Day 16 - January 10, 2018 - Swiss Fairways

Today, we decided to check out Swiss Fairways.  It has always been a championship design layout in need of TLC.  A couple of years ago it changed ownership and we were optimistic about its future.  

The new owners pumped a lot of money into the course.  However, early in the new era, the water system expired, and the course totally dried up.  Last year it was awful.

So, we didn't know what to expect.  Looking at the first hole, we were surprised.  This is the most green grass we have ever seen on the starting hole.  Before, it was always dry and patchy.

The starter suggested that we begin on the back nine since there were several slow foursomes ahead of us on the front.

Things didn't start well for me!  I had penalties on each of the first five holes we played - two lost balls, two in the water, and an unplayable lie.  But, I pulled it together as you will see.

On the 12th we had an unusual hazard - a water skier. 

We came around to hole #2 on the front nine.  There is usually a water skier on this hole as well, but today all I had to face was 160 yards of water.

Made it with about 2 feet to spare!

Now, here's where it gets to be a bit unfair.  The ladies (excuse me - the forward tee players) go to the other side for an 80 yard shot - what water hazard?

Hole #8 is a lot more dramatic than it looks in these pictures - 180 yards from the white tees to a green in a bowl.  That's Gary from Maine playing from the gold tees - 121 yards.

And, Mardi from Ontario playing from the reds.

All in all, we were very favourably impressed with the work done here in the past year.  They also had to deal with hurricane damage and removed a lot of trees, but despite that, the course is so much improved it's amazing.  By the time the guys come down in March it should be in great shape!

Fortunately for us, because of the years of neglect they can't charge normal rates, so we played for $25 each.  The best golf bargain in Florida!

And, you were wondering who won.  Well, after an atrocious start, I recovered to score a 96, beating the Golf Goddess by two strokes.

And, after we got back to Orange Lake I crushed her at cards too.  What a day!!!

The three of us decided to take a break and lay low tonight.  So, it's a short story day.  Because of that,  I want to lay the groundwork for my next philosophical musing.  I assume that most of you saw the movie "A Beautiful Mind" about John Nash, the brilliant, paranoid schizophrenic, mathematician, starring Russell Crowe.  He won the Nobel prize for his thesis study of "mathematical models of conflict and cooperation between intelligent rational decision makers".  For me, this was a highlight of the movie - a "game theory" model which predicts and explains outcomes.  It is used by the military, by economists, as well as sports prognosticators.

The next time we have a slow day I'll explain how this theory applies to the Dofasco/Stelco dynamic.