From the 18th fairway at PB Dye. Don’t go left.
I played Waverly Woods last Sunday 5/21. Course was in good shape, I’m happy to report. A couple wet spots here and there but I’d put that down to this never ending spate of wet weather we’ve had. The fairways were running pretty good; the greens weren’t exactly US Open fast but they were consistent (as much as I’d like to blame them on my putting woes, the truth is that my putting woes are on me). Went out in the first group with another rabbit, and we finished in three hours. Roughs were thick but not overly so.
My one minor quibble (a suggestion, really) is this- the driving range runs parallel to the 10th hole. I know that the large and tall netting isn’t exactly attractive, but given the dozens of range balls that were in the 10th fairway, it would sure help people playing the 10th hole to know which ball is theirs. My playing partner and I were on a damn Easter egg roll looking for our balls amid the sea of range balls.
I took a flier yesterday 5/27 and played PB Dye out of curiosity. A few weeks ago, someone who seemed to be on the level said that the course was in terrible shape and that they had let it go. I hadn’t played there in a couple years so I felt like it might be a good time to see what was what.
11th hole at PB Dye. So anywhere not short, left or long works. Or right.
While I can’t (and won’t) try to speak to what someone heard or saw a time ago, I can say that the course I saw and played yesterday was in great shape, despite intermittent rain. The greens were as good as anything I’ve encountered all year. Tee to green I played well, but once again my putter went completely off the rails (took 38 putts and three putted when on in regulation on three occasions). It was completely my fault.
I know Dye’s work isn’t for everyone but it’s still one of the better tracks in the area. You’ll encounter friendly people and at least when I played there, good conditions. Not to belabor the point, but this is one thing I don’t get- it doesn’t cost money to be friendly. A friendly starter goes a long way as opposed to some wannabe drill sergeant who treats players as if they’re invading his sacred territory.
TIGER AND THE DUI
I started writing this before the news of Woods’ DUI arrest hit on Monday. Worse than the never-ending avalanche of Hot Takes were his sycophants and loyalists that are defending this. It’s indefensible. That he wasn’t drinking doesn’t mean it’s okay. Woods made a decision to get behind the wheel when he was under the influence (from a legal perspective it doesn’t have to be alcohol). Several lawyers talked about the legal ramifications so let me speak from personal experience.
More than 20 years ago I served as a juror in a DUI trial. The particulars of the case were this- the driver was in the driver’s seat, keys in the ignition and the car was running. Most jurisdictions have that as a standard for ‘operating a vehicle’ (an attorney and a police officer both told me that if you get in a car and realise that you’re under the influence to get in the back seat and put the keys in the front seat as this would typically meet a standard of no intent to operate the car). The driver refused a breathalyzer and failed field sobriety tests. He parked in front of a fire station with the car running. However, we voted guilty and it took less than an hour to come back with a guilty verdict.
That Woods’ car had two flat tires on the driver’s side and rim damage (along with what the police described as ‘fresh damage’). He didn’t know where he was and had fallen asleep. Even if his toxicology reports come back completely clean most jurisdictions have statutes about drowsy/distracted driving. A jury is not going to be overly sympathetic (and not for anything but if Woods’ car damage is from hitting a vehicle with occupants this gets really bad in a hurry).
If Woods were in bad shape, a call to a friend, a cab, or a shared ride would surely be a better option than getting behind the wheel. It says here that if he’d called his agent and said “Steiny I’m at location X and I need a ride” you can bet your ass they’d have a ride there tout’d’sweet. He’s a 40 year old man and not some 23-year old. He has 2 kids (and not for anything if he’s that concerned about being a good father for him, then square that with his behaviour).
As someone who’s gotten pretty banged up on multiple occasions, I was (for once) smart enough to find a bar walking distance from my apartment during my period of heavy drinking (oh, sure, I probably had some fantastic conversations with light poles and mail boxes but at least I didn’t try to drive home).
If it comes to pass that he has a problem with prescription medication (hoping this isn’t the case and this was just a one-off), then I hope like heck he gets whatever treatment he needs. Even if he never plays golf again, he still has to be a father and for him and his kids’ sake I hope he gets to do that.
Leave a Reply