Early Bird
There are some of us out there, and that number is growing by the day, who are finding that they prefer an early morning tee-time rather than the usual noonish post-time. Perhaps it is an effect of getting older. Along with a gaining few extra pounds around the mid-section, losing a few hairs off the old dome (and gaining them in our ears), we’ve also become more capable of getting up early on the weekends. Or perhaps we just don’t get after it like we used to. Either way, we find ourselves being able to rise with the farmers, at a time when–not long ago–we’d usually be crashing from the night before.
But when you cut to the chase of it all, the ability to get on the links early is most likely due to the fact that we have busy lives now and we’ve found that we can still take care of the weekend’s plans without having to miss a round with the fellas if we make one simple adjustment to our normal routine and round out the eighteen by 11:00 A.M. That’s before noon, and no woman can find fault in her husband/boyfriend for having fun with his buddies before noon. Those are church going hours; no wrongful deeds can be accomplished at that time of day.
In theory the early A.M. tee-time is a wonderful idea, but don’t be fooled, there are some pitfalls to keep in mind. Most notably, the 50/50 guy. This is less than reliable buddy who, even in your most optimistic moments, you can’t in good conscience give him better than a 65% chance of showing up. On the rare event that this friend does consent to the 6:00 A.M’er, the rest of the group has to make it a point to call him at 5:15 to be sure that he’s up and on his way.
Then there’s Mr. Can You Pick Me Up?. For whatever reason, this person either doesn’t have a car or is incapable of driving himself. To both I simply say, you better live within a 5-minute radius. At this, the groggiest of hours, the simple rule of “Every Man for Himself” must apply.
Other cons to the early A.M. tee-time include:
- A still-damp course (if you don’t have new golf shoes, your feet will likely become soaked)
- Many donut/coffee shops aren’t open yet
- Might be too early for a cigar
- Probably too early for beers
Despite all that, I still believe that the 6:00 A.M.’er is the smart play. For those of us (and this is by choice) who find themselves with less “buddy time” than we were once accustomed to, the early morning tee-time is an easy way to keep your weekly tradition of spending a round with the boys alive.
So go ahead, Sleep in. Take the noon tee-times. This is one weekend warrior who isn’t fightin’ for ‘em.