Of course I had to get one more weekday round of golf in before the new job started.
It came at a pretty course in Madison County by the name of Rogues Roost East.
It’s built around towers that carry power lines that cross a handful of holes. On several greens, in fact, when you put your putter down on the putting surface and place your hand on the metal shaft of the club, you can feel the current. No kidding.
My playing partners for the day were Tater, Gator and Wanker.
No kidding again.
Tater at the tee.
It was good to see Tater ready to get back in action.
KP was busy, but it was easy to find two big swingers from the big daily ready to hit the ball.
Rogues Roost is an easy sell. It’s part of a pair of courses some 30 miles east of Syracuse, the newer of the two. It’s a tough layout kept in top shape. It costs $35 for greens fees and cart.
Gator lines up a putt.
Gator used to be a regular in a two-on-two match with Tater, KP and I, but he hasn’t played as much lately. In fact, this was his first time playing his season.
He’s long off the tee but carries a somewhat short fuse.
Gator was my teammate for the day in the match play skins. I decided right off the bat I better play well to keep him happy.
Wanker with a comebacker.
Wanker can be even longer off the tee than Gator, and on some holes, he sure was. The guy can smoke it.
He and Tater made for a formidable opponent.
We all had our good holes.
And not so good holes.
Gator didn’t blow his stack at all, even though I won the most individual skins. I only had three pars, but they all came on carryover holes. I shot 99. Tater and I agreed how much we love the new plus-one scoring system we’ve adopted this season.
My pushed drive, lost in the trees to the right. (Photo by Tater)
Wanker had to head right home, but Tater, Gator and I sat out at a picnic table afterward and had a beverage.
We talked about how it was for them working for the company that succeeded the big daily, and how I felt getting ready for my new job — another new twist for friends who’d worked together through three decades.
Before the round, KP and I traded texts. I wondered if we’d played our last round together for the summer. He informed me of this wonderful thing called weekend golf. I told him I’d heard of that rumor …
Have you ever felt electricity coming up from the ground near power lines? Have you gotten back together with people you used to work with for a long time and listened to what it’s like back at the old place? If two of your friends told you to call them Gator and Wanker in your blog, would you listen to them?
Mark Bialczak 
Yes, Blogamous, I’d call them Tater, Wanker, Gator and KP. 🙂 So how is it they got to play weekday golf if they were still working? Yes, I’m still friends with several people I’ve worked with previously (even old bosses!) and I always love hearing the current office gossip. 😉 And now my question for you: How was the first week at the new job? 🙂
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They work non-traditional timed shifts, so they can play weekday golf.
My first week was very busy with much to learn, Rachel. 🙂
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I hope there was some fun in there with all the business. 🙂
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Always, Rachel. 🙂
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🙂 Good!
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Tator,Gator and Wanker – awesome nicknames Mark. What do they call you? Oh, just a tip from one in the know – that first pic with Tater at the tee? It seems to be on a bit if an angle, so I would recommend checking to make sure the brakes were on on the carts in the background. Ha! And yes there is such a thing as weekend golf. Ha!
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They call me the Breeze … time to roll on down the road.
No, that’s a Lynyrd Skynyrd song.
Paul, they call me Beels.
Yes, I know, cart safety is the ultimate concern around all ponds, always.
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Golf and you are like two peas in a pod, Mark! This made me happy, since you definitely have opportunities to complete more golf gangs, once everyone is flexible with your working schedule! I have never experienced the electricity feeling, except with a human male. That is not a PG story, ha ha! (It was not through the ground but through the bodies, it did go!) Smiles, Robin
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Robin, you minx! 🙂 Lucky guy, I’d say. 😉
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Nice pic Mr. B!!! Looks like a lot of fun with good friends, even if they are named Gator and Wanker. Our family does nicknames, mine is Cuch (don’t ask …. Ha!)
As I write this , we are on route to The Cape. I’ll say hi to it for you . 🏄
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Oh, Mrs. B, your family hung you with a doozie. I don’t even have to ask, do I? 😉 Have a great vacation at the Cape. Eat a tail or three for me, won’t you, please? Two dozen fried shrimp. Drink two pint drafts within one hour at a neighborhood bar. Walk along the beach holding Mr. B’s hand. Clap for a seal at Chatham Pier. Ah … The Cape.
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The meaning of my nickname is not what you may think. There is actually a biblical meaning and name for Jesus (my middle name). 🙂 But take a look at this definition, I like it better:http://www.kabalarians.com/Male/cuch.htm
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That definition sounds like you, creative, artsy, expressive, hot-blooded Mrs. B! Wow. 🙂
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Wanker, huh? 😀 Well, I was sort of hoping Gator was… well, a real gator. Now THAT would have made for an electrifying round of golf!
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Or, a truncated round of golf, Kate. 😮
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😀
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Guess that electric current shooting up your club wakes you up and keeps you alert.
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Long-haired people might have trouble keeping their golf hat on, too, Kim.
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LOL!!
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Poor Gator… 🙂
You have a great sense of humor, Chum. I’m glad that game had loads of reminiscent laughter. Makes me a bit sad for your golf season.
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Yes, cut off at the pass, so to speak, Aud. Ah, it had to be.
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Wanker? Seriously? What’s your nickname Mark?
I think generally women have deeper friend relationships in the sense that they talk about everything and support each other through tough spells, etc.
But I think men have life-time relationships, even from childhood, where they get together with men they’ve known for years and do ‘common interest’ things like golf together or carry on annual traditions like camping trips from their youth, etc.
Does wanker mean the same thing there as it does here?
Diana xo
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looks like a great time, and a good day of golf for all of you. i’m glad you still make the time to see each other. getting in your last game is kind of like a teacher, one last game before it’s back to school. ) i love the names and i would certainly go with their choice of monikers, it’s fun to choose your own name when given the chance. as for old work buddies, i get together with my advertising friends every so often, one i go to lots of sports events with, lifelong friend, and as for my old teaching friends, i traveled to visit one in austin, have one and some old parents in my book club, and they’ve became lifelong friends too, it’s all a crazy daisy chain really isn’t it?
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I cherish my friends more and more, Beth. Life is like that.
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Hi Mark, weekend golf? Are you sure about that? That’s just a rumour put out there by wives who want the house to themselves!
Sorry about the golf league on Tuesday’s being without you.
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I think weekend golf is the opposite … bad for the marriage, not good, Rachel!
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We had a beer in your honor on Tuesday Mark…golf league just won’t be the same without you, but we’ll march on anyway!. Weekend golf!! I heard those rumors back in 92…still elusive. Enjoy the new job. Work can sure interfere with your golf game can’t it.
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It sure can, DJ. Some year we will play weekend golf together, no?
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I always try to listen to (and read) friends, Mark, no matter what their names. Thanks for taking me along to this roost with several interesting, nice rogues.
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It is interesting the names people will choose when given a clean slate, Ann, I believe. Thanks for the early comment, as always …
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My new routine, Mark: after I finish my daily post, I check to see if there’s one from you.
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I can’t figure out your post riddle. In the old days I would have had enough time!
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I think you DID figure it out. Did you notice the synchronicity about names? Or is that just me?
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Well I am smart and fast, Ann, because I did notice the synchronicity of the names!
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