Standing on the 6th hole, Christmas music blaring from John's golf cart, we stood on the fairway…read moreoverlooking Long's Peak in astonishment. Here we were, middle of November, by all accounts totally killing it.
Longmont Sunset is the one course I can surefire guarantee will be open, even in the cold months. Upon arrival on the day of my first round, there were very few winter players, and I happily ventured out as a single. That was, until, John caught up to me.
Like a bat out of hell, a rambunctious cowboy peeled his cart up to the second green. In contrast to his rodeo-like entrance, "Walkin In A Winter Wonderland" echoed out of a bluetooth speaker in his cart.
John: "Wanna pair up?"
Me: "Yeah, sure, let's do this."
John: "Do you mind the Christmas music?"
An empty can of Bud Light trickled out of his cart and onto the bermuda grass.
Now, I'll pause here for a moment. Golf is a game of upmost etiquette, there are defined unwritten rules about behavior and protocol on the course. Blasting music is, without a doubt, a cardinal sin of the game. As a former golf captain who once experienced championship glory, this may have bothered me in the past. But, those days are long gone, and the thought of playing golf with a Christmas music soundtrack was remarkably enticing in its uniqueness. Given there was no one else on the course, my response was:
"TURN IT UP, BIG BOY"
(I didn't say 'big boy')
On we went, experiencing the fresh mountain air and balmy conditions of a temperate Colorado day. John, unsurprisingly from Texas, opened up to me about his family and why the Christmas music makes him feel closer to home. I was all in on his narrative, and enjoyed striking a 7-iron as Andy Williams sung Happy Holidays. Backswing through contact: "whoop-de-do and dickory dock."
John was a terrible golfer, which is great because apparently now I'm terrible as well. It's a use it or lose it sport. With a lack of any pressure or judgement, we sliced the ball around for 7 more glorious holes, and then went again for another 9. John admitted, mid-way through, that he'd struck a man directly in the head with a sliced ball that morning. So, I stood accordingly.
This course is relaxed, but well maintained, and does not play as a truncated 9 hole course. Big par 4s guide you up and down the mountainside plains, and while it may not be Colorado's most epic course, it's amazing for the price and convenience. The big oddity is the final hole, which has two separate greens. The appeal of this is unknown.
Once back in the clubhouse, cracking wise with the man at the register, two women emerged with enormous grins. One had just struck the holy grail, a hole in one. To be here for this moment was magnificent and I guided her to the closest trophy shop. John, who I'm now realizing may have been Santa, bought her a beer to celebrate.
Golf can be a game of cut-throat seriousness, a sometimes stodgy affair, but at Longmont Sunset the idiosyncratic thrills of golf are in full display, in their most distilled (and fun) form.
Wow John is definitely Santa.
