Showing posts with label Golf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Golf. Show all posts

Sunday, August 20, 2023

8th Annual

Chris at the Hole we Sponsor
Elm Tree Golf Course, Cortland, NY
August 19, 2023

 Yesterday, Chris and I played in the 8th Annual Troy Whittemore Classic golf tournament. The tournament is conducted in memory of my nephew, Troy Whittemore, who was taken from us at age 23 by cancer and the proceeds are used to fund a scholarship awarded to high school seniors usually from Ithaca High School.

The Sponsor Sign
8th Annual Troy Whittemore Classic
Chris and I had a good time at the tournament and it was a solid way to end a very emotional week in Ithaca remembering Chris's sister Jodie, with a memorial service on Friday and the tournament on Saturday.

We sponsor a hole at the tournament. This was the first year that Chris actually played. The family had two teams in the tournament with 5 first time players between the two teams of 4. Needless to say, but we did not win or even come close. I was lucky enough to land a drive on a par 3 green on one of the contests. Only 5 players of the 92 in the tournament actually landed their ball on that green--so I was pretty excited to be in the 50-50 par 3 raffle--but did not win the over $300 prize.

We are safely back home in Florida enjoying the warmth. It was cool to cold in Central New York!


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Golfing in the Heat

 

Chris on the 12th Tee
Jupiter Dunes, FL
June 22, 2023
Chris and I could not resist yesterday. We had to get out and hit the golf course yesterday.

We managed to get out early, but it was still very hot and humid. By the time our round was over it was 87 degrees and the humidity was over 90 percent. Did I mention that we walk when we play this course? 

The course is undergoing summer upgrading. I know that sounds funny to golfers up north, but here in South Florida Summer is the low season and courses do their improvements. About half the course was undergoing Tee-box or green improvements. I had an unusually good round, for me. I mean really. I was just 15 over par, which is 3 strokes better than my bogie golf goal. The heat began to get to me at the end and I gave up a few strokes on the last couple holes. Chris also had a very good round. 

We were tired, hot, and more than ready to be done when I finally sank my putt on the 18th. But, we had finished the round and enjoyed our time together.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Saturday Golf

Looking from the 2nd Tee
Bay Hills Golf Club 
Arnold, MD
June 10, 2023

 The air quality improved significantly and was just into the moderate range as Jeremy and I teed-off at Bay Hills Golf Club on Saturday morning. 

It was good to be back on a course with a club in my hand. It had been a few years since I last played this course and I had forgotten how much I actually enjoy playing there. It is fair and hard. And being a lefty many of the holes are designed to drive righties crazy--and I love those holes. The work well with my slice.

A Pond Along the course
Bay Hills Golf Club
Arnold, MD
June 10, 2023
Because I don't play a lot, I had two "blow-up" holes that added seven strokes to my score above par. But, on the bright side, I held it together and aside from those two holes played a solid bogey round which saw me sink about a 60 foot putt. It was a really great putt and a solid recovery. I had overshot the flag, which was forward, because I was aiming for the center of the green and managed a great iron shot off that went a bit further than I expected.

Plugged Tee Shot
18th Hole Bay Hills
Arnold, MD
June 10, 2023
I always enjoy getting out with Jeremy to play golf. It gives us time to be together. Yesterday was special because, unlike most courses, Bay Hills did not put other golfers with us--so we were able to golf as a twosome. That meant that we also golfed fast and were always waiting for the foursome in front of us. 

One final note on the day. There was some frustration. The 18th hole is par three and must carry a large pond that goes almost to the edge of the green. I his a great shot that looked as if it had cleared the pond and was going to land on the green. Unfortunately, just as I hit the shot the breeze picked up coming directly at us and my ball landed too close to the pond's edge. It plugged into the grass. 

Well, that's golf! I had to laugh. Both Jeremy and I wondered what happened to the ball as it landed, because the resting place was shielded from the tee box. There was no splash, so I was confident of finding the ball. Playing it as it lied, however, was not an option. As I understand new rule 16.3, I was allowed relief because the ball was in the grassy area and not the mud shore of the pond. 


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD 

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

What did you do?

 

Geese on the 17th Fairway
Timbers at Troy, Elkridge, MD
May 29, 2023
Memorial Day 2023 has come and gone. It used to be that the next holiday up was Independence Day, but now there is Juneteenth!

Yes, another holiday. Wait, everyday is a holiday for me!

I did enjoy a long round of golf yesterday. And I mean long. Holidays make for full courses and long rounds. We played Timbers at Troy yesterday, or rather it played me! We spend 4 hours 51 minutes whacking at the little white ball and pushing it around the course. 

Honeysuckle
Timbers at Troy
Elkridge, MD
May 29, 2023

I had looked at the weather earlier in the week and decided on a mid-morning tee time. The problem is that a mid-morning tee time runs over lunch and one can get hungry and thirsty. Fortunately, I picked a good time because the rain started as Chris and I were driving away from the course.

As we played the course we were treated to wildlife and sweet smells. The honeysuckle remains in bloom and provides a sweet fragrance across parts of the course. We were also treated to an over anxious Marshall who encouraged us to speed up play while we were on the third hole, which upset me since we had been waiting for the group in front of us at the previous two holes and continued to wait at nearly every successive hole. We may have appeared slow, but we remained in contact with the foursome in front for the whole round. It is all part of golfing on a holiday, I guess.

It is amazing how an almost five-hour round of golf can eat up a day!

But, it was a great holiday spent with Chris and Jeremy.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Friday, April 28, 2023

If it is "Friday-eve", we must be golfing

Turtle on the 7th Hole
Jupiter Dunes Golf Course
April 28, 2023

 Thursday has become our golf outing day. 

Chris and I headed off to the local course for a round yesterday morning. We were lucky to get out early, while the temperature was in the 70s, because by the time we finished, it was well into the 80s and we could feel the heat. It was also lunchtime. 

Chris had a good game, but I turned in another less than desirable performance. My putter let me down. I missed a lot of very makable putts. That is how it goes some days.

Turtles across from the 16th Tee Box
Jupiter Dunes Golf Course
April 27, 2023
Yesterday must have been turtle day on the golf course. That was likely due to the bright sun and warm temperatures. It seemed as if the turtles were everywhere. The most turtle were seen just past the Tee-box on the 16th hole. Most of the turtles sought cover after I managed to hit my ball just over their heads onto the fairway. It was not a "worm burner" but it was almost a turtle decapitator. Fortunately, no animals were harmed during the round of golf.

Chris and I walk this course when we play. By the time we ended the round we were tired, hungry (it was noon), hot, and of course sweaty. But, we felt good!


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Friday, April 21, 2023

Birds of the Day--Golfing

Blue Heron at Jupiter Dunes
Jupiter, FL
April 20, 2022

Yesterday was a golfing day for Chris and me. We try to play golf on Thursdays and having that plan seems to be working as we are golfing more than not. 

Florida golf courses generally have a lot of water. The water creates hazards from which it is unlikely that the errant golf ball will be recovered. I know this because my golf balls seem to have a built in homing device to find water. 

Blue Heron Takes Off with Turtle Watching
Jupiter Dunes, Jupiter, FL
April 20, 2023

The enjoyable thing about the water, however, is the wildlife. Yesterday, for instance, I saw many turtles both in the water and on the shore, a couple very interesting herons, thousands of tadpoles, and even a fish that jumped completely out of the water. The wildlife mercifully distracted me from one of my most miserable rounds of golf in a long time.

I managed a unique image yesterday on the 6th hole, after my ball had rolled down the side of the raised green and into the water. I was setting up for an image of a blue heron with a turtle just off shore. And then, just as I snapped the image, the heron took flight. The turtle remained visible, near the top of the image on the left.

It was a beautiful morning for golf and I was happy to be on the course playing and able to enjoy the wildlife. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 


Thursday, March 23, 2023

Golf to Beach

 

It was the almost perfect day. 

Chris on Hole 12
Jupiter dunes, Jupiter, FL
March 22, 2023
After our obligatory 1.5 mile morning dog walk, Chris and I managed a round of golf at a local course. The weather was fantastic, as it usually has been lately, and we enjoyed whacking the little ball with our clubs. Chris is doing much better hitting the ball for distance, although her accuracy has suffered a bit--but then that is the same problem for all golfers, the longer the ball is hit, the harder it is to get it to go where intended. Now if I can just get her to complete her follow through she will really see some distance improvement. We took pleasure in being together for the time we spent walking the course. I had an OK round with a few pars, but too many double bogeys. 

Sargassum on the Beach
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
March 22, 2023
For the evening, or rather Happy Hour, we headed off to one of our favorite beaches, Carlin Park. The beach was a mess. The advance portion of the massive sargassum belt may be arriving and the beach was definitely in need of some maintenance. Despite the sargassum, the beach was very enjoyable for Happy Hour and we enjoyed quite a show as the rough Atlantic waters hosted a large number of surfers.

Surfer on a Wave
Carlin Park Beach, Jupiter, FL
March 22, 2023
The beach was alive between the surfers and the birds. There seemed to be many more birds than normal. We saw the usual ospreys, seagulls, and sanderlings, but were also treated to pelican overflights and more terns than usual. There were at least 20 surfers catching waves all through the late afternoon and into the sunset. It was fun to watch them and some of them were very experienced. They had to be experienced to survive the rough surf and contend with conditions which resulted in the red flag for highly hazardous conditions.

It was, in short, a great day.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, March 17, 2023

Smacking the White Ball

Jupiter Dunes Golf Course Hole 6
Jupiter, FL
March 16, 2023
Happy St. Patrick's Day. 

Do not forget to wear the green!!


 Chris and I actually made it to the golf course, Jupiter Dunes, yesterday for a round of golf. It was a beautiful weather day and Chris had a great time. She made some stunning shots. I, on the other hand, did not play well and so was mostly frustrated. I had two holes, one of them is pictured, where I landed my shot on the green and the ball rolled off into the water! Ugh! I hate that. Elevated greens can be miserable.

Today, I am off for the Florida Gulf Coast for some Spring Training baseball and enjoying time with the Maryland crew which are visiting Florida to escape the Winter. It is the annual Spring Training baseball, golf, and beer trip. I am distressed that they decided not to play golf this year, but instead decided to watch the NCAA tournament--but I like the tournament as well so that will be fine. I sometimes get too frustrated trying to whack the little white ball, anyway. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Thursday, March 16, 2023

Rainy and cold

 

Finnegan in his St Patrick's Day Shirt
Tequesta, FL
March 15, 2023

Yesterday's weather, rainy and cold, put a damper on our planned outdoors activities. I had the car loaded with our golf bags and push carts only to realize that a major cold front was moving in at exactly the time we were preparing to depart for the golf course. 

So what did we do? 

We went to the PGA Superstore in Palm Beach Gardens and spent money on golf stuff! If you can't play, then buy! Chris needed new golfing shoes and a few wardrobe items. I found a really great looking shirt with palm trees on it! I am excited about wearing it today if we can manage a round of golf. 

So I did not manage a bike ride--the winds were too strong and the misting rain made cycling more pain that it was worth. The weather remained difficult until about 5 PM when the skies cleared and the temperature rose into the 70s.

One funny thing did happen during the day. Chris dressed Finnegan in a St Patrick's Day shirt and he struck a pose in one of our chairs. I thought it was a great pose and a good image. Cute dog. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Golf - In March

 

1st Hole
Jupiter Dunes Golf Course
Jupiter, FL

It is early March and Chris and I enjoyed a round of golf. 

Yes, we actually made it out to a local golf course yesterday. It was a sudden thing. Interestingly, it was not the golf which was so unique, but rather the fact that in the process of changing from preparing for a bike ride to playing golf I managed to forget all of my electronics. 

I played a round of golf without my golf watch and my cell phone! Amazing. I actually had to write my score on the golf course provided score card--with a pencil! I usually use my golf watch which allows me to enter the score and gives me critical information about each hole--I was lost without my electronic cheat to help me determine my strategy for the holes. 

While it was very weird playing without my electronics, I think I was more focused than usual and played a round of solid bogey golf--which is consistent with my average. Maybe a bit better than my average. I had a birdie and a few pars and only a couple double bogeys. Overall, a really good round, for me. 

Chris had a good round. Her driver is beginning to provide some distance and her putting is rapidly improving. If we can play more than once a month, we both might see some improvement.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Friday, November 18, 2022

November Golf Outing

 

Hole 10 from the Blue Tees
Jupiter Dunes Golf Course, Jupiter, FL
November 17, 2022
It was a cool November day, well for South Florida. The temperature was in the low 70s and it was overcast. There was a variable wind, which made some shots interesting, but Chris and I decided to head off to out local golf course to whack at the little ball.

We had a great time. 

We enjoy playing on a par 3 course because we can play 18 holes in just over two hours. And it is a tough course because the greens are small and it provides some nasty water hazards. And bunkers!

Chris Putting on the 10th
Jupiter Dunes Golf Course, Jupiter, FL
November 17, 2022
I had a rough day as I was playing from the beach (from out of the bunkers) much of the day. At one point I told Chris that I was unsure whether it was the wind or my poor shot selection that caused me to wind up in the bunkers, as I did on this hole. She said it was a bit of both.

Chris had a good day and straightened out her drive and began to get some lift to carry hazards. She was especially creative by taking her shot around, rather than over, a water hazard on one hole. It was funny to watch--but effectively accomplished. 

The golf was fun and fast, mostly because we wound up being the only golfers in sight on the course, probably because of the weather. I much prefer golf when no one slowing me down or pushing me to play faster. 

We think we are going to make golf our regularly scheduled Thursday activity. It will be a planned day off from biking.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Changing it up

Egret at the Golf Course
Jupiter Dunes, Jupiter, FL
November 4, 2022
 Friday was the day that Chris and I decided to change things up a bit.

That meant we skipped riding bikes and played golf! We actually grabbed our clubs and push carts and headed off to the local golf course to whack at the little ball. And we had fun! I actually did really well on 8 of the 16 holes recording 6 pars and 2 birdies. The other 8 holes, well, let's not discuss them. But, I made my goal of being a bogie golfer ending up exactly 16 shots over par! That kind of tells the story about how poorly the other 8 holes were played. 

Food Trucks Lined-up
Tequesta, FL
October 4, 2022

For the evening we went to Trucks 'n Tunes with a new friend and enjoyed some music and food truck food. It was a beautiful evening to be outside enjoying the music and the atmosphere. I especially enjoyed watching the kids run and play. 

Today we are planning on heading out to the Italian Festival in Abacoa. It should be a great fun time. And after that we will need to buckle down and finish packing for the cruise. 

In the middle of printing the baggage tags for the cruise yesterday, my 10-15 year old Canon printer decided that it no longer liked its print head. Ugh. I did some trouble shooting and finally took the advice of the YouTube repairer and tossed the printer into the trash. Fortunately, I had procrastinated in getting rid of the $15 thrift store acquired Canon printer we had bought for our home here in Florida when we were using it as a vacation home. I was able to press that printer back into service and finish printing the baggage tags! I will look into getting a new printer sometime after Christmas. The broken printer had served us well. As I recall I bought that one on some weird deal where Best Buy gave me more store credit to buy it that the cost of the printer. 

And that was Friday!

Don't forget--Daylight Saving Time ends tonight! 

I would not want you to be early for your first event tomorrow, lol.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, September 23, 2022

Changing it Up!

 

Chris in the 10th Fairway
Jupiter Dunes, Jupiter, FL
September 22, 2022


Instead of a long bike ride yesterday, Chris suggested a round of golf!

Wow, I had not even unpacked our golf clubs yet from their travel cases, but I readily agreed. There is a par 3 golf course near the house and it is a good place to work on the short game and get an 18-hole round of golf payed in about two-and-a-half hours. 

I called the course and it was reported wide open. This course does not issue Tee times--it is a show up and play in order. 

We took our push carts and enjoyed a pleasant round of golf. I may have set a record for lost golf balls--initially I was awful losing six balls on the first four holes. I settled down after that by diagnosing my swing problem and actually over the next 14 holes only lost two more balls while carding a string of three pars in a row and playing mostly bogey golf--as I am a bit worse than a bogey golfer, I was pretty happy with that improvement. I guess I need to golf more than once every three months.

Chris did much better. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, July 29, 2022

Taking a Break

 Downsizing and packing has become the primary reason for my existence, it seems. I was happy that yesterday we decided to take a break. 

Timbers at Troy
From their Website

I actually played nine holes of golf, just to see how the game would be tomorrow at the tournament. I should hold my own and contribute positively to the team.

I knew it was time to head home when torrential rains started just as I finished the 9th hole about 7:30 PM. I was considering playing a couple more holes, but the rain convinced me otherwise. 

I got drenched anyway getting my clubs into the truck and returning the cart. 

Tomorrow we are playing the Elm Tree Golf Course in Cortland, NY. I have never played the course before and it should be exciting. I usually do terrible on courses that I have never played, but it is for a good cause, the Troy Whittemore Scholarship Fund!

Today, then, is a travel day. Off for Central New York and a much needed continuing break from packing, downsizing, and house selling! Who knew retirement could be so exhausting?


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Course Birds

Sandhill Crane
Bent Tree Golf Course, Sarasota, FL
February 25, 2022
Florida's golf course fauna is significantly different from the northeast. In addition to the occasional alligator lurking in the water hazards or crossing the fairway, there are birds. In the northeast the largest birds that must be contended with are usually Canadian Geese. Anyone who has had the opportunity to interact with a Canadian Goose knows that they can be very aggressive--sometimes it is best to let them just have the golf ball. In Florida, we often see Sandhill Cranes which are both larger and louder, but more sedate.

Sandhill Cranes
Rosedale Golf & Country Club
Bradenton, FL
February 24, 2022

Sandhill Cranes are large birds that are definitely not afraid of golfers and they are considered a threatened species by the State of Florida. They sometimes block shots and often get between the golfer and the ball. I have not noticed them to be as aggressive as geese, but they are big enough to definitely defend themselves. 

Sandhill Cranes are loud. They do not honk like geese, but that make a sound that reminds me of what a pterodactyl might sound like had I been around during the Jurassic Period to hear them. Fortunately, I was not as I am sure that I would have quickly become a morsel for either a pterodactyl or dinosaur. 

And all of this from a golf course? Who says golf is not an imaginative game. I have linked 21st Century golf to the Jurassic period in just a few paragraphs.  


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Saturday, February 26, 2022

Spring Training Trip

Looking Down at the 16th Green
Bent Tree Country Club, Sarasota, FL
February 25, 2022
 As most know, nearly every year for at least the past ten years I have made a trip to Sarasota, Florida, home of the Baltimore Orioles Spring Training, to play golf, watch baseball and enjoy some evening activities. This year, obviously, due to greed, the Spring Training Baseball part of the trip did not happen--but the golf and evening activities did. 

I drove across Florida to Sarasota on Thursday morning to play golf and have some fun with some refugees from Maryland. Funny, it took me longer to drive across Florida form Jupiter to Sarasota than it did for them to fly from Baltimore to Sarasota. 

I was able to play two rounds of awful golf--but I loved it. I had forgotten how tough the second day in a row playing 18 holes on a long course can be. But, I had fun!! And I had even more fun because I was playing with Jeremy both days. 

It was sad that there was no baseball to watch, but playing golf still makes the trip worthwhile. I did not stay for the entire four days due to requirements back in Tequesta--but I enjoyed my two days and one night.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Golf, Finally

 

Chris Waiting at the 3rd Tee
Jupiter Dunes Golf Course, Jupiter, FL
February 22, 2022
It has been exactly a month since Chris and I made our escape back to Florida. It is hard to believe, but it was Sunday, January 23rd when we motored out of Elkridge along I-95 headed for our current location in Tequesta. 

Wow--believe it or not, it seems like a lot longer ago. It has been a busy month of activity. I have not yet been retired two months and I feel as if I cannot fit another activity into our daily schedule.

Yesterday, for instance, I determined that Chris and I needed to get out onto a golf course. We had not made it out for a round since arriving. There have been a few weather issues, but mostly it has been hard to find the time. Yesterday, I took a different approach--I traded our daily bike ride for golf!

We went to a small local Par 3 golf course to shake the cobwebs off our game. Don't misunderstand--this course is tough and really works the short game strategy. The greens are small and most are elevated so that you have to be precise. Even when putting--too strong a putt and you are off the green due to the rolling nature of the landscape. Since I had not swung a club since October 22nd--the day of my retirement golf tournament, it was a way to get back into the "swing."

View of the 5th Hole from the Tee
Jupiter Dunes Golf Club, Jupiter, FL
February 22, 2022
I sucked. I could hit left or right of my target but not where I was aiming. Once, though, I terribly miss-hit the ball, but it went straight at the pin and hit the flag, instead of flying over the green, dropping about 6 feet from the hole resulting in a good putt and an undeserved par. 

Golf is one of those games. Celebrate the good shots and forget the bad. Don't focus on the last shot--work on the current shot.

The weather yesterday was perfect. Broken skies and 80 degrees. That is what Florida is all about--year round golf.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Sunday, August 29, 2021

Rise and Shine Golf

Clifton Park Golf Course 18th Tee
Baltimore, MD
August 29, 2021

 I was told by Jeremy, my oldest son,
 that as his alarm went off this morning he wondered, why he set an alarm for Sunday? 

Then he realized: Golf!

I picked him up at 6:30 am and we headed off to the golf course for a round. We had a single golfer, Dave, added to our twosome and the three of us spent the next three and a half hours enjoying the successes and perils of Clifton Park Golf Course. 

The day started out cloudy and drab but by the 17th hole the sky had cleared and the sun began shining brightly, with is great because the view from the 18th Tee is stunning.

To be honest, Jeremy and I both started out poorly. It almost looked as if we had never played the game before. But, we were hitting much better by the time we reached the back nine. I was four strokes better on the back nine than the front nine. I still wasted too many strokes all over the course. At times I felt as if I were in a pitched battle against my clubs and they were resisting my attempt to get solid contact on the little white ball. 

Dave made the comment that golf spelled backwards is flog and that is what golfers do to themselves after poor shots. I flogged myself quite a bit today, but in the midst of it all I managed to sink two long putts--over 30 feet each. In fact, I had a great putting day averaging 1.67 putts per hole! It was the entire rest of my game that was a shambles. 

And that is why I love golf. To borrow a quote from Forrest Gump, changed slightly, Golf is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday, August 21, 2021

And Back to Saturday

Otium Cellars
Purcellville, VA
August 14, 2021


The week passed fairly quickly. I am amazed at how quickly it did pass. 

It is Saturday, again. Yay.

I am heading out for an a more reasonably Tee time this morning and to start the day on a likely soggy golf course.

Hey, a bad day on the golf course is better than a good day in the office? Right? Well, except on a Saturday when I would be at home anyway. 

Last Saturday began in a hotel room in Leesburg followed by a great day of wine tasting. 

Today promises to be even better with golf and a huge pool party for the Severn Seminoles 14U baseball team.

I hope the rain holds off.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Saturday, August 7, 2021

Two Weeks in a Row

 

Chris on the 1st Tee
Clifton Park, Baltimore, MD
August 7, 2021

An amazing thing happened this morning--I played golf!!

It was truly amazing considering that before last week my previous outing was June 5th, but now I have managed to risk life and limb on a course two weeks in a row!

And as an added benefit, Chris joined Jeremy and me for the outing. We had the second tee time of the day at  6:10 am and finished 18 holes in 3 hours 12 minutes! We would have been faster but the group in front of us kept us from making it a sub 3-hour round.

Although I did not log the improvement that I expected, I was two strokes overall better this morning than last week. 

It was great to be on the course before the sun crawled up into the sky and we were headed home about 9:30 with the rest of the day in front of us. 

A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day in the office!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

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