Blogs >> Don't Call It A Comeback
After a small, self-imposed hiatus your friendly neighborhood blogger is back on the road. And man, is it good to be back. I decided to avoid the Texas swing we had a month or so ago and lucky thing, I heard that it was hotter than a sumo wrestler's diaper out there.
Well, the tour has made our way back to the southeast and down I-75 from Atlanta to Hawkinsville, Georgia, and the temps have dropped. But not much. The humidity? Well that's another story.
The past few days have given us the standard, Georgia-in-late-summer humidity. It's an oppressive heat that makes you feel like you are walking around with a wet blanket on your back all day, the weight of the heat pushing you down into your Footjoys. You come off the course looking like you've been training with Michael Phelps. There's not really much you can do to combat the heat, besides attempting to drink your weight in water, and while the Southern Hills course we are playing is undoubtedly going to provide some scorching scores, the biggest hazard this week might not be the course itself, but what inhabits it.
As anybody that has been out there this week will attest, Southern Hills is inundated with gnats. The course itself is in great condition, but unfortunately swarms of the little guys follow you around for the entire 18 holes, buzzing around your head from tee to green.
Patience helps with the gnats, but most players have found their own way of dealing with the distraction. Marion Dantzler pulled out his secret weapon for me on the putting green today: honey scented moisturiser. That's a fairly inventive way of dealing with the bugs, but there are some better ones. Many players (including myself) have found the best remedy is laundry sheets. Bounce brand fabric softener sheets to be specific. Something about their scent drives the gnats crazy, keeping them away, for the most part. Guys have taken to tying the sheets to the back of their hats, which can look a little strange at first glance. You can easily come off looking like Paula Creamer with ribbons in her pony tail, but if it keeps the gnats from invading every orifice on your face it's probably worth it. And looking like Paula Creamer isn't a bad thing, of course.
So, there are a couple ways of dealing with the omnipresent little critters that may surprise you. I'm sure there are a couple of other crazy, home remedies guys are implementing, so if you see me out there this week, don't be afraid to tell me yours. I'm sure plenty of things work. It seems the only thing that doesn't is bug spray.
Good luck and happy swatting.
NICK