Mardi and I golfed at Swiss Fairways today and the course conditions are significantly improved. The new owner had poured a ton of money into the course over the past couple of years (cement cart paths, new golf carts, a new trailer/clubhouse) but left the grass repair until last. Fairways and greens are good now, and the course layout was always good. We played for under $35 each, with cart.
The second hole is a long par three over one of the water ski lagoons. The mens' tees are on the slope at the right, the green (and the ladies' tee) are on the other side. This was one of my few good tee shots today - my 7 wood shot cleared the water and rolled to the back fringe.
It was cool and breezy today and I played from the yellow tees. At 5,400 yards that gave Mardi an 800 yard advantage. However, that only explains part of the total shellacking she gave me today. Her 96 was WAY better than my score.
After we came home she also beat me at cards (500 Rummy) and when Jill and Ron arrived back from their game we played two games of Hand and Foot (Ron and I squeaked out a narrow victory in the first game and got swamped in the second). Then the ladies beat us twice at Euchre. Not a good day at all!
Tomorrow we plan to visit the Morse Museum, home to a fabulous collection of Tiffany stained glass. And the ladies want to visit Golf Passion to perhaps shop a bit.
Last night, after I posted to the blog, a Hand and Foot game broke out.
Ron and I may not be very good at golf, but we absolutely crushed the ladies at cards. I'm sure there will be more challenges in the week ahead.
Today was pretty quiet. We played Bingo this morning.
Six cards each. Cash prizes up to $212 per game today, but close doesn't count in Bingo.
We toured the resort afterwards to show Jill and Ron what Orange Lake has to offer. Then they went for a swim. For me it was nap time.
Tonight, Ron, the Hand and Foot Rookie, joined forces with Mardi to demolish Jill and me. But we got even with a come from behind victory at Euchre.
Tomorrow is a golf day. Jill and Ron will be playing with Canadian friends at Champions Gate, while Mardi and I will take on Swiss Fairways.
This is Greg and Chloe's last day with us. While they were having their last swim, Mardi and I headed over to River Island for a look-see. The lazy river and other water features are shut down for a renewal during first quarter. Must be disappointing for the folks that paid big bucks for their accommodation in that village.
Normally this is filled with people. Sad without them.
Mardi took a couple of minutes to try on a red hat (matches the car) but it didn't make the cut.
Mardi's cousin Jill and her friend Ron arrived about an hour before Mardi left for the airport with Greg and Chloe, so they had some time to get up to date. Chloe has managed to get some nice colour in her week here - it should look good against the Petawawa snow and the -20 C temperatures when they get home tomorrow - tonight they're heading to Hamilton via Swoop and won't arrive until after midnight.
Tomorrow is planned to be a quiet day here. We'll see.
Our day started out with a walk along parts of the golf course. We took plastic bags - Mardi for ball hawking, me for garbage.
She collected 20 balls (she gave me nine of them). I picked up two bags of beer cans, water bottles and plastic bags. Some golfers are real pigs!
In the foreground of the picture above you can see a couple of Sand Hill Cranes. They have completed their winter migration from Canada and the northern states and, by March, will be raising this year's young.
This evening we made our annual trek to Disney Springs and the Raglan Road Irish Pub.
First, a merry-go-round ride.
Then shopping.
And then a wait at the bar until our table was ready.
That's a Virgin Mimosa in Chloe's hand mom!
We didn't take pictures of the dancers or the band this year (we have a trove of such from past years), but I can say without a doubt that this show was, far and away, the best ever! And we have seen many!
A great final night to a week that we really enjoyed with Greg and Chloe. They head home tomorrow night.
Mardi delivered Greg and Chloe to Disney this morning. Then Mardi and I headed for the Legends course here at Orange Lake for our first head-to-head challenge of 2019.
Although overpriced, it definitely is a pretty, well maintained course.
Even the swamp is attractive!
Just two pars today, both on par 3's.
At one point I had a 3 stroke lead. Then, it gradually eroded and we teed up on the last hole in a tie. No need to recount the rest of the story - choke! I drove my second shot through the fairway and it hid behind a tree. Done like dinner! A one shot loss.
Same old, same old. But, Mardi is being very kind - no trash talk - yet!
This afternoon, Gatorland put on a show and tell demonstration at the resort.
Couldn't get a good picture of the Tarantula, but this Scorpion was impressive. Apparently it stung the handler this morning before the show but the amount of venom was low (big claws equals low venom, and the reverse is true as well).
A Monitor Lizard...
And a Ball Python...
Chloe and Greg chose not to handle the python, but the alligator was fair game.
In the afternoon, the older folks went to Bingo.
I showed up long enough to take their picture 😇 and then went ball hawking. Have found six balls so far and I haven't even golfed yet. But I took 8,000 steps today so I'm in shape for my game with Mardi tomorrow.
Greg and Mardi headed out for golf this morning and I went walking with the camera to intercept them at the 4th hole.
Just as they were retrieving one of Greg's shots from the swamp.
Our owned unit is over Greg's left shoulder. It wasn't available for the full 29 days which is why we're located a block away.
As you can see I tended to hide in the trees, away from unidentified flying objects.
At the ninth tee, with our current unit in the background between Greg and Mardi.
And Chloe, in sunburn mode, on the patio.
I made a second excursion in the afternoon when they went to the pool area.
A 10,000 step day. Temperature about 28 Celcius.
The folks plan to go to Karaoke tonight. I'll stay home and listen to the Ann Coulter puppet give his speech.
