CyberZahm

Starting in the summer of 2014 Mags, Albert, Andy and Fox have gotten together at the end of July for a few days in Saratoga Springs NY for golf and the races. Golf has centered on winning the coveted Sultan trophy, a little horse trophy someone found in a pawn shop or somewhere (see photo above). So far the team of Albert and Mags has won the trophy each year, by a rather wide margin, but Andy and Fox have been getting closer.

Mags enjoyed these mini-reunions so much he decided to move to Saratoga Springs in 2017.

Typical agenda, courtesy of Albert after the invitation went out to all to join starting in 2019:

"We definitely want to add a second foursome, and no reason we would need to limit it to 8 people, for that matter. We always target end of July/beginning of August, which is the second week of the Saratoga meet. Format has been:

For those who can get there early (or the evening before), we play the Nine Hole course at Saratoga Spa State Park Monday am. (This year, I, Fox and Mags played).

1:00 Post time at historic Saratoga Racetrack, one of the oldest major sporting venues in the country.

Check in, showers, then Dinner downtown on Broadway, followed by drinks and live music at a cool Irish Bar, the Parting Glass.

Tues Saratoga is "dark"... no races. We sleep in a bit, and then head out to Hiland Park CC in nearby Queensbury for a late am round.

Last two years, dinner that night has been hosted by Mags, who now lives in Saratoga.

Wed am, we play early (8:00) at nearby Saratoga Spa State Park. Then, optionally, head back to the races and catch the balance of the action there. Then head home or wherever.

Nearest airport is Albany, about 30 minutes away. Mags hosted Fox at his home this year, Andy and I split two nights at a Hilton in downtown Saratoga. Not cheap... but very nice place and location, cost about $150 per man per night. Less expensive places would not be within walking distance of the local action.

The golf, however, is very reasonably priced and the courses are of fine quality. Hiland is $35 for seniors on a weekday (inc cart). Saratoga I think is $50 for NY State residents/seniors, about $65 for non-residents."

Pre 2018

Fox here. I forget if we started doing this trip in 2014 or 2015. I'm posting Albert's review of 2018 below. A few things I remember from previous years:

Horse race gambling is difficult.
One year we planned to head straight to dinner from the course - but I insisted on taking a quick shower at the course first. Turned out to be a cold pitiful stream of water in an old shower stall but I persevered. Next morning I woke up with chills, a deep thirst, weak, and extremely tired. The guys claimed I was hung over and yeah, maybe a little, but it was more than that, I was sick. So Andy had to carry the torch for our team that day - I stayed in bed and then headed home. Took car naps every 20 minutes or so. Collapsed into bed when got home. At any rate, the running joke on me has been about making sure I don't shower at the course. Personally I think it is too small a sample size to be concluding any sort of cause-effect relationship.
One year during a pleasant round on about the 14th hole a couple young guys - maybe teenagers - who were playing behind us - drove their cart very close to the green - and it was cart path only that day. Before they could hop out Papa Albert went over and scolded them about this, telling them they shouldn't be parking there and to stay on the cart path and just learn proper golf manners. I'm sure everybody reading this can picture Al doing this and imagine the "look I am sorry but this is the way it is why don't you know this" tone of voice he was using - you know ... like the way he talks to Andy. The driver cheerfully said "ok sure sorry" and drove way over to the cart path. He then gets out, grabs a club and starts limping awkwardly back to his ball with what looks like a half broken body and as we leave the green, Albert in a bit of shock hehe, he takes a semicontrolled swing at the ball and it heads in sort of the right direction as he limps after it smiling, obviously enjoying his round on the nice day and oblivious to the chagrined look on Albert's face. Albert walks back "hey buddy" .. "yes?" .. "You know, It's kinda drying up out here... I think it would be OK to drive on the fairways now" and the kid just laughs and waves.
Andy inhales Guinness.