The Golfchick

That chick blabbing about anything golf related.

Author: The Goose

Ask The Goose: Question About the Indio Effect

Dear Goose,

What is the Indio effect, just mentioned moments ago during the Kraft Nabisco broadcast? We all know it means the greens tend toward the town, the question is WHY??

Scott

(Answering from beyond the grave):

Dear Scott,

In the early 1900s there was a Pavuul (shaman) of the Agua Caliente Indians who held a ceremony to bring rain to the area of Palm Springs. The ritual was held in Indio, thus the rain that followed was more heavily concentrated there. It is believed that the pull of force extended beyond water and indeed acted like a magnet for all manner of objects and continues to this day.

I know this because I speak coyote, which was that shaman’s totem animal and is his permanent form in the hereafter. Apparently, he became one on occasion during his time on Earth, especially after such rituals as mentioned above. I hope this answers your question.

Sincerely,

The Goose

Editor’s note: OR, the elevation and terrain of the area surrounding any golf course is often a large factor in the slope of the greens. Indio is lower than Rancho Mirage. Course designers can integrate such natural slope to create optical illusions when forming greens with more “obvious” ridges and breaks. Ever play a course near the ocean and the greens all tend to break toward it? Or near a mountain where the greens break away from it? Tricky.

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Ask the Goose: question from Scott

Scott in Thousand Oaks, CA writes:

What do you do all day to keep busy while Kristen [the golfchick] is away at work?

Thanks for asking, Scott. Sometimes I feel so forgotten.

Now that I’m a retired security executive and don’t have the requisite
thumbs to play golf (that lack of freakin’ thumbs has plagued me all my life), I still seem to find plenty to keep myself occupied. Sleep is paramount among my hobbies and time-fillers. I’m not even too keen on the obscenely overflowing room they call a toy trunk anymore.

Actually, Mom’s been working from home when not traveling with her current gig, which allows for slightly more peaceful sleep. Notwithstanding the onslaught of kisses and pets I receive every time she nears me, I prefer her being around simply because it’s less work for me.


Allow me to explain.

My career with the Williams Household organization was long and honorable and I enjoyed a generous compensation plan. Part of that plan was my college fund. I failed to read the fine print of that benefit and when I neglected to go to college, it automatically rolled over into my Medicare plan. Although not quite as convoluted as I understand the human equivalent to be, this Medicare is a bitch (no offense to myself). Granted, I’m taking full advantage of the monetary benefits with my current illness and ongoing disability and I can use whatever drug plan suits my needs best, but here’s where I actually get to the point of answering your question: I have to do chores!

That’s right. How many Medicare recipients do you know that are required to do laundry, clean the house, go grocery shopping, cook the meals and take out the trash? I mean, I don’t actually do those things, but I’m supposed to. Actually, I enjoy taking out the trash, but I don’t do it quite to the satisfaction of the plan provider. And lately, I have been struggling to do even that.

Here I am after a failed (foiled) attempt at taking out the trash Goose style. Look how I play it up for the sympathy. It worked, too! Mom didn’t even get mad at me for the attempted smorgasbord.

I have to admit she’s been more than gracious in light of my frequent contretemps due to my temporary infirmity. I guess I’m lucky she only beats me on Wednesdays. Maybe this plan isn’t so bad after all.

It seems the answer to your question is that I don’t do much of anything whether she’s home or away. Now excuse me while I drown my sorrows in pooch hooch.

Yours,
The Goose

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Ask the Goose: Where to put the bunker rake?

Dear Goose,

We are leaving it up to you to settle a bet for us. What is the proper etiquette on where to leave a rake – in the bunker or next to it?

~Puzzled in Pittsburgh

Poor Puzzled,

Oh, the perpetual perplexing predicament. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard this question. I also can’t tell you how many times I have changed my answer. Since you’re the betting sorts, I guess it won’t matter to you that I’m tossing a coin to choose how I’m going to answer it now.

Oh dear, the quarter came to rest on its edge. You know what this means. Pity, Pittsburgh. No one wins your bet because the answer is to put the business end of the rake in the sand along the edge of the bunker leaving the handle just outside the lip.

Yours,
The Goose

[Editor’s note: according to the USGA, “There is no set rule as to where the bunker rake should be placed. It is recommended that rakes be placed outside bunkers and in positions where they will be least likely to affect play. Other considerations, such as golf course maintenance and the size and design of the bunkers, will impact the final decision made at each course.”]

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Ask the Goose – question from “Chuck”

Chuck from Woodland Hills, CA submitted this question:

Dear Goose,
My name is Chuck and I am a very handsome black and white cat. (Note I didn’t say kitty, that’s for pussies!) Anyway, I have a major problem with my parents! I know they love me but they keep leaving me!!! And it makes me so mad just cause they want to go have some fun. Hey — aren’t I fun enough??

Well, the problem is that when they get back, the way I show them I’m unhappy with them I think just might cost me my life!! You see, I peed on my Dad’s shorts and peed on my Mom! Yep — you read that correctly — I peed ON her!

My Dad just took me to the vet to get checked out and do you know what the vet had the unmitigated gall to say? That I had a small kitty brain and what did they expect from me?!!!! Can you even believe it? I AM appalled.

Well Goose — do you have any suggestions for how I can show my displeasure with my parents when they take off for places unknown and just abandon me at home ALONE? I think my Mom can probably handle it but it’s my Dad I’m worried about. Should I go back to throwing up on the carpet or bringing them a dead rat? What’s a cat to do?! Anxiously awaiting you’re response with bait on my breath!

Fondly, Chuck
PS (Love the golf blog!)

Dear Bait,

What the hell is wrong with cats? As you mentioned at the end, this is a golf blog! My mom didn’t want me to post a response to this!

You call yourself a cat but you are truly a pussy. I never understood the stupid kitty brain anyway. When my mom goes out to play golf or leaves me for any other reason, I get upset but I get over it right away! Live for the NOW, you moron. You may have nine lives, but your time here is still too short to be spending it all stressed out. Frickin whiner!

Sure, sometimes I get bored and go through the trash or other fun things while she’s gone. Today I’m trying something new – posting a response on her blog to a dumb cat. She might remove it when she finds out. Anyway, when she gets home she’s all “disappointed” in me and I act remorseful for a little while and then the loving returns.

Throwing up on the carpet – now that I can relate to! Sure, do that! Or if you like rats, show them how you missed them by presenting one to them when they return. Maybe put it on the dining room table or on a pillow in bed. Just have your fun, take lots of naps and keep busy while they’re gone. Whatever you do, don’t try to punish them once they’re HOME, you idiot. Don’t you know that just extends your own misery? Why do you want them home so much if you’re not going to enjoy it?

Frickin stupid kitties. You’re lucky they haven’t woofenized you yet. Speaking of that, tell your mom and dad I’d be happy to provide a private one-on-one training session for you.

The Goose Kitty Project: I’m so scared!

Your doctor is right about your small kitty brain. That’s why cats get nine lives, by the way, because they’re so dumb. I’m surprised you haven’t used all yours up by now by sticking your paw in a socket or shredding yourself in the garbage disposal and other stupid cat stuff. Maybe you’ll get what you deserve and they’ll go all new age on you and put you on some kind of pussy anti-depressant.

Good luck,

The Goose

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