I made a good call back on Father’s Day, deciding that rainy lunchtime did not look promising enough for us to continue onto step three of our plan: Having George Two meet us our annual nine-hole round of golf together.
The first tee at 8 a.m. Sunday.
I told my wonderful daughter Elisabeth and her terrific boyfriend George Three that Sunday would be a fantastic make-up date for me because my dear wife Karen would be on day two of her annual Girls Getaway trip.
When she green-lighted from her beloved and his dad, I made the 8 a.m. tee time.
When they arrived, I had our carts ready. It was as pleasant a morning as you can ask for on this hilly nine-holer 15 miles northwest of Syracuse in upstate New York.
Pre-shot routines: Wonder why I booked us this early.
We let a single player with a pull-cart play through us. Good call, George Three. He zipped on down the fairway.
Click on any gallery photo for a description. Click and hold on the bottom right photo in any gallery for an enlarged slide show.
We all advanced the ball off the tee box. And off we went, chatting and happy to be out in the sunshine and 70º F morning.
George Two pitched one in from a mound off the side of No. 7.
George Three hit great tee shots, long and straight and very high, once he decided to stick with his five-iron.
Elisabeth hit her hybrid from the fairway really well.
On one hole, Elisabeth, George Two and I all hit into the same greenside sand trap. We all took more than one shot to get out of it. We laughed at each other and ourselves. Yay, golf!
Have fun in North Carolina, Karen!
Shortly after, I had them wave hello to Karen, and texted her the picture above.
On the par-three No. 8, I hit the shot that keeps me coming back. I actually said “Hole-in-one” as my five-wood flew true and straight not only toward the green some 180 yards out, but toward the flag.
“It has a chance,” George Three said.
Yes, that Bridgestone looked sweet as it hit near the pin, bounced, and rolled just a short way past.
OK, I’ll take it.
It didn’t look quite so close as we pulled up to the green. I had rolled some dozen feet past the hole.
The ball mark and the Bridgestone.
The divot in the green where the ball first hit was pretty close to the hole, though, a couple of feet left and too far.
It’s a beautiful day.
Yeah, I’ll take it.
I judged too much slope and break on the downhill putt and did not get my birdie. I did sink the comebacker for par.
The post-round breakfast we shared in Baldwinsville, at a nice little joint called The Cottage, was delicious and relaxing.
This tradition rocks.
What two-generation family summer traditions do you cherish, and why? Do you add a meal to your family events, and do you like it to be breakfast even if it’s getting close to lunch? If you’re a golfer, how close have you come to a hole-in-one, what were the circumstances, and did you make the birdie putt?
Mark Bialczak 
Way too much goftese talk going over my head MBM. 😉 But I love the pictures full of happy golfers!
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Something for everyone, MBC!
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So glad you had a good time Mark and just love that you were thinking of Karen and texted her a photo – how sweet! ❤
Diana xo
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Of course we did, Diana. The family thing to do. ❤
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Such pretty scenery bro Mark. I just can’t understand why it’s all messed up with those funny poles and flags. You must have some serious gophers in the area also — they dug a few pretty deep looking holes out there.
You don’t, by any chance, get the idea that hitting a poor, defenceless ball all day spoils a nice walk, do you? Uuu! would I say that?
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You know I like to play the game, sis Angie, and I know you think it is silly. We agree on that, at least.
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I should be ashamed of myself for teasing you about it, bro Mark. The really funny thing is, though, I’m not! Hahaha. It just doesn’t take much to entertain me lately.
One week and 3 hours til I pick up my keys and start moving. Whee!
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To the deluxe apartment in the sky … You and Louise Jefferson, sis Angie. 🙂
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OH! What a wonderful day of good memories made! 🙂 A tradition to continue and hopefully your kids will continue it decades from now! 🙂
I like it to be breakfast ALL day long! Ha! 😛
I love any time spent with my grown-up kids! (unfortunately they don’t live close right now, because they had to move where their careers took them) We have many holiday traditions…and some every-day traditions when they are home to visit. My favs are when we are doing outdoor activities and we always include a picnic meal or a BBQ.
HUGS!!! 🙂
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I hope they keep it going as well, Carolyn. I’m glad to hear you have great traditioins going when they can make it back from thpoe career of theirs. Outdoor picnics and barbecues are pretty awesome, I agree. 🙂
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What a fun time! The weather looks gorgeous. One of my family members hosts a jog and grog 5K at their lake property. The jog is just so no one feels guilty about the grog afterwards. 🙂
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That’s good planning, Tracy, and sounds like lots of fun. I bet it would be way less inviting as a grog and jog!
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But it would certainly be more entertaining. You know, a family that plays together, stays together. 😉
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Yupper, Tracy. 😉
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That was a really nice visit with family – even if it was on the golf course. When I was married, we used to take the kids down to see their grandparents and father at the same time every year – it became a sort of tradition. I tried to establish some family traditions but it was hard Mark when I was parachuted into a family that already had roots and traditions =- most of which were in New Brunswick. As an example, even over 12 or 13 years of being together, no matter how hard I tried, they all always wanted to spend the Christmas/New Years holidays with their family on New Brunswick. We did not spend one Christmas in our shared home. I basically just gave up and went along by supplying transport and helping then to do their traditions. Most were conducted in french and did not include me – although they were very nice.
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That’s too bad, Paul, that they did not embrace up, include you, accomodate you, nor give you a chance. That’s not so nice in my book, even in sheep’s clothing. And it was their loss.
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i love your make up date, and it was filled with great people you love. love that you could laugh at yourselves, and i love the breakfast after tradition. )
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We are good with the tradition, Beth. Golf, fun, food!
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Now as you may know, I don’t play golf, so this may sound stupid… but that’s the first time I’ve seen a divot in a green. I guess it makes sense that a ball landing from a tee shot would make its mark, but this is the first time I’ve seen a picture of a green that had any blemish in it…
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Afterward, I stuck a little tool I carry in my golfing pocket into the divot, twist and lift, and then tap to flatten the spot. That helps the green grow back more quickly. They call it “repairing your ball mark.” On the fancy courses, if you don’t do that, the members will give you the death stare, kick you off, and shun you for the rest of your life. On public courses like this, though, a lot of folks don’t even know you’re supposed to fix the dinks and doinks the balls make on the greens. There, Bill, is the golf course maintenance lesson for the day. 🙂
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Ah, I feel enlightened now. It is just like a squirrel replacing his divot after burying a nut…
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Good work today, Grasshopper.
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I am not a golfer but I can understand the camaraderie, being out in the fresh air and getting a little exercise… not to mention the “apres” breakfast. All sounds good.
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Thanks, Ros. We enjoyed the experience for sure. 🙂
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I agree, cute golf story and I know nada about golf!
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Thank you so much, PJ. 🙂
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I never came close to a hole in one, but my dad had several..he always won things with holes in them as prizes to bring to the family…cases of Cheerios, Life Savers were the ones I remember. ☺ This is perfect golf weather, looks like a great family outing for you all. ☺
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That’s pretty funny, winning prizes with holes in them for that special feat, Van. I’ve never had a hole-in-one in my life. Someday, I hope. 🙂
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Maybe that should read “Did”
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Well Terp-it always looks closer from farther away!!! Do someone say food, family, events-like yea for sure they exist here in sunny Florida most definitely! The Gatorette.
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Yay for your sunny Florida family events, Gatorette. They look really close from way up here. 🙂
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Ha-Ha-very funny Terp! When is ydw Karen getting back to the itty-bitty?
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She’s on the couch as I type this, Gatorette. Oh, happy day!
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Woo Hoo Karen’s home!!! What did you have for supper tonight Terp????
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I splurged and took her to Denny’s. 😉
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Aw shucks…You super hero you! I like Denny’s breakfast Slam!
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That’s what I had for dinner! And Karen had an omelet. Denny’s does breakfast best, Gatorette.
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Yea for Denny’s. When my hubs and I were dating in Gatoretteville/Gainesville we use to go to Denny’s a lot late night. I love the memories!
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Americana, I say, Gatorette. Back in the day, Karen worked at Denny’s.
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Wow, did she really? Hard work serving folks! Have a great weekend Terp! Gatorette
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Yes, she did, a single mom supporting two young children working several hard jobs, Gatorette. That’s my DW Karen. You have a great weekend as well, my friend.
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Very commendable-a Mom will do what it takes to care for her children Terp!!! Hats off to YDW Karen. Gatorettte.
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Looks like you had a great time out there. The weather looks perfect!!!! We don’t really have any family traditions other than our annual adventure in August – which we all look forward to, because you never know what adventures we will end up going on.
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An unknown adventure is a good idea, SD. Who decides?
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Me!!! I am the most imaginative and the best one for thinking this stuff up or so my family says – (but really I think they say that so I will do all the planning).
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Of course! On those counts, SD. Imagination and determination.
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nice shots, dear friend
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Thanks, Leyla. I hope you are well. 🙂
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Aw, that was a cute golf story, even for a non-golf-lover! Good weather, hm?
We have a lil community parade on 4th of July. I mean, not Indy, but our inner community. For us that’s a three-generation summer tradition.
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That’s a great way to have the whole dang family celebrate the local community way, Joey. I like that, as you know. 🙂
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