West Side Squishees
Owen McClain, teaching professional
Fall weather continues to provide for pleasant golf. At least over here. But not for much longer.
A trip to the west side over the Thanksgiving weekend brought memories of decades past, with the squish, squish of gray season golf resurrecting memories of pant legs tucked into the socks, soft greens, puddles, plugged shots, and rain pants just to keep the trousers clean. Of all the advancements in the game of golf, the modern waterproof shoe is my favorite.
That said, superintentents at west side courses are often nothing short of miracle workers. Playing two of the oldest tracks in the State, Seattle Golf Club and Everett Golf and Country Club, I used "preferred lies" only for a single shot, and that only because debris from a windstorm had my ball covered. Seattle Golf Club is the second oldest club in the State, and Everett is celebrating its 100th anniversary next year, so these patriarchs lack the benefit of modern drainage systems and soil modifications during the construction process.
The west siders would be shocked to see our golf courses empty, with such good weather for the season and our exceptionally good turf conditions. So while you still have the chance, get out and enjoy the better than average late season weather on the links.