Monday, March 16, 2009

West Texas Wildlife On The Golf Course... A Chaparral AKA The Roadrunner



Since our son is visiting for a few days, we decided to play golf at one of the local public courses this morning, since our course is closed on Mondays. We were also lucky enough to have one of Mr. Snoots' geriatric golf buddies play with us. I think he's up around 75 or 80 years old, but he can still kick all of our butts at golf and he's really funny. Also, I had the pleasure of riding with him in the cart so that Mr. Snoots could ride with our son.


Only moments after we teed off on the first hole, I was thrilled to see a West Texas Chaparral (or as we call them, a roadrunner) just walking around looking for bugs to eat. We never see these on our home course. I couldn't really get close enough to him for a truly decent shot with my crummy Olympus Stylus, but I think if you click on the pictures. you'll be able to see him much better. I thought surely he'd run off as we neared him, but apparently, he is very accustomed to being around golfers, sticking around long enough for me to get a couple of shots. He has bright orange & white stripes on either side of his head and I thought he was a rather pretty fellow. He eventually ran off and we never saw any more wildlife for remainder of the 18 holes.


This public golf course is far more difficult than our club because the rough at this course is REALLY rough, as you can see. I haven't played this course for at least two years and had forgotten how it defeated me the last time. Oddly enough, I stayed in the fairways and never lost even one ball, which was a true shocker for me. Normally, if I slice or hook one into the "rough", I refuse to hunt for it unless it happens to be in clear sight. You see, rattlesnakes love to hang out in the mesquite bush, wildflowers, and tall grass.

Anyway, this course also has a different kind of grass on their greens, which always makes for a rocky transition, for me at least. Oddly enough, I was able to shoot a 108 on a course that is much harder and much longer than ours. So, I'm a happy camper today. I also took a picture of our city skyline so that you could understand how really flat it is out here in the West Texas desert. Of course, the mesquite bush and the Prickly Pear Cactus are taking over once you leave town, but I did notice today that the mesquite is budding, which is the signal spring has sprung. In all the 33 years I've lived here, Mother Nature has only fooled the mesquite once. So, I'm off to my favorite nursery to start buying plants and seeds for my vegetable garden.

11 comments:

brneyedgal967 said...

Ahhh... vegetable garden. I wish I could be so sure here that spring has sprung and there will be no more cold spells, but since we had snow last week and are in the 80's today... there's still no tellin'.

I've never seen a roadrunner - how cool!!

Mental P Mama said...

That does look tough! I am suffering from garden-envy with all my southern buddies...I cannot wait to get out there!

abb said...

Sounds like a perfect day to me. And I sure do hope the mesquite aren't MN's fools this year. Happy golfing and gardening!

Staci said...

That looks a lot like NW Oklahoma - I think I've even seen a roadrunner or two up that way. What a fun day you've had!

That Janie Girl said...

Hogan Park, eh - I think (and I know it's the muni) it's a beautiful golf course - and half of that is the roadrunners/rabbits/critters (NOT SNAKES THOUGH!)- anyway, I was just wondering if this was a long enough one liner for you.

Heifer.

Lunch. Monday. You're on.

(oh shit - that's three lines. plus this one. four.)

I quit.

Shawn said...

We have the pheasants running around all over the place. They are pretty also but like my sister, I'm not sure that winter isn't done with us yet so I haven't started on the garden either. It's getting closer though if you are ready...woohoo, we might be next!

Patricia Hannigan said...

Looks like you have some great wildlife there. Thats one of the things I like most about golf; the wildlife. At our course we have beautiful redwinged blackbirds. I look forward to seeing them again soon.

Patricia Hannigan said...

Looks like you have some great wildlife there. Thats one of the things I like most about golf; the wildlife. At our course we have beautiful redwinged blackbirds. I look forward to seeing them again soon.

Heather Kerrigan said...

I found a live ladybug in the house the other day. That has to be a good sign too. I'm more desperate for spring than you here in Ohio, but I'm golfing today. Hooray Golf!

Anonymous said...

I would love to see a roadrunner, that's not a cartoon, in it's natural habitat. Very cool! That does look like a rough course. Sounds like you did well in spite of it.

Anonymous said...

Great game for you!

I can certainly see how flat it is there. And is it muted or is that just the sun shining so brightly?

I hope spring arrives for us soon since it has for you!

 

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