I’m getting cold just looking at this picture of a cold, leaf-less Kentucky golf course in winter.

It’s October, which in Central Kentucky means that I have from two to six weeks of golf season left in 2014.  Sure, there will be the random warm afternoon or sunny Sunday that will tempt my golf Jones now and then.

But the days of being assured of turning in at least one 18 hole scorecard per week are as growing as short as the low winter’s Sun abbreviated evenings.  The tragedy of this year’s revolution of seasons is that I’m currently playing probably the best golf of my life.

As a product of my formal lessons, a lot of practice, and playing 50+ rounds of golf this year, I’ve finally developed a consistent, repeating swing that makes golf really enjoyable.

If the wind isn’t coming straight out of the west, hitting off plastic mats under heat lamps can almost be pleasant.

Regular as clockwork, I’ve made my way to Man O’ War golf at least once a week for the past few months to work on my golf game.

And before you ask, it hasn’t just been warming up with a few pitching and gap wedges to get loose, then banging away with my driver until my range ball bucket is empty.

No, I’ve been sure spend as much time working on my short game (pitching, chipping, sand shots, and putting) as I have my full swings with long irons, short irons, woods and driver.

All of that diligence, coupled with the knowledge I gained through my lessons with Mike, has paid tremendous dividends in my performance and enjoyment of the game.

So much so, that I desperately don’t want to lose the benefit of all the work that I put in this year.  In years past, this wasn’t really a concern, because my golf swing was apt to change from week to week, never mind across seasons, because I didn’t have any real principles as the foundation of my golf swing.

My problem is this: with winter’s harshness approaching and the birth of a child impending, I’m certain that the end of my golf season will evolve into a hiatus from the game until spring arrives, if not later.

Famously, Bobby Jones wasn’t much of a range rat during the off-season; he dusted off his clubs each spring, and proceeded to conquer the World.

In theory, I’m perfectly fine with taking a Bobby Jones-esque winter sabbatical from the game until my new life normalizes (if that’s possible…I can hear all the parents snickering as they read this).  I mean, my life will never be the same, right?

However, I feel like my golf game has made a lot of progress this season and I can’t accept the idea of my swing and my game back-sliding towards the unsound fundamentals and the inevitable frustration of golf seasons past.

Recently, I’ve received several e-mail offers for winter golf lessons, clinics, and various fitness programs designed to enhance or improve my golf game.  And I’m giving each new offer serious, if abbreviated, consideration.

Even though there is absolutely zero chance of sneaking away for a weekender to Florida this winter, I’m thinking these sort of structured, regular work sessions may be just what I want between this golfing season and the next.

But I know that my life and my schedule are about to become completely upended, and there is no way I could commit to something that requires a firm, regular time commitment over the next several months.  That would just be silly and selfish.

I swear, if she could talk, half of her conversations with me would begin, “That was fun! Let’s go again.”

So I’m trying to figure out ways I can try to stay sharp this winter.  The daily exercise demands of my faithful sidekick should be enough to maintain my existing “fitness” level.

Can that routine, coupled with perhaps a bi-weekly practice bucket in Man O’ War’s heated, lighted stalls, be enough to keep my forward momentum going?

Perhaps I’ll finally get around to incorporating a regular stretching routine to increase my flexibility (yeah, that New Year’s resolution remains unfulfilled).

So, Dear Readers, I am putting this question to you: Any good ideas of how to keep my golf game sharp over the dormant winter dead period?  I will be interested to learn what has or hasn’t worked for you, and, as always, grateful for any constructive suggestions.

And no, before the smart-asses chime in, at 35 years old, I’m prohibited by The Wife, the budget, and state law from becoming a Snow Bird from Thanksgiving to St. Patrick’s Day.