By Bill Nestor
Fall is the best season of all for golf. The sweltering summer heat gives way to crisp cooler weather. The brilliant backdrop of leaves paints the perfect picture for a day on the course. Sunny Croft Country Club offers the perfect place for a great day of golf.
This nine hole gem is in great condition and owns some of the best greens in North Central West Virginia. The rolling hills and sloping terrain provide beautiful views and challenges to golfers of all skill levels.
One feature that sets Sunny Croft apart from other venues is the patio. It’s a special place where friendships are made. Everyone congregates there before and after their respective rounds. I liken it to the world’s best happy hour and when it is at its peak, it reminds me of the Phoenix Open.
The pressure of teeing off in a tournament at Sunny Croft in front of the patio is something that every golfer should experience. Currently there are three membership specials that are hard to pass up. You can play here without being a member, so I encourage you to get a round in while the weather is nice. Once the snow starts flying, Sunny Croft can keep your game sharp with golf simulators for year round use.
Sunny Croft has long been known as a place where everyone knows you name. As a former member, I can attest that is definitely the case. You can make it what you want it to be. If you are looking for a place to “golf and git” that’s perfectly fine, or if you are looking for somewhere to belong, then you have indeed found your place.
College football fans of the Mountain State’s two Division I squads have, conversely, felt quite out of place this fall. Neither Marshall nor West Virginia University have provided the level of excitement and accomplishment that both schools’ fan bases have expected consistently since President Ronald Reagan made the White House his home. Now, both teams have put themselves in “must win” territory well before Hallowe’en.
If fans focused on just a few key statistics from last Saturday’s West Virginia football game, they might have thought that the outcome was different. The Mountaineers had more first downs (20 to 19) more rushing yards (152 to 114) and led in time of possession (34:22 to 24:38.)
However, there was just something in the air that night that made the difference.
It was the pigskin tossed around by Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson. Johnson threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Wildcats to the 45 to 18 win.
Adding injury to insult in the lopsided setback, WVU lost quarterback Garrett Greene, running back Jahiem White, and left tackle Wyat Milum to first half injuries. None of them returned and the offense would only manage 64 yards and one score in their absence.
Kansas State showed a touch of class by taking a knee at the Mountaineers’ one yard line at the end of the game. It kept the Wildcats from getting halfway to 100 points, which would have brought even more boos from an already restless homecoming crowd that peaked at 54,327. It sure didn’t anywhere near that number when the kneel down took place.
A few weeks ago, there were talks about the playoffs. Now the focus has shifted to bowl eligibility. There are five games left and the Mountaineers and three and four. West Virginia looks to break its two game losing streak this week when they travel to Arizona.
That will do it for now! Until next week . . . take care and God Bless!