I played my favorite golf course for the first time of the year. Yes, year after year my favorite is the Prospector course at the Suncadia resort. We wandered up to the resort on the Tuesday following Mother’s Day. When the day of golf was planned, the weather looked a little questionable. There was no rain scheduled in the forecast. The only questions were if we would see the sun during the afternoon. The prediction was for overcast skies, but temperatures were supposed to be pleasant. Making for an interesting adventure depending on the weather. We decided to take on another adventure during our day at Suncadia. The decision to eat dinner at the resort was made. Every other afternoon of golf, dinner has followed by leaving the resort. I had always wondered what it would be like having dinner on the deck of the resort. The deck sits high above the ninth and eighteenth greens. Providing a cool view of the golf course to enjoy while dining. The weather would determine the feasibility of eating out on the deck. My final question surrounding my season opening trip to Prospector involved my shoes. I had bought a pair of high-top golf shoes during the winter. After playing golf my entire life with ankle height golf shoes. I wondered if I had taken a good risk in purchasing a different style shoe.
The weather at Suncadia can be tricky. Because the resort is nestled in the cascade mountains. The weather can change quickly, causing unpredictability when spending time on the property. The most bothersome part of being at Suncadia has often been the wind. Wind can make the area too cold for golf, as late in the year as July. Venturing up in the early stages of May came with its risks. Considering spring weather being some of the most unpredictable of any year. There were feelings of hopeful surprise, as I got out of the car in the parking lot. We arrived just after the noon hour and the sky was clear. The first sign of contradiction to the forecast. The cloudy skies that had been predicted were not seen above the car. The sun felt warm kissing my skin without the startling feeling of wind. The first few minutes of being on the property suggested a unique day of golf. We got checked in at the golf shop without trouble. Loaded onto the golf carts and were ready to start play. Following a quick stop for something to eat on the golf course. The first tee was open for us to proceed. As we drove around the clubhouse, things seemed pretty quiet. I was hoping the stillness would carry through the afternoon.
I stood on the first tee wearing a new pair of golf shoes. I decided to try a pair of Nike Jordan high-top golf shoe. Different from the type of golf shoes I have been wearing my entire life of golf. The traditional golf shoe looks similar to a tennis shoe. They are usually at ankle height. I have tried many pairs during my life looking for the most supportive style I can find. The comfort of a golf shoe carries importance, as golfing can involve a lot of walking. While comfortable shoes are important when making an athletic movement. Trying to balance comfort with stability in a golf shoes has been a constant journey. Adding in the variability of my cerebral palsy, making the search carry added importance. I have always been looking for shoes helping me with balance. Especially valuable to me when engaging in an athletic venture. A couple of good golf shoe companies I have found to help with my balance are Nike and FootJoy shoes. Both have felt sturdy along the sides of the shoes. When traveling to play golf in warmer environment, I have been trying a softer shoe. Using a G/Fore golf shoe, which has been softer along the side, making the shoe cooler. They also had a more comfortable sole. As compared with the other shoes I had been using. The comfort and lightness were great for warmer weather but didn’t provide much stability. Making this round of golf interesting in trying out the Jordan shoes.
There was a positive feeling when I made my first golf swing wearing the new Jordan shoes. The stability could be felt from the first swing on the first tee box. The questions still lingered in my mind over the comfort of the shoes? I wondered if the feeling of stability would last all afternoon and how could it impact my overall game of golf. As the first hole continued, I could sense the extra stability in my footsteps. Hitting the different shots along the first hole, all carried feelings of added stability. I walked off the first green feeling optimistic about my decision to try the high-top golf shoe. Hoping for the ability to grow into trusting the new shoes as the afternoon unfolded. The next few holes provided a picture of the afternoon of golf. The weather could not have been better. The sun was bright in the clear blue sky. Temperatures hovering right around seventy degrees without a breath of wind to feel. No matter the time of year, days like this one, remain elusive. The timing we picked to go play only added to the pleasantness of the day. Playing in the middle of the week before kids were out of school, led to a quiet afternoon of golf.
I have played golf up at Suncadia many times. Playing in different weather conditions and during a variety of days within the year. These differences have left me with observations over the years about traffic patterns at the resort. The best times of the year to play golf up there have been spring and fall. Because the number of homes inside the Suncadia resort keep climbing. There are families always spending time there in the summer months. As August comes around, I find things start quieting down. Families start getting back into their routines around home. Boys start their year of playing football, while the girls begin cheerleading. The early May Tuesday filled the space of playing in the spring, while kids were still in school. We were able to take our time on the quiet golf course, playing in a little more time, than we normally would. I took the extra time to move a little slower in my new golf shoes. Taking extra time to get a good feeling for them. By the time I reached the middle of the second nine, I could feel the difference in my shoes. I started trusting the feeling I was getting. There was much more stability in the high-top golf shoes.
The high-top Jordan golf shoes surprised me with how positively they contributed to my golf. When I reached the later parts of the second nine, I didn’t feel fatigued. For me, showing how supportive the high-top shoes had been during the day. Helping my ability to walk along the undulations of the golf course, while minimizing the amount of fatigue I felt. Not only were the shoes helping me save energy, but they also helped my golf swing. The stronger sides of the shoe helped me control the shifting of my balance. I developed the confidence that my lead ankle wasn’t going to twist or roll during the follow-through of my swing. The feeling could never be reached for me, playing with golf shoes rising to just my ankle height. I regret the time it took for me to attempt playing golf in a high-top shoe. My initial instinct was the high-top shoe could be cumbersome when playing golf. The instinct turned out to be incorrect. I felt during my first hole of the day that my past thoughts about the high-top sure were probably going to be wrong. By the time I was walking down the final hole, I knew I had been wrong. The stability in the shoe not only helped me conserve energy. The help it provided to my balance, help me swing the golf club with new confidence. I was striking the ball with more power. Making better contact with the golf ball, due to the improved balance. I’m looking forward to playing in the high-top golf shoes, again.
The afternoon of golf was better than I could have imagined. The warmth of the sun and not a breath of wind. The early day of May made the golf course quiet. Not other groups to push us from behind meant there was no need to rush. When golf is finished at Suncadia, the options for dinner come into focus. Usually leaving the resort to find something in the small town of Cle Elum. The other option often taken has been grabbing something on the way home. This time dinner was going to be done differently. The decision was made before leaving for golf to stay afterward to eat at the resort. Something I had never done in all my many times of playing golf at Suncadia. With the warmth of the weather, I was excited to dine out on the deck, overlooking the golf course. The golf clubs were loaded into the car, shoes were changed, and we were ready for dinner. We were seated on the deck with the sun still high in the evening sky. There were a handful of other tables in the space, all filled with people enjoying the evening. I was excited when being seated at one of the tables along the deck railing. Looking forward to overlooking the green at the ninth and eighteenth greens. The only trouble with the table was the height of the railing. The deck railing was just a little too high for me to comfortably look down on the two golf holes. Though, I was excited about having the opportunity to sit out on the deck. The mountain weather doesn’t always allow for having dinner outside.
The evening couldn’t have been more ideal. The sun was warm with the absence of wind. Dinner was going to be comfortable on the deck. I reached for my menu excited about the options. As I pondered the options for dinner, something interesting caught my attention. There was a BLT made with pork belly. The only trouble for me was understanding pork belly. I knew what the BLT stood for, from seeing the sandwich on many menus. The pork belly was tripping me up on the option. Not really understanding what it was, I inquired. Learning it was a tender cut of pork. The explanation appealed enough for me to take a chance. Knowing I like the taste of pork. With orders for dinner being submitted, we sat comfortable in the warmth, chatting away the wait for our food. The other tables doing the same, as sounds of conversation floated into the mountain air. When dinner arrived, I was ready for some food. Eating after an afternoon of golf often results in a satisfying meal. The sandwich I ordered didn’t frighten me upon its arrival. My first bite melted my appetite with something unexpected. The pork belly felt like it has been missing from my life. The sandwich was amazingly good with each bite. I had some fries with it and an Arnold Palmer to drink. I’m writing this in the first part of July and am still thinking about the meal on the deck at Suncadia. I look forward to the next time I get to experience the sandwich.
What an amazing afternoon on the golf course. The Prospector course at Suncadia was in rare form during the second week of May. The weather could not have been more ideal. Warmth that felt unseasonable without the wind known to bother any day of golf in the Cascades. There was question over how the weather would be, it could have gone either way. Making the conditions a pleasant surprise when we arrived. The question of the day for me involved my golf shoes. Taking the risk of moving to a high-top golf shoe instead of shoes of ankle height. I though the high-top golf shoe might feel too clunky, making my swing feel hampered. I found myself to be incorrect with my concerns. The risk of trying the new golf shoe was positive. The extra height of the shoe around my ankle provided great support. They didn’t ever feel restricting to my golf swing. I feel like the different style of shoe only provided more stability, helping me play better golf. Following the afternoon of golf, having dinner at the resort was a new experience. I was excited going into having dinner. Hoping to dine on the deck overlooking the course. The experience I have looked at for years, didn’t disappoint. Lucking out with the warm evening made sitting on the deck comfortable. I didn’t know what to expect from the food, but it was excellent. My BLT brought the awesome day to a satisfying conclusion. We then loaded up the car and drove back over the mountain.
