Living in the Northeast my whole life I've become accustomed to expect certain characteristics of the changing seasons throughout the year, which is why last week I exclaimed with bold confidence walking off the 18th green, "well gentlemen, I believe the weather is going to turn on us now so I'll see you out here next spring."

Being the self proclaimed weather expert in my circle of friends, you could imagine my dismay at the sight of yet another brilliantly warm and sunny day as we near the American Thanksgiving.  Don't get me wrong, the more time my snow shovel spends in the shed rather than in my hands is a good thing, but come on now, we know what November is, as we've all accepted its dreary shortcomings.

I love to golf and I'm pleased to have gotten all of these extra rounds so late in the year, but I also enjoy taking a break in the winter, packing the clubs away and digging out the Christmas decorations.  I enjoy the little routines, but it's all relative.  Do you know the White Swan against the red wagon idea and getting too much of a good thing?  I don't think I'd want to have my clubs in the trunk of the car all year.

Nevertheless, while this unusual stretch of nice weather is probably going to end towards the end of the week as the long range forecast is predicting  a cooler end of the month heading into December (not a guarantee), it's getting harder and harder every year to deny the effects of global warming even for a sceptic like myself.

The golf courses in the area sure aren't complaining after a brutal summer which saw numerous complete washouts for golfers so they are getting a well deserved extension of their season, but... the cold weather will not be denied much longer. 

Maybe Axel was being unknowingly prophetic in his lyrics (or maybe he was just really high, I'd vote the latter), but one thing is for sure, a month from now I'll be reaching for my shovel in a foot of the white stuff at the entrance of my shed and I'll catch a glimpse of those clubs and the countdown to spring will begin.