Houston Oaks was in remarkable condition for being the first full day of winter. Despite several inches of rain overnight, the course was in great shape, especially the greens. And the photo has not been doctored, we literally had the entire course to ourselves.

I am of the firm belief that in Central Kentucky, we are granted at least one day of good golfing weather per month.  As we closed out 2013, Mother Nature did not disappoint, as December 22 gave us temperatures in the upper 50’s.

So, Bryan and I headed out to Houston Oaks in Paris, KY to squeeze in our last 18 holes of the year.

Houston Oaks Golf Course is a highly regarded Kentucky public golf course by many measures, and one of my favorite layouts.  It was ranked No. 10 in the original Moe & Ron rankings, No. 18 over at the Golf Kentucky Links 2012 rankings, and at one time was ranked as a Top 10 Public Golf Course in Kentucky by Golf Digest magazine.

I assume people were completing their last minute Christmas shopping or were previously committed to family holiday activities, because our twosome constituted exactly half of the golfers on the course for the entire day.

Yes, Bryan is wearing shorts three days before Christmas.

Houston Oaks is a great golf course, with the layout and routing fitting the property really well.  In order to really score well, the course demands that you be able to execute a variety of shots.

Despite the waterlogged course condition, the wind remained the primary defender of the golf course.  Elevation changes are a constant across the front and the back, not only adding intrigue and difficulty, but also providing some tremendous views of the surrounding Bluegrass countryside.

Neither one of us scored worth a damn.  I managed to snag two birdies on the day, which helped assuage the anger of recording two double-digit single-hole scores on the day.  And truth be told, the net-score bet was still in doubt with just a couple holes to play.

By the time we concluded this 10th hole, I had spotted Bryan 15 strokes for the remaining 8 holes. Every time I stopped to take a picture, Bryan absolutely striped his shot. Coincidentally, I stopped taking pictures after snapping this gem.

Despite the distinct lack of quality golf being played on the course, it was a great way to spend a few hours with a good friend, to share some Christmas cheer, and cap off what has been a great 2013 golf season.

Merry Christmas everybody!