It’s all extra time right now as we’re careening toward December. We had slushy crud on the ground last Thanksgiving and I was not overly thankful for that but this year I played both the day before and the day after the feast of bird. Thankful I am and well sated.

The real bonus is that I “discovered” a new jewel in the Portland area. I played the original nine when Toddy Brook (www.toddybrookgolf.com) first opened and I have to admit I was underwhelmed to the point I hadn’t played the new nine even though it was receiving solid reviews. Even the Danny Noonan look-alike that graces their numerous TV spots wasn’t enough to draw me from my regular haunts but it’s amazing what happens when courses start closing and the options dwindle. I went with the “any golf in late November is good golf” mentality and I dragged Gus the golf snob with me. Because of the crowd we started on #10 which is the old #1 and I was surprised to see that what had been a wide open and poorly framed hole was now a respectable par 4. Because the card showed the total yardage From The Tips was only a foot wedge over 6200 yards we went black and, for the most part, the blues weren’t far away and I love seeing the course all the way back. After 10, you cross the road and play the new holes which begin with a good par 3 and head up the hill for a few holes before dramatically descending on the 14th, an all downhill par 4 that stretches to just over 400 yards. 15 is a brutal all uphill hole with a nasty green to boot and will definitely crack my toughest holes list. The back finishes with a short par 3 that features what is essentially an island green and the adjoining clubhouse deck provides a great place for spectators to cheer or heckle. The front is flatter and less exhilarating but then I’m guessing most nines would suffer in comparison as I thought the back was flat out excellent.

Having played there twice now in three days I think that what I enjoyed most was the sounds I heard from other golfers. Granted, this is November golf and the golfers are happy just to be out there but I have never heard so much whooping, hollering and laughing on a golf course. Of course, yesterday OD and I had the pleasure of playing from the blues in front of one of the few grumpy guys on the course. The pace was deliberate but the course was absolutely packed and the sun was warm so what’s the point of pissing and moaning? This older “gentleman” even made several comments about how women shouldn’t be allowed on the golf course just because the foursome in front of us had two men and two women. Believe me, the women were not holding up play and I rarely find that to be the case anywhere. Whatever – his attitude still briefly infected us as we tried to hurry even though there was no place to go. Thankfully he didn’t go into the bar where more happy and loud folk ruled.

The course should remain open into next week and hopefully beyond. The fairways are in great shape, the bunkers full of sand and they just mowed the greens on Monday which have plenty of giddyup as my 37 and 36 putts will attest. At least I kept laughing.

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