pretty No. 7.

KP putts on the pretty No. 7.

The tee boxes were trimmed and lush. Fairways cut close. Greens free of nasty ball marks. I did not think they were cut particularly short. This course is known for short green grass that makes putts roll fast, sometimes painfully so. Today, not so much. In the rough, the wet spring had left wet spots. In some waste areas between holes, there were big puddles.

And it felt like summer. The temperature had to be in the 70s, and the sun was shining through a thin cloud layer. KP and I wore shorts. And shirt sleeves. Midway through the front nine, I even had to pull off my golf shirt to remove the T-shirt underneath. Too hot for layers! Yes, indeed.

I putt for birdie on the seventh at Radisson Greens. Nope. Woefully short.

I putt for birdie on the seventh at Radisson Greens. Nope. Woefully short.

We all played good in spots, not so good in spots. Tater’s game was best overall, and he was skins champ.

I had three pars on the front nine, added up a 47, and was excited that this could be a good day. My energy seemed to wane after three straight ragged holes on the back nine, though, and I lost focus, and there went that hope.

On the 18th hole, Tater mentioned that he didn’t think that any of the three of us had shown a particularly good golf IQ. I replied that I think we know how we’re supposed to play each shot, but somehow we fail to concentrate hard enough to pull it off every time. I can blame my diabetes, I suppose. But I don’t want to do that. All three of us are … well, I’m the youngest, at 56, and we’re all within a handful of years. It can’t be age, either, because there are holes for all of us when we smash a drive, rope an approach shot to the green, read the right line and hit the putt the proper speed for a birdie.

Here’s my 18th. Get ready for some serious mental meandering.

Pull my solidly hit drive to the left, grunt with the effort, then watch as my Bridgestone settles left of the cart path on the par five, but inside the course line. Wonder about how exactly I’m going to strengthen the cover letter for a job application I’m about to send in, considering suggestions my dear wife Karen offered as she read my first attempt, as I drive my cart to the ball. Pitch a wedge low and perfectly, rolling out about 100 yards, stopping about 20 yards short of a creek that crosses the fairway. Think about how I’m going to convert my odd-movie-news blog that should have been posted sometime early in the round on syracusenewtimes.com into a different but enticing tease that I’ll post here as soon as I get home, as I drive to my ball. Semi-solidly strike a three-wood that carries about 160 yards of the par-five, rolls 20 more, and leaves me 100 to the pin. Fret about what exact outdoor walking trail Karen and I will go to Saturday for my waer.org community blog next week, and worry more that the morning forecast called for Saturday rain, as I drive to my ball. Decelerate into my wedge shot and catch the edge behind the ball, flubbing my shot, which travels only twice as far as my divot, maybe 30 yards. Swear to myself, as I drive to the ball. Hit only the ball, no turf at all with my wedge, sending the ball low and 20 yards to the right of the flag. It hits the green and keeps rolling until tall grass, stuff I like to call frog hair but others call the collar, snags it just off the green. Tell KP he hit a good shot, ask Tater what he lies, as I drive to my ball. Putt my ball four feet right of the hole. Putt my ball two inches right of the hole. Put my ball into my pocket.

Concentrate, Beels, concentrate.

Kinpin had a very bright moment on the seventh hole, when he spotted a fox family playing on a deck in a flanking yard.

I already had my iPhone 4 out, planning for the shots you see above because No. 7 is a scenic par-three. I tip-toed over and snapped a couple. The best is below. Those creatures are quick. Look just to the left of the tree. Last year, KP and I saw a mother fox guarding its babies in a sand trap on this very course.

Young fox at Radisson.

Young foxes at Radisson.

So, the tally so far for this KP, Tater and I series is three courses in six weeks. If we keep that pace up, and don’t repeat courses much, I’ll bring you a very nice cross section of the golf courses of Central New York.

Have you ever seen a fox out in the wild? Have you ever tried to take the fox’s picture? What is the most exotic animal you’ve seen in the wild? Gotten a picture of?

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51 thoughts on “A summery round and some quick brown fox”

  1. What a great nickname, Tater!! Love it. Looks like a lot of fun with your buddies. So cool to capture the cubs. We get coyotes and bob cats in our back yard but I’ve never taken pics of them because they are so fast and I am usually stunned. 🙂

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      • Yes! The coyotes make quite the ruckus and sound like screeching ladies. Very freaky.

        I had a lovely day going to brunch and then visiting Mr. B’s family. My mama is in Puerto Rico but will be here in June for Daughter B’s graduation. 🙂

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      • Oh, I’m glad you were able to visit Mr. B’s Mrs. B. Very nice. The June family graduation party does sound like a swell reason for a trip up from Puerto Rico for proud Grandma.

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  2. Hi Mark, after all that Eurovision I’m catching up on your posts. I’ve played a couple of rounds of golf and I have to say that I liked it a lot. But mainly because I was outside surrounded by trees and beautiful grass. Your train of thought when playing made me smile. I sometimes wish I could just concentrate on the here and now and then think about all the other stuff at will. But I have to think about it all as I remember it. Except when I’m gardening. Then I shut everything else out.
    I didn’t realise you took insulin. I thought you were a diet controlled diabetic. Sorry you have to deal with all the injections and blood tests.
    One last thing – 300 views is impressive!
    Oh, and you know I’ve seen a fox.

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    • When I am writing, my brain focuses very well. Thankfully! I had to train it as such from many years of writing stories and reviews on deadline. If you have 30 minutes to write a piece or else there’s a big white space in the next morning’s newspaper, you learn to focus in a hurry!

      I am on the one-shot-a-day insulin, not the ever-meal-take-a-shot insulin. Thankfully! (And knock on wood.)

      I do remember your encounter with the gentleman fox.

      So Austria won Eurovision. You were a fine reporter for me, Rachel.

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  3. When you are trying to ‘entice’ me to Jazz Fests in your area, I forgot to say, “Have you ever considered coming to Dublin, Ohio to see the Memorial Tournament?” I will be out of town, up at Mom’s for this but have attended one of these with a golfing ex-husband…

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  4. You did have a gorgeous day for golfing, Mark! I don’t think you all have ‘warmed’ up for the season, so that would be my ‘excuse’ and I would stick to it! You showed a lot of good shots and your overall scores may be improving… I am not a good sport person for making too many intelligent comments about this!
    I have a deep appreciation for wild animals and loved your photo of the fox family.
    My youngest daughter is nicknamed, “Fox,” and she used it as her “handle” on the daily announcements in high school as in, “This is Fox Oldrieve coming at you, live on (such and such date), with news about Homecoming…” Or as she approached people in the mall, with the camera man beside her, “Hello, my name is Fox Oldrieve and I would like to know what is the popular children’s toy this Christmas? Or what is the scent that you would choose to buy for your wife or girlfriend this Christmas?”
    A funny fox memory, she was only about 6 years old, when we were hiking and she said, “Please can I pet that Fox over there? Please, Mommy, please?!” Of course, I was laughing and saying, “Sure, just try to catch it!” No photos of that episode but on Wed. at Delaware State Park, I threw a few apple slices at a close by our picnic table, raccoon. I caught his cute use of his little paws holding the apple slice fairly well on my digital camera! Smiles, Robin

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    • That is a great nickname for your daughter, Robin. Still to this day? I’d keep that one for life if I were her! Catching a raccoon holding an apple in the paws is a good shot. Nice work, there!

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    • He designed several up here that I thoroughly enjoy. I love golf enough that I go to pro tournaments and employ the honored golf clap, too. Great to hear from you, PLGCMW

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  6. I at least understand the golf sports talk better than the others. 😉 It sounds like you’re going to have some fun courses coming up. I love your fox photo. (I love ALL your photos, actually.) I have come across foxes, raccoons and skunks when I lived in NY, but never had a camera with me which was regrettable. The most “exotic” thing I’ve ever come across in the wild and photographed is alligators. Not that exciting. Oh, and the snake that was on my front porch the other day as you may have seen on my FB. LOL! Great post! 😀

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  8. Mark, I’m not a golf fan (or any other sport) as you know, but I do love golf courses, because if you can rent a golf club you can take the nicest stroll around the best path in the area, just kinda swinging the club back and forth while you walk. Yeah, I guess you have to wear special shoes for it, but if you get hot, there’s water to wade in, pretending you are looking for a ball, sand to play in if you feel the need for a beach rest, or a photo at the beach op, and all that lovely grass to walk in.

    I wondered for a few if Tater was from Kentucky, but Ohio would have some Taters and Bubbas also. We probably have more Bubbas than Taters around here, but then, who’s counting? Glad you had a fun time today.

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  9. You are always so thoughtful and generous with feedback, I’m sure it is a time commitment. What surprises me is taking all day to catch up with your readers. Your feed must be overwhelming! How do you manage such a consistent posting schedule and fit in time to regularly attend live shows, new movies, golf, picking flowers and drinking wine with Dear Karen not to mention lunch with the Abyss(es) over a Brooklyn Pickle sandwich and pints of suds at the irish pub whose name escapes me right now… The only answer that makes sense to me is you are a super hero. What color is your cape? I know your sidekick is Chip, and I’m assuming “Beels” is your alias. Did I just blow your cover?

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    • I watch a lot less TV than I used to, Sandra. I have fallen way behind in my novel reading. Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle jumps up on my lap and tries to knock my hands off the iPad Bluetooth keyboard during weekdays because WP is what I do from the time I wake up at 7 a.m. until Karen gets home at 6 p.m., fitting in the SNT, waer.org and glossy magazine interviews and writing in between. I am working longer writing hours and producing more words than when I worked on the big daily, taking the comments into consideration. But you know what, Sandra? I LOVE IT!
      I get to hang out with you, and Beth, and Kerbey, and Malone, and Ann, and Audrey, Trey, Mer, Kim, Anne T, Ermi, … on and on. I’ve found the way I really love to write and relate with the world.

      Now pardon me while I duck into that phone booth …

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      • Awsome! That makes me happy to hear. You’re living the dream of a writer! Now without further ado, I’ll let you carry on with your superhero exploits. Take good care my friend!

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  12. Hi, Mark.

    No, I have never taken a photo of a fox. However, I have taken photos of many exotic creatures in the wild, including dogs, rabbits, and cat toys.

    If Tater is really good at golf and wanted to share his expertise with others, I would wonder: what has Tater taught?

    Finally, because you have done some great reality testing with me on my blog space, I will now ask you some questions: Are you reading and commenting on my blog posts later in the day because (1) you reached 500 posts, (2) you are busy playing golf, and/or (3) you are busy with other things?

    Your fan,
    Ann

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      • Here’s what I can figure out. You will always be a member of my family to the right because WordPress calculates that list by how much the two bloggers read each other and comment back and forth. You and I, daily, frequently.

        The Reader, though, it appears to me to be a last-arrived, top-of-the-photo mountain list.

        I am studying this stuff way too much, Ann.

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    • Do not forget big birds in wild cages, Ann. You have taken beautiful pictures of them.

      Tater teeters on terrific with his golf game, but not teaching nor testimonial level.

      I know, my schedule has been all discombobulated this week. And I don’t know if I can get it back. The answers are, oh, observant Ann:

      It’s not the 500 posts, it’s the 500 followers. I follow everybody back as a courtesy. I may have to rethink my politeness because now my Reader is so swollen with entries that, well, it takes me all day to get through all day. Also, I reply to every comment made to me. Also, I read every post from every blogger whom I have established a relationship with here on WordPress over the past 15 months. I comment on every post that I like. I think about what I say. As an aside, the way the Reader works for WP, when you get done reading and commenting on a blog, instead of returning to the next one in the timeline, it kicks you back to the newest! I am going insane scrolling back down!

      I signed up for WordAds, but my views are not that many yet to earn significant pay. I’m hoping that viewership somehow goes (way) up, because writing my columns is my favorite component of the freelance jobs I have put together like a puzzle. But I’m not going to change the style of my blog to try to gain views.

      Yes, I am trying to play golf twice a week.

      Yes, I am busy with my other freelance projects, and living life so I have interesting things to write about here.

      And still sending out cover letters and resumes for full-time jobs that would be very interesting and rewarding.

      I hope I have not responded with the dreaded TMI. Apparently this has been waiting to come out from me, Ann. Too much information?

      I will try to read you in the morning again. I like it better that way anyway.

      Your friend,

      Mark

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      • Never TMI from you, Mark. But here’s a piece of Information that I am, in the moment, very curious about: What the heck is WordAds? Specifically, is there a way for me to be making some $ from doing this?

        You can read me whenever you want, as long as you do. I tend to notice changes. And I can relate to how overwhelmed it can feel being such an observant, faithful, careful, courteous, dedicated, principled, and diligent blogger as you are, Mark.

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      • Yes, Ann, you can be making money on this.

        WordAds in WP-administered. All you need to do is sign up through your dashboard. Click through settings, I believe. I found it with just one Google for guidance, so I know you can. You answer some questions, set up a PayPal account (that’s how they pay you, eventually) and then you see if your blog is approved. Mine was. I would guess from the amount of likes and comments you get, you would be approved.

        They place the little ads you see on my posts and home page. I do nothing except hope for as many views as possible. WP calls them impressions.

        Every month, a drop down on you dashboard will tell you how many impressions you have been credited with, and how much WordAds has paid you. It’s not a flat fee. They say the amount differs for ads for different companies, and impressions from different countries.

        Anyway, your PayPal account will be credited every time your ledger reaches $100. My first two months, I am roughly halfway there. I averaged about 300 views a day those two months.

        Thank you for keeping a watchful eye on me, Ann, so you will never have to shout, There He Blows!

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  13. A snapshot of the thought process within the mind of Mr. B. It’s a very cool snapshot, a play-by-blay that we can all relate to in some form or another. You could definitely create a post out of it. Feel free to guest blog if you’d like 🙂 You can be zany, but keep it PG-13. Regardless of the stream coming from your mind, it helps prove and convince me that golf is relaxing.. as frustrating as some situations may bring.

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    • I may or may not have given myself the approval to write one single long paragraph like that from my diligent reading of the Infinite Abyss(es) and now the two SNT blogs. Just saying. And golf is relaxing, a cart ride trough the park.

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  14. c’mon, beels – ‘tater chips?’ sounds like a delicious snack food to me. looks like a great boy’s day out adventure and as you know i love nicknames and adventures. )

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  15. When you say “shirt sleeves,” that makes me laugh. I can related to the myriad thoughts lolling about in your head during that last shot. Must you get another job? Or do you look forward to it? I didn’t know you had diabetes. I immediately thought of the Cheesecake Factory. And I have never seen a fox in nature. I guess they don’t go after humans and bite them?

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    • Shirt sleeves I guess is an old-fashioned saying for short sleeves, no sweater or jacket, in my neck of the woods.

      Financial considerations. Freelance jobs are wonderful, and growing. I’d love for this blog to have viewership multiply by 10. But I am looking when jobs open that are extremely attractive for a man of my talents.

      Yes, diabetes. Carb fee cheesecake. Insulin. Other meds. Since 1999!

      Fox are fast. They ran away from me not toward me. I did not see the mother. She may have ran in my direction with teeth bared.

      Thanks, Kerbey.

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  19. I’ve never been quick enough to get a shot of a fox. There are loads of badger setts near us but ditto. I did manage to get a white squirrel tho lol

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