Looking for a way to work up an appetite before diving into your Thanksgiving feast? Look no further than the annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Shoot at Coyote Creek Golf Club in Morgan Hill, California. This event, featured in our Thanksgiving Guide 2024, is the perfect way to start your holiday with a bang – or should we say a swing?
Location and Date
Coyote Creek Golf Club
One Coyote Creek Golf Drive, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Thursday, November 28, 2024
A Tradition With a Twist
While the name might conjure up images of pilgrims with muskets, this Turkey Shoot is all about golf clubs and putting greens. No actual turkeys will be harmed in the making of this event – unless you count the occasional turkey of a shot by an overzealous golfer.
What to Expect
The Thanksgiving Day Turkey Shoot is a casual golf event, not a tournament. So leave your competitive spirit at home and bring your sense of humor instead. Here’s how the day unfolds:
- 7:30 AM: Check-in begins. Grab your coffee and try not to yawn too loudly.
- 8:30 AM: Shotgun start. Don’t worry; it’s just an expression – no actual shotguns are involved.
- 1:30 PM: Round finishes. Just in time for you to rush home and pretend you helped with the cooking.
Why Participate?
- Beat the Food Coma: Get your exercise in early so you can spend the rest of the day in a guilt-free, turkey-induced stupor.
- Escape the Kitchen: Avoid being roped into peeling potatoes or basting the turkey by claiming you have an important “sporting event” to attend.
- Practice Your Excuses: Perfect your “I meant to do that” face for when your shot goes wildly off course. It’ll come in handy later when you’re explaining why you ate the last piece of pumpkin pie.
- Make New Friends: Bond with fellow golfers over shared tales of holiday family drama and turkey cooking disasters.
- Win Bragging Rights: Even if you don’t win the game, you can always brag about how you spent Thanksgiving morning golfing while everyone else was watching the Macy’s Parade.
A Brief History of Turkey Shoots
While our modern-day golf version is all in good fun, turkey shoots have a long and somewhat quirky history. Back in the day, these events were actual shooting competitions where participants would try to hit a turkey with their rifle. The winner got to take home the bird for their Thanksgiving dinner.
In some parts of the country, like Monterey County, turkey shoots were a big deal. The Breschini family, for example, hosted annual turkey shoots from 1911 to 1925 that drew crowds of up to 5,000 people. Imagine that many people showing up for your backyard barbecue!
Tips for Success
- Dress Appropriately: Wear your stretchiest golf pants. You’ll need the extra room for all the turkey you’ll be eating later.
- Bring Your A-Game: Or at least your B+ game. Your C game can stay at home with your relatives.
- Stay Hydrated: But maybe go easy on the “water” if you want to actually hit the ball.
- Practice Your Victory Dance: Even if you don’t win, doing a little jig after a particularly good shot is fun.
- Have Fun: Remember, this is a casual event. The only real competition is seeing who can return to the Thanksgiving table the fastest.
After the Event
Once you’ve finished your round and tallied up your score (or creatively “adjusted” it), it’s time to head home for the main event. You’ll arrive just in time to regale your family with tales of your golfing prowess, conveniently forgetting to mention that sand trap incident on the 7th hole.
And if anyone asks why you’re so hungry, just tell them all that fresh air and exercise really works up an appetite. They don’t need to know that your exercise consisted mainly of driving the golf cart and lifting your club.
Sign Me Up!
If this sounds like your idea of the perfect Thanksgiving morning, you’re in luck. Coyote Creek Golf Club makes it easy to join in on the fun. Simply fill out the form on their website to complete your purchase. And if you want to stay in the loop about future events, be sure to check the “Sign Me Up” box to join their email list.
So, this Thanksgiving, why not start a new tradition? Trade in your turkey baster for a golf club, and your oven mitts for golf gloves. The Thanksgiving Day Turkey Shoot at Coyote Creek Golf Club is the perfect way to kick off your holiday – and hey, all that walking might even help you justify that second slice of pie.
Remember, golf is a lot like Thanksgiving dinner: it’s not about perfection, it’s about enjoying the experience and the company. So gather your friends, grab your clubs, and get ready for a Thanksgiving morning you won’t forget. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself dreaming of birdies instead of turkeys when you doze off after dinner.
Sources: Coyote Creek Golf Club Facebook Page, coyotecreekgconlinestore.company.site
Header Image Source: Mark Olsen on Unsplash
