Local Golf Report: So long, farewell golf season

Don’t fret golfers, if the Weather Channel predictions for the rest of September and October are right, there’s a lot of good golf left this fall. But, for me, it’s time to let it go.

Alas, this will be the final From Tee to Green for 2018. And I don’t like writing this one every year because, in essence, I’m surrendering to the fact that, time on the course is running out. No matter how many nice fall days there are from here on out, sooner than later, the cold will come. Sooner than later, the snow will come, and sooner than later, our golf clubs will be moved from trunks and pickup beds to garages and basements, left there to sit and wait for another long Hi-Line winter to come and go.

It’s depressing to think about it that way. But, as well know, the sun will shine again next spring, and we’ll be back at it.

For now however, it’s time to say goodbye.

But, before I get to that, a last little bit of golf news for you. Last Sunday, Ali Ward shot an 80 to win the 2018 Prairie Farms Women’s Club Championship. Over 20 women played in the tournament, and Ward fired an excellent round to earn the title of Club Champion. Congrats Ali.

Also, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish both the Havre High golf teams and the Montana State University-Northern golf teams good luck on the remainder of their seasons. The Blue Ponies will play this Friday morning in the Central A Divisional at Prairie Farms, while the Lights and Skylights have tournaments in Great Falls and Billings still remaining on their fall schedule.

So, with that out of the way, I’d like to say a bunch of thank you’s before I end this column for the year.

First, thanks to Ali Ward, Jeremy Jensen and Tony Woods for keeping me up to date on league golf at Prairie Farms and Beaver Creek Golf Course. I couldn’t do this column without the information you three provide me every week. Thanks guys.

Next, I want to thank all of the tournament and league sponsors for all you did for the 2018 season. Without all of you, and you know who you are, the golf calendar around these parts would be awfully boring all summer long. Also, a big thank you to both Prairie Farms and BCGC for providing all of us who love golf two great courses to play on every spring, summer and fall. To all of you who work at both courses, thanks for all your hard work and dedication to making golf in Havre the sport it is.

I also have to thank Dan Korb for sponsoring my golf team, and thank the boys I play with all summer, Kyle Miller, Mike Erickson, Mike Kellam, Scott Miller and Mason Sheppard for another great summer on the links. I had a blast boys and can’t wait to it again next year.

And with that, that’s it. From Tee to Green is no more for about six months. I know it’s a long ways away, but I for one am looking forward to golf in 2019. I’m looking forward to getting back out there and hacking away with my friends, my league team, my Rotary Blast partner, and, another one of my favorite golf sidekicks, my wife Amy.

Yes, I hate to let golf go. It certainly leaves a void in my world, and, it’s hard to get through the long Havre winters when I am eagerly waiting to get back on the course. But, that’s life where we live, we don’t get to golf year around. Not unless you’re my good buddy Jim Wirt anyway. He’ll be having fun in the warm, Arizona sun soon enough.

Anyway, enough is enough. It’s time to sign off. Goodbye 2018 golf season. We’ll see you all again when the snow melts next spring.