Why Not Somewhere Else and Playing Golf?

     Here I am sitting at my computer writing my golf blog.  My other blog post is done and posted, after this I will work and post on my travel blog.  You may ask, why am I still here and not playing golf.  After all, it is a beautiful but brisk day outside.  Wouldn't it be great to take a trip over to the Pacific Coast and play one of the courses over there to start the New Year?  If not the coast, why not somewhere in the lower Sierra Nevada?
     If I could, I would.  My ladyfriend plays golf and she would like that as would I, but not this year.  I would like to make that a new year tradition, but given my health and financial status this year that is not going to be possible.
     That doesn't mean that it is not going to be a great New Year's Eve. We are going to a movie later and then out to dinner, or maybe dinner first and then a movie.  We should be in early and will probably stay up to watch the ball drop at midnight.  Here on the west coast that is a bit of a non-event because it has already happened three hours earlier, but it is a lot of fun and is a tradition.

     I wish everyone a very happy and prosperous New Year.  May God bless all of you and keep you safe.  I will see you next year.

         

Shed a Tear

     Hope you don't get mad at me.  I have some bad news that some may think is tragic.  I will be unable to post tomorrow because I will be away from my computer for the day.  Hopefully, I will have something for you Monday.  Until then, be good and be blessed.

I Know, I Am Being Lazy Today

  You probably think that that is a odd title for me, or given what I write about maybe not. Rest assured though, I am not out of my mind and I have had my coffee. As many of you know, I am a golfer and as such am exposed to some really crazy things. It is this way in all sports, as the word "fan" is a shortening of the word "fanatic" and each sport has its (Did I get it right? I am working very hard on this one.) forms of team  support and player support as well as memorabilia and realia. That's a great word realia, it harkens back to my teaching days.  Some of the stuff--sports stuff not my teaching days though that can also be another story-- is really hideous. In this case as an example, four words come to mind--Oakland Raider Black Hole--enough said.
     Why am I talking about this today other than the fact that I wake up every morning not knowing what to write about, especially if I haven't had my coffee.  Today, I assure you is no different.  No brilliant subjects flashed into my small brain.  It is truly amazing what an unexpected stroke of inspiration will do to you, especially when you are in a jam and don't know what to post.
     There is a rule in golf that says play the ball where it lies.  This is a very famous rule and by the way, not all golfers follow.  That could be another post, but I think I will save it for my golf blog which you can read at http://golfandtravelwithdave.blogspot.com.  Sorry for the shameless plug, but we all have to make a living you know.
     At any rate where was I going with this? Now I remember, I received a small gift from a good friend that knows I am a golfer. It was a small pewter alligator with a golf ball on its back and on the ball is printed "You Must Play The Ball Where It Lies".  It is the stupidest looking thing I have ever seen. It is sitting on my counter where I can see it every day.  I do play the ball where it lies and am very fastidious about the rule.  But, we don't have alligators here in California except in the zoo or in my mind after a long night of drinking.

No alligators in this pond, just huge bass.  The snakes are in the weeds and trees behind the green.

That's not exactly right though, you can rest easily my dear, I don't drink I just thought this was getting boring and I needed a great line.  The pewter alligator is not what you would call world class art, but I look at it every day. Why, I don't know but I do look at it every day. A defect in my character, I guess.
     I do want to state for the record that if the ball I am playing rests on the back of an alligator I am not playing the ball where it lays.  We do have one dangerous animal hazard here in California where I play, rattlesnakes.  If my ball lands near a rattler that is coiled and making a beautiful noise with his rattles, I ain't going near it to save a $3 Titleist, HECK NO!  I should confess here that I don't play $3 Titlists but 79cent used balls.
     The pewter paperweight is not correct however, and I want to let you know that here.  I don't know what rule it is but as is true with all the rules of golf the ruling is quite clear.  If your ball did come to rest on the back of an alligator or in the mouth of a rattlesnake you would have one ticked off animal and you would not want to play the ball from there.  In the rules, you can take a drop no closer to the hole with no penalty. I'm glad we cleared that up and you can sleep tonight knowing the correct ruling.

No snakes or alligators here, just sharks 

    NOTE: Reprinted from DavidRallisWrites with expressed permission from the author.  To view the original go to http://davidralliswrites.blogspot.com

Cruise Golf

     Recently I went on a five day cruise to Mexico.  I do this quite often and have gone to courses in the different ports of call that the ship visited.  My cruise line of choice is Carnival, since we have cruised with Carnival on several occasions. Each time, if I didn't play I did go to the seminars and as a writer for a golf magazine I always introduced myself to the pro on board.  Our conversations were very good about the game, instruction and the courses the cruise line visited. On this particular cruise, nothing: no pro, no seminar, no lessons and no escorted trip. Something was not right.
     On the third night of the cruise, I went to have a cigar in the bar that was set aside for smokers and met the hotel manager who was having a cigar and an off duty cocktail.  I asked him what was happening and if Carnival no longer offered golf on its itineraries. He explained that for the amount of guests that were taking advantage of the golf shore excursions and taking lessons, it was not worth the expenditures.  They had suspended the program.
     I kind of can see where they were coming from and it was purely an economical decision.  I have played golf  a couple times off the ship and the largest group on board that went to play was fifteen. Think about it a moment; on a ship of almost 2500 passengers, only 15 go to play golf.  That is about .5 % which is not cost effective. Though I am a huge supporter of golf, the program couldn't sustain itself on board.

     Today, they do offer golf excursions, but the price only includes transportation to and from the course and green fees.  They are not escorted by a pro.  This is kind of sad and from my experience I always had a great time with the pro. the almighty dollar is king, I guess and it is important to make money to stay in business.  If you have to look at your expenditures you also have to look at your revenues. If it isn't contributing, it may have to go.  Such is the way of the golf program on Carnival.          

Tough Course

     Some of you are probably wondering about what I think is the toughest course I have ever played, or maybe not.  I am willing to share that with you now. You may be disappointed but I want you to also keep things in perspective.  I have not touched a club in a month and as far as golf is concerned, I am not thinking too clearly right now. My back has been out-way out-for almost three months and I really want to play but can't. Hopefully, I will be able to get out the first week of February.
    The most difficult course I have ever played is the miniature course on board the Carnival Cruise Line Ship the Splendor.  Have any of you tried to putt on a rolling ship.  The greens are tough to putt when the ship is rolling. Speed is very difficult to judge and the break is "close your eyes" exciting.  You would swear that the putt broke one way and goes the other. It is a tough nine-hole track.

     OK, I know this was a cop-out.  I haven't been able to go out and play some new courses to share with you and I will write about some of those I have played when I was writing for the magazine.  Right now, given my health, I can't do that.  I ask you to be patient as I plan to write more and share pictures.  Until then, I will do what I can.  

Twas The Day Before Christmas

     I don't know if I could get in trouble for writing that as I think someone has the copyright to it, but if they want to sue me, let them take their best shot.  I have Legal Shield, well actually I don't this month because I couldn't pay for the membership.  If you are going to sue me, please wait until next month when I  renew my membership. Also, don't tell anyone because I don't want to have it come under a preexisting condition.  That doesn't have a thing to do with golf or travel, does it?
     I don't have much to say right now on the great game and I think it best I keep it simple.  As my gift to you, I will share some of the pictures I have taken on some great courses.  I hope you like them.  Finally, I would like to wish you and your's a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Enjoy the pictures.

Love Hate Relationship-Part 2

     Yesterday I talked to you about Bayonet and Blackhorse.  I mentioned DeLaveaga located in the hills above Santa Cruz.  As was true with Bayonet/Blackhorse.  I truly hated the course and vowed that I would never play it again.  When you go on vacation in Santa Cruz which is a Pacific Ocean Seaside resort located about 50 miles north of Monterey, your affordable  golf options are limited.  You can play Pasatiempo which is a classic Alistair MacKenzie design and is expensive to play, or you can play DeLaveaga which is a municipal course and is much more affordable. The choice is a no brainer when you are on a budget.   
     DeLaveaga is a challenge.  the one thing that you better be good at is uphill, downhill and sidehill lies. there are very few places on the course that afford a level lie.  The fairways are demanding with steep barrancas surrounding most of the fairways. If that was not enough, there are mature pines and cypress trees that make shotmaking a must.  There is a lot of strategy involved when you play this course and patience is a must.
    You must know the course in order to place the ball in the correct position.  Driver off the tee is not always the best choice. It truly is a thinking man's course.  I didn't take it seriously the first few times that I played it and I hated it because of my attitude. I am sorry with that opinion Tim (The head pro at DeLaveaga) but that was just how it was. A few month ago I played the course with a friend and decided it wasn't going to beat me. I decided to take the smart approach and think about strategy. Instead of the normal 105 or 102, I cut ten strokes off my score and shot a 92.  It wasn't because I palayed any better, it was because I played the course smarter. I actually enjoyed my round.
     I plan to go back to the course and do a complete evaluation of the course with pictures and comments.  I have to talk to Tim about that one and I will do so soon.  My greatest success on this trip was on the #10 hole, which is a par 5.  There is a very small landing area because you have to carry a huge barranca on the left side of the fairway with out of bounds on the right.  I hit a huge drive into a great position and then took the barranca out of play.  I was so excited about my second shot being safe and in position for a possible par that I wound up getting too excited and double bogeyed the hole. I was still satisfied that I didn't take a higher number and was really excite that I finished the hole instead of evoking equitable stroke control.

1.      The views from the course are wonderful and the holes are very picturesque. It is a great place to play but by all means buy a course guide.  FOLLOW IT!!!!

   

Stay With Me

     I have to almost apologize to you my reader.  It has been a very long time since I have actually taken this blog seriously, and it really saddens me.  I do have an excuse though.  I have been laid up with a bad sciatic attack and have been unable to do much of anything.  I am just now able to walk for any length of time.  My legs feel like jello and my breathing capacity has to be built up again as I am winded very easily.  But, rest assured I am getting better quickly and hope to be out on the course soon. Another fact of the matter is I have gotten away from my love of writing as well.  I must make it a priority.
     I love golf.  I love writing and taking pictures of courses.  I should do that more.  The fact of the matter is that I retired to write and write about golf and travel. I have gotten far away from that.  I enjoy sharing my golf and travel experiences with you as well as the photographic images and stories. At this point, I intend to come back and write.
     

What's Next

      I want to thank you for tuning in on my blogs.  My task today is to let you in on a bit of my thinking as to what I am going to do with this blog.  I am going to continue writing it, make no mistake about it.
     The direction I think I am going to take is to bring you more courses to play.  I want to post more pictures and comments about the courses I play.  That should be the thrust of this.  I must make a confession right here that my health has not been what it should be. The truth of it is, I am now just able to walk.  My back has gone out in a sciatic episode that was the mother of all attacks.  I haven't touched a club in over a month   and that was a painful adventure at best.  At any rate, watch for more articles and pictures.
     For now, most of the courses will be reruns that I probably have written about in the magazine I wrote for.  They are some great courses though.  Well, that's it for now, enjoy and wish me luck.

It Still Hurts

     It still hurts!  I know it is a sign of getting older, but that doesn't make it any less painful.  Your body starts hurting in places that you didn't know you had and those pains come more often.  Your best friend priorities list changes from spouse/significant other (wife, girlfriend and since it is 2012 domestic partner), golf buddies to health care provider--in my case, chiropractor.  He plays golf by the way and is very good, a single digit handicapper who is a member at a local exclusive country club. I know, I have payed his dues recently with my office visits and my sciatica pain.
     My friends list has taken on a different look.  Top of the list is my chiropractor and health care provider, significant other and then --sorry guys--my golf buddies.  Guys, I love you like brothers but when I am in pain decisions have to be made. Bottom line is I have to rest my back so it doesn't hurt.  I am not going to play tomorrow to rest it.  Besides, I am down on quarters and have to do my wash.  Me not playing is going to hurt me more than it will hurt you.  Actually, I'm not playing so it won't hurt.  Look out for Monday--I hope.

   
     See what a sciatica problem will do to you.  This was me before I  went to the chiropractor yesterday morning.  Ice and bed rest and I will feel like myself again. Off to the couch to sit with an ice pack on my back.






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Pain

     No golf today or Friday.  For an explaination of this, please go to my other blog http://davidralliswrtes.blogspot.com.  Owwwwwww!!!!!!!

Darn!!!!!

     Today is Wednesday.  That shouldn't come to a shock to any of you.  However, it is not going to be golf day for me.  Since I retired, Monday, Wednesday and Friday are golf days and the days that I play in the seniors quarter skins game.  I can't do that today, I have to be mature and actually work on one of my other business opportunities.  I am stuck with a very difficult decision, that of taking quarters--more like donating quarters--in the skins game and possibly making $2.00 or working and earning $300 and eating.  It is a hard choice, but I think I made the more mature--I hate that word--decision.
    Don't pity me or feel sorry for me.  I want to assure you that I will be back at it on Friday and play.  Sometimes the boy has to become a man.

Going somewhere?  Click on the Hotwire button to check out some great pricing on hotels, flights and car rentals.  If that doesn't work, try LastMinuteTravel.  GolfSmith has a great special on right now sow check that out as well.  

Its a Tough Life, But Someone Has To Do It

     Please don't think any less of me.  Its not like I chose what I do.  It kind of fell in my lap.  Playing golf courses and traveling sort of just evolved.  Sometimes life steers you on a course that you just can't alter.  That is how it has been with my golf writing.  When the road opens up a hole in front of you that you just can't go around, you just have to fall into it.  That's what happened here. Don't get mad at me, I had to do it and had no choice.
    I tried, I really did try.  I gave up golf for almost a year.  I suspended my blog http://davidralliswrites.blogspot.com for almost a year.  As you can see, that did not work and I have started playing again as well as starting two more blogs, this one and http://travelthewestwithdave.blogspot.com.  Am I a glutton for punishment?  I guess it is my destiny. Don't envy me, pity me.  I am stuck.  You don't know the burden that has been placed on me of being brilliant and entertaining.  It is almost a curse.  Sometimes, as those of you know, I hit it out of the park and sometimes I foul out on the first pitch.  Hmmm...another blog on baseball?  Nahhhhh....
     I hope you understand that what I have said here is all tongue in cheek and I am not trying to boast or blog.  Those who know me understand that I am a very humble person who is very uncomfortable tooting his own horn.  Also, I don't just play golf and write about it.  My life is full of other things as well.

     What time is it by the way?  I don't want to miss my 7:30 tee time.  Oh, its late and I must go. It is a tough life, but somebody has to do it.  Enjoy these pictures in the meantime.

Ryder Rents Trucks

     I know that it is going be very easy to second guess David Love III and his captaincy of the Ryder Cup Team.  I understand what he is going through as well as the American Team.  I have played a lot of match play, and it can be very trecherous. I know what it is like to have your knees knock over that one foot putt to win the match and the game.  Even though match play is a kick to play, it can turn a sane man into a pile of cream of wheat.  You must have nerves of steel, and if you do happen to have the match that can win the game for your team and miss that two footer for birdie and the team looses.  You feel terrible, the round could have been the best of your life but you lost and the team lost. They was counting on you.
     I suffered today when Lefty got beat by losing the last two holes and Jim Furyk also lost the last two holes and his match. The pain is excruciating.  Don't criticize them, you don't know what the pressure is like.  Give them a break, match play is a different animal. The press will be merciless on them.
     Take it from me, a guy who played two team matches this year.  I used to be a killer match player.  I got beat 4-3 twice this year.  It is not fun.  Don't condemn until you have walked a mile in some else's moccasins.    

iT'S tHURSDAY NIGHT

     It's Thursday night.  Tomorrow I will do battle with the others that strive for the prize in our high-stakes golf game.  The competition is tough, and I will show no quarter.  We play a skins game with birdies, sandy pars and greenies geeting you into the pay column.  Just to make things a bit more interesting and fair, there are no carryovers from hole to hole and one tie, all tie amongst the between five to 12 competitors-by the way it is late and this is the third time I have tried to spell competitors.
     Expectations will run high.  Who will be the big winner today?  Excuse me now, I must go and begin my ritual to mentally charge up and prepare for the rigors of competition tomorrow.  Twenty-five cents is a lot to loose on a hole.  I must be sharp.  Actually, I am going to bed.

        That's me, by the way preparing for tomorrow.  I am not going to say what was in that cup, you can draw your own conclusions-I don't drink by the way. That's not that great a picture, I look heavier than I actually am.  They say the camera puts on several pounds and this was before I lost my 75 pounds. I seriously did loose the weight, and I feel much better and can hit the golf ball better. I gained 25 pounds back but I won't explain to you why.  The guilty parties shall remain nameless and she hits the ball pretty well too.  I'm babbling on now because it is late.  Good night!
         You know, that line about showing no quarter was a good one.  Ha, Ha we are playing for quarters get it?  I know, go to bed. Forgive me, I am getting a bit crazy so I am off to bed.
          I think that----will you go to bed already?  OK, I'm off to bed. I should have stopped
writing before I added the picture.  I'm done now and it is off to bed.
         I had black hair when I was younger, I sure have gotten gray---WILL YOU GO TO BED ALREADY!!!!!!

Dawn Patrol

     The post on my other blog today is about being a morning person.  I am proud of that.  As a golfer, the best time of the day to tee off is the early morning and there is something special about teeing off first on the course that day.  We are called "The Dawn Patrol".
     There is something about playing early in the morning.  The sunrise over the Sierras can be breathtaking, even though it makes following your tee shot to see where it lands almost impossible because of the glare of the rising sun.  Much of the wildlife is active this time of the day, and it is not unusual to see deer.  A couple of days ago we saw a mountain lion strutting merrily down the fairway.  In the ponds the fish are jumping to catch the insects that light on the surface of the lakes-oh sorry, that was the golf ball of the group behind us.
     Those of you who play know that the later the day gets the more players have played the course.  This means wear and tear on the golf course.  When you go out first, the course is in the best shape of the day because maintenance has worked on the course to set it up for the day.  By the end of the day, greens can become like the surface of the moon with the ball marks that players have not fixed.  The greens in the later part of the day tend to become bumpy because of the players walking on them. In most cases, greens have been rolled and just mowed first thing in the morning before you tee.  As a "Dawn Patroller"  the greens play truer and run faster and straighter.
     I like the fact that I can play early and be home for lunch and my afternoon nap.  As you get older, that nap in the afternoon gets to be important.  At any rate, you have finished your round early and have the rest of the day to do what you want, whatever it is.
     I am not playing today, but I am looking forward to once again teeing off tomorrow first thing in the morning.  I am proud to be a "Dawn Patroller".

     Don't forget to click on one of my great sponsor's websites.  I plan to have a couple more and have contracted with GolfSmith and 3balls.  Both have some great deals on golf equipment and apparel. Take a look.

Golf and Work

I hate it when work gets in the way of golf. I suppose that as you get older, priorities change and intelligent decisions must be made. Yesterday was a day of work and not of golf. Being a mature individual, one must consider such things as paying rent or eating. Life is hard, you know. Today's agenda has me working as well. that is ok because today is a scheduled work day. Monday, Wednesday and Friday are senior skins game. I will be writing extensively on the events of this experience on a regular basis as this is ore for my gold mine. This is a group group of colorful characters. Saturday is either tournament day or the day I play with my lady. She kicks my butt in golf, by the way. One last thing. Hope you noticed that I have a few new sponsors on my blog. Take a minute to check them out. I will be adding a few new ones soon. Thanks for reading and I will talk to you soon.

Everyone Knows its Windy

     I am going to commit the cardinal sin of writing and begin this post with a comment about the weather.  Yesterday, it was very windy.  It is funny how a movement of air can effect a little roun sphere.  That sphere is aerodynamically developed and is supposed to react in a very stable way.  Whoever believes that may not be stable themselves.  Yesterday, it was very windy--very, very windy.
     I love hitting great shots that travel with a ninty degree ball flight.  I really love hitting a driver flat into a 30 mile an hour wind 160 yards on a 420 yard par 4.  It is amazing how much wind will effect a two foot putt.  How interesting the game is when the element of wind is added.  I heard many complaints yesterday, but we get spoiled.  Wind is part of the game.
     I noticed an almost total exhaustion after about hole number fourteen.  The wind adds a dimension to the game that taxes the concentration almost ten times more than when it is not windy.  It changes everything, and the brain has to not only calculate distances and breaks, but how the wind will effect those distances and breaks.  You have to get creative and manufacture shots you don't normally hit.  Patience is a virtue as your scores soar.  Even though your normal game is not there, you still hit some good shots.  When you do pull off that "perfect" shot, enjoy it and savor it. 
       

I Am Not Phil

     I am not Phil Mickelson.  I wouldn't want to be because I am happy to be me.  His money would be nice and I do like to fly, but it also presents its own set of problems.  That's not what this is about though.  I am not Phil Mickelson and never will be.  By that I mean my game will never come close to Phil's.  I am an eighteen handicapper and probably never be a single digit handicapper, let alone a scratch golfer. Believe it or not, I am happy with that.
     Most of golfdom is just like me.  For every Phil Mickelson or Dustin Johnson or whoever the pro there are thousands of me.  I am the face of golf.  The three other guys I play with on Mondays and Fridays are golf.  The quarter skins game in which I loose $3.00 a game is golf.  I will never make a $1,000,000 payday and am happy.  I enjoy the game of golf for the golf.  Excuse me, I am out to the course for my 8:00 tee time to contribute my $3.00 to the rest of the guys in the skins game.

Winter Golf

     We who love the game will play no matter what the conditions.  Here in Central California we are blessed with a climate that we are able to do that.  Courses in this area of California do not close, and our season is year round.
     Don't get me wrong, there are times when it just doesn't look like you are going to get your round in.  I remember playing in the very infrequent rain.  There were times when the fog was so bad that the ball was just barely visible at your feet and you would hit the shot by faith. Bottom line on this is that we still played and we are able to play.
     We get our frost delays, and yes I have played in a very rare snowstorm.  Nevertheless, we play.  Frost delays can run up to a couple of hours, but it is worth the wait to freeze your behind off for a great round of golf. The quarter skins game is much more important than the feeling in our fingers and toes.
     Monday I will be on assignment at Hunter Ranch in Paso Robles evaluating the course for the golf magazine I write for.  A couple of weeks ago, I visited the course and it was fairly green and lush.  Yes, it was in its winter shape, but nevertheless it was in good shape and green. The head pro was almost embarrased to have us take pictures of the course.
Here in the valley during the winter we play on dormant bermuda which turns golden brown after the first frost and the temperatures dip.  The areas around the greens are overseeded with winter rye grass and remain green.  The greens of course stay green all year round.
     This year we have had a very mild winter.  We have had our frost delays, but the temperatures have been close to the sixties for most of the winter.  It seems that we are now getting into our spring, and it is early.  The forcast for today in for the daytime high to be in the high sixties.  Soon, the grass on the the  course will green up and it will come time for the dreaded but neccessary aeration. 
      I know those of you that are snowbound are dreaming about the soon to arrive spring and and summer to follow.  Be patient, it will be here before you know it. When your coursed open, they will be lush and green.  Feel sorry for me, I have to play on dormant bermuda. As for me, I must go.  I don't want to miss my tee time.

I Love What I Do

     I love what I do.  As many of you know, I retired from teaching in June.  My decision to do this was not based on staying home and watching television.  I did  not intend to play golf every day, and I don't play that much because I am too busy. My decision was based on the fact that it was time to move on.
     I loved teaching...I love writing even more.  I know that I joke around with friends about what I am doing now.  But it is work.  It is hard work, and I am serious about that statement.  It may seem that going out and playing golf courses as well as finding interesting stories about the golf world is a lot of fun.  I am not going to lie about this, it is.  That's not the end of it and that is where the hard work starts.  The story has to be told and doesn't write itself.
     Yesterday, we got to play Passatiempo in Santa Cruz.  That was the fun part, and I enjoyed chatting with Scott Hoyt the General Manager of Passatiempo.  It is time for me to do the hard stuff and complete what the day was truly about, to share the beauty the history and joy of our experience of  Passatiempo.  My computer screen is bare, and it is time to create and go to work.

Technology...Part Two

     I used my G.P.S. yesterday in my round.  We played at my home course, and I know that course like the back of my hand.  The device came in handy a few times, but I found myself relying on the thing a little bit too much. Don't get me wrong, I think it is a great tool.  How much of the game does it take away, at least how the game was played, or intended to be played?
     Here is my point.  When I first began to play the game, figuring distances was a key part to the game.  Until recently, that was a big part of the enjoyment of the game.  Distances were a part of the participation of the game.  You found the distance marker...100, 150 or 200 yards...made your calulations as far as distance to the hole, selected your club based on that distance and hit your shot.  After playing the game for 40 years, you get pretty good at estimating those distances and hitting your shot accordingly.  This is becoming a lost art. 
     G.P.S. is a good thing, I will admit that and has its place and I use it.  When I go to a new course, it is great to have exact distances.  But it still takes a mental component out of the came, and I still enjoy the mental challange of figuring out distances without technology.   

New Toy and Golf

     Many of you know that I went out and upgraded my phone to an I Phone.  I also was contemplating purchasing a rangefinding device or a "Sky Caddy". As I was playing in the Senior Tournament on Thursday, one of the players in our group told me of an ap that can be purchase through the I Phone.  I bought it instead of the Sky Caddie or the rangefinder figuring I would try it out.  The thing of it is that I buy the ap but how much it will improve my game.  I'm really not sure if I am to see a great improvement in my game, or if I have just become part of the crowd that has bought into the technical craze.  New equipment and devices have to improve your game.  I am not sure that that is totally correct, we will have to see. 

Golf, Fun, Food and Fog...The Ridge Creek Senior Tourney

     When I turned 50, I reached a milestone in my life.  To many people, this is quite a time of change in their lives.  As far as I am concerned it is the best time of my life and life is getting better.  One of the perks of turning 50 is that you can qualify for senior tournaments.  The Dinuba Senior Tournament held at Ridge Creek Golf Course each month and hosted by the course with Gene Hardy as the director of the tournament is one of high points of my life after 50.  It is one big kick in the butt!
      The format of the tournament is a blind-draw 4 person scramble.  I like this because it gives you a chance to meet people you have never met or played with before and of all different skill levels .  Players come from all over the central California area as far away as Oakhurst in the north and Porterville in the south.  In our group...we played a fivesome...was Norm, Bob, Willie, Pete and myself.  Honestly, I can't remember who was from where but I know the cites were spread around a large geographical area and the towns were Oakhurst, Fresno, Dinuba, Reedley and Visalia. 
      I was worried that the turnout for today's tourney was going to be down because of the weather conditions as it was foggy and the fog was very thick.  It turned out this did not deter the enthusiasm of the group and there was a very good turnout of 90 golfers.  There were of course the usual gripes of playing in the fog. The fog, in my opinion, made the round more interesting.
      The winners of the tournament as well as closest to the pin on two of the par threes was announced at lunch after the tournament.  The three top teams win a small amount of money for winning and there is also a drawing for some pretty good prizes. 

      Who won?  I don't know.  That isn't the purpose of this tournament.  As you looked around the room at those having lunch after playing in the tournament, the whole thing is about golfers getting together and having a great time.         

The Toughest and Most Expensive

     I have to say that I am on my soap box right now.  I have a pet peeve.  Why is it that the media and in general the public have a fascination with the "toughest" courses and also those which are very expensive? Does 7000 yards plus mean good? I am not going to say much about this right now, and I want you to think about it for a second.  Ours is a game that should be enjoyed at all levels. Also, think about the definition of "tough" course.  What makes a course "tough"? By the same token, what makes a course fun and enjoyable?

Golf Morro Bay With Family and Friends

     Monday January 16, 2012 just happened to be Martin Luther King's birthday.. I thought I would put the day to good use and make good on a Christmas present I gave my son-in-law and a birthday present for my youngest daughter.  I gave them a round of golf at Morro Bay Golf Course and a dinner at Jocko's Steakhouse in Nippomo, California. Joining us for the day were my future son-in-law (I hope) Kyle and his father Bill.
     Morro Bay Golf Course is a course located in the town of Morro Bay and overlooks the town and the Harbor's famous Morrow Rock and Bay.  It is situated ouside of down and sits on a sort of hill.  The greens are small and tricky.  The views from the course of the bay, the rock and the beaches is outstanding.  It is a classic course dating back to the twenties, and I find it a kick to play.     
     Bill and Kyle had never played the course, and that fact can be a bit of a disadvantage as far as scoring and putting.  Bill was talking to himself as the round progressed.  I will admit that the greens are hard to read, and you must know where the mountains are and where the ocean is. The ball breaks, as with most coastal corses, away from the mountain toward the ocean.  One problem though is that the course is on a bit of a penninsula.

Last Minute Golf in San Diego

     I usually like to take a trip out of Fresno in January. It is a time for me to get away and to refresh my winter batteries. This year, I chose a trip to San Diego, and when I left I really didn't have the desire to play golf but I carried my clubs with me down south. Who knows, the urge may strike at any time and I wanted to be ready with my sticks.

As I was sitting in my hotel room early in the morning after breakfast, I was struck with a harsh reality. What was I going to do that day? It was 6:00 A.M. and I had not planned my itinerary today. My mind was full of ideas about what to do and where to go, but nothing seemed like what I really wanted to do.

     Since I was by myself and I don't get to play golf much down in San Diego when I am with others I decided to play, but where? I called San Diego Country Club and talked to Tom, their head pro, to see what he could suggest. I knew that San Diego Country Club was private and I could not get on to play there so I could rely on the information that Tom would pass on to me.

I wanted a course that was a good layout and challenging yet wouldn't cost an arm and a leg in green fees, somewhere around the neighborhood of $50 with a cart. We chatted a bit about golf and he told me that that might be very difficult to do, to stay within my budget. He did suggested a couple of courses that I might be interested in, but highly recommended a course in the hills above Chula Vista where I was staying. We ended our conversation and he wished me good luck.

     Tom recommended Salt Creek Golf Course and said he didn't know what the green fees where there. I called Salt Creek and found out that the regular daily rate with cart was only $38 and my decision was made.  I'll take a shot at it, literally.  I was on my way and really didn't know what to expect.

     I was told that Chula Vista is a geographically large city. After driving around the city into the hills above and still being in Chula Vista, I began to understand the accuracy of that statement. This course was a long way away from where I was staying and yet was still in Chula Vista. The drive was truly worth it and the view of the city and the bay beyond was breathtaking.

     Salt Creek was designed by Cary Biddle and John Cook. Being a hill course, one has many side hill, downhill and uphill lies. You really have to work at keeping your mind in the game to play these differing lies. The greens are fast, but I felt they were true and rolled well. I was truly surprised at the design of the course, which was treeless and built into the natural landscape. There were very few trees and played like a links course.

     I know that I have not given much information or talked in depth about Salt Creek.I plan to return soon and I enjoyed playing the course. The experience at Salt Creek was well worth the hunt for it. For the price, the golf and the total experience, I highly recommend the course.