Michigan Bound! - 2021

 

Saturday to pick up Tom to head to the airport just doesn’t come quick enough. But, it does and Tony and I pick Tom off and to DFW we go, for a direct flight on American Airlines (www.aa.com) to Traverse City, Michigan. Pete will meet us there. We also had an unexpected casualty due to business – Levi won’t make it, so no newbies on this trip. And only three people (two and a half since I’m not playing except chipping and putting). It’s going to be 102 in Dallas Saturday and Sunday. And in the 70s in Traverse City.

Get to airport. My first trip since November 2019 – before COVID-19. Pretty easy and no big deal with the masks. They even have cloth masks at screening if you don’t have one. Lunch at TGI Fridays before our flight (direct, I’m upgraded, but no drinks since some drunk yahoo went bonkers a couple of months ago and no alcohol on most domestic flights). We board. Tony is texting me – Abby was looking for me when he came home and now won’t leave his side. Uneventful flight. We also secure our mini van (seems lots of people were not securing their car rentals and there was a line – and a lot of unhappy people – Traverse City doesn’t lend itself to not having a car).

Of course on our way to Shanty Creek we stop for Moomers Ice Cream – at the “satellite store.” Cherry Cheesecake for me. Yum. I also want the plastic garbage cans at their store out front. www.moomers.com

Satellite Moomers Ice Cream Stop

Shanty Creek is a resort (https://www.shantycreek.com/golf/ )– ski and golf and fun like Boyne. With five courses. About 40 minutes from the airport. I’ve played a couple of the courses, but never stayed there. From the outside, like many of the resorts, a bit tired and dated around the outside and inside facades. But, our three room suite is fine. And it’s pretty packed and we head for dinner on the patio at the River Bistro – next to one of the courses, Cedar River – we’ll play Sunday morning. '

Shanty Buzz Brew on the Patio

Then drinks on the patio near the Lakeview Hotel, before heading to bed for the night. We’re not wild and crazy and there aren’t any late night “parties” with us – unlike the group (s) staying on our floor. They were wild and drunk. And I think around 12 pm decided to play cornhole in the hallway for a while. Or some sort of game like that. Maybe they were watching the Olympics (I couldn’t find the Golf Channel to watch the finals of the men’s Olympics). Our tee time at Cedar River is 7 am. Our next is at The Legend (Arnold Palmer Course) at 11:50 am on Sunday.