Sunset, Birdies, and Things That Go Bump in the Rough

By Samantha Lindstrum, Oxford Greens’ Resident "I Swear I’m Better in Summer" Golfer

5:42 PM — The Golden Hour Gamble I’ve traded my morning "springtime princess" pastels for a sleek evening look that says "I might actually know what I’m doing," even though we all know that’s a lie. The air at Oxford Greens is finally warming up, and the shadows are getting long enough to hide the fact that my drive just sliced into a completely different zip code.

6:15 PM — Nature’s Gallery is Judging Me As I head toward the back nine, I realize I’m not alone. And no, I don’t mean my playing partners. The local wildlife has checked in for the evening shift.

A Red-tailed Hawk is resting above Hole 12, looking down with the kind of intense focus I usually reserve for the dessert menu. I’m convinced he’s waiting for me to hit a ball high enough for him to catch—not because he wants it, but because he’s tired of seeing me leave them in the trees.

I'm 90% sure he's correcting my grip from up there. Or he simply wants my string cheese.

7:04 PM — The Deer Committee I round the bend to Hole 14's tee and come face-to-face with a young deer, standing perfectly still, looking at me with those big, soulful eyes.

Internal Monologue: "Is he admiring my form? Is he waiting for me to play through? Or is he just confused why a human is riding around with a bag of metal sticks at dinner time?"

"Maybe try a 9-iron," he said.

I decide to wait. It’s his house, after all. Plus, hitting a ball toward a deer feels like a fast track to some very bad karma (and a potentially awkward conversation with the pro shop). Eventually, he flicks his tail—the universal deer sign for "you’re hopeless"—and melt back into the trees.

7:38 PM — The Sunset Symphony The sky is turning a shade of pink that matches my favorite golf glove, and the "Oxford Greens Soundtrack" is peaking:

• The Peepers: A wall of sound coming from the wetlands that's louder than any true crime podcast I’ve ever binged.

• The Geese: Making a dramatic entrance onto the pond near the 18th green like they own the place (spoiler: they do).

• The Mysterious Rustle: Probably just a squirrel, but in my head, it’s a legendary forest creature witnessing my only par of the night.

Currently tracing my ball into the very same water hazard.

8:12 PM — Patio Reflections I’m finishing the evening on the patio with a cold drink, watching the last sliver of light disappear behind the trees. My scorecard is a disaster, my sneakers are covered in evening dew, and I’m pretty sure a Blue Jay laughed at my final putt.

But honestly? Watching the course transition from a playground to a sanctuary is the ultimate spiritual reset. The golf is secondary; the vibes are legendary.

Final Entry — Who Needs a Trophy When You Have a Sunset? An evening round at Oxford Greens reminds you that we’re just guests in someone else's backyard. Whether it’s a hawk catching a thermal or a turtle sunning itself by the water hazard, the wildlife here is the real "pro" staff.

Next time you’re out, put the rangefinder down for a second and look up. Just maybe don't FaceTime your plants while you're doing it—Enzo and George get jealous of the outdoor greenery.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve spotted on the course this week? Let me know in the comments!