A little Zombies to start the summer of 2014.
It’s been a while since I last posted. I took the winter off, and I’m just now comfortable enough to stop worrying that a 12 inch snowfall is right around the corner. So here we go!
One of the things I did this winter was visit Phoenix, Arizona. I love Arizona. I love it! I golfed. I watched Spring Training baseball. It was perfect. Well, almost perfect. As great as everything was, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize the cost of golf was high. The golf courses in AZ know that all of us in waist deep snow are desperate to escape and will pay anything to swing the sticks.
That is why I’ve traditionally come out to Phoenix in the middle of the summer to do nothing but golf. Sure it’s 110 degrees, but the $300 golf courses are $40! And the courses are in perfect shape. The natural Bermuda grass thrives in the summer heat. The high priced winter rounds are shot on rye grass, overseeded onto the courses while the Bermuda goes dormant.
36 holes a day. Hardly anyone else on the course. Heaven!
So whenever I talk to people about my love of Arizona summer golf, I get the same question: “Isn’t it too hot in Phoenix in the summer?”. My answer has always been: “It’s just like winter in Chicago, but in reverse.” That answer has served me well over the past 20 years. But after this winter in Chicago, I’m never using that analogy again. Phoenix summers are not like, have never been like, and will never be like Chicago winters in reverse. It’s always been the case, but it’s taken me until this winter to fully realize it.
A case can still be made that the “in reverse” analogy works. But only from 10am to 6pm, give or take a couple hours. During that stretch of the day, for most people in both regions, you only go outside if you have to / want to. You don’t go out of your way to hang outside. But early mornings and late nights are beautiful in Arizona. The temps are much lower and it is downright pleasant. The dry heat effect is in full force when it’s a cozy 90 degrees after the sun goes down. I love sitting outside at that time.
Wintertime in Chicago is nothing like that. It is brutal 24/7. Late nights, early mornings, middle of the day, etc. are all equally horrific. There is no break from the misery and it can be exhausting. The lack of sunlight just adds to the pall cast over the area.
So as we celebrate the Summer Solstice and another 85 degree day here in Chicago, the “glass half empty” side of me has nightmares that tomorrow is the 4th of July, this weekend is Labor Day, and I’ll need to gas up the snowblower in about 10 days.
How much is airfare to Arizona these days?