Tim Williamson

I play with my buddies in 40 degrees weather. I also use a cart cover and a heater when it's cold. The winter rates are lower and less golfers on the course.

After a one month hiatus I played my first round of 2018. My chipping and putting definitely need some work. My tee shots were, for the most part, pretty good. Six double bogeys and three triple bogeys hurt the most and I ended up with a 99.

Tower Tee will be open till July 2018. I spoke to Steve Lotz this evening. He may open another location, not as close for most of us St. Louis city and South County residents. Enjoy these last few months at Tower Tee! http://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/tower-tee-complex-set-to-close-july-1-2018/63-491562474?scroll=0

All may not be lost just yet. I just took a lesson at Tower Tee with Bob Gaus. He pointed out that It's going to be difficult for McBride to sell $300,000 homes when there is an industrial plant across the street that sometimes emits noxious odors. McBride can't build many homes unless it is able to secure the wooded acreage that adjoins Tower Tee. That land is owned by the Archdiocese of St. Louis. We may have another year until we know what's going to happen. Things are not moving very fast.

This is not good: "Property owner says Tower Tee's lease is being terminated in two months." They probably postponed the zoning hearing because there would have been at least a hundred or more loyal Tower Tee customers there to voice their opposition. http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/property-owner-says-tower-tee-s-lease-is-being-terminated/article_8b08f256-d445-558a-8eb4-eba66378b62e.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1

https://callnewspapers.com/breaking-tower-tee-subdivision-proposal-hearing-postponed/ Update: The Planning Commission Hearing for Nov 13 has been postponed. "The housing developer seeking to redevelop the Tower Tee golf course and driving range in Affton has asked to postpone its request, and a public hearing will not be held on the development next week as previously announced."

Update: “The property was listed for sale this summer at $4.77 million. Lotz has offered to buy the property in the past and submitted a bid to buy the course, but was outbid by McBride Berra. Since news broke last week of the golf course’s possible fate, he told the Call he has had several investors approach him offering to help match McBride Berra’s offer.” It is a driving range, practice putting, Batting cages, Miniature golf and 18 hole par 3, not a golf course. I will see Steve today and see what the latest is. I can relate to what you've said, billchao, about taking an already population dense area and putting more houses on it.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Tower Tee has been a golf gem for the St. Louis area for 54 years. I doubt that I would have ever developed a love for the game if it had not been for Steve Lotz and Tower Tee practice facility. It serves everyone from kids to High Schools, College teams, every level of golfer in the area. It would be tragic to loose Tower Tee. It's a St. Louis institution, like Ted Drewe's, the Arch or the Cardinals. I hope we get a huge turnout on November 13--it's our best chance to save Tower Tee.

Save Tower Tee in St Louis. I can no longer edit it.

Save Tower Tee: There has been a good deal of discourse recently on the future of Tower Tee. The land is under contract to a Home Developer. We don't need more McMansions, we need Tower Tee. TT has been the place where so many of us developed our game and we can't let it go. Discussions are continuing in the days and weeks ahead. If you want to lend your voice and presence to the process, please attend the St Louis County meeting at 7pm on Monday, November 13 at 41 S Central in Clayton, County Council Chambers where an application for a zoning change will be discussed before the planning commission. There will be a chance for friends of Tower Tee to make their voices heard. Please look for and like the "Save Tower Tee" Page on Face book. And please attend the meeting on Monday, November 13.

My pitching wedge is a 46 so instead of buying a 52 Gap Wedge I bought a 51. My other two wedges are a 56 and 60. The 51 GW is 5 degrees between the 46 PW and the 56.

Dec 11: Went to my local practice facility where I started off with some practice chipping and putting. Hit about thirteen balls on the driving range and then played eighteen holes of par 3 golf. There was no one on the course so I was able to play two, sometimes three balls on various holes. I also had the opportunity to repeat some of my pitches two or three times. Afterwards, I hit some more balls, working on my three wood, hybrids and four iron.

12/10 I'm out of the challenge since I missed some practicing. Today, I took my eight iron and some practice balls up to the park near my house. I hit from one end of the soccer field to the other, trying to keep my shots close to the opposite goal net. I went up there with six balls and came home with six. During the walk home, I stopped at an empty lot and worked on some eight iron chipping.

I knew what I wanted for Christmas. These came in yesterday. I took them directly to the driving range. What a difference modern equipment makes! My old set was Dynacraft forged cavity backs that were about 20 years old.