Alright, so I got it in my head to go play some golf, and Bide a Wee was the spot I picked for the day. Been a while, you know? So, I figured, why not give it a shot, see how things are holding up over there.
Getting Ready and Heading Out
First thing, I dug out my clubs from the garage. They were a bit dusty, gotta admit. Gave ’em a quick wipe. Checked I had enough balls – you never know with my game, ha! Threw on some comfortable clothes, grabbed my old faithful golf shoes, and I was pretty much set. The drive over wasn’t too bad. Just had the radio on, thinking about maybe, just maybe, hitting a few straight ones today. That’s always the hope, isn’t it?
When I pulled into Bide a Wee, the parking lot had a fair few cars, but it wasn’t packed solid, which was a good sign. Looked like a decent day for it, weather-wise. Not too hot, not too windy. Just right.
Checking In and First Swings
Went into the pro shop. The fella behind the counter was friendly enough. Got my green fee paid, asked if I wanted a cart. Of course, I wanted a cart. My legs ain’t what they used to be for walking 18, especially with a bag. He told me to just grab one outside and head to the first tee when I was ready. Simple enough.
Didn’t really do a proper warm-up. Took a few practice swings near the cart, stretched a bit. That’s about my limit these days. Then it was time to actually hit the ball. The first tee shot… well, let’s just say it wasn’t a beauty. Stayed in play, though, so I counted that as a small win. My expectations are pretty well managed these days.
The Round Itself
The course, Bide a Wee, it’s got its charms. It’s not one of those super fancy, big-name places, and that’s alright by me. It felt like a real, honest golf course. Here’s a bit of what I noticed:
- The Fairways: Mostly in good shape. A few dry spots here and there, but nothing terrible. You could get a decent lie most of the time.
- The Greens: They were rolling pretty true, actually. A bit on the slower side, which suits my shaky putting stroke just fine. Some tricky breaks on a few of them, kept me guessing.
- The Rough: Not too penal. If you strayed off the fairway, you could usually find your ball and have a shot at getting back in play. I spent my fair share of time in there, as usual.
I had a mix of good holes and, well, ‘other’ holes. Shanked one into the trees on the 7th, that was a classic. But then on the 12th, a par 3, I actually stuck it on the green, pretty close! Almost made the birdie putt. Almost. That’s the story of my golf game. Lots of ‘almosts’.
One thing I really enjoyed was just being out there. The pace of play was decent too. Didn’t feel rushed, didn’t have to wait around too long on most tees. Just a steady flow. Saw a couple of deer out by the back nine, which was nice. They didn’t seem too bothered by us golfers.
Wrapping Up the Day
By the time I got to the 18th, I was feeling it. A little tired, a little sore, but in that good way you feel after you’ve been active. My score? Let’s just say it wasn’t breaking any records. But that’s not really the point for me anymore. It’s about getting out, hitting a few shots, some good, some bad, and just enjoying the process.
Dropped the cart off, gave a nod to the guys in the pro shop. Didn’t stick around for a drink or anything, just headed on home. Overall, a pretty good day at Bide a Wee. It’s a solid course, nothing too fancy, but it delivers a good, honest round of golf. If you’re looking for a place that’s not pretentious and just lets you play, it’s worth checking out. I’ll probably be back again before too long. Got to try and make that birdie on the 12th next time, right?
