Things I love about summer golf

I love the weather, of course. It's great being out in the sunshine. The sound of the woodpeckers in Home Wood around the first tee, the skylarks giving it large at the fourth, the parakeets shout-shout-shouting down the 15th.

We've also got swans: two pairs and a spare, apparently, although I'm suspicious it might just be the same two wandering around the course trying to confuse people. I did recently have to wait for them to walk majestically slowly across the 9th green into the greenside bunker before we could putt. The baby rabbits, moorhens, coots and egyption geese are like fluffy toys. The trees are thick with leaves and what was scrubby rough a few weeks ago is now "that verdant and enamelled mead" - you might almost deliberately hit your ball in there to have the chance to walk through it.

On the golf side, on the other hand, it's brilliant how much further the ball goes! And how much easier it is walking 18 holes across grass instead of wading through mud. Not having to wipe the mud off your ball to find the logo to line up your putt, not having to wipe your clubs every time you put them back in your bag, being able to feel your fingers!


And of course, summer season clothes are so much more fashionable - we can at last dress for looks, instead of just to stay warm and dry.

So, I'm looking forward to better conditions, better dressing and with a bit of luck better scores!

(Photo courtesy of AmUnivers on Flickr)