Published Thursday, January 24, 2008 3:18 PM
Updated Thursday, January 24, 2008 3:19 PM

 

Cup o' Joe

No snow, no problem

As someone born and raised in the ever-changing seasons of New England, I was a bit disappointed after spending my first Christmas and New Years in a snow-free area.

The warm weather with a light drizzle, which I awoke to on Christmas morning was hardly what I was accustomed to.

As the holiday season ran on and a new year began I was troubled by the lack of Jack Frost in the air.

It was not until my brother suggested playing a few rounds of golf on our day off that my spirit began to improve.

In New England our ability to hit nine or 18 holes is limited to what ever mother nature allows, which is probably four to five months a year.

And so we discovered one of the many advantages of living south of the Mason Dixson Line.

We decided to take advantage of the warm winter weather and for the first time in our lives, headed out to the golf course in January.

It was a great idea.

We rented a cart and took our times to play 18 holes. The only score we kept was of the balls we lost and the beers we drank.

A long sleeved shirt and a pair of slacks were all we needed to keep warm.

Back home, the golfing season is limited because of the constant and often unpredictable weather. Much like the always-expensive movie ticket, limited golfing availability keeps the cost of playing reasonably high and can turn what should be a relaxing day into more of an investment.

And there is another bonus to living in South Carolina.

At the Oaks Golf Club in Goose Creek, the price of golf is set at a very reasonable and fair price. The short layout provides for a fun experience for golfers of all skill levels.

And if you're looking for something a little longer with the same reasonable prices, I highly recommend, the Berkeley County Club in Moncks Corner. This medium-length layout has three sets of tee boxes for a fun, but more challenging golfing experience.

What may have led to a disappointing holiday season became one that I will remember.

All in all, I spent more time watching my ball head towards the water and the woods than I did the fairway. I probably used my sand wedge more than I did my putter and I'm most likely going to have to buy some more balls before I hit the course again.

None of those obstacles mattered.

Although I will probably never consider myself a "true golfer", I do enjoy playing the game and have found another perk to living in the Low country.

I now know that next year, when all the presents have been opened, all the food has been eaten and all the family has said goodbye, it will be off to the golf course for a fun set of nine or 18 holes.