tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56579442012-01-20T14:20:58.221-05:00RVGolferMixing golf and road warrior. I've been writing for money since I sold my first story to UPI on "How to Hitchhike," back when it was still "safe". Next it's video.Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125rvgolferhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-88323428790165537622012-01-20T12:43:00.006-05:002012-01-20T12:50:00.095-05:002012-01-20T12:50:00.095-05:00Last April: After 35 years, I finally realized a problem in my swing (only one?). I was set to go out on Tuesday at GolfTodayMagazine‘s tournament in Napa, Calif. at Eagle Vines golf club, so decided to hit a few balls at the range.For 10 years I’ve had a pad of faceplate-shaped carbon-paper adhesive sheets called LongShot Maximum Distance System that you put on the faceplate of the club Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2012/01/last-april-after-35-years-i-finally.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-76035639630815478282011-01-16T13:19:00.002-05:002011-01-16T13:24:05.903-05:002011-01-16T13:24:05.903-05:00Another year over, a new one beginningMy big Ford E350 is serving as a lawn ornament at the moment, covered with a foot or more of snow, with a lifeline electrical cable keeping the batteries topped off. I'm hoping to ge it out of the drift shortly, and head for warmer climes.It doesn't help that the price of diesel fuel has gone through the roof. My original intent was to tow a trailer around Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2011/01/another-year-over-new-one-beginning-my.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-83090955354922266912008-10-28T17:49:00.000-05:002008-10-28T18:01:14.027-05:002008-10-28T18:01:14.027-05:00Two New California VenuesOn the Crease: Pheasant Run G.C.Highway 99 through the heart of California makes a person think of John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. It's hot and dusty, with mile after mile of asphalt running through flat farmland.On every road atlas I've seen, the little municipality of Chowchilla is right on the crease, that dividing line where California is split in half, northern on Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/10/two-new-california-venues-on-crease.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-4382560558285162532008-10-08T18:32:00.000-06:002008-10-08T18:36:17.149-06:002008-10-08T18:36:17.149-06:00A Month AwayMy USPS gig came to an end on Sep. 26, and all sorts of things hit the windmill: I ate something bad the 24th, lost it that night, and spent the 25th in bed. I did make it in on the last day.Then my 89-year-old mother fell and broke her hip. It has been one thing after another: apparently the painkillers are too strong, and make her crazy.So...I'm on my way to Calif. to try and help Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/10/month-away-my-usps-gig-came-to-end-on.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-81126279000715688102008-09-11T07:19:00.001-06:002008-09-11T07:48:13.894-06:002008-09-11T07:48:13.894-06:00The Party Is OverThe RNC has met, the cast is dyed. We had the smell of teargas in the morning, a la Apocalypse Now.I watched a lot of the proceedings from the 13th floor of the 75-year-old St. Paul Post Office. From the 11th floor, minions of the Secret Service spread through the city. Next office from ours, U.S. Postal Inspectors deployed to help protect the convention. Through binoculars, I Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/09/party-is-over-rnc-has-met-cast-is-dyed.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-40170900629693942382008-08-25T14:22:00.001-06:002008-08-25T14:44:56.915-06:002008-08-25T14:44:56.915-06:00A Lot of BullActually, Pum is one step away from a bull. He was, er, divested as a young'un, and is now an ox.He's a Holstein, mostly white with some black markings, and he is big. When I saw him in the Cow Barn at the Minnesota State Fair yesterday, I was amazed. He stands around 6 ft. high at the shoulder, and weighs in at some 2,500 pounds. Head and shoulder above the cows that were also on Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/08/lot-of-bull-actually-pum-is-one-step.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-37356077988204908432008-08-20T06:24:00.000-06:002008-08-20T06:39:03.182-06:002008-08-20T06:39:03.182-06:00An UpdateExcept for one disaster hole where the wheels not only fell off but rolled away in all directions while the body of the wagon crashed to the ground, the horses galloped off and the camera rolled throughout, last night went well. I bettered my best score on the Gold 9 at Emerald Greens by 3 strokes (the counter stops for people with my enormous handicap at 10 strokes per hole), lost two Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/08/update-except-for-one-disaster-hole.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-6758096437087954852008-08-19T11:19:00.000-06:002008-08-19T11:33:45.367-06:002008-08-19T11:33:45.367-06:00The Party´s OverMy golf season--the first league I´ve ever been in--is coming to a close tonight. I´ve suffered from cold weather and a few rainy outings, one or two really hot days, and many nice ones. I had hoped that, with retirement from everyday toil in the offing, this frequent shot of golf might help me get a little better. As I look back on my skill level, I might, maybe, be a leetle Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/08/partys-over-my-golf-season-first-league.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-47519489696072657712008-08-06T08:38:00.000-06:002008-08-06T08:48:52.313-06:002008-08-06T08:48:52.313-06:00Throttling back throttled myselfOnce again, I avoided using the driver in favor of my trusty 2-iron. But when my first shot put the left-turn blinker on and launched itself toward a watery grave, I began to question the strategy.I can't blame anyone but myself for my problems. It may have been caused by overswinging, but my shots ran long, or short, or left, or right. On 9, I had a Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/08/throttling-back-throttled-myself-once.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-2236547909176304082008-07-30T09:40:00.000-06:002008-07-30T09:53:47.711-06:002008-07-30T09:53:47.711-06:00An Iron SufficiencyOn a par 72 course, you should have 36 putts: 18 holes times 2 putts. Which means half your score should be from the green area. You've heard the saying, "Drive for show, putt for dough." It makes sense.I've always been a good putter, and I've gotten chipping and pitching in a little better shape this year by playing on the league at Emerald Greens near Hastings, Minn.So last Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/07/iron-sufficiency-on-par-72-course-you.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-12329705176606166572008-07-23T09:11:00.000-06:002008-07-23T09:21:21.920-06:002008-07-23T09:21:21.920-06:00Quick healingI always lose to the golf course anyway, but last night it made a physical assault on me: first fall went to Emerald Greens (but I'm going best two out of three). When I turned to walk down the fairway after my second shot on the par 4 dogleg left 3rd hole, I stepped in a pit about 18" deep and crashed to the ground on my right side. It didn't hurt (much) and I walked the last six Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/07/quick-healing-i-always-lose-to-golf.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-304569685234527382008-07-22T13:36:00.002-06:002008-07-22T13:47:25.810-06:002008-07-22T13:47:25.810-06:00Everything but...I have the shoes, big sneakers I used to wear for volleyball, but which work fine for golf.I have the Superman golf pants (see below) I wear for work, with legs I unzip when I need to rush to get to my tee time. (No telephone booth required.)I have the golf shirt, portraying golfers and galleries on a collared green-tinged t-shirt material.I have the golf hat, today the red one Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/07/everything-but.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-5631678194212725232008-07-16T08:36:00.000-06:002008-07-16T08:45:19.981-06:002008-07-16T08:45:19.981-06:00Superman golf shortsSince I´ve been in this golf league, I´ve wanted to wear shorts a few times. However, I leave a "business attire only" job as a tech writer for the Postal Service at 4pm, and tee off a few miles away at 4:40. That doesn´t leave a lot of time to change from slacks to shorts, and if the men´s room stalls (or phone booths) are occupied....So, when I saw a pair of slacks for underDale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/07/superman-golf-shorts-since-ive-been-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-74628186538573079372008-07-09T11:26:00.000-06:002008-07-09T11:40:02.518-06:002008-07-09T11:40:02.518-06:00Almost a birdieIsland par-3 green, surrounded on three sides by water and only a narrow walkway of earth, into the wind about 110 yards. I hit an 8-iron right straight at the flag, and onto the green about 30 feet from the hole.I can putt pretty well, so I'm always confident. I lined up my stance and gave it a firm poke. It curved a little left, as I'd expected, but not...quite...enough. It hit Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/07/almost-birdie-island-par-3-green.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-70183543838909653552008-07-03T14:04:00.000-06:002008-07-03T14:13:19.324-06:002008-07-03T14:13:19.324-06:00Happy 3rd of JulyNo big plans this weekend if you don't count a trip to Taste of Minnesota, or a look at fireworks. No golf, though, or traveling.When gasoline is jacked up to over $4 a gallon, one does tend to think a little more about where they want to go bad enough to spend the money. A family reunion or wedding, perhaps? Maybe a carpool to a sporting event.Those long, aimless "go for a driveDale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/07/happy-3rd-of-july-no-big-plans-this.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-18458961702597240772008-06-27T13:44:00.000-06:002008-06-27T14:07:46.151-06:002008-06-27T14:07:46.151-06:00Women's U.S. Open in Edina, Minn. Here it is, the second day of the Open at Interlachen Country Club, and I've succeeded in avoiding all of it. One of the fellows who plays in my golf league bought a weekly pass for himself and his wife, and took this week off from work to attend. He took 126 photos the first morning, and by now has probably passed the 1,000 mark.Another man on my league foursomeDale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/06/womens-u.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-82083832843725970432008-06-13T14:23:00.002-06:002008-07-05T11:10:48.543-06:002008-07-05T11:10:48.543-06:00What a weekend in the Great NorthwoodsFewer than 100 miles from the Canadian border, less than four hours from the Twin Cities, for two days my pals and I shared 9 holes of golf at Hoyt Lakes Muni, followed by 18 at The Quarry, one of Minnesota's premier courses.Saturday, we drove straight to the course and telephoned our host, Jim Whittington. "Jim, where are you? We're ready to go."By the time Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/06/what-weekend-in-great-northwoods-fewer.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-86099557478623539212008-06-04T12:03:00.001-06:002008-06-05T08:28:23.958-06:002008-06-05T08:28:23.958-06:003/4 power at the LinksI've been told it's a lot tougher for a tall person to be a good golfer than it is for a short (sorry, height-impaired) one. Add extra inches to armbones, and the swing becomes a lot longer.The math isn't perfectly correct, but let's say one person's arms are 24" long, while a taller type stretches to 30". The formula for circumference (the distance around a circle) is Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/06/34-power-at-links-ive-been-told-its-lot.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-571238618388736202008-05-22T07:40:00.000-06:002008-05-22T08:38:01.924-06:002008-05-22T08:38:01.924-06:00I´ve always known I´d shoot my age someday, but I always thought that meant I´d live to 135. Today, however, I´ve accomplished it. I just didn´t know it would be on 9 holes.We played the Platinum nine at Emerald Greens near Hastings, Minn. It wasn´t raining for the first Tuesday in two weeks, but the elements made up for it with wind. In that flat Minnesota farmland, where the only thing slowing Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/05/ive-always-known-id-shoot-my-age.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-52871845867272909482008-05-14T13:32:00.000-06:002008-05-14T13:42:13.288-06:002008-05-14T13:42:13.288-06:00Remains of Bell's PalsyIn April, 2005, I was beset by an attack of Bell's Palsy. Three years later, I'm still smiling the same crooked smile you'll see at the above link, albeit not quite as much.If I get tired, my eyelid on the left side droops and I've developed a habit of cradling that side of my face in my left hand.However, it is a lot better. Part of it may be from my eating papaya, believeDale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/05/remains-of-bells-palsy-in-april-2005-i.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-14357691348146890832008-05-13T12:04:00.001-06:002008-05-13T12:51:35.286-06:002008-05-13T12:51:35.286-06:00Soddenly this summerToday is the third Tuesday I've hit the links at Emerald Greens. The first was a little cold (we've had four days over 70 this year, when normal has 16 days by mid-May), the second was total rain from start to finish, and today promises to be wet as well.The Postal Service league I'm in doesn't let a little thing like rain (or sleet, or dark of night) stay them from their Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/05/soddenly-this-summer-today-is-third.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-19569885755004335842008-04-17T08:32:00.000-06:002008-04-17T08:45:35.755-06:002008-04-17T08:45:35.755-06:00Committed to GolfStarting Apr. 29, every Tuesday afternoon at 4:58, I'll be teeing off at Emerald Greens golf course near Hastings, Minn. Yep, I've joined a golf league with some of my friends at the USPS office in Eagan, Minn.I'll be interested to see how well my shoulders and knees hold up. For years I've been a volleyball fanatic, but have had to cut that off now, since both sets of joints areDale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/04/committed-to-golf-starting-apr.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-82321092739097172102008-04-16T07:21:00.003-06:002008-04-16T10:23:56.869-06:002008-04-16T10:23:56.869-06:00More on Bell's PalsyHere's a look at what I went through with my eye, starting with http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2005/05/this-treacher-body.html. I've written several things on my blog.No exercises, although I ate a lot of papaya on the off-chance the papaicin in it would help the nerves.I started out wearing a patch, but segued on to getting the eyelid sewn shut. That was worse than the Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/04/more-on-bells-palsy-heres-look-at-what.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-88695686428836296102008-03-05T15:19:00.000-05:002008-03-05T15:26:51.317-05:002008-03-05T15:26:51.317-05:00March MadnessIt's early March, 2008, and Minneapolis just got hit with a spring snowstorm. These are bad because folks let their guards down, and then things happen.In my case, I'm driving a rental car while my Honda body is repaired after I hit a wall to end a slide on a patch of ice. So this morning, I put the recycles in back of my house and walked around to the rental parked in front.Just Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/03/march-madness-its-early-march-2008-and.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657944.post-73971490879089967652008-02-25T10:35:00.000-05:002008-02-25T10:43:40.554-05:002008-02-25T10:43:40.554-05:00Golf Show VideoThe Twin Cities Golf Show is a done deal, with a lot of vendors showing everything from the latest in down-filled pillows to special wallets designed to cure sciatica. (Leave the money out, and you won't have that aching bulge.)Oh, sure there were golf products galore. I videotaped the Smart Stick, a twin-laser stick designed to help you get the correct swing plane, and the Tee Dale Archibaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504220170855215394noreply@blogger.com0http://rvgolfer.blogspot.com/2008/02/golf-show-video-twin-cities-golf-show.html