Winter ending, golfing begins
March 11 temperature forecast Madison, Wisconsin: High 62 degrees. The Meadows golf course in Waunakee and the Golf Bowl in Mount Horeb opened for play yesterday. Ordinarily I’d be making my tee time at one of these courses but my bags are packed as we leave tomorrow for Hot Springs. After visiting with our relatives for a few days I hope to be out on the golf course at the state park golf course at DeGray Lake State Park Resort near Bismark, Arkansas (20 miles south of Hot Springs). By now the fairways and the greens should be greened up nicely as the region has enjoyed temps in the 70s and 80s for the past three weeks. My only concern in looking at the forecast is rain. (April 1st golfing update – at least two Lake Superior golf courses are already open)
Later we will be heading to Tyler Texas for the Azalea Quilt Show. Got a few courses identified there that I hope to play, plus we’ll ride the Texas State Railroad’s Steam Train Piney Woods scenic excursion ride between Rusk and Palestine. Then off to Natchez and Vicksburg, Mississippi visiting national parks in both towns (Natchez National Historic Park, Vicksburg National Military Park), plus exploring the historic Natchez Trace parkway. Made notes on some golf courses in that area if our schedule allows time to play them. We’ll end our trip with a visit to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area for camping and hiking. We’ll have reports on all of these scenic parks later. Back to golfing. If time permits I’ll get to play the Miller Memorial golf course near Murray, Kentucky. Also there’s a couple of courses in the Paducah area I’d like to play. Last year, during the annual AQS Quilt Show that Jo attended I had great plans to play several courses in the area but rain had most of them underwater. Hope don’t have a repeat performance this year.
If the weather cooperates I hope to post reports on playing the golf course at DeGray Lake and several of the other courses I have on my itinerary. Last year on our spring trip we had rotten weather, rain and below normal temperatures. While I got out golfing a few times the courses were not in top shape. Keeping my fingers crossed this year.
–Ross