The winters come early here, and yesterday as I was traveling home from a long business meeting, I came across a lovely golf course around 3:30 pm.

I found the clubhouse locked, and some other golfers informed me that it had closed two days ago, and that I could play for free.

The course was in excellent condition, actually; and even the greens were great, so I just got in 9 holes as the light was fading.

I normally have trouble breaking 100, but I got a par on my first hole, double-bogeyed the second (the hardest-rated hole on the course) and then bogeyed the remaining holes, shooting a 45 - not bad for me. I had no three-putts and a couple of one-putts.

The weather was cool, but not unpleasant, and given the price it was all the more enjoyable, and probably the last golf outing of the season.

- k