I will be heading up north for the weekend to play in this years JAI golf outing with the EDS crew. So don’t expect a lot of blogging for a few days, we’ll barely have electricity where we’re going.

Jackass Invitational Day #1

I met up with the group at Hooters in Flint for dinner. A healthy blend of BBQ chicken wings dipped in ranch and cold beer. From there the two and a half hour trip to Gaylord to stay at Rick’s cabin. First though, a stop in Vanderbilt for provisions (more beer, smokes, cereal bars, etc). We finally arrive at the cabin and quickly establish our priorities – ie set up PS2 and begin playing Madden. Eventually someone started unloading the cars and turned on the water.

Just my luck, while setting up the beds I smashed my little toe on a dresser, bad news for my golf game.

Jackass Invitational Day #2

Woke up bright and early (11 am) and continued playing Madden. Remembered we had a 1:15 tee time and rushed to get ready.

We played 18 at the Gaylord Country Club which was a decent course, nicely maintained but not very difficult. I played pretty well on the front 9, but my resolve slipped and the wheels came off on the back. My broken toe had surprisingly little effect on my game.

After the game, dinner at Little Ceasers (an actual restaurant type with beer) then back to the cabin for more DVD watching and PS2 action.

Jackass Invitational Day #3

Got going a little earlier today, we had a 2:15 time at Black Bear Golf Club. Black Bear was more challenging, but the upkeep isn’t really what you would expect from such a highly rated course. They are transitioning management so that could be part of the problem. And horror of horrors, no alcohol license! The lack of beer began showing on the back 9 as tempers began to flair. The day started out well for me – a birdie on the par 3 practice hole to start out. Things went wrong real quick though, with a 9 on the first ‘real’ hole, a par 4.

We managed to cause some major damage on the course, fortunately. The steering gave out on our golf cart and Scott drove us on a wild fishtailing course that took out a rope divider before slamming headfirst into a deeply dug in telephone pole sized log placed along the cartpath. The maintenance must be falling behind or something. Needless to say the cart was done for, and we sent another working cart back to get a new one. The brakes worked fine on the cart, and Scott has yet to furnish an explanation as to why he didn’t try using those instead of trying to ’save it’.

Anyway, we dodged the rangers the rest of the day, and got the hell out of there quick once our round was over. On to Big Buck for dinner where we managed to harass the poor waitress most of the night. She gave us a tip on a good bar to hang out at – Mary’s. Mary’s was ok, it was a little empty, but they had a nice big TV and cheap beer. Mary actually died like 50 years ago according to the aging bartender (we thought she was Mary) who was none to happy to inform us her name was actually Carol. She was a surly type to be running a bar, and reprimanded anyone who cursed within earshot! The scene was dead though and we soon headed back to the cabin for, you guessed it, PS2! Actually we were getting a little sick of it at that point.

Jackass Invitational Day #4

Sad but true, the end of another JAI. Will there be a JAI V? No one knows… I must leave that to the wisdom of the founding jackasses.