I miss The Cragin. Summer without it seems, well, not like
Summer. It's like life without sex. Wait, that's
marriage.
I think somewhere Fingers Zielinski heard that I broke 40 on each of
the three nines at Ives Grove where I usually play golf and he is
afraid that I will beat his ass into the ground at golf this year.
But I still miss The Cragin. We've been doing it for so long it
seemed like it would never end, and God, almighty, why the hell does
this sound as if I', writing an obituary? I need a drink!
No not really, but it sounds good doesn't it? Why do so many
people say they need a drink in their more desperate moments?
I miss The Cragin not so much for the competition although that is part
of it. I do want to beat the pants off Zielinski and Rossi,
mainly because they beat the pants off me so many times for so many
years and I know we're all getting older and there may not be enough
time left for me to catch up completely. But it's more than
that.
It's Chicago, and growing up and playing those 800 yard holes at Hansen
Park and off the rubber mats at Columbus Park. It's remembering
all that and friends, and, frankly, missing that. It's the
laughing, farting, and belching. It's swearing after a bad
shot. It's driving near and far to play a round with
friends. It's waking up early and trying to beat the rest of the
world to the course to get a good tee time. It's riding a city
bus at 4:00 a.m. and sleeping on that bus on the way back after walking
18 holes, carrying a bag of mismatched clubs.
I miss The Cragin and the bunch of old Polacks and their relatives and friends just hanging out.
***
So when is The Cragin? Beats me. But even if it doesn't
happen this year, I know where it will be. Right here. In
my mind and in my soul. It's in my heart.
***
One thing that has definitely changed is our home course. The
first time we played Hunter Country Club is was 18 holes. Over
the years, they moved some things around and renumbered holes.
The 5th became the 15th. The 9th became the 18th. Some
holes were shortened, and though they really weren't some holes became
longer and harder for us. Since we played it last year (2004),
it's seen a new owner, seen in closed and then reopened with a slim and
trim version.
You can compare the old Hunter to the new:
Latest report from Bear Rossi is that the old 9th over that creek that
nobody could ever drive, which used to be the 18th when we first played
the course, is gone. The green turned over, dug up. Seems
as if they moved some things around, but as far as what holes are which
from the old course, Bear's best guess is:
1 is the10th, 2nd, =11,
3rd, = 14th, 4th, = 13th,
5th, = 12th, 6th, = 15th,
7th, is 16th, 8th, is 16th,
shortened, 8th, is the 17th, lengthened and 9
is 18.
Neither he nor I can figure out where they came up with the idea of a
Blue course and a Gold Course. We think they just repainted
the old tee markers.
New Course. Old Course. Are we supposed to think we're playing at St. Andrews or something?
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