Last night was Molly’s company’s Christmas Party. I always look forward to this night because they always take us somewhere nice. We’ve been to the Napa Valley Grill, The Saint Paul Grill and this year it was Hazeltine National Golf Club. Yes, the same Hazeltine that hosted the 2009 PGA Championship and that will host the 2016 Ryder Cup. In fact, the only other time I was at Hazeltine was the final round of the 2009 PGA Championship when Y.E. Yang beat Tiger on the final hole.
This experience was quite different however. Instead of a soda during the round and Culver’s afterward, I had barbecue ribs, sweet potato fries and raspberry chocolate cheesecake. Quite enjoyable, even if Tiger, Mickelson and thousands of other spectators weren’t there with me. The ribs had a dry rub that was excellent and the barbecue sauce for dipping was slightly spicier than I like. The sweet potato fries were the best I’ve had – and I’ve had plenty! The cheesecake was a bit disappointing, but I ate it all none the less.
One of Molly’s bosses’ wife is on the board of Hazeltine and they shut the course down this past year to burn the existing grass and replace it with bent grass. I let her know that if they wanted me to play a round and give my feedback on the new grass, I’d make time in my schedule. Most of the feedback would probably be of the rough and the quality of the sand…but valuable input to be sure!
I’ll leave you with a picture of the inside of the men’s locker room. Reminds me of high school….ummm, maybe not.
I would be available to offer a different prospective on the grass replacement project. I of course being one that hits from the “RIGHT SIDE” of the ball.
I’ll play if they’d like a legal perspective. By the way, nice touch with the falling snowflakes during the pictures.
Thanks – I kinda like the snow too