Ryder Cup

The visit to Medinah and the practice rounds of the Ryder Cup were more than I had hoped for.
We started out Tuesday morning at 7:30 and the crowds were not too bad. We parked at the forest preserve for free, hopped on a shuttle bus and were at the course in 10 minutes. Very easy!

We started walking the course and when we got to 3 we knew that we had to stop there. There were bleachers for the guys to sit and watch, which were empty, and Sharen and I planted ourselves right out side the walkway between holes about 20 ft from the cup and 15 ft from the green. Prime location for pictures. We had to stand around for about 3.5 hours before all the golfer came through, but that was OK we met some young twin boys, Kyle and Andrew from Fl. They wanted to get a picture so Andrew could post it on facebook, so I had the guy take one of us for my blog. Kyle thought I was pretty cool cause I blogged. We passed the time talking twin.

All the members of the Europe team signed autographs. No one was signing for the American team but Matt Kuchar. Standing right in front of us was a boy clearly going through Chemo. Kuchar stopped, signed his flag and his hat, and chatted with him for a good minute. I heard the conversation and got choked up big time. The Amercain team did hand out RC pins and told all the kids they would sign after the round. Not sure if that happened because we were long gone by then.

After all the golfers came through Mike and Dup wanted to walk around the course and the only thing Sharen and I wanted to do was SIT DOWN somewhere. We decided on the 13th green to watch them hit up on a par 3. Not thinking the boys took off with both cell phones and the money. Sharen sat there for awhile while I headed over to the first fairway to get some pics of the captain/celebrity scramble. When I got back we both decided we were thirsty and tired and wanted to shop and get something to eat before heading home. We both borrowed cell phones to try and call the boys. No Answer. Ugh! They finally show up and we head over to the gift shop, grab a bite to eat, and head on home. 3:30pm. Very successful day 1.

Day 2 started out with a birthday breakfast. Thanks Mike. Got to the course a little later - around 9:45. Stopped for a twin picture in front of Tiger Woods poster!

Sharen was hoping they were signing again today and bought a flag. No such luck! Note to visitors next time go on day one for autographs. We caught some Europe players between holes 1 and 2, but no such luck in any autographs. Bummer! A couple of the American golfers were teeing it up on the backside so we decide to sit in the TALLLLLL bleachers on 17 and watch from there. It was very nice having Mike there - one to take our pictures everywhere and 2 he saved our seat so Sharen and I could run over to the 14th tee off to get some pictures of golfers tee off. Mission accomplished.

People were asking why we had corsages on and we proudly told them that it was our birthday and Sharen's daughter made them for us.

While you wait for golfers to come through you sit or stand around and talk with everyone who is around you. On the 17th green we sat in front of a couple from Ireland. The couple next to us were from Tulsa and they were here for the whole tourney. The most interesting were the four guys sitting in front of us. (I couldn't not sit in the front row). They were from Denver. Yes they were Bronco fans and in true Bronco fashion (Andy) they snuck a flask of whiskey in their pants. It took some convincing on Sharen and my part to stop them from singing Happy Birthday to us. They were convinced that they could get the whole crowd involved. Thanks God for that one. Those poor guys sat there for 5.5 hours and only saw 6 golfers. Most all the golfer had stopped before getting to the 17th hole. They had one more day there so when we left they were planning their tomorrow. Oh Yeah, one of them was a twin too, but his twin wasn't there.

It was a smooth day from getting to the course, getting around the course (even with all the crowds), getting something to eat, shopping in the gift shop and leaving the place. All went really well. No lines for us. We did see some lines for the pottys, but not when we needed them.

Just a few observations. I know they bring in money, but there were way-way too many corporate tents. There had very few bins for recycling - even though everything came in plastic cups or bottles. They could of used more picnic table or places to eat. Behind the first tee were about 30 tables and room for 100 more.
The course looked amazing and when we cut across the fairway you could see they were immaculatly groomed. Big thumbs up to the golf attire on both days. Pin striped pants with navy shirts on Tuesday and red pants with navy shirts on Wednesday. The red.white.blue jackets looked really good too.

 Good Job Medinah... Go USA!!!!
Lots of pictures on my shutterfly......

Myrtle Beach

MB has changed since the last time we were there.
OR maybe I have!
The last vacation we stayed at a golf course so the downtown and the beach weren't part of the equation. This time I took a chances and booked a ocean front condo south of downtown. Mike loves to walk on the beach and I like the sound of the ocean.

We get to our resort and they give us our room key. I walk into the room and tell Mike I don't think I can stay here for a whole week. He calls down to the desk and asks for another room. Oh Boy! Really?
I had a choice to make.
Either we can stay on the first floor (which is actually on the second floor) close to everything including the pool, restaurant, and parking and all the noise right under our balcony.
OR
We can be on 20th floor (penthouse)  REALLY high (I hate heights and am not to fond of elevators). where I would  NOT go out on the balcony all vacation.

We choose:

It turned out not so bad. I loved that we could keep our drapes and sliding door open all the time. The bedroom was at the other end of the condo so I could pretend that we were lower at night for sleeping. It was especially nice when they power washed the pool decks at 7:00 am.

The only problem came on the second night when the fire alarm went off at 1:35 am. We had to evacuate the building and we hoofed it down 20 flights only to be told it's a false alarm.
View from inside our room.

 

I did venture out on to the balcony for short periods of time. Mike is down there somewhere in the ocean.

Mike has talked about playing King's North for several years now. It can get pricey so we just didn't do it. This year for his birthday we played it. The gambler is a par 5 with island fairways. I hit it my first attempt. Mike on his second. Way fun. I took Jon and Erica's wedding golf ball and used it on the par 3's. Thinking the luck would bring me a hole in one. I got 3 pars and then lost it on the 13th island green par 3.

 

We spent the weekend on the beach. Mike under a rented umbrella and me out in the sun.

 

I think we showed our age a few times. We would head to the pool in the late afternoon when it was less crowded. We found our self at the dinner theater instead of the bars. On the last day (travel day) we went downtown and shopped and then took in a movie to pass the time.

I missed our travel partners, Sharen and Dup, big time.