10 Things I Learned: Summertime in CHI

10 Things I Learned: Summertime in CHI

Labor Day is said to mark the unofficial end of summer. It also marks when the early flock of migrating golf pros get ready to make the move back south. While getting ready to head back south, here are some reflections from the 3 ½ summer months I spent living and working near Chicago.

1. No matter how hot and humid it is when leaving Florida to go up north for the “summer” season, never ever forget that the tundra is still thawing out up north. Consider bringing more than 2 sweaters.

2. A flashlight ‘maybe somewhere’ in your car is useful. A flashlight that ‘definitely is’ in your room is more useful when the power goes out for 4 days. (Note for iPhone users: found the Flashlight app. It looks like it rocks. But works only if you have the iPhone4.)

3. The golf ball starts to wiggle on average 6 inches before it stops. However, the hole in essence gets smaller the quicker the ball is moving. Therefore the optimal distance a ball travels past the hole if it does not go in would be 6-12 inches.

4. There is a piece of the moon in downtown Chicago. Really. Along with a piece of the Great Wall of China.

5. Almost everything (wind direction, travel directions, where Juggling Clubs meet, etc.) is referenced by the Lake. My second season up here I finally realized the Lake is east of me. It helped. Tremendously.

6. The longest golf ball hitter in the world’s back leg straightens during his backswing. Not entirely, but it straightens. Same with a lot of good ball strikers, regardless of what you may have heard about maintaining back knee flex on the backswing.

7. The direction that grain grows is not influenced alone by water, a lunar eclipse or a mountain somewhere in the vicinity.

8. Wrigley Field is awesome. I wish Ferris Bueller was there when I was too. But it’s still awesome.

9. Advice from a senior on the high school team I helped coach to freshmen: “Don’t try too hard to look good on the first day of school. Or straighten your hair every day. People will look at you and point and say ‘…freshman…’” (I’ll miss the team and getting these pieces of advice)

10. Wherever the location, the people make a place. Thank you to all of my friends, co-workers, members, and families away from home up here.

What’s something interesting you learned this summer? Feel free to comment and share this using the social media icons below. Thank you for stopping by to read this today. It’s great to have you here.