From there our entourage headed over to the "American Idol Experience."
While the others in our group enjoyed the show I was doing my best to deal with a rather large woman sitting next to me, crowding my space and trying to talk to me the entire show! Sure, Pat, Darleen and Buzz all thought that was funny!
About a week ago, "Big" Buz, Judy, Buzz, Darlene and Pat and I went out to eat and take in one of the parks. While waiting to order we were enjoying some conversation and somehow the topic of golf came up. Knowing "Big" Buz and Buzz like to golf, I turned to "Big" Buz and quietly asked him if he would like to golf at one of the Disney Golf courses? Before I could complete the question, "Yes," "Big" Buz beamed back at me!
I've never golfed in my life and I'm setting up a "foursome" for three golfers and me. No clubs and only putt-putt golf experience (years ago), oh yeah, I'm ready for this! Buzz, "Big" Buz, Tom and I head out to Osprey Ridge Golf Course. The closest I've gotten to golf is on TV watching the pros. About ten years ago I worked with a football coach who was an avid golfer. He also gave golf lessons at the school. Pat and I talked about taking his course but the course never ran. No takers. But, he gave me some tips about teeing off. He told me about stance, swing and using the body, and that was it. I've watched the pros on TV and (at least) visioned how to make myself "look good!" The day of reckoning was at hand. Driving up to the clubhouse I had no clue what to expect. We were treated like "Pros" by the staff. I was in "la la" land. Hey, all I planned to do was drive the golf cart. The guys had other plans. They each offered their clubs for my use and Buzz handed me several golf balls. I guess I was playing!
They gave me outstanding support and worked out all the nerves of playing a game I was never interested in playing. The expense, all the equipment and to top it off, I don't like people having to wait for me to do anything, golf just wasn't for me. We played "best ball" and that made all the difference. They set the pace and it was awesome! "Big" Buz let me drive with his monster driver and man that felt great. Over the 18 holes, Buzz let me rattle through all his clubs and helped me pick a club to match a shot.
To a man, they all said once you hit a great shot, "you're hooked." Well, on the first of two par three holes I hit a drive that sailed like an arrow nearly landing on the green. It was sweet! My tone changed. Each hole took on new meaning. Of course I had plenty of lousy shots and was glad to be playing "best ball."
Above, a mother raccoon and three kids fight for a scrap that she grabbed out of the trash. Tom and I had to stop the golf cart for her to get the treat out of the trash!
We did see a couple of Ospreys and half a dozen deer.
Tom and I limped back (I had to get out and "help"
the cart up a number of hills) to the clubhouse and yet we all agreed that each of us had a great day.
Oh, "Big" Buz was right. I did "see the light" after the round...
....three days later, Pat and I wanted to kill some time so we drove to the Osprey Ridge Golf course to check out the Pro Shop. I had forgotten they were having a Disney Cast Member Sale and it was the last day of the sale. (We had seen the huge line forming in the clubhouse for the first day of the sale just after our round of golf a few days earler!) I noticed several people walking out of the clubhouse with great looking empty golf bags. I asked one guy if they were selling them. He said yea, for $20.00 each! This is it! I'm going to take the step and buy a bag and then find a set of clubs at a yard sale for cheap!
Right!
This is what I walked out with....
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They were selling the rental golf sets including the bag for $150.00.
The set is the King Cobra FP woods and irons with a Titleist sand wedge and each set has a Scotty Cameron putter (whoever he is). (It all sounded good to me!)
Good grief, what have I done! To top it off, Pat was all for this! Somehow I think Buzz and Darlene had something to do with this.
As usual we "circled the wagons" in front of the Lk. Magic Clubhouse. I arrived later than most of the PTB'S. Our riders were all excited about the winged creature removing chunks of tree out of the tall palm trees in front of the clubhouse. An elusive Pileated woodpecker perched long enough for "Little" Buzz to snap a photo of it....
These seldom seen large woodpeckers are typically found in the deep woods. They are seldom seen in the open like our fellow riders witnessed this day. They chip large chunks of wood out of the trees that look like some one's been chopping the tree with a small hatchet and are extremely loud while doing so.
Seeing this beautiful bird was a treat for everyone. I would have enjoyed getting to see it.
To get an idea of their real beauty as well as the chunks they can remove from a tree, here is a photo (taken off the Internet) so you can see just how striking these birds really are...
The Pileated Woodpecker is the bird the cartoon character "Woody Woodpecker" got his looks from.
Editor's note: Last week, Pete and Joan set sail on a Disney Cruise. They had a great time and enjoyed every show on the ship. Pete says the weather was great in spite of a stiff annoying wind. The ship's stabilizers did their job well. Last week's Blog neglected to note that Pete and Joan were not in attendance for our weekly bike ride. However, the PTB Ride Director has deducted their "Lead" and "Tail-Ender" rider position pay accordingly!
We gathered downtown and headed for the Florida Hospital pit stop.
The group enjoyed the gentle mist of the sprinklers to get us underway.
We couldn't help but notice all the construction along our route.
The Hospital is building a parking garage along with another addition to their buildings.
As we head toward our next stop we couldn't get over the size and scope of the land preparation for more houses being cut into the woods as far as the wooden walk way we ride on.
One of our riders, Sandy, fell while we were riding the back roads of Celebration. Fortunately, the only injury she received were some scratches on her elbow. We decided to cut the ride short and head for lunch.
Seventeen of us headed for the Celebration Town Tavern. The remaining riders dined next door at the Marketplace Cafe.
HEY! Turn around!
That's more like it!
(That's Larry missing in the photo to the left. Sorry Larry, I moved when that bird nearly flew into my head!) At least he got into the photo above this one. He's wearing the hat at the right end of the table.
Oh boy, I'll be hearing about this from Larry! ...........
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....but I'm ready for him......
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