COMMUNITY

Great accomplishment. I can't even come close to that. Rarely do I even have 3 others that can play when I do. Most of the time it's just me and a friend, possibly 2, but it's not very common to have a foursome for me.

I'm so lucky.I,get to play Golf with several golfq friends.

I'm a single by heart, but a couple friends of mine from school play together now and then. And I've played with 4 gentlemen I met through this site. 1 of which (Ron Satha) has become a very good friend of mine.

You've got many years to build golf relationships.

Ya, it is a good time to play with other members. I have only gotten to play with 5. Hope to add to that number.

You gentlemen are very lucky. When I first started I was part of a regular foursome for a good ten years. Took trips together and played wherever and whenever we could get together. Unfortunately time and different interests have changed us and it is a rarity that the four of us see each other anymore. To be part of a foursome that stays together for so long I believe is now the exception not the norm.

Mike I think that is wonderful. My golfing buddies have come and gone over the years due primarily to moves (them or me). So my dynamic is different. Many good friends that when we do get together, it's a rich wonderful time.

I can't match the duration criteria but since I started playing golf in earnest about 10 years ago I have had 2 regular playing partners on our company league, each about 5 years. By far I play more rounds with my wife and my sons although my sons work schedules the last 2 years have decreased our golf time together. There are a few at work that I get together with a few times a year outside of the league and a few vendors I play an occasional round with. I don't mind playing alone as well and do so frequently.

Outstanding Mike. Glad to hear there are others that have similar golf stories. I think I disagree with golf season getting closer in Chi Town, since I was just witness first hand to your first major snowfall the past 3-4 days. :)

WILL agree though that it is great to have guys that can share those times consistently. My buddy Jules and I play 40-45 times a year and we have done so for 7 years. I calculated one day with my wife that we played over 300 times. She asked me, "what do you guys talk about all those times?" I told her we talk about the same thing every round... our golf games. Duh?

Don't depress the guy. They start ticking off the days months before they can play. It's a pain management technique.

For those NOT located in a northern band from the Dakotas through the New England states, here is what 'off-season' is like for those who are.

Somewhere around the end of September all the leaves fall off the trees and we start seeing more grey days. There is still golf to be played, but we know our days are numbered.

Somewhere around the second half of November first half of December the clubs go into moth balls. Days below freezing (not just nights), grey days, and snow (how much varies by location) are expected as constant companions for the next several months.

We cheer ourselves up with the coming of the Christmas and New Years holidays. For the golfer, this is an opportunity to dream about golf and put golf related items on the Christmas list, plus trips to places like Dick's or Golfsmith to come up with a good list (at least that is our excuse).

January is one of the toughest months. We're depressed. Christmas and New Years are gone and any golf gear we got can't be taken out to the course. Frustrating. If we're real lucky, maybe we get a short indian summer, defined in our terms as anything over 40 degrees during the day where we can get in a trip to the practice range. We temporarily subdue our depression by talking about golf with our golf buddies, thinking about golf, making plans for the coming year and counting the days (though they are many) when golf on the course will begin again.

Around February or March, we've reached our limit. Full out depression has set in. It's too much to bear. Everything is grey, even the snow. This is the time when northerners flock to places like Myrtle Beach, Florida and all points between. Whether for one week or more, we HAVE to get out.

We return to our grey existance for the final push, resume counting the days when golf will return. Somehow we make it, though we're never sure we will.

When golf returns, it is a glorious day.

Why is this a "Controversial Topic"? Are we not supposed to have golfing friends?

In the great state of Illinois that should qualify for Common Law Status. Watch out, (with equal rights and all that stuff). All kidding aside this sounds like a really great accomplishment, with all of the daily pressures in life keeping a group together this long is a super accomplishment. Great job!

It just got there, because I didn't pay any attention to the topic line. Maybe that's why I'm not a better golfer, No focus.

That may have been a major snow storm for a guy from Florida, But just a dusting for us. :-)