Roman Dellacona

Contributing Writer

Nestled just 10 minutes away from campus is a gem that offers peace, tranquility and beauty. Accessible to all, the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort provides a unique golfing experience in the Poconos. Tuesday mornings spent here have become a personal tradition unlike any other. Most college-age kids give up waking up at 6:30 a.m. after high school is over. But for me, Tuesday at 6:30 in the morning is the most exciting time of the week.

Monday night is a restless night for me because I am so eager for what the morning holds. This is because I spend every Tuesday morning at my favorite place in the world, the golf course.

The first tee time of the day is 7:31 a.m. sharp. For those unfamiliar with golf, that is not what time you have to be there, but that is the time that the ball should crack off your club on the first tee box. It is proper golf etiquette to be there at least 15 minutes early.

When we arrive, typically around 7:05, the only sounds are the birds chirping and the rumble of the gas-powered golf carts being pulled out of storage to begin the day. At this point, I am most excited for the day, and I am itching to get to the tee-off first.

As we ride out to the first tee box, we cross an old wooden bridge that makes you question if this will be the last time you make it across. The majority of the course sits out on an island. This provides complete isolation from the day-to-day.

There is the faintest noise of cars up the road commuting to work or school. These serve as a small reminder of how lucky we are to be out here on a Tuesday. The crisp and damp morning air seems to have the same feeling as it brushes against your face whether it is spring, summer, or fall.

The first tee box is always borderline too wet. From 7 a.m. to 7:15 a.m., the sprinklers usually rotate around the teeboxes, fairways, and greens. This bit of water pairs with the morning dew to make the grass shine when reflecting the morning sun. Waterproof golf shoes are a must to keep away wet socks.

The most familiar sound is found on the first tee as well. It is the loud bang the ball makes when it cracks against the club and echoes across the course. This is typically followed by an unwelcome remark at the ball by someone because it does not go straight.

When playing in the morning, the air is always denser and wetter. This means the ball will typically go about five yards less per club, and there is less spin off the face of the club. The wet ground also means less roll out. You can see, as the ball hits the ground, a brief spark of water splashes up, and then a little line shows the path the ball rolled across on the ground. Being the first people out there in the morning means there is nothing but animals on the course. It feels like a Pennsylvania wildlife sanctuary out there.

On my left, there’s a group of turkeys, and on my right is a family of foxes. The most common animal on the course is deer. These deer are different from ones found on the road. Since they live among golfers all the time and away from cars, they are not afraid of people. It is common to see golfers giving the deer the last bite of their hot dog that they got at the halfway house.

As time passes and it turns to mid-morning, the air gets less dense, and the sun begins to beat down. The temperature increases, and the ground dries up. This means that the ground is firmer, and the ball rolls out more. The course also begins to populate. The sound of balls being hit left and right echoes throughout the course. Periodically, you will hear someone scream “FORE!” which means look out.

Later in the day, the halfway house opens for food and drinks. This means it is time for golfers to start putting down Bloody Marys and double transfusions. While the drinks are good, there is nothing better than grabbing a hot dog unreasonably early in the morning, but it is ok because you’re on the golf course.

The morning time on the golf courses is what I would describe as perfection. The views are hard to put into words and something I would encourage everyone to see for themselves. The hardest thing to describe is the feeling that comes from being with your best friends in your favorite place in the world.