It happens every year at this time.
I always put on my TV thinking it may make me feel better.
The PGA Tour golfers are at the Kapalua Plantation Course in Hawaii for its annual Tournament of Champions.
I dialed in my iPad Air at 5 p.m. Friday to snap a photo from round one.
The early leader in the beautiful first round.
OK, that described the where and why for everybody.
So I grabbed a more picturesque scene-setter, a shot that screams Aloha.
They are in Hawaii. I am not.
Thank you, Golf Channel. Rounds two through four continue today through Monday, meanwhile, early action on that network and later action on NBC.
My side porch in Syracuse. N.Y.
For best contrast worldwide, I ran right over to our side porch in the Little Bitty my dear wife Karen and I share in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood.
That is the scene one minute after 5. Temperatures are lower than 20 degrees F. But over 10! It’s not snowing. At this moment.
No, watching this golf tournament from Hawaii this weekend will not make me feel better.
Would you watch the PGA golf from Hawaii in hopes of a spirit lift, or avoid it and all costs? Have you ever gone to Hawaii during your winter months to get away from snow or cold, and how did it feel when you had to come back? If you’re in the snow this weekend, what’s your plan?
Mark Bialczak 
Have you noticed that pretty much the only events we get from Hawaii occur during the worst weather here?
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They plan so well that way, Cat. Get us visiting.
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me too )
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i used to the tournaments from all over the world with my dad, and it did make us feel somehow a bit better during the long winter months. i’ve never been to hawaii but it’s on my list. when it snows i tend to stay in and hunker down with movies, sports, cooking, and good company. and warm blankets )
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Hunker away, Beth. TV trip fantasies are all I have right now. 🙂
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If someone sent me to Hawaii to watch golf or even to watch paint dry, I’d happily accept the assignment (at their expense, of course). But then again, the view from your back porch also looks inviting to me. I’ve told you before, get Karen to take some vacation time, and you’re welcome to stay here in Florida or we can house swap for a week. Of course that means along with the snow, I get Ellie B, and you have to put up with the sunshine and Jeremy that week. I definitely would get the better end of the deal! 🙂
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Jeremy! I don’t know about turning back my kid-coping skills a few years, Rachel. I might get too warm under the collar. 🙂
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LOL! He could use a stern man voice. Around here, he makes me wrestle with him (which means he puts me in a hold and tells me what I do wrong to try to get out). LOL! He apparently doesn’t hear the word “No.” 🙂
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Your little wrestling story does not entice me to come down to have my head replace yours, Rachel. Just saying. 🙂
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I’m not much for watching people golf on TV. I will, however, gladly watch a bowling or billiards match. Go figure…
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I like to watch bowling, too, as you probably figured, Bill. How’s your league going? I’m at 160 average. Billiards, not so much. Not so much clue with the cue in real life, so that translates.
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We finished up the first half two weeks ago. We went into position round in third place, and wound up missing first by one point… though we did the same thing last year and came from behind to win the second half and the season title. After languishing in the upper 160’s, I finally broke 170 with the new year. I also finally picked that pesky 4-6 split I consistently get a few weeks ago…
I’ve rarely had the chance to play pool, so I’m no good at it either. But an old Nintendo billiards game that me and my Dad would constantly play 9-ball against each other in got me interested in the game 20 years ago, and the two of us would always watch the 9-ball tourneys on ESPN.
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Congratulations on cracking the 170 barrier and the near first-place finish on the first half. Not to forget converting the pesky 4-6. Nice.
I love it when a video game fuels interest in the real thing. How poetic!
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RBI Baseball, the classic Nintendo game, is what made me a diehard baseball fan… no kidding!
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To me it was the Mets on TV 1964ish. Your way was more realist to the real game. 🙂
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Who wants to golf in Hawaii, Chum? ….okay, mostly everyone. 🙂 Sorry it’s soooo cold.
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Yeah, I’d want a pineapple drink in the cart, too, Aud. 🙂
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I was in Maui in April several years ago. Beautiful place. We have had warmer temps here in Southern California this past week. But today raining all day. I do like the rain for a change and we need it. Pebble Beach is gorgeous. One of my favorite places, Carmel. It is probably a bit chilly in Carmel right now.
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Hehe it’s nice to escape from the cold by watching a sunny place on TV 🙂
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And that is a sunny place, Christy!
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Happy Sun-day, Mark!! (Okay, I’m trying to make up for the P-challenge that I failed on the other day, pretty pathetic?!!! Okay, I’m full of caffeine!)
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Practically perfect!
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It’s cold, Mark. 🙂
Um, not sure while I smiled, could be because the cold has frozen my face into that position.
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Yes, that could be it, Mer. Frozen face. I get it. 😮
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Here is wet and windy blighty i like the look of the snow outside the itty bitty in Eastwood more than the sun in hawaii. enjoy the rest of the weekend.
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Watch golf on TV? I’d rather watch paint dry. Hawaii in winter? Yeah, been there done that. How did I feel when I got back. Cold, wet, and dreary. No snow where I live today. Sunny and 60! 🙂
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Thanks, happy man Doobster. You looked great over in Art’s series, by the way. 🙂
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Yes, his photos of me were quite flattering!
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I haven’t been to Hawaii Mark, but I went to the Dominican two years in a row in January and while there I thought to myself, ‘this will serve as a break from winter and give me the energy I need to get through until spring.’ However, upon coming back home, the contrasts just made it worse and winter felt longer than usual! Having said that, any opportunity I get to go south during winter, will be happily pursued. ❤
Diana xo
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This reinforces the thought that I could never live in a place that gets (for reals) snow. And I definitely could live somewhere tropical.
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Tropical could work, no?
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AH my favorite course. I’ve played it 16 times. So spectacular. And after all to be able to play it you have to be in Maui. My favorite place. Put it on your bucket list pal. A must do.
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You betcha, MiCa. Awesome place in our world.
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I can’t watch it at all until “Peeble Beech”. The swings are too smooth and the landscape is so warm and perfect. It just reminds me that I am frozen and it will be a while until I can unleash my “over the top” fury on the local courses!
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Yes, I love your description of your swing, Wayne. I am a wood chopper myself. 🙂
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*pebble beach – wow – did I ever shank that one off the Tee – it is 12 degrees here Mark and my brain is frozen
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Coming home from the movie theater I had a frozen brain, too, Wayne. Ick.
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Ha, ha! NOT a boogey man but the golfer ‘bogey man’ inside coming out! Ah-h! wouldn’t it be nice to be in a warmer climate, Mark? Smiles!
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Yes, Robin. Yes. 🙂
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If only the heat could come through the TV! And maybe some smells as well. It sure looks frosty there. We’ve got ice on the roads today, extracurricular school events cancelled, and most kids are sick. A good day to stay inside the Little Bitty.
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MDW Karen and I are about to head to the movie theater for my weekly review fodder. No ice on the roads, knock on wood. You be safe in Austin, my dear friend Kerbey.
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Snow golf hasn’t been invented yet? What better place to start, Mark, than Syracuse, NY?
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They do make orange and yellow golf balls. Hard to roll them on the whites, though. Can’t call them greens now, can we, Barbara?
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Perhaps you just need to tweak your perspective, Mark.
Hawaii is a horrible place. Stinkin’ hot all the time, surrounded by shark infested waters…and an active volcano spewing lava! Ohh, and the natives speak in all vowels and eat Spam and weird spiky acidic fruits!
On second thought…sounds like an interesting place.
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My dear wife Karen and I visited for eight days in 2010, Thorton. We called it our vacation of our lifetime. I want to go back. Interesting, yes.
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I’m jealous! I probably run away if I went to Hawaii, never come home 🙂
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I can’t say I tune into golf (in Hawaii or elsewhere) for a lift in my wintry spirits – I tune in after football season ends because I’m at loose ends until baseball season starts… although I must admit I do like to watch the Washington Caps… but that’s a wintry sport, isn’t it? 😀
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I like that, Kate. At loose ends after football departs until baseball descends. Hockey to the rescue. I’ll watch more of the football this weeked than that golf tournament, that’s for sure. And what, seven weeks until pitchers and catchers report?
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Oh. That’s bogey. Not boogie. Nevermind
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Yeah, not quite that scary yet this morning, Benson. 😮
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