The guy in the pro shop remembered us and asked if we took the cart for a spin last night. We said yes, but we never saw the lion. He asked how we could miss it. The other pro said they did not have a driving range, just a practice area where you could bring your own shag bag. Not ideal for RVers who can't carry around 30 pounds of practice balls. So we just chipped and putted. Green fees and a cart were $30.00 each. We had the course to ourselves practically. He said they were never busy on the Highland Games weekend except for the scramble tomorrow because almost everyone in town is somehow involved in the festivities.
Bob played the White Tees at 6,000 yards with a whopping slope rating of 136. I played the Red Tees at a short 4,898 yards but still with a hefty slope rating of 128. Each tee shot was intimidating. Trees and trouble were everywhere and the severe up and down slopes and tilts of the fairways made even your best shots end up in trouble. And if you were in the fairway you never had a level lie. It was always well above or well below your feet. I hate that; you have to think too much! Both of us managed to play really well considering. I guess we were concentrating on each shot so that we didn't embarrass ourselves.
We passed hole #12 and looked for the lion but never saw it. There is quite a crowd now out in the field for the Games. No one was on the golf course except for the maintenance crew who were bugging us to death. We never saw such rude grounds crews. One guy walked on the green and dug a new hole to move the flag as we were making our approach shots to the green! This game is hard enough without moving the target in mid shot. Another guy, maybe a marshal even though we were the only ones on the course, was providing commentary on our wayward shots. But we survived all of the nutcases and turned in respectable scores that will be keepers for our handicaps (for all of you non-golfers, the best 10 of your last 20 scores are used to calculate your handicap.)
We were done by 3:20 just as the sun peeked out. Most of the day it was overcast with just a few sprinkles at the turn. It was very humid and we really felt it when that sun popped out. I'm glad it waited until the end. I hope it stays out for the Games this weekend. We drove into Glasgow and ate at the Tumbleweed again. Our new theory is if you find a good place right away, stick with it. The waitress remembered us, and our drink orders, from yesterday. She welcomed us back, "Darling!" Bob tried the BBQ Chicken Southwest Salad and I had the Chicken Pasta Salad. I had to take half of mine home. On the way home we stopped at E.W. James & Sons Grocers, a new local market that just had a grand opening here. It is a very nice store. It's always fun to shop at a new market and see what goodies they have.
We got a Bowling Green Times out of the machine out front and headed back to the State Park around 5:30. There are quite a few cars in the field by the Highland Games as we pull in. We're looking forward to taking in the Games tomorrow; weather permitting since rain is in the forecast again. But today turned out okay. It is actually sunny and mostly clear towards evening. A new pop-up camper has occupied site #99 next to us. We read the paper and take abbreviated showers since we're living on the holding tanks here. About 8:30, just as dusk was settling in and the lightening bugs came out, we heard bagpipes from the woods behind us. We sat with the lights out and all the windows open in the cool evening breeze and listened to the haunting sounds of the bagpipe. What a pleasant surprise.
It's 9:12 p.m. and 69.8 degrees.