Yes, this blog post is late, again. Life has been hectic with a wife, kids, grandkids, and work. Plus Halloween and picking up leaves... so many leaves.

On the Friday before the WCC, we were down to 8 golfers, it's a good thing I had reserved four tee times.

Rock texted me late on Saturday that something had come up at home and he would have to miss this year’s Winter Classic. At least Rock was remorseful and probably a little embarrassed but when you have a wife and kids, things come up at the last minute.

As usual, I get to Agawam early, trying to get my mind and body for the ready to take on the elements. The temperature actual dropped from what it was at home but it wasn’t freezing cold. It was wet but it was not really raining yet and fortunately, there was no wind.

Chris shows up and tells me the Matt has decided not to come. Rey arrives and its looks like it might just be 3 people playing. Steve shows up, he not late but he isn’t early.

8:00AM arrives and there are only four of us to tee off. I go hard right and is over by the 18th hole. Steve goes right but he is playing by the shed next to the parking lot. At least we are playing good cart golf. As we are getting ready to take our 2nd shots, we see a car coming up the golf course’s drive way.

Low and behold its Dan and Dave, they are late but at least they came. The good news was that there were only a few other people who came out to play golf today so Dan and Dave should be able to play behind us.

First hole: I am struggling and finishes with a 10 and I know I'm in for a long day. Steve has a 7, Chris gets a bogey and Rey gets Par. The rain starts to come down, it's light but it’s still rain.

At the the 3rd hole tee box, Dan and Dave catch up with us and they look cold and wet. Teflon Dave wants to play ahead of us because it’s just him and Dan but I am not making the same mistake that Jake made at the Presidents Cup, there shall be no mercy. My thought was that there is only two of you because you were late and now you are Group Two.

After Group One tees off Dave and Dan decide that they aren't going to wait and they skip to the 4th hole. Wow… I was dumbfound and had to ask myself if that was even legal. The Deputy Commissioner did not have a problem with this turn of events but they are his kids so I guess nepotism is alive and well. Guess I’ll have to write another rule…

As we are getting closer to the 3rd green, there a nasty smell that is just God awful. I start to plan how I am going to suggest to Steve that he run up to the club house to “clean up”. While we are on the green the stench just gets in your nose and refuses to leave. Chris says the smell is coming from Rey so I am feeling better about riding with Steve.

We get to enjoy that sweet aroma again on the 9th hole and we all now know where Agawam Golf Course septic system is located.

Front Nine: So far, the conditions are not terrible; it’s wet and cool but still no wind. At least we have rain gear. Chris decided to wear his hunting boots instead of his golf shoes. I have on long johns and big wool socks. So far, so good.

Front Nine Scores:

Rey – 44

Chris and Dave – 45

Steve – 49

Joe – 53

Dan – 63

Rey is playing well, Chris and Dave are keeping it tight. Steve is staying with in striking distance. I know that 10 hurt but we still have nine more holes. Dan is wondering why he got out of bed.

We all struggle on the 10th and the 11th holes. Steve and I get 7s, and 8s. Chris gets an 8 and a 10. Rey gets a 9 and a 7 and to add insult to injury, grabs himself a 8 on the 12th hole. By now the rain is coming down steady and the greens are saturated with pockets of standing water. Putting is going to be problem from here on out. Steve looks like he is getting cold.

By the 16th hole we are wet and I can feel the water in my shoes and the rain is making its way inside my rain gear.

The 17th and 18th holes were hard work. We are fully wet and the cold has finally set in but being "manly men", we persevere knowing that, together, we have faced Mother Nature and completed another round of the Winter Classic Championship.

Back Nine:

Dave – 51

Joe – 54

Rey & Steve – 55

Chris – 56

Dan – 64

I couldn’t really write much about Dan and Dave because the next time we see them they are in the club house. The two things I heard were:

1. Dave and Dan had been in the clubhouse for about an hour waiting for us to finish and

2. That Dave had to drag Dan around the wet course all day.

Final Score (Actual Score)

1st Place: Rey – 96 (99)

2nd Place: Steve – 98 (104)

3rd Place: Chris – 101 (101)

4th Place: Dave – 102 (95)

5th Place: Joe – 107 (107)

6th Place: Dan – 124 (127)

Congratulations to Rey for winning the 2019 Winter Classic Championship. Rey has been playing “better golf” most of the year and it was nice to see him rewarded with the final trophy of the 2019 season.

Steve aslo played well and this was his first Winter Classic. He may have added another reason to be the 2019 Broken Joe Golf Rookie of the Year.

I also want to congratulate Dan and Amanda on the arrival of their latest child, Brielle and to Dave and Rock on purchasing their new homes.

Respectfully,

Broken Joe

Commissiner