Whistling Strats

WHISTLING STRAITS

Whistling Straits is a golf resort located in Haven, Wisconsin with 2 Pete Dye designed courses - The Strats Course and The Irish Course. It is part of the American Club - a resort owned and operated by the Kohler Corportion (famous for bathroom fixtures and faucets). The American Club also incorporates 2 more Dye courses 8 miles south of Whistling Straits in the town of Kohler, Wisconsin - Blackwolf Run River Course and Blackwolf Run Meadow Valleys Course. The town of Kohler is inhabited entirely by employees of the Kohler Comany and the factory forms the lifeblood of the town. The Straits Course and The River Course are regarded as the two best layouts of the four. So good is the Straits Course that it hosted the 2004 PGA Championship. Golf enthusiasts will remember the memorable birdie by Vijay Singh on the 18th hole to defeat Justin Leonard and Chris DiMarco in a 3 way playoff to claim the Wanamaker Trophy.

I called the reservation department at The American Club during the 17 hour drive from Denver to Milwaukee hoping to play the Straits Course and the River Course. My excitement was abated when I learning that both layouts would be closed until the 28th of the month. I would have to play the alternatives - the Irish Course in the morning and the Meadow Valley Course in the afternoon. After checking into a hotel at 12:45 in the morning, I headed to my room and set the alarm for 6AM. My round at the Irish Course was to begin at 8:45 and I was still 1 hour south of the course.

ROUND #34 - WHISTLING STRAITS - IRISH COURSE

The clubhouse at Whistling Straits is made of gray stone with large wooden doors welcoming visitors inside. As clubhouses go, this one is modest in size and resembles an old Irish Inn. This morning I was paired with 3 other golfers - Lonny, Rich, and Scott. Lonny was the reserved one, Rich was a moderate conversationalist, and Scott was the talker. Our foursome elected to walk the course, carrying our bags the enitre way. From the first tee shot I felt the soreness of my skiing excursion 2 days prior and the inability to excercise it out the next day due to the long drive. My lower back, upper shoulders, and pectorals were on fire beneath my windbreaker for the duration of the round.

The Irish Course offers a taste of Ireland on the banks of Lake Michigan. High mounds of earth laced with sand bunkers and tall fescue grass grace virtually every hole. Players must negotiate large, undulating greens before they can triumphantly or angirly remove their ball from the cup. The soreness made the round difficult, especially from the tee where a stronger, more attacking swing is favored, whether correctly or not, in order to generate more distance and make the hole shorter. In typical Dye fashion, the course is loaded with railroad ties linked together to create separation in fairways, bunkers, and tee boxes. For the duration of the round, Scott would complain about this being the worst he had played all season. All said and done, he probably shot a 96, and he maybe should be shooting in the high 80's, but his complaints were numerous and unwarranted. Lonny's passive nature made conversation easy. Rarely did he dwell on a poor shot, and it never affected his ability to continue talking about topics unrelated to the game. Rich, being more on guard than Lonny, was slightly more difficult to converse with but pleasant nonetheless.

My round was erratic. Pars rarely came easy and double bogeys were not easily avoided. The 92 I shot did not help my handicap and the high number came by way of a few bad holes. I did encounter a rarity - a hole that Dye created with which I totally disagree. The 18th is a medium lenght par 5 which offers a layup area that funnels directly into a hazard. My contention is that if you offer a player a chance to layup, it should not be penalizing. Pete has the final say, and the layup remains regardless of my stance. After the round, I had a quick lunch at Cousin's Subs - endorsed by Sports Center anchor Dan Patrick! - and moved the all day golfing fiesta to the village of Kohler and its Blackwolf Run Meadow Valley course.

ROUND #35 - BLACKWOLF RUN - MEADOW VALLEYS COURSE

My tee time at the Meadow Valleys Course was scheduled for 3PM. I knew launching at this time would make it difficult to fit the entire 18 in, so once I arrived at the proshop I inquired about getting onto the course as soon as possible. The staff member told me I could join with a 3-some that was already headed to the tee. I accepted the offer, paid my greens fees of $65 (a bargain for this course) and made my way to the #1 tee. Mark, the solo rider of the group, was about to tee off when I pulled up to the tee. I unstrapped my bag, grabbed the belongings from my cart, and consolidated everything onto his. He was now my chauffeur for the next 4 1/2 hours. His tee ball did not fly straight, and came to rest in the right rough. Brian's tee shot found the right edge of the fairway but did not travel far due to his club hitting the ground before the ball. Another Mark fired next, spraying his ball deep into the right rough. My tee shot, the last of the foursome was awkward - making contact low on the clubface - with the ball flying low off the ground and rolling along the fairway until it stopped 200 yards shy of the green on this short par 4. "At least it's in the short stuff," I said.

Mark and I were quick to strike up a conversation about our lives and golf. I discovered he was a purchasing agent for a technology firm in Chicago. My knowledge of his profession was sparse so we did not dwell on the topic long. He was fascinated at my transition from tennis pro to golf adventurer, and asked many questions about my journey. I did not speak with the members of the other cart, the other Mark and Brian, often. Only small comments after a missed or made putt, a question about Brian's new clubs, and an offering of excuses after a wayward drive.

The 85 I scored on this beautiful and open course that winds through meadows surrounded by trees was a 7 improvement over the morning round. My swing echoed greater confidence, and my ball striking was clean. Fortunately the round went south on the last 2 holes as I double bogeyed the par 3 17th and par 4 18th. I can count the double bogey on the 17th green to the rain that began to fall while the sun was still shining - creating a huge arching rainbow that stretched from one corner of the course to the other, centered directly above the oversize American Flag flying over the proshop. I stopped to take a picture, but the sight was too vast, and both legs of the rainbow which stretched to the ground would not fit within my lens. This sight was an acceptable diversion from the double bogey I had just scored.

The car trip after the round to Lemont, Illinois was quick - lasting only 2 1/2 hours - and I settled into a hotel room near the Cog Hill Golf Club that was to host my 36th round of the trip early the next afternoon.

Today's Morning Round: Whistling Straits Irish Course
Score: 92
Today's Afternoon Round: Whistling Straits Meadow Valleys Course
Score: 85
Handicap: 10.6
Overnight Location: Lemont, Illinois
Tomorrow's Course: Cog Hill #4 Dubsdread
Tomorrow's Overnight Location: Indiannapolis, IN

Denver

Willy and I grew up skiing, partying, and tackling adolescent life together. We have remained friends since high school but like most friendships, distance has weakend the bond formed from middle and high school. He moved to Denver half a year ago as locational middle ground so that he could continue his career as a commercial airline pilot and subsequently feed his skiing addiction without having to travel a great distance. I arrived late at the condo in Southwest Denver that he shares with his girlfriend Amanada. We caught up briefly before he retired for the evening in an effort to bank enough sleep as possible to be well rested for his 17 hour work day of flying across the country the next morning.

ROUND #32 - THE RIDGE AT CASTLE PINES NORTH

I awoke early at 7AM in anticipation of playing 36 holes. The first course on the agenda was The Ridge at Castle Pines North. The trip south to the course was fortunately against traffic and much easier than the trip facing commuters in the opposite direction. The gridlock headed into the city rivaled that of D.C. and I was glad to not be in it. The chilly morning and temperatures the previous night gave way to a 25 minute frost delay. The driving range, playing into a 30 MPH biting and chilling wind, proved to be too much to endure, so I bidded my time over a coffee in the clubhouse restaurant. Once the course was cleared for play, I teeded off solo on pace to have one of the quickest rounds in golf history. Until I caught up with the maintenance crew, which had a 5 hole start, on the 11th fairway. I waited for 20 minutes for the green to be properly mowed before I could hit my second shot into this uphill par 5. The 12th tee nearly left me with a similar wait. From the teeing ground I could see a maintenance cart parked behind the green on this medium length, downhill par 3. I could not tell if anyone was in the cart, but more peculiar was the fact that there was no flagstick on the green. After 3 minutes of hesitation, I checked the pin location on the card given to me that morning and fired for where it should be. Two maintenance employees watched as I carded a 3 putt bogey on the hole with no flag.

Playing at altitude is a wonderful thing for the male ego. The thin air adds roughly 15% distance to your game. This means if you normally hit a drive 270 yards, at altitude you will now hit your drives 310 yards. A few holes were necessary to become acclimated to this increase in distance but the results were staggering. Hole 9 is 446 yards from the tees I was playing this morning. After my drive, I was left with a chip of 54 yards - that's a John Daly-esque drive of 392 yards!

My play was adequate but not exceptional and I ended the morning round with a score of 86. Unfortunately, because I left my camera at Willy's, I was unable to capture any photos of this beautiful course which crawls up and down the rock cliffs which form Castle Pines. Instead of having original pictures, I've download and inserted a few pics from the website.

ROUND #33 - RIVERDALE DUNES GOLF COURSE

I felt naked on the golf course without my camera and after departing Castle Pines I stopped by Willy's to pick it up. Riverdale Dunes is a rare bird - it's a links style municipal course north of Denver designed by my favorite course architect Pete Dye. Dye crafted this municipal golf course out of windswept dunes and open mountain meadows. There are 2 courses at the facility the Dunes course and the Knolls course - the Dunes being the more praised of the two. Greens fees and a cart cost $34 dollars - a steal compared to D.C. prices. Through the first 13 holes the course was good but not exceptional. It is the closing 5 holes that set this course apart from others in the area. These holes are superior in design and utilize Pete Dye's signature railroad ties to perfection to frame fairways and bunkers and separate this section of the course from the rest.

My play was good as I ended the round with a score of 81 - improving 5 strokes upon my performance earlier in the morning. The wind made the round difficult but I began to learn how to adjust my game by lowering the trajectory at which the ball leaves the clubface in order to keep the ball below the wind.

The funny story for the day was that after taking a picture of the 4th hole, I set my camera on the ground where it would remain until a 2-some picked it up about 45 minutes later. The realization I had left my camera came crashing down on me at the 12th hole. After debating my options, I felt it best to finish the round and look for the camera afterwards. I checked unsuccessfully with the proshop after the round about the camera and began to backtrack the course. I encountered the 2-some at the 12th hole and they presented me with the camera to which I exclaimed "you are a god." I followed the cart path back through the finishing holes to take the photos I had missed the first time through.

Morning Course: The Ridge at Castle Pines North
Score: 86
Afternoon Course: Riverdale Dunes
Score: 81
Handicap: 10.2
Overnight Location: Denver, Colorado
Tomorrow's Course: None
Tomorrow's Overnight Location: Denver, Colorado

RED ROCKS

The next day Willy woke early to renew his medical - a requirement of any pilot. He finished in the early afternoon and returned home. I convinced him to try his luck at golf be accompanying me to the driving range. He quickly became attached to the driver and soon began hitting 180 yard weak slices. With a wedge he had less fortune, and the driver became the go to club for the 30-odd balls remaining at his station. Once finished at the range, we journeyed to Red Rocks Ampitheater. Red Rocks is a concert venue carved from deep red stone at the foot of the Rocky mountains. The fan shaped outdoor auditorium creates one of the most striking show venues on the planet. While not in use, the ampitheater doubles as an unofficial recreation facility. Fitness buffs run the perimeter of the bleacher style seating and up and down the stairs which flank both sides. The iron welded support structure which rises 8 feet above stage level and juts in a few feet from either stage wing becomes a pull-up bar. The walkways between spectator seats are used as a respite to complete walking lunges between laps around the stands. At an altitude of over 1 mile above sea level, this venue could be the highest outdoor recreation/concert venue in the world.

Willy and I had no interest in joining the exercise craze - instead we soaked in the air and sun of the auditorium. We walked to the stage and gazed back to the place where 3,000 fans would congregate later that year and cheer performers like Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Lyle Lovett, and others. The walk back up the stairs left me winded and reminded of my current physical state. My fatigue was due in part to not being acclimated to the elevation, and part to the lack of cardiovascular exercise the past 2 months. Willy and I came up with one solution - a steak dinner. We headed to Whole Foods, found 3 perfect ribeye steaks and had a terrific meal followed by battles of chess. I retired to bed until the next day's adventure.

ARAPAHOE BASIN

The next morning we awoke early and decided that no golf trip would be complete without a day of skiing. I borrowed Willy's skis and gloves, used the gore-tex rain pants purchased in Seattle as ski pants, found the knit wool cap that came in handy at Newcastle Golf Club, and wore a fleece jacket that had been useless and taken up space in my car up until now. Willy, Amanda, and I left for Arapahoe Basin at 9:30 AM. The 1 hour trek winds through the Rockies and rises in elevation the entire way. The craggy, rocky terrain is spotted by rocks, snow, sheep, and goats. We arrived at the base of Arapahoe Basin at 10:30 with me feeling the pains of the elevation. Altitude sickness feels and acts like a hangover as your body is essentially dehydrated. I had not heeded Willy and Amanda's warnings to drink as much water as possible the previous 2 days and now I was paying the price. Visions raced through my head of Willy and Amanda skiing the entire morning as I slept in the car. Once this scenario became unacceptable, I staggered from the Subaru Forrester to the base lodge to rent ski boots. My preferrance is for a firm boot which causes the skis to respond quickly to commands from the legs. These boots were soft and instantly I knew I would have to do some serious work today.

Based on my current condition and the fact that I had not trained for or at elevation, I knew I would not have my legs for long. My best runs would have to come early and our first run ended in a mogul field that had yet to soften from the spring sun. Ice between the moguls made turning difficult and keeping a consistent speed nearly impossible. My legs began to work overtime to keep the skis within the linking s-shaped ruts next to the moguls. The oxygen drawn to my lungs from the hard work loosened the grip of altitude sickness and returned my body to normal. After a few runs bombed down the hill at high level speeds and few turns, we decided that we had our fill for the day. The last run was a mixture of speed and now softened moguls. The idea to retire for the afternoon was welcome as the seemingly easiest section of the moguls - the lower section with less pitch, smaller bumps, and a wider trough - became a chore to negotiate. My legs and the day were now finished. We packed the car and left the mountain at 1:30. A 2 hour nap once we arrived back in Denver brought me to life for the Mexican meal and chess that followed that evening.

The next morning I woke early in prepartion for my LONG trip to Milwaukee that day. The trip was to take 17 hours and I did not expect to complete it in 1 day. Regardless, I would try. At a distance from my car in the parking lot, I pressed the remote unlock button dangling from my keychain. Nothing. The signal has weakend from repeated use over the years so I walked further and depressed the button again. Nothing. My hear and head sank. The implications of this were ineveitable - it had happend twice before on this trip. A manual unlock of the driver door and turn of the ignition confirmed my fears. My battery was dead. I must have left the Sirius Satellite Radio on for the past 2 days in which I had not used my car once. Luckily, I was able to flag down a lady headed to work. After connecting the cables the car did not start. I sat in anticipation hoping that letting the car sit with cables attached would charge the battery, but ultimately I didn't have a clue. After 3 minutes of waiting, I turned the ignition and the engine turned over and began to hum. I felt what may be the single most exhilirating moment in the life of a human being. After thanking her, I began the journey at 7:45 in the morning which would end 17 hours later at 12:30 at night outside of Milwaukee. The trip was the most grueling day of driving I have experienced and hope to ever experience. Along the way, I booked 2 tee times for the following day, the first at Whistling Straits and the second at Blackwolf Run - both in Kohler, Wisconsin. I was to have my work cut out for me.

Idaho Falls to Denver

It was 3:30 once the round at Coeur D'Alene was complete and I was on the road to Jackson, Wyoming. The trip was to be long and tedious taking about 10 hours. Once I realized my estimated arrival time at Jackson Hole was 1:30 in the morning I knew alternated stopping plans would need to be made. I figured I would drive as far as I could and stop at the nearest large city. That city became Idaho Falls - roughly 2 hours shy of Jackson.

While I was roughly 10 minutes shy of Idaho Falls, I was startled by red and blue flashing lights in my rear view mirror. The police officer asked me where I was coming from and where I was headed.
"I had you on radar doing 88."
I knew full well that the speed limit in Idaho was 75, and I was fairly certain that I was not going 88. The way I went about letting the officer knokw this was most likely the reason for receiving a ticket.
"That's funny officer, I had the cruise control set at 85."
Admitting to a police officer that you are purposly traveling 10 miles above the speed limit is probably not a good idea. He handed me the citation, and instantly I was upset about having to sacrifce maybe 2 rounds of golf to pay for the ticket, thinking it would cost me roughly $150. He asked me to sign the bottom to acknowledge that I knew of the $62 fine for which I would be liable. My anger turned to elation then to dissappointment. $62 was nothing for doing 13 miles over the limit. Had I known the ticket would be that cheap the cruise control would have been set at 98.

The next morning in Idaho Falls I sat in my hotel room and pondered the inconsistent scores I had posted so far. I came to the conclusion that I had been playing too much and not practicing. I decided that today was going to be dedicated to practice. After packing my things, I left the room and headed to the car, only to be stopped dead in my tracks at the hotel entranceway. There in the parking lot my car sat beneath 3 inches of snow! My bewilderment kept me at the doorway for about 15 seconds before exiting the hotel to clean off my car. There was to be no practice today and I laughed at my misfortune the entire way to Denver.

Round #31 - Coeur D'Alene Resort Course

The trip to Coeur D'Alene resort was the most beautiful drive I have yet experienced on my journey. It began with a twisting road through the mountains and Snolquamie Pass. Snow stretched from the white capped rocky peaks to the edge of the road. The weather signaled that winter was retreating but not easily or rapidly. I arrived at a hotel in Coeur D'Alene late in the evening and checked the weather forecast. The high temperature the next day was forecast at 49 degrees. At the start of the round the air was expected to be a chilly 32 degrees. Perhaps the next day was meant to be a life maintenance day. I awoke around 9:30 and checked the weather. No changes but sunny skies were predicted. This would make the round slightly more enjoyable. I headed to the course.

Coeur D'Alene resort is a service oriented facility - a country club for a day resort. Upon arrival, your car is valet parked and your forecaddy (required for the round) meets you with the most incredible golf cart I've ever seen. The Western brand cart looks like a miniature Cadillac without the stereo system and GPS. Wood trim is everywhere, the rims on the wheels are shiny chrome, the cart incorporates a full tilt steering system, there are 2 storage compartments (like the trunk of a car) and an automatic tee dispenser. And this cart could FLY, moving and cutting like a gazelle in route to our next shots.

I was paired with 3 guys who were part of a group of 7 on a golf trip to Coeur D'Alene from Bozeman, Montana. Aaron, Dave, and Eric proved to be some of the best and most enjoyable company of my trip. The 3 played a laid back style of golf that was contagious, allowing me to forget even the worst of shots with relative ease. Our forecaddy Troy navigated us through the green, hilly, tree lined landscape easily - finding balls that were seemingly lost forever. On the 3rd hole it began to hail, leaving the green of this par 3 covered in white pellets and making putting difficult. On the fourth hole the hail subsided and the 4 of us witnessed a miraculous shot (pictured at right with its victorious striker) as Aaron hit driver from the tee to this 278 yard Par 4. His high shot had no chance of making it to the green until the large rock formation in front intervened, and the ball carromed off of rock towards the complex, and rolled to the back edge of the green leaving Aaron with a 30 foot putt for eagle. He made par.

The weather continued to be quirky as snow fell on the 6th hole. By the 9th hole the sun would penetrate the clouds and reign supreme for the remainder of the day. The order for lunch that I placed at the 9th hole came served in a picnic basket, adding another nice touch to the already incredible service of the resort. The signaure hole at the course is the par 3 13th - an island green that floats. The green's movement is controlled by computer and can be extended to a distance of 225 yards or brought as close as 130. Today, it sat 165 yards away from the tee box and I hit my 6 iron to 12 feet. After teeing off we shuffled into the boat which carries players to the island. I missed my birdie putt, but made par. Once back on the boat each player received a certificate with their score on the hole. I told the course representative to give me a 2, Aaron asked for his certificate to read 1. The representative obliged.

All said and done I played pretty good golf at the resort, scoring an 84 and striking the ball well. The course was beautiful and I will now recommend it highly to those who have the opportunity to play. I passed my blog information to my playing partners so that they could read my brief account of the round - Aaron, if you are reading this, post a comment with contact info, your sand wedge was placed mistakenly in my bag.

My enjoyment could only last so long as my journey continued to Idaho Falls that evening, 6 hours away.


Today's Course: Cour D'Alene Resort
Score: 84
Hanicap: 10.8
Overnight Location: Idaho Falls, ID
Tomorrow's Course: TBD
Tomorrow's Overnight Location: Denver, CO

Round #30 - Newcastle Golf Club Coal Creek Course

SEATTLE

After seeing my father off to the SeaTac airport for his early afternoon flight and closing the chapter on our 9 day golf trip, I headed to downtown Seattle to meet Jenny Binder, a friend of Tracy and mine, pick up a key to her apartment and begin to settle in for the next 2 days. Jenny proved to be an excellent hostess – having already solidified evening entertainment plans for both nights of my stay.

The first night she and I met a friend of hers named Jill at a pizza place in Ballard – a hip old style section of western Seattle. The building housing Madam K’s Pizza had served as a brothel in the early 1900’s. Madam K celebrated this fact and decorated her establishment accordingly with corsets and bras adorning bright red and walls trimmed in black. The pizza was equally sinful and after excellent conversation we left full and exhausted.

The next day was reserved for life maintenance. It began with a journey to a golf discount store. This is the third of these stores I had visited in the past week, each with little success. This store had on sale exactly what I was looking for – a waterproof jacket and pant set. For less money than anticipated, I was now equipped to survive the elements. However, buying a golf rain suit is like buying an insurance policy, you hope never to have to use it. After a quick venture to the Seattle Public Market to pick up gifts and watch the fishmongers throw fish then to the barber for a haircut, I was back at Jenny Binder’s apartment. Once there I updated scorecards, sent postcards, and worked on this very blog.

That evening Kerri, one of Jenny’s co-workers came to her apartment with her straight from work. Her arrival was followed by the arrival of her boyfriend Shane and their 2 friends Lana and Rob. We socialized for an hour then headed to a curious Italian restaurant owned and operated by a Chinese couple (needless to say we were all skeptical) called Perche’ No – Italian for “Why Not?” The name of this establishment echoed our thoughts exactly as we trotted through the restaurant door and to our table. We enjoyed an exquisite authentic Italian meal. My favorite course was dessert – chocolate crepes filled with mascarpone cheese and Nutella in a white and milk chocolate sauce – wow! The friendly owner of the restaurant stopped by our table to chat with us about the restaurant, her family and life. She was quite congenial and talkative as well. After our 2 ½ hour dining experience had ended we parted ways, Jenny and I to a Queen Anne Hill neighborhood establishment called The Sitting Room and the other couples back to their homes on the Eastern side of town.

At The Sitting Room we were met by Jill from the night before and her fiancé Chris. I had the pleasure of dining with all 3 of these people and Tracy late last year when visiting Seattle on our way to a New Year’s Eve ski vacation in Whistler, British Columbia. Their company was enjoyable that evening and this was no different. After an hour or so, we retired back to Jenny’s apartment and I began preparations for my trip the next day to Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.

THE GOLF

The Newcastle Golf Club’s Coal Creek Course is designed by Fred Couples. Unfortunately, Fred’s powers are limited to moving and sculpting the earth and not in controlling the weather. The rain began on the drive to the course and has probably still yet to subside. Rain is manageable, but the temperature made the conditions difficult. Today the high was predicted at 48 degrees and 48 strokes per nine. I played by myself in the driving rain because I’m sure nobody else was dumb enough to be on the course on a day like this. I was wrong. I ran into a Japanese couple on the 6^th hole and waited for every drive they sprayed, shot they duffed, and putt they missed, pulled back, and re-putted. I waited as they played 2 balls each. I waited as they walked from the cart path to their ball in the fairway, checked the yardage to the pin, then walked back to their cart, picked a club, walked to their ball, decided they had the wrong club, walked back to their cart, picked another club, walked back to their ball for the 3^rd time, and finally hit. Through the cold and rain, I waited.

This couple did not speak a word of English. Maybe the concept of playing through is solely American. I could see this being the case as we are all rushing about trying to get things done as quickly as possible – using up our free time in an effort to make more free time, often times unsuccessfully. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt in this matter and write it off as a cultural discrepancy. Until the 16^th hole when the let me play through. I still cannot fully understand the masochism involved in their thinking – let him suffer for 10 holes and he’ll really enjoy the last 2 holes. It was beyond me. I accepted their invitation and blew past them. The rain had since stopped and was followed by an enormous wind – making shots play 40 yards longer than they normally would. I was apparently going to receive no breaks from Mother Nature this afternoon. My newfound freedom of pace allowed me to finish this miserable round quickly and head to my car to change into warm, dry clothes and begin down the road to Coeur D’Alene Idaho.

Today’s Course: Newcastle Golf Club Coal Creek Course
Score: 92
Handicap: 11.1
Overnight Location: Coeur D’Alene, Idaho
Tomorrow’s Course: The Coeur D’Alene Resort Course
Tomorrow’s Overnight Location: Jackson, WY

Bandon Dunes: Rounds 27 - 29

I'm behind on updating the rounds, but below is the account of Oregon. Still, I've got 4 more rounds to add and limited time. Hopefully, they'll be up soon. Until that time, enjoy. Start from the bottom and work your way up.

Round #29 – Bandon Dunes

Our final round at Bandon Dunes was to be played on the marquis course at the resort. Bandon Dunes, like Pacific Dunes, twists its way along the Oregon coastline amongst thick gorse, crashing waves, hard packed fairways and greens, and windswept dunes. Bill and Brian accepted our bags at the entranceway and shuffled them to the first tee. After straightening out a slight payment snafu with the caddy manager, we trotted to the course to begin our round. At the first hole, we met our playing partner for the morning, a woman named Gail from Seattle. Staci informed us that there was an empty space in front of and behind us, so we had plenty of time to complete our round. This would prove to be necessary, as Gail boasted the longest pre-shot routine in golf’s history.

Experiencing her preparation to hit the ball was witnessing an execution – painful to look at yet impossible to turn away. It began with ball and tee in hand and a search for level teeing ground, 5 seconds. She sinks the tee into the ground, 3 seconds, steadies the ball on the tee, 3 seconds. Two slow deliberate practice swings follow, 8 seconds. She moves behind the ball facing her target and searches for a line, 6 seconds. Another practice swing, 4 seconds. She walks to the side of her target arriving at her preliminary position, club grounded next to the ball and feet together, 4 seconds. Pause for a moment, 2 seconds. A small step to the left with the left foot followed by the right with the right foot brings her into hitting position, 4 seconds. Now the waggles begin. She lifts the head of her club above the ball and carves a long measured line above the ball with the head of her club once, 2 seconds. Again, only slightly shorter this time, 2 seconds. One last waggle extends on a line smaller than the previous 2 but evident nonetheless, 2 seconds. She grounds her club again and pauses, 6 seconds. Flexes her knees, 3 seconds. Pauses again, 2 seconds. And finally, pulls the trigger, 2 seconds. For those of you keeping track at home, that’s 60 seconds - a full minute of agony her playing partners have to endure before every shot. In her defense, normally she would make great contact when executing her routine. But her deliberate play slowed us down, and the 3-some 2 groups behind caught us at the 14^th hole. For possibly the first moment of my golfing life, I witnessed the group that I was in creating the logjam – the proverbial butterfly flapping its wings which would eventually turn into a tempest.

Pace of play issues aside, I began playing some fairly decent golf. Finally I was making contact in the middle of the clubface and getting the ball off the ground again. I was excited about the prospect of scoring well if I could avoid big numbers. Turns out, I played 15 holes well, but played the last 3 holes at 8 over par – defeating any chance of a low score. I was lucky to escape this round with a score of 89, but disappointed at my play. My father was exhausted from the 7 rounds he played previously. His fatigue caught and overtook him this morning, leaving him a score of 106. It was a bittersweet finish both in result and emotion, as this would be the last round my father and I would play together on the “West Coast Swing.”

Today’s Course: Bandon Dunes
Score: 90
Handicap: 11.1
Overnight Location: Seattle, WA
Tomorrow’s Course: None
Tomorrow’s Overnight Location: Seattle, WA

The Sheep Ranch…Continued

I called Bandon Discount Golf after hitting my tee shot on the 3^rd hole at Bandon Dunes. Steve answered and I launched into a discussion of the Sheep Ranch. He told me he would make the call to the owner and call me back at 11. Gleefully, I hung up and continued with the round. The day seemed perfect, with blue skies and fluffy clouds overhead. Bill had said something the day before which stayed in the back of my mind, “if you want don’t like the weather in Bandon, stick around for 15 minutes – it will change. Eleven o’clock neared and the heavier, darker clouds began to cycle into Bandon from the south. The clock turned 11:45 with no word from Steve. I decided to preempt his call with one of my own. Steve said that he was still waiting to hear from the maintenance man at the Sheep Ranch and he would call me when he received word. Our round ended with no call. We shook hands with Bill and Brian on the 18^th green knowing we would not need their services for the afternoon since the Sheep Ranch was no longer an option. The mythical golfer’s playground was to remain a mystery cloaked in rumor and tall tales. Perhaps our unsuccessful brush with the Sheep Ranch was for the best as rain in the afternoon was unavoidable, and my father and I still had 8 hours of road ahead.

Round #28 – Bandon Trails

After finishing up our round, my father and I had an hour before our tee time at Bandon Trails. Luckily, the weather held all morning but the dark clouds looked foreboding for the afternoon. Because I didn’t fell I hit the ball well in the morning round, after scarfing down a BBQ sandwich, I snuck to the range to try and straighten my swing out before teeing off. Bill and Brian met us at the bad drop of Bandon Trails, I checked in and we headed to the first tee. The rain began while we were on the first fairway and did not let up until we were seated inside at dinner 6 hours later. The course varies greatly from the others at Bandon. The first hole offers a view of the ocean but once completed, the course takes a turn into dense pines and open meadows. We were paired with Don and Bill, two friends who played earlier in the day and twice each day the 3 previous days. Their caddy Brad was a whirlwind of dead on club selections, sarcastic insight, quick reads on the greens, and trash talk after poor shots.

Our golf was less than spectacular which I will blame solely on the weather. One bright moment occurred in the midst of the afternoon rain – I hit one of the greatest shots of my career so far. My tee shot came to rest in a fairway bunker on the 11^th hole (pictured at right) 205 yards from the pin. The 4 iron I hit was pure. The ball climbed quickly while moving toward the left edge of the green. It began to descend and move right, back towards the center of the green and the pin. On impact just short of the green the ball caromed forward on a line to the flagstick and came to rest 2 ½ feet from the pole. I missed the birdie putt.

Aside from 3 awfully played holes with large scores, my round went well and I hit the ball solidly. This was not reflected in my score as I ended the day with a 90. I was extremely impressed aside from a few quirky holes and greens. Playing Bandon Dunes the next day would complete the trilogy.

Afternoon’s Course: Bandon Trails
Score: 93
Handicap: 11
Overnight Location: Bandon, Oregon
Tomorrow’s Course: Bandon Dunes
Tomorrow’s Overnight Location: Seattle, WA

Round #27 – Pacific Dunes

The rain began to fall the moment we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. Our 8 hour journey to Bandon, Oregon in an instant turned into 11. My father and I filled the gaps in conversation during the trip with bits of comedy siphoned from the Sirius Satellite radio I had installed this past January. Howard Stern was the primary reason for the installation but I quickly found just how cosmopolitan and entertaining the service truly is. The path to Bandon was mostly Interstate until the last 30 miles when the road narrowed to 1 lane and began switching back and forth while snaking its way westward. I detected my father’s alarm at my aggressive handling of the Envoy by his nervous laughter at the Jerry Seinfeld routine playing over my iPod.

We arrived at Bandon Inn, our place of residence for the next 2 nights, at 11:30, checked in, retired to the room, and went quickly to sleep. The next morning we awoke early with a feeling of disorientation and surprise – the feeling one gets with arriving in an unfamiliar town after dark only to see it differently the next morning in daylight. After taking the extremely helpful desk staff up on their suggestion of dining at The Station for breakfast, we were on our way to the course. Today we were scheduled for 2 rounds, 36 holes of golf eerily similar to that found on the British Isles, conveniently located on the Oregon coastline. I had taken the liberty of reserving caddies for our rounds when they during booking, knowing it would be difficult for my father to walk the roughly 12 miles necessary to complete both loops. We met our caddies at the proshop. Bill, a large man with a kind smile and cunning wit was to be my caddy. Brian, smaller in stature but with an equally gracious demeanor, was to carry my father’s bag. On the first tee we met our 3^rd for the morning, a congenial man named Steve who just so happened to own the only golf merchandise shop in town.

Steve turned out to be a player, sporting a 3 handicap but not playing to it this morning. He, along with our caddies, proved to be bastions of local knowledge on the intricacies of the links style layout. However good their information, it still did not keep my father or me from donating several balls to gorgeous the landscape. The Oregon coastline is filled with a beautiful yet viscous plant called gorse. The yellow flowering bush in the pictures is the gorse – don’t be fooled by its beauty, each flower is attached to a long vine spiked with thorns.It has an insatiable appetite for golf balls and rarely will a ball be returned to its original owner should it enter the gorse. It makes for a gorgeous natural barrier between fairways and frames the golf holes magnificently.

My father’s legs seemed fresh as he transferred the burden of his bag to a younger set of shoulders. This was my main concern today, my father’s stamina and his ability to walk all 36 holes. He was hampered only by his own golf game, taking an exhausting 106 swings to complete his round at Pacific Dunes. My score of 93 was not much better but my younger legs could withstand the abuse. After a quick bite to eat, it was off to Bandon Trails for the afternoon round.

Morning Course: Pacific Dunes
Score: 90
Handicap: 11
Afternoon Course: Bandon Trails
Overnight Location: Bandon, Oregon

The Sheep Ranch

At the 8^th hole of Pacific Dunes, I queried my caddy as to the whereabouts of the elusive Sheep Ranch. The Sheep Ranch is the golf equivalent of Keiser Soze - for those familiar with the film The Usual Suspects. It supposedly exists on a plot of land north of the Bandon Dunes resort – but only a fortunate few can confirm its existence.

The legend surrounding the course is shrouded in mystery. Apparently one of the developers of Bandon Dunes had a college roommate who was offered equity into the resort when it was in the planning stages. The roommate dragged his feet, was non committal to the other partners, and watched as word began to spread about the 3 quality courses in the middle of nowhere on the Oregon coastline and the resort became a success. Realizing his friend had missed a huge financial windfall and feeling sorry for him, one partner offered a tract of land to the roommate. The roommate decided he would create and maintain a course of his own on the land – just north of Pacific Dunes. Due more in part to his own lethargy, the course was never opened to the public – but it did not turn private either. It remained in an odd state of golf limbo - if you know the owner or know someone who does, you can play.

Locals call it Area 51. Bill, Brian, and the starter named Staci acknowledged its existence, but could offer no additional information. Apparently, if you are lucky enough to get on, and luckier still to find the place, you will be met by a blue pickup truck owned by the head of maintenance. He will collect the obligatory greens fee and leave you to explore the golf playground yourself. Rumors describe the Sheep Ranch as golf as it used to be – players stumbling upon a teeing ground, pointing to the nearest pin and firing. There is no true layout, sprinkler heads are marked to the center of nothing in particular, and par is a figure left to the player’s imagination. However informal the course is supposed to be, the experience of playing and the journey of gaining access holds the greatest allure. The Sheep Ranch is a mystery unraveled by few who find the key to this supposed kingdom.

Today, our additional playing partner held this key.

“How do I get onto the Sheep Ranch?” I asked Steve.
“Give me a call,” he replied.

On the 18^th green I asked Steve for his number so that I could call him regarding the Sheep Ranch. He produced a business card and told me to call him the next morning…

Round #26 - Stanford University Course

THE GOLF

The weather forecast for the afternoon held just enough optimism to tear me away from my annual tradition of watching Sunday's round at The Master's. After discussing the details with my friend Ed, we decided to meet at the Stanford University Course at 1:30 in time to make the 2:00 Shotgun start. Clouds were looming but there was little threat of rain. We pressed our luck and headed out to the 9th tee to begin our round. At the tee my father and I met Ed's friend Will, our fourth for the afternoon. Will proved to be an excellent addition to the quality of golf, being the only player to card a birdie, and to the quality of conversation as we all spoke easily and freely of family, career, golf, and life.

Walking was the only means of transportation around the hilly course today. This walking took its toll on my father causing him to retire to the clubhouse after 10 holes. Ed, Will, and I were left with 8 narrow fairways and miles of incredibly thick and deep rough to contend with. All said and done, the course got the best of the three of us - Ed scoring a 93, Will a 92, and I ended with an 88. My first score in the 80's in 4 rounds. I am still without a birdie over the last 102 holes - a loathsome streak that I am hoping to end in dramatic fashion in the forthcoming rounds in Bandon, Oregon. My father and I depart tomorrow morning and will budget the entire day to completing the 8 hour trek to this new West Coast golfing Mecca.

Today's Course: Stanford University Golf Course
Score: 88
Handicap: 10
Overnight Location: San Francisco, CA
Tomorrow's Course: None
Tomorrow's Overnight Location: Bandon, OR

FISHERMAN'S WHARF

My father and I ventured to downtown San Francisco briefly the day before the round to take in a quick meal and a few sights. The obvious destination for our journey was Fisherman's Wharf where we ate at an excellent restaurant called Eagle Cafe. The facility had just reopened 2 weeks prior to our visit, the menu was huge, and the portions were even larger. After eating we strolled down the boardwalk along the pier lined with shops, purchased souvenirs and postcards, stopped to get a cookie and went on our way. It was a great quick trip to the area. I was intentionally trying to see as little of San Fran as possible in order to leave plenty of sight seeing for Tracy and I if and when we return to this beautiful city.

A Whole Lotta Updates...

Wow, I had no idea that I would not be around an internet connection for so long, and that so many distractions would pop up when I did have connectivity. This has left me with a lot of work to do to keep everyone updated about my trip. I'm going to be brief in my descriptions of the rounds in order to minimize the time spent on posts since I'm very tired from a big weekend in Vegas, and to be more user friendly to those who are not golf enthusiasts. Start from the bottom of this posting and work your way up for sequence. My promises to be more diligent in the future on post turnaround time. Enjoy!

Round #25 - Spyglass Hill

Many golf afficionados claim that Spyglass Hill is the true jewel of the Monterey Penninsula. After playing the Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design, I concur. The course begins on the western side of the Penninsula, playing toward and against the Pacific Ocean and its sweeping winds for 4 holes. On the sixth hole, the nature of the course changes, as it turns back up "Spyglass Hill" and runs through the Del Monte Forest for the remainder of its existence. The Del Monte Forest is exactly how I pictured the Pacific Northwest, with tall pine trees forming a canopy high above the ground and few branches in reach of an outstretched hand. These pines create a feeling of security sheltering you from wind and darkening the intensity of the suns rays from harsh and red to a cool amber.

This is not an easy course, and it plays very long considering the rain the Penninsula has experienced and that most of the holes play uphill. My father and I did not play very well here either and it was reflected in our scores. Frustration overtook my father from the first swing of the club and would not let go until after the round as he hit 4 balls - not one reaching the fairway. On the 14th hole, the rain began. It was not a driving rain but more of a nussiance rain, unsure of whether to gain pace or receed - constantly switching between the two. At no fewer than 10 moments in the round did my father declare that he was finished playing for the day, but a club always seemed to find his hand at the next tee, reinforcing the sadistic lore which is golf and makes it so similarly punishing and addictive. The highlight of the day came on the fifth hole, a par 3 where my father and I both hit shots to within 6 feet. He made his birdie putt and I missed - making this possibly the only round ever where he scored a birdie and I did not. This is now 4 straight rounds without a birdie - quite a long streak and one that I wish to end in glorious fashion at the Stanford University course tomorrow.

Today's Course: Spyglass Hill
Score: 92
Handicap: 10.3
Overnight Location: San Francisco, CA
Tomorrow's Course: None
Tomorrow's Overnight Location: San Francisco, CA

Round #24 - Pebble Beach

The legend which is Pebble Beach lives up to all of the hype. The round, however, almost did not happen thanks entirely to my wonderful attention to detail. We showed up at the course at 9:50 for our 11:00 AM tee time, hit balls and shopped. At 10:50 I told the starter my name and that we were checking in for our 11:00 AM tee time. The starter replied with “we had you down for a 10:00 AM start time." My reaction to this was total panic. I had just mixed up the start time to the crown jewel in my trip. My father had flown all the way from Virginia and now we were not going to be able to experience Pebble Beach. What a moron and what a waste. The starter offered me the opportunity to tee off that afternoon at 2:40 PM - the first available tee time after the last guaranteed to finish starting time of the afternoon. We would have to play fast and get lucky with the pace of play on the course in order to finish up on the storied 18th green. The way the morning had been going I was cautiously optimistic. In the meantime, we had plenty of time to stroll around The Lodge, putt, hit balls at the range, putt, shop, putt and practice putting. We saw John Madden talking on his cell phone in the lobby of The Lodge. My father committed the fauxpas of stopping and pointing. John Madden knows who he is and does not need anyone to help him figure that out. Nonetheless, it was pretty cool.

We teed off at 2:40 exactly, after taking a photo for the internet camera and our own records on the first tee holding a banner which read "Hi Mom!" We received a standing ovation from the female employees of The Pebble Beach Golf Shop, and began our oceanside walk.

The round was slow which gave us plenty of time to take in the beauty of this famed course which hugs the ocean for a majority of the holes. The ocean turn begins on the 4th fairway and the blue waters remain an obstacle to contend with through the 10th hole. Steep cliffs built of black basalt rise hundreds of feet above the sand beach below and support the fairways and rough, and collect many a mistruck ball in the rock harbors below. Neither my father nor I played outstanding golf on the day. Perhaps we were too mystified by the lore of Pebble, or maybe the ocean waves clashing with the rocky shores or the salty smell and tastes became a distraction tempting us to try and focus on golf in such a beautiful arena. The reason for the poor golf will evade me, but the memories of playing this hallowed ground with my father will remain.

At the 17th tee - darkness began to envelop the course as the sun slipped behind the Del Monte pines. We were graciously asked by the group ahead if we would like to finish the 18th out with them. We accepted and began a rapid fire near-darkness hitting session which ended once the last of 6 balls crept into the cup on the 18th green. After replacing the pin, I turned and hugged my father for what seemed like minutes in appreciation and exhilaration for the wonderful experience of the afternoon.

Today's Course: Pebble Beach
Score: 96
Handicap: 10.6
Overnight Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Tomorrow's Course: Spyglass Hill
Tomorrow's Overnight Location: San Francisco, CA

Round #23 - The Links at Spanish Bay

Even while considered the unwanted stepchild of the 3 main Pebble Beach courses, The Links at Spanish Bay is exceptional in its layout and design. Links style courses are designed to be firm in order to allow the ball to roll and shots to travel extra distance. After 2 weeks of non-stop rain, this was not the case. The course measured 6,800 yards, but because the ball would stirke the fairway and stop, it played much longer. Every hole seemed as if I was hitting driver then 5 wood or 4-iron. The wind picked up and seemed to never play at our backs and help our cause. Without my father to accompany me in golf misery, this round would simply have been a conversation piece - a warm up for the main event which is Pebble Beach and was scheduled to comence the next morning.

Today's Course: The Links at Spanish Bay
Score: 95
Handicap: 10.6
Overnight Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Tomorrow's Course: Pebble Beach
Tomorrow's Overnight Location: Pebble Beach, CA

Round #22 – Los Angeles Country Club

Cancelled due to rain!! My first encounter with rain during a round ended up canceling the round at LACC. Two inches of precipitation poured onto the San Fernando Valley, marring and extending my trip that morning from San Diego to Los Angeles. Instead of stopping at the club, I continued northward to Pebble Beach in hopes of arriving ahead of my father who was flying into Monterey Airport that evening to join me on the West Coast Swing for 8 days. I arrived at The Inn at Spanish Bay 3 hours earlier than expected and 2 hours ahead of my father’s expected arrival time. Once I was shown to my room, I sank into a comfortable chair next to the fireplace in hopes of updating this blog more thoroughly. No more than 2 minutes after sitting down, my cell phone rang. My father, on the other end told me his flight from San Francisco to Monterey had been cancelled due to weather. In 20 minutes I was in my car making the 1 hour 45 minute trip to San Francisco airport to pick him up. We arrived back at The Inn at Spanish Bay at 11:45 and went quickly to sleep in preparation for tomorrow’s round.

Round #21 – Torrey Pines – South Course

In 2008 the U.S. Open will arrive at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course. This long track is probably the most revered municipal golf course in the country. I arrived at the course at 6:15 AM and took my place as 18^th in line for a tee time. The line moved quickly and by 6:40 I found myself standing on the first tee with 3 playing partners: Ron, a dentist from Detroit in the area for his nephew’s wedding, and Jim and Michael, a father-son tandem from San Francisco in town for a golf tournament Michael had scheduled. At the first green on this still crisp morning, I caught my first view of the Pacific Ocean. The course was in poor shape considering the reputation and time of year. Number 6 is a par 5 which, due to bunker repair, was playing as a par 3. I found this unacceptable considering the fee I was paying, so the hole was played from the regular tee box as a par 5.

Jim, as a golfer was less than spectacular, and overbearing as a parent. His son Michael has the potential to be a very good player should he be able to eschew his father’s criticism and become his own golf critic.

My golf game was sporadic, and my ball striking was not crisp. I had one score on my card greater than bogey but no birdies. The 84 I carded was not terrific, but adequate considering my play. Tomorrow would bring with it play at Los Angeles Country Club and my first overnight stay on the Monterey Peninsula in anticipation of playing Pebble Beach.

Today’s Course: Torrey Pines – South Course
Score: 84
Handicap: 11.7
Overnight Location: San Diego, CA
Tomorrow’s Course: Los Angeles Country Club
Tomorrow’s Overnight Location: Pebble Beach, CA

Round #20 Wolf Creek Golf Club, Mesquite, NV

About 1 hour and 15 minutes lays a true golf gem by the name of Wolf Creek. Built in a low elevation desert mountain range, Wolf Creek offers golf enthusiasts jaw dropping views, shots, and hole designs. Each hole is truly more amazing than the previous. The duo I was paired with on the first tee would create for a memorable round. Scott is a mediocre golfer and really nice guy from Boston. George is a different story. He's a talker and a swearer, and he may have Tourette's Syndrome. He used profanity like Picaso to paint his huge, beautiful canvases of swearing throughout the arrid landscape. George and Scott argued across the desert, up mountain tops, and down in valleys, over how to rake a bunker, hit a drive, and go about a search for lost balls. The entire day George and Scott argued.

I played 8 of the greatest holes of my life and stood on the 9th tee at 1 over par. My double bogey still accounted for a 39 on the front, but I knew in the deep recesses of my brain that the streak was over. A 46 on the back nine left me with an 85 for the day. Score aside - this couse was incredible in its ability to create some of the most fabulous and memorable shots anywhere. This was without doubt one of the most incredible and creative courses I've played.

Today's Course: Wolf Creek
Score: 85
Handicap: 10.8
Overnight Location: Las Vegas, NV
Tomorrow's Course: TBD
Tomorrow's Overnight Location: San Diego, CA

Round #19 - Aliante Golf Club, Las Vegas, NV

The round of golf at Aliante was scheduled not for the quality of golf but for the quality of the company. Lee Crank and Chris Garvey made the flight from DC to Vegas. It was the first trip to Vegas for both of them, Lee's first golf round of the year, and Chris' first golf round in an entire year. The afternoon was overcast and chilly as the 3 of us struggled through this difficult test of desert golf. On the 10th tee, in typical Vegas fashion, we decided to play "Wolf," a golf game which gives every player and equal chance of winning regardless of ability once handicap strokes were assigned. Much to everyone's surprise, Chris took home the $15 pot in dominating fashion.

Today's Course: Aliante Golf Club
Score: 87
Current Handicap: 11
Overnight Location: Las Vegas, NV
Tomorrow's Course: Wolf Creek
Tomorrow's Overnight Location: Las Vegas, NV

Round #18 – TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course

As it turns out, the sudden plans to play the Stadium Course in Scottsdale was one of the most fortunate decisions of my trip. The course is owned and operated by the PGA and plays host annually to the Phoenix Open. I arrived 1 hour ahead of my scheduled tee time – giving myself plenty of time to warm up for the round.

Due to a corporate outing scheduled that morning, all rounds were required to start on the 10^th hole instead of the 1^st. On the 10^th tee I met my playing partners for the round. The 3 Aussies I was grouped with helped create the most memorable round of my Odyssey so far. They had me laughing at the first fairway – after Jim took 8 strokes to hole out, edging Michael out by one swing. The poor display was a result of their exploits until 4 AM that morning. The Aussies had me convinced that Michael was a caddy on the PGA Tour for Mark Hensby. They let me in on their little joke around the 8^th hole – it turns out Mark Hensby is from their hometown but Michael has never caddied for him. This fact should have been obvious when Michael had difficulty determining distances, selecting clubs, and reading greens – but I was too oblivious to pick up.

The front nine of the course swings along the rear perimeter of a resort pool. There was a photo shoot on the pool deck with a model, clad in a bikini, facing away from the course. Jim turned the cart toward the pool, parked next to the fence separating the course from resort, moved from the cart to the fence and yelled “Hey, have her turn around! Don’t keep her to yourself!”

Through all the distractions, I finally began to play some golf. My drives were straight and I hit more greens in regulation than I can recall. After 18 holes, my scorecard read a surprising 78 – the lowest score recorded on my trip and in my career. My good fortune today was a good sign leading to the weekend in Vegas.

Today’s Course: TPC Scottsdale – Stadium Course
Today’s Score: 78
Handicap: 11.2
Tomorrow’s Course: Aliante Golf Club
Tomorrow’s Overnight Location: Las Vegas, NV

Round #17 - The Gallery South Course, Tucson, AZ

Next year the Accenture Match Play Championship - a tournament where the top 64 players in the world play individual matches against another player instead of playing against the entire field - will arrive at The Gallery South Course, where it will remain for 7 years. Once I heard this, I knew I had to find the time to add this course to my itinerary. Jay made my tee time happen, and 1 1/2 hours after completing my morning round at Vistoso, I found myself on the tee complex of the first hole at The Gallery South Course. Conditions from the morning changed dramatically - the entire front nine of this course played into a 4 club wind. This means if you have a shot of 150 yards, a nine iron for me under normal circumstances, when playing into the wind you would have to play the shot as if it were from 190 yards, a 5 iron for me, making a difference of 4 clubs. What a pain. I've never played so many consecutive holes into such a strong wind. The conditions became quite a nussiance and left me with a slightly more negative impresson of this magnificent course. Don't get me wrong, the course was amazing but I have to have some excuse for the 90 I shot. I played with a pleasant couple from Seattle named Anne and David, who suffered similar score ailments due to the harsh whipping desert wind. This was the first day of 36 hole play for me and it will not occur again for 2 weeks until I reach Bandon, Oregon. During the round as David and I were speaking about my Odyssey, he asked if I was going to play the TPC Stadium Course in Scottsdale. I was not planning on playing golf the next day in order to complete the 6 1/2 hour drive to Vegas in time to meet my friend Chris at the airport. Once I realized the trip incorporated a timechange in my favor, I knew stopping in Scottsdale was locked. I departed Jay's house early the next morning as he and his partner embarked on their quest for the Stone Canyon Member-Guest Championship. His kindness in hosting me was truly appreciated and I condsider myself fortunate to have seen the best golf the lovely city of Tucson has to offer.

Afternoon Course: The Gallery South Course
Score: 90
Handicap: 11.7
Tomorrow's Course: TPC Scottsdale - Stadium Course
Overnight Location: Tucson, AZ
Tomorrow's Overnight Location: Las Vegas, NV
Round #16 - Vistoso Golf Club, Tucson, AZ

Vistoso is a top tier course in Tucson that Jay was able to get me onto for free - thanks Jay! It requires accurate shots and a good touch around the greens to score well. I played in the morning with 2 older gentlemen named Lester and Gary. Gary was decent but Lester was incredible. The man hit the ball dead straight and long for someone his age. He shot 80, probably a few strokes higher than his age. A respectable score. They were great playing partners to have. Lester was boisterous and Gary reserved. The 3 of us together had an enjoyable round complementing each other's great shots, and providing excuses for the ones gone awry. The most notable event on this round today was my play from the greenside bunkers. My ball landed in a greenside bunker 6 times, and 4 of those instances, my ball came to rest in the hole 2 strokes after hitting the bunker. On one instance, my ball found the hole in 1 stroke - I holed a sand shot for the first time in my golf career - for birdie on the par 3 17th. My score for the day, after a few bad holes, was 88. After play, it was on to The Gallery Golf Club to play the South Course for my second round of the day.

This Morning's Course: Vistoso
Score: 88
Handicap: 11.1
Next Course: The Gallery South Course
Overnight Location: Tucson, AZ