We are free-swinging creatures of habit, pandemic or not

The annual rhythms of nature will not stop.

Or even slow.

Not even a strange virus in the land can keep plants from blooming on schedule, for instance.

Last week brought us March 19, which in the Catholic Church is the feast of St. Joseph — and it’s also the day that thousands of cliff swallows return to the mission at San Juan Capistrano in southern California.

No one knows exactly why or how, but each year the swallows depart the mission on Oct. 23, off on a 6,000-mile trip to Goya, Argentina.

Sure, there are a few who arrive early, and watchers always spot a few stragglers — but almost the entire colony of swallows came home to San Juan Capistrano last Thursday, March 19, just as they do every year.

Now then…

It’s my contention that one month after the swallows return to Capistrano, we experience another ritual of nature.

Human nature.

On or around April 19, hordes of North Idahoans blink in the sunlight, stick a tee in the ground and begin our local golf season.

YES, THERE are early birds who just can’t wait and need to tune up their 7-irons a little before that.

And plenty of locals, just like the swallows, prefer to migrate for the winter and play golf pretty much year-round.

But if you’re a serious golfer around here — not necessarily a good player, because “serious” in this context means you just have to get your swings — you’ll need to tee it up by mid-April.

Ah, but this damn pandemic.

Might it interfere with golf season in this neck of the woods?

It shouldn’t, not by then.

I don’t have an epidemiologist on speed dial, so I don’t have any clue whether we’ll still be under house arrest — sorry, “sheltering in place.”

But even under the current guidelines, I can’t think of any reason that golf courses shouldn’t all be open a month from now.

OK, you might have to shut down the bar and grill (assuming that restriction is still in place), and put a few common-sense guidelines on gathering in the clubhouse.

Out on the course, though, golfers who need this sport the way a fish needs water will adhere to all the rules we’ve learned over the past month.

IS THERE a possibility I’m biased about this?

Well, I live in a condo that overlooks the No. 3 tee and fairway at Twin Lakes Village.

My clubs are right downstairs.

You can draw your own conclusions from there.

I’m assuming, with a good degree of confidence, that sometime in April, the course will open, and I’ll be able to join my neighbors on the links.

Even a strict interpretation of the current “shelter in place” rules allows for exercise outdoors. We’re just not supposed to sweat on each other or finish up with a group hug.

Right now, there are everyday folk walking — sometimes jogging — on the Twin Lakes golf course.

That’s fine, because most people would go batty if they’re stuck indoors day-in and day-out, for just a little too long.

All I want is some flagsticks on the greens and open tee boxes sometime in April.

Consider it just a nice walk, only with the occasional swish of a 3-wood.

We won’t all be hugging, I promise.

And for the locals I know, the only sweating comes with a 5-foot downhill putt.

It’s a rhythm of nature that shouldn’t be disturbed.

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Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns for The Press appear on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He also contributes the “Zags Tracker” package on Gonzaga basketball each Tuesday.

Steve’s various tales from several decades in sports — “Moments, Memories and Madness” — run on Sundays.