AverageJoeGolf.net doesn't have a mission statement, corporate sponsors or high profile professional players and/or teachers as contributing staffers. Sure it'd be nice, but then we wouldn't be a site for Average Joe Golfers (AJG).
What we do have is a way for all AJGs to read about products, review AFFORDABLE courses, spout off about golf issues, etc. And it's all compiled and uploaded by your peers.
Paraphrasing Joe Walsh - we're "just an ordinary, average" guy's website.
My foursome's most recent golf excursion took us the Sierra Nevada foothill community of Oakhurst - or rather it took us through the community of Oakhurst towards Ahwahnee on Highway 49.
The course we played and I review is the incredible Sierra Meadows Country Club. Well, they call it a country club and I suppose in someone's mind (the developer?) it originally was a country club. But since the proposed upscale housing development didn't materialize like the original developers wanted, they had to open the golf course to the public. Now it's supposedly semi-private and it does have that "look." However, it is a public course in every sense of the word and it's to our benefit that it is.
There are various terms for the Average Joe Golfer - duffer, hacker, weekend warrior - but all of them pretty much describes the golfer who shoots in the 80s to 100s and wants to get better.
AJGs watch instructional videos, buy impact bags and putting tools, take lessons from "scratch golfer-friends" and hit countless buckets of balls at whatever golf range they can get to on a periodic basis. Feeling good about their game, they then play a round and tell anyone who would listen, "I can play better than that!" "If just a couple of those putts woulda dropped..." "Played well, but my drives kept getting me into trouble!" I played military golf - left - right - left - right!"
Ah... we've all been there.
I was at my favorite driving range the other evening and it occurred to me that I should write a review. I took a long look around and noticed again how peaceful and tranquil the range is. It's only had a few upgrades in the twenty or so years of existence. It's survived ownership change, a major flood, a lack of expansion (original owners wanted to expand to include a nine-hole course), the destruction of fairways and greens by rabbits, lack of use during hot and cold months and more. But it HAS survived!
Islewood Golf Range and Learning Center is a natural habitat for all kinds of wildlife. Golfers co-exist with bobcats, deer, geese, cranes, hawks and the occassional eagle while hitting away happily (or sometimes unhappily) on the range or while playing five full-size holes. To be sure there are drawbacks - one large one in particular. To find out more about Islewood click here because in a rarity in this age of the internet - Islewood does not have a website!
On the subject of beer on the course... why not?
The top two national golf magazines have their wine connoisseur articles which are fine for those who partake in the nectar of the fruit of the vine. Wine has its place. As an average joe golfer, I don’t think its place is on a golf course and I know Duffy, The Shark and other pros who are vintners would agree with me on that.
Wine is a compliment to the championship dinners and special evenings after a round of golf. Wine is THE choice for toasting the champion (champagne notwithstanding).
THE beverage of choice for 18 holes of golf is good old, ice cold beer. Personally, I don’t typically drink during a round, but have been known to imbibe afterwards - never to excess however. It has on occasion, actually helped loosen me up during a trying front nine and made the round less painful.
I like to finish a round, head to the clubhouse and have a beer or two with a burger and fries. Wonderful! Sitting around with friends and enjoying the camaraderie while commiserating about the missed and made shots, two-putts and what-ifs.
Better yet is firing up the bbq after a round and enjoying the safety and comfort of my own backyard – and pool - while having a few brews. Since I’m usually playing with my sons, brother-in-law and close friends, any combination of playing partners can be there and we talk about the day’s events on the course. As for food, bbqd tri-tip, steaks, burgers, dogs, salmon, chicken... it really doesn't matter. All go well with beer!
The only way it can get any better is to be able to choose your brew of choice. I like several beers but chief among them are Blue Moon, Honey Moon, Budweiser, Michelob and Pacifico.
What’s your favorite and why?
email your thoughts about beer on the course by clicking here
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