Golf de Touraine

More to say...

OK... the thoughts just keep coming.  The participants on this trip have confessed they're living in a halo of their French experience.  We've all made an attempt at extending our trip by changing our everyday behavior.  We're buying food a little differently at the grocery store, adorning our kitchens with garden flowers, and lighting votive candles.  (Well, I'm doing that... but secretly I think the others are too.)  

We've shared our shopping lists in emails, sent photos of our produce finds, and touted our dining menus.  A new milestone has appeared on our timeline -  "life before and life after France".  I'm excited about the future.  I can't wait to see this group again.  I am different and I'm engaging in life differently. I believe each has been touched in some way by the experience of this journey. [Sorry should have forewarned you - "sappy alert!"]

I'm delighted to hear our friends and family have enjoyed our amateur attempt at blogging.  While the writing isn't great, at least the photos are able to assist telling the story.  In the need for haste and to get the site up and running we left out a few side trips and adventures.  So this post-blog will touch on those.  [It's a little long, so grab a cup of something and read on...]

Golf de Touraine
Thursday morning my friend Lisa lent me her husband Dan, so the two of us could get up at dawn to check out the links at a nearby public course.  The clubhouse's architecture was a bit of a surprise.  It was beautifully crafted in the French manner with the tell-tell architecture of squared-off, steeply-pitched rooves, over-sized windows and facade of white stucco, covered in ivy. The setting was serene particularly early in the morning. We borrowed a couple of bags and a ramshackle smattering of clubs from the pro shop, loaded the cart and took off into the mist toward the first hole.  We were giddy as school children.  (Dan you WERE giddy, don't deny it.)

Dan G. his dream of France realized.

The first few holes were a bit damp and cold but the sun came out and quickly and warmed the air.  The course itself wasn't terribly difficult but provided enough sand traps and water hazards to make club selection challenging.  The maintenance of the fairways equaled none I'd ever seen - lush, precisely manicured, top condition.  The surroundings were wonderful too, a simple French countryside... ducks, swans, and farms with orange clay tile roofs. The bonus was, we practically had the course to ourselves.

The groundskeeper's cottage was charming and magnificent.  Green striped awnings, a tall hedge of lilac bushes and a high wooden diving board perched above the adjoining pond.

Groundskeeper's cottage at Golf de Touraine

Dan played very, VERY well.  He took a birdie on the 15th hole (I think)... an AMAZING chip shot from the far downward slope of rough, just adjacent to the edge of the green.  He made it look so easy... a gentle stroke, a soft bounce, a looonnnng roll... then plunk!  Hit the pin and went in!  We shouted loudly... "Bon coup!  Good shot!" (Disturbed a foursome at the next hole... darn Americans!)

Dan with an excellent line drive down the middle of the fairway.

I was not playing well, (par for the course - rim shot) but I usually play to have fun anyway.  On approximately the 8th hole Dan gave me a tip, to interlace my fingers on the club.  "Like this?" I said not feeling at all comfortable...  I crossed my fingers, lined up for my opening drive, swung the club... and KNOCK! The ball went high in the air... flew fast and straight and FAR down the fairway!  Woowhoo! Thanks Dan... where was that advice seven holes ago?

We finished 18... then returned to the clubhouse, ordered a glass of white wine (vin blanc), and enjoyed it on the patio overlooking the 10th hole. The French golfers we observed were reserved, and very well dressed (think Ralph Lauren Polo)... and most walked the course pulling a matching golf bag behind them. Impressive. I think of the attire and behaviors of my own American country club members. and in Wisconsin we tend to be a bit sassy, mis-matched, and brightly feathered...but that's OK. This is golf - you have to play it to appreciate it, in all its forms. Thanks Dan for this particularly wonderful French experience.