I can still hang out with KP and Tater and talk about golf

/ February 25, 2015

It may take awhile until the golf courses of Syracuse are green enough and dry enough to accept these first spring steps.

And I’ll pretty much play in the brown muck to get out there for initial swings with my longtime golf buddies KP and Tater.

This February, though, has crushed our spirit in cold and covered our courses in snow.

Sunday we were offered a reprieve. The annual Syracuse Golf Show moved back to the Oncenter, next to the Onondaga County War Memorial in downtown Syracuse, and we three were ready for the big deal.

Another 12 months of tips and features.

Another 12 months of tips and features.

We’ll keep our free subscription to Golf Digest for another year. That’s a monthly mailbox drop of cool stories about the pros and how-to’s for the game.

Drive with Buick and Pinnacle.

Drive with Buick and Pinnacle.

Buick was there to sell the new Lacrosse … I really wonder if there were any takers for that $31,000 sticker-priced baby. Everybody did stop by the Buick table to get the free sleeve of three Pinnacle golf balls, though the representative was a stickler about making me write down my addresses — yes, mailing and email — before he handed over my three free rocks. Honest guy that I am, I put down the real info. I wonder how much I will receive in return.

Slightly used and cheaper than new.

Slightly used and cheaper than new.

KP usually goes for a big bag of the used balls offered by the company that says they fish them out of the ponds right here in Central New York. But this time around, he said he didn’t use up the bag he bought last year. Pass.

Tater helps KP decided between gently used or new 4-brid club.

Tater helps KP decide between gently used or new 4-brid club.

Instead, KP was in the market for a four-hybrid to match his King Cobra set. He spotted a brand new club that actually said 4/5, a mix between a four- anmd five-iron replacement, with a pricetag of $99. And he spotted a used four-hybrid for $30. He was torn. I looked over the used club and offered that it looked very good at all the strees points, most importantly at the hosel, and on the face, and had been give a new grip. Tater came over and said it was a good used club. When we added in the fact that it matched the three-hybrid that KP bought last year and hit very well all season, he decided on the used four, and saved sixty bucks.

I bought a bucket rain hat, a black Footjoy model, for $25, one that I’ve seen at Golf Galaxy for $40. It’s made of the new techno savvy fabric that should be cool in the summer as well keeping the wet from my head. I’m sure a picture of me in it will come during the outdoor season.

Tater contemplated buying some gloves — the thin, golfing variety — but passed.

The Kanon Valley coupon came by email.

The Kanon Valley coupon came by email.

Timber Banks had an earlier deadline.

Timber Banks had an earlier deadline.

Seven Oaks asked for an email address for confirmation.

Seven Oaks asked for an email address for confirmation.

We made sure to stop at the tables representing Kanon Valley, Timber Banks and Seven Oaks to do what we had to do to get the coupon for our free round of golf. Even though one day was plenty and would have cost just $10, we’d all purchased the Eagle ticket, good for all three days of the event, because that $35 price included a round at those courses, three of the better — and most expensive — layouts in the Syracuse area. The fine print was that we must pay for a cart the day we play, which should run about $20, and the deadline to get the 18 holes in is June 15. Kanon Valley is a private course. Timber Banks can go for more than $60 for a weekday round. Seven Oaks can cost more than $75 on a weekday — if you are affiliated with a Colgate University event, are staying at the Colgate Inn or can get a member of the course to invite you there.

Alas, the reps at the Timber Banks table said their deadline is May 31.

So we set our playing schedule as Westvale, the little course that can on the west side of Syracuse, for our season opener the first warm day and kind of dry day, as is our tradition. Then maybe another round somewhere to further sharpen the swing. Then Kanon Valley, Timber Banks and Seven Oaks, on Thursdays because KP and Tater can get the day off from work and not rush around, and in that order because we’ve never played Kanon Valley together and Seven Oaks is the most impressive and toughest of the three.

We talked more walking to an open joint in Armory Square and hung out for awhile, catching up.

Spring golf can’t come soon enough for we three.

Is there a winter event in your area with a spring and summer theme? Used club or new club? Three-day ticket to get the deal on the expensive courses or one-day pass for $10?

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37 thoughts on “I can still hang out with KP and Tater and talk about golf”

  1. Well if you can’t get out to pay golf, this looks like a fun golf-themed second. So can you not play because it’s just too cold to enjoy being out? Or does the actual snow stop things? Because I would think it would make it more interesting like a sand trap or lake, no? Speaking of KP and Tater, are you going to be updating us on the bowling nickname quandary? 😉

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    • The courses are not open for play in the snow, Rachel. Seriously, nobody would want to go out in it. You’d never find your ball. It would sink right into it, lost forever.

      I asked all my bowling teammates about the nicknames. Crickets. Not going to happen. They don’t dare about the nicknames, Rachel. Sorry. No embroidered shirts, I fear. They liked seeing themselves on video, though.

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  2. We mostly have things that are related to water sports around here, with the Ohio River as our North boundary, but I don’t usually go to them. Now if they had something for yarn, that would be another story, but not only no exhibitions here, but very few places to buy yarn locally. Glad you boys had a fun day at the golf exhibit brother Mark. Personally, I’ll just be glad when the sidewalks are clear of ice and snow banks so I can drive to the grocery without having to drive in the street.

    I’m commenting from the “50 Shades of Angie” thingy here, and it actually came up as that in your “follower” thingy on the side. How ’bout that! The blog itself isn’t going anyplace though. Might have to put that down as a tried but failed effort.

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  4. Talking golf with the weather like this? A bit cruel, Mark. I’d love to hit the links a few times with you guys this year. Hit me up when we can actually see some green outside.

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  5. Golf bores me (sorry!) and I still enjoyed reading your tale–you’re just that good, Mark 🙂 Fun story of you and your buds enjoying a Sunday afternoon. Any food samples at the show?

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  6. we have an annual home and garden show coming up that always makes me believe spring and summer are really coming! no idea on the club yet, until i learn to play and would have gone for the 3 day!

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  8. A bucket rain hat? I’m all for spending wisely, especially on used items. Just Febreze or Lysol wipe and go. Some courses are more breathtaking than vacation spots.

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  10. Sounds like the used club was the best choice. I don’t golf but I think it’s way more expensive here in Alberta Mark. A whole tradeshow for golf, must be a very popular activity in Syracuse! ❤
    Diana xo

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  11. One of my favorite assignments at my first journalism job was being sent to the Park & Rec show–in Nov.–in Arizona:). A little bit of sunshine in the winter never hurt anyone. Maybe they should have had UV lamps there just to give you guys your Vitamin D and mood boost:).

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