Goin’ Muddin’

Mudder days are here. I think some golfers look forward to — and like — mudding.

A mudder in golf is a player who plays on rainy, sloggy, muddy days. So far this mudding season, I believe Dave and Wendy Minor are the top mudders at the Little River Golf Course. Rain or shine, the mudders play golf.

Wednesday, Dec. 16, amidst rain and wind, they were out there golfing. Also that day goin’ mudding, was Toby Wade, Ron St. Coeur and another whose name escapes me. I asked Richard Berta, hanging outside the Pro Shop, if he was a mudder. Richard responded with an emphatic shake of the head — No! Me neither.

Along with mudding season comes “Winter Rules.” As we continue into the rainy season and the fairways become softer and more vulnerable to rutting, carts may be restricted to the cart paths — but we’re not there yet. When enough rain has fallen, and the course becomes a bit soft, and balls begin to plug in the fairway — winter rules are in effect. At some point, course supervisor Mr. Terry Stratton declares Winter Rules and — oops, it’s just been reported — it’s official, Winter Rules are now in effect.

Winter Rules means a player can improve their lie. No, not improve their untruths — but improve where their golf ball is lying — and golf balls don’t lie. They always tell the truth of your swing and they just sit and wait until they are sent to their next lie. (Is that confusing enough for you?)

Most of us amateur golfers very much enjoy Winter Rules. Improving your lie may just require a gentle bump of the ball onto a tuft of grass giving the ball a little elevation which makes it easier to hit. Or it may mean digging the ball out of the mud, cleaning then placing it. Last week Monday, the Stableford group declared they were going to play Winter Rules. Didn’t help me; I shot a terrible round.

On the subject of rain and Winter Rules: Mr. Stratton reported the ponds which house the irrigation water for the golf course are pretty low. This does not affect current conditions as there has been enough rainfall to water the greens and fairways, but the course depends on the stored water for use during the dry months.

So far, the coast is far behind average rainfall for this time of year. Please do your rain dance.