[Joircarm]

What a glorious Fall day in Cheeseland. November 7th, and it was sunny and 64*. Pretty stiff breeze, but it's Fall, right? A guy can't complain.

We got to the course today, and Kristy, the young lady womaning the desk in the pro shop says, "Hi, Mr. Esox, don't forget, you have cash prizes and points on your account. You should use them before we close for the season. You have $25.00 in cash, and 1008 points, which is worth another $75.00."

That was a nice pre-round bonus. Since this time of year the shelves and racks are as bare, if less tan and shiny, as Natalie Gulbis's legs in a golf skort, there was essentially no women's clothes or gloves, I took six Titleist Perma-soft gloves for myself, and 18 Pinnacles for my loyal spouse.

Then the day got better. Those of you that get tired of me posting about my 12 year old daughter, Jr. Lancer, can stop reading now. She began the season last April as a kid that could shoot maybe 115 to 120 with a few mulligans, one who more often than not could not get through 18 holes without her emotions getting the better of her. She had, however, a strong desire to improve, a willingness to work hard, and an ability to take instruction, even during a summer that saw her watch her grandmother, her last remaining grandparent, struggle mightily against and lose her battle with old age. A situation that limited practice time as well as making it emotionally difficult.

Over the course of the season she has become a polite, etiquette conscious player that follows all the rules of golf. She has brought her scores progressively lower, to the point of breaking 100 six times in the last two months. There were set backs, including entering two August 18 hole tournaments in which she played very poorly against girls far more seasoned. While those days may have shattered her confidence for a short period, they also strengthened her desire to improve.

Today, on this crisp, breezy, sunny, and altogether beautiful Wisconsin November day, she shot 44-45 for 89. And as she told me, she shouldn't have skulled two little chips, and should have had three nicely rolled putts that lipped out, fall in. Some of the highlights were a birdie on the fourth from six feet, a 7w into the 15th green from 145 over two deep bunkers, a 40 yard bunker shot on the long par four 17th to eight feet and the following putt that dropped for par, and a hair raising for Daddy bogey in the gloaming on the uphill, dogleg, par five last for a back nine 45 and the 89.

I have to say I was a little choked up. It was a good day to be a Dad in Cheeseland. I bet she sees the south side of 80 before the end of next year.

Kevin