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petitor in the Open championship, was a sports columnist for “The Age,” the leading newspaper in Melbourne.

As we talked about the weather in Scotland, which can sometimes be less than balmy, even in summer, he noted that it was “far better” than the weather in Melbourne. “It gets bloody cold down there this time of the year,” he said. Having grown up in the Deep South, I, nonetheless often enjoy winter weather. I am not a fan of hot weather and consider one of my greatest achievements in life came when I was able to afford central air conditioning. I like the fall most of all, and when the weather segues into the chill of December, I prefer winter weather over what we get in July, August and September.

There is nothing quite like skiing the Rockies, but the best thing about such an excursion is that when the day ends and you can take off those heavy boots, and sit by a comforting fire with a cold beer. Unless you are good at it, skiing is work.

Ice fishing? Got invited to do that one winter while on a trip to Minneapolis. We went out on Lake Minnetonka, found a spot to our liking and got underway. First, the host took out a big auger, cranked up the motor attached and soon had a nice hole in the lake. He baited a hook attached to a line, anchored to two small pieces of plank.

Soon a northern pike sucked down a shiner with abandon. While the thrill of casting and setting a hook and reeling in a trout on the Chattahoochee offers greater thrill, it was such a unique experience to ice fish that I couldn’t wait to try it again — once my toes and hands thawed out.

It was more fun, however, when I got back to the North Star Inn, took a shower and joined the guests at the greatest piano bar I have ever patronized.

When the wind chill, wherever, makes a polar bear’s day, then I pine for Georgia’s summertime high thermometer days. When the weather has that biting edge, I’m ready to return to my summer roots.