The Colonial 2018

I love The Colonial golf tournament and the Colonial course. This year it is called the Fort Worth Invitational and has no signature sponsor. For the past few years, it has had several sponsors. Sometimes it was named The Colonial sponsored by (insert corporate name) and other years it was named the (insert corporate name) Invitational or Tournament at Colonial. Then finally, it was the (insert corporate name) Invitational, no mention of Colonial. For over 60 years it was The Colonial Invitational, the tournament started in 1946, the country club and course began in 1936. That's what it should be called regardless of the sponsor(s). It is also what I and everyone I know calls it. On Friday, May 25th, my son and I went to "The Colonial". I have been many years and he first went last year. He's hooked too. 

Most years it was a fairly easy choice between the Byron Nelson and the Colonial golf tournaments. For years they have been held back to back. The Nelson was OK if you had an invite to a corporate tent and didn't really care about the golf. The Colonial was far less corporate and was played on a course that is beautiful and conducive to watching golf. Both had a party atmosphere, the Nelson during the golf rounds, the Colonial during the afterparty. 

So, now the Nelson has moved to a new venue. The Colonial is still at its original 1946 home. The old girl is holding up very well. 

May weather in Texas is a crap shoot. It may be rainy, it may be hot, it can even be cool. Some years it is even perfect. This year and last have been of the hot variety. Temperatures reached into the mid 90's with little wind. The great thing about Colonial is that there are about a million trees. Many are giant oaks that are hundreds of years old. You can find shade. 

This year we went on a Friday so we got to see the whole field. We wandered around the front nine when we got there. After a quick lunch at the Main Street pavilion, we met up with some friends at the area around the 12th and 13th holes. The 13th has always been a party hole, it is a par three over water. It used to be the site of the famous caddy races which are now banned by the PGA. Over the years, it has become a major gathering spot with multiple concession stands and corporate tents plus giant covered bleachers at the 13th green. As the day wound down, we ran through the pro shop on the way out. It's not an official trip to The Colonial without spending a few bucks on stuff we don't need. It was then the ride back to the mid-cities and a sit-down dinner in an air-conditioned restaurant. I had no trouble falling asleep that night.  

Another fun and successful day of golf and beer at a Fort Worth tradition. I'm ready for 2019. Hope you will join us. Fore.

wjh