FISH

Today I had a great opportunity to play golf at one of Troon Golf’s finer courses. Whirlwind - Devil’s claw. Unfortunately all I really did was ruin a good walk. I shot a 98 (and that’s even forgiving some things I shouldn’t forgive). In any event let’s forget about the many errant shots, topped fairway woods and skulled chips… oh yeah I should mention the 8 or ten hooked tee shots. Anyway let’s forget all of that and talk about the course.

From what I understand Devils Claw is the lesser of two evils that this Troon Location has to offer (Cattail being the harder and newer course). This course is beautifully manicured from start to finish. I honestly felt blessed to be a part of this course today. Devil’s Claw offers allot of bunker opportunities that’s for sure and the greens are fast (at least by my standards). But at no point did I feel that I couldn’t buckle down and play well here. In fact once I got the feel of the greens down I started to sink putts which kept my score from entering the 110 - 120 range (like I said I did not play well).

The picture above is the par three 13. From the golds it’s a 191 yards, I found the way this green slopes (back towards the tees and to the right), playing it long and left was the best way to go. This hole, I decided to par today. I ended up about 4 feet off the green then two putted for par. It turned out to be my favorite hole, not because I had a par, rather it played very true. After that I started to pick up my play a bit and hunker down an start playing smart.

I play with a couple from Tokyo. Very nice people that had to suffer through my game with me. Remember I told you about how much time I spent in bunkers? Well it’s funny because when ever my shot started to drift towards one they would both start saying “Hiieee, Hiiee… Bunkha”. It kept it light for me and allowed me to remember that it’s just a game and one your supposed to relax at when playing. Very easy to do if your playing this course. To quote Seinfeld - “Serenity Now”.

From the kids that great you to the cart girl that offers you beverages The Whirlwind is a great way to spend a morning. Everyone smiling and very pleasant. In the pro shop you’ll find a wide array of goodies that will fit into just about everyone’s budget. The best part my wife took advantage of the Aji Spa that’s attached to the resort and came away from that raving about it. So the next time you find yourself in the Phoenix area you should give them a call and book a tee time, you won’t be disappointed (unless they make you play with me, but then you’ll have more time to take in the beauty).

So, I’ve been in Arizona for 4 days now and have played 54 holes of golf. I gotta tell ya, if you are a UV addict then this is the place for you it’s freggin’ sunny every single day here - Sunny 90, Sunny 93, Sunny 99, Sunny 89 (oops better bring a sweater).

Anyway, today I played the Wigwam Gold course. I decided to tee of at 1:00PM so I could chill out in the morning and spend some time with my wife (who for the record has been a champ and allowing me to play tons of golf - also I have snatched some of her hair for DNA/Cloning purposes. If it works you’ll be able to buy my wife at golfwidowandhappyaboutit.com). Once again I digress. The Wigwam has it’s challenges. The killer on the Gold course is it’s elevated greens. You can hit a great approach shot but unless it land on the green you’re chipping on. Once your on the greens themselves are fast, not Oakmont fast but you shouldn’t load up on the Redbull prior to teeing off.

The picture above is a sand trap on the back 9 called the Oasis. This I can tell you - it ain’t no Oasis. There’s not one belly dancer, and no easy way out of it. I landed right in the front of the trap, at this point you can only go two ways hero or safe. Because I’m dumb I went the hero way and actually got lucky. The front of the trap puts you about 165 yards from the hole so I ventured in there with a 7 iron and a dream of catching the ball cleanly - I did and wound up about ten yards off the front of one of those elevated greens I was telling you about earlier. Dumb luck, but like I said, I’m kinda dumb.

The course itself is groomed very well. The ranger that patrols the course is a nice older gentleman who I saw about four times and each time he made sure I was getting enough water. I had purchased a water container at a local sporting goods store prior to going out since I knew staying hydrated was going to be extremely important, and I filled it every chance I got. Funny thing was I only saw the cart girl three times and that would be the only knock against The Wigwam. If you’re playing 18 holes in 95 degree heat you should see this girl allot more than three times if you’re playing 18.

As of now I don’t have a tee time for tomorrow and I think I’ll keep it that way (I don’t want to abuse my situation too much). So maybe I’ll just go shopping with my wife (I’m pretty sure I saw a Callaway Store in a strip mall just down the road). Fore!!!

I played today at the Falcon Golf Course. It’s clearly a blue collar course but I gotta say one of the nicer municipal courses I’ve played. It’s no budget buster that’s for sure, $26.00 to walk 18 ($31.00 if you want to ride), so if you’re looking for a decent course in the Litchfield Park Arizona and don’t want to cry while writing the check this is your course.

So I’m used to lush, soft fairways. When your ball hits it rolls another 20 feet or so. Today I figured out something I like to call the desert roll. My driving was Jeckle & Hyde today but when I hit the fairway I couldn’t believe where my ball stopped. I hit 5 drive today that went over 300 yards! It’s pretty funny because I would be looking around around the 250 yards and my ball would be 75 yards further up the fairway (a fella could get used to that in a hurry).

Putting - you can factor in the desert roll their as well. Sometimes it was trying to get a golf ball to stop on a marble stairway case. The green were decent it wasn’t like they were dried out, just fast and zero break. I finished up today with a 92 (I three putted on at least ten holes - that was a killer).

The wildlife was different. They have these little things called antelope squirrels which for the most part look like chimpmunks that have been in the sun too long. And rabbits… these little things are everywhere:

Well, I’m looking forward to golfing the Wigwam Country Club on Sunday. But for now I’m going to light a Cigar pop the top off an adult beverage and bask in the AZ sun. It’s sunny and in the mid 90’s here everyday, I wonder if they ever get sick of it?

Hole 7 @ Brattleboro Country Club - Par 5

Tee’s are back

Titanic Drive (est. 300+)

5 Iron to the fringe

Lob Wedge perfectly hit two bounces and a three foot roll… click, clack, click — then the mighty screech of the EAGLE!!!

I should have walked off the course right then and there. Took a 7 on the next hole (Par 3).

Okay so the picture above has nothing to do with my last round of golf, in fact it was taken during the bartenders open last summer. I have it there because I couldn’t come up with anything else (plus I think my form is pretty good).

I got the season off with a boom!!! No joke a great drive for the middle of the season, never mind that I was only the third time I played this year and the first time at the home course (Brattleboro Country Club). Next shot hit off the toe a bit but landed about 20 yards off the front of the green, chipped on and putted for par. Oh don’t worry I missed the putt and sunk it for boggie.

It was good to be back out there. Played 18 and got back in touch with the course. I hope to get back out there tomorrow for one last warm up round before heading to golf Mecca - Arizona. We’ll talk again soon.

I’m teeing off at 8:00AM!!! It’s not that I haven’t golfed this season - I have, a few times. But this is my course, the place the GHIN calls my home and that means I can take my addiction to a whole new level! Needless to say I’m really looking to get a few practice rounds in before heading off to Arizona to work on my golf tan. I have to throw a big thanks out to Troon Golf as I’ll be playing a few of their course while I’m out there. Whirlwind and the Estrella Golf Course I am looking forward to writing about those. So it’s important to me that I play well.

Anyway tee time Sunday 8:00AM - I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes!

So, here we are in mid April in the Northeast. After the winter we just endured we’re chomping at the bit to get out and swat at that little dimpled demon. A bunch of area courses opened up in the vicinity making it a hell of allot easier to jump on and play a quick nine before the boss even knows your gone.

My drug of choice - The Bretwood Golf Course in Keene NH. It’s close by, only a twenty minute drive. I called this morning early (around 6:30AM) to make a tee-time and was told “you don’t need one, nobody is really thinking about golf right now so they’re not coming out”. Wow, either we got us a joker here or my addiction is worse than ever (I’ll blame myself, no reason to pull anyone else into my hole). I call one of my fellow Stooges (Gorty) because if anyone can drop what they’re doing for a round it’s Gorty, but he can’t - family calls. I’m Okay with that, but I’m going anyway.

The course is in pretty good shape given there’s still a little snow on it (very little). I was surprised, I was getting good rolls pretty true bounces. And I actually played fairly well. I was taking two off every tee and playing them both within a stoke of the other but only scoring the first ball. I wound up about 7 over on the front nine. I had toyed with playing 18 but it was cold (around 40 degrees) and as I was tapping in for par on the ninth hole it started to rain a little. So I figured I’ll quite while I’m ahead.

As I was taking the long walk back to the clubhouse I was thinking to myself in 10 days I’ll be in Arizona. I won’t be wearing three layers and I will be wearing sunscreen. It’ll be good. That being said I courses are opening in the Great White North and I’m happy about that!

So… in a few weeks you will find me in sunny AZ. The weather is just starting to break here, I even got out on my bike today (took a nice 14 mile ride). Tomorrow temps are going to hit around 70, but none the less we’re still weeks for the local course opening up. Part of my bike took me to the Brattleboro Country Club (where I’m a member), I was curious to see what condition the fairways were in that I couldn’t see from the road - answer, really wet and still half covered with snow. I suspect that with the temps staying in the 60’s for the remainder of the week it’ll all be gone by the weekend. My hope is to go away for the ten days and come back to an open course and start my standing Monday thru Friday tee time.

So since I’ve never golfed in Arizona I started to read up on it. Truth be told I was hoping they would let you walk the courses (some places won’t), and it seems that there is a decent mixture of them there so I was happy about that. A few things I noticed that were a bit unsettling were: #1 - If you hit a ball into a bush use a long iron to fish it out as you may encounter a rattlesnake or scorpion. Well OK, there’s something to think about! #2 - If you hit into the dessert you must play your shot as if you ball went into the water (take a stroke and a drop). What! Hey if I can play it, I’m hitting it! I should be interesting and I’m looking forward to. So Arizona here I come!!!