Certainly the Hateful 8 has a lot of connections to this - the Bounty Hunter/alive or dead/presence of the sheriff/lots of people watching
Monday, January 18, 2016
Saturday, January 16, 2016
The 2015 Golf Year in Review
One of the blogs I follow Now On the Tee had a review of his year in golf. He had played many of the great courses across the USA and Canada. It made me think of my 2015 golf goal, to play 12 new courses to me. They didn't have to be great.
I didn't make the full 12 new but the goal did get me out of the comfort zone and I made some special efforts to get towards the goal. A goal like that didn't have to be hit to be an accomplishment as you will see.
1. McAllen Country Club Ano Nuevo Tournament. Your home course? That's not new! True but I had never played in this 2 day, member/guest, 27 hole each day, popular tournament. I played with Jaboney and we had a pretty good time while not setting any scoring records. A good first step in trying something new. The tournament is going on now for 2016 but I don't think I'll play again - not my cup of tea.
2. Great Hill Country Club - Austin. Again, this was a course I had actually played once 25 years ago. But I figured if I couldn't remember it, it didn't count. I did make a special effort to play on a Tuesday with Tom Seekatz, who is my friend Jeff's dad and also was on the UT golf team with my dad in the 50s. Tom has shot his age many times, and is an excellent player. I had not spent a lot of adult time with him and I enjoyed hearing his stories. He's 78 years old now so we've got to take advantage of the time we've got. Well worth the effort to play with him anywhere.
3. Los Lagos - Edinburg. I thought that playing the courses nearby that I don't go to would be an easy way to add to the list. But you've played this course many time! It still felt like a fresh idea to go there. A very challenging driving course make me work my weakness. I've not only got to hit long-ish drives but to keep them in the fairway. A good test anytime. Shot a respectable 87 that day.
I played there again on May 2 in a tournament with Andrew who I had just met that day. On the 11th hole he hit a 5 iron that I knew right away was going right at the hole. And in for a Hole in One, the first I'd ever see from the tee. Super exciting to be there.
4. Roy Kizer - Austin. When you have to GPS the directions to a course, it feels new. I had played here once, I think. I had wanted to play that day but the rain had other plans. When the day cleared about 3 p.m I thought "I'm going for it." I had the course nearly to myself and enjoyed a round that ended near dark. A good game on my birthday weekend.
5. Morris Williams - Austin. This was at least a definition of "somewhat new". The course had been renovated with $6 million and there were some new holes. It was like seeing an old friend. Read my review here.
6. Brackenridge Park - San Antonio. One of my favorites - yes, I've played here before. No one said this goal was easy. I went out to play on Wednesday and we got rained out hard on hole #7. Of course that was a long walk back in through hard rain. I did get a rain check - the fee was pretty high for a weekday - $50. So when I was free on Friday afternoon, the thought of the cost was still in my mind. I figured I'd better go play at least some golf because I'd never use it otherwise. I played #1 and #2, then skipped to #8 and #9. Playing OK at this point. I added up the scores and had a respectable 42. So I decided to keep going. On #10, I hit a great shot - could it be MY hole in one?
Not quite, but the game was on! I was very excited to try and play as well as I could since I knew I was on. When I birdied #15, I knew a breaking 80 was a possibility. But, the pressure is great! 16 was tough off the tee and I scrambled to make bogey. On 17 I was in the fairway, wedge to the green, thinking eagle. I chunked the wedge into the water - double bogey. 18 was still pressure packed. I hit a decent shot but missed the green somewhat. I chipped up about 15 feet - makeable, but... didn't. 4 over on the last 3 holes for an 83. Still probably the best round of the year. Glad I went back.
7. Rancho Viejo - Brownsville. Finally a course I'd never played. And one with some history. The PGA Qualifying School was played here in the 70s. It was probably a reasonably long course then. Still a good challenge off the tee. The resacas were very pretty. A good amount of water that came into play. It was a full day affair, but I'm glad I did it. I would not have gone if it were not for the goal.
8. Tony Butler - Harlingen. Again, a brand new course, right in the area. You drive by it all the time on the freeway and I always thought of playing there. I invited my spiritual advisor, Father Jim to play and he really liked the idea of a new course. As it turns out, what you see from the freeway is not really the real course. A classic municipal, there was even a man Felipe selling balls on the course. A real entrepreneur. Support your local businesses! A number of dogleg holes made for a challenging day.
9. Houston Country Club. Now you've gone too far! The course you grew up playing? Well, everything is new each time. In what has become a tradition, Sean and I play 2 rounds in the summer and make a trip of it. Our friend Ed joined us both day. Hole number 8 which has been under construction was just about to open back up. So both 8 and 10 were shut down for us, but we still had an enjoyable 16 hole day x 2. Plus it provoked a lot of good conversation about the history of the course, which Sean and I know well having played together since the 70s.
Here's what Ben Crenshaw says of Number 8 restoration:
10. Rio Mar - River Course - Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
For sure a new course! There are actually 2 courses here at this resort based around the golf courses, but the Fazio course was closed. The River course designed by Greg Norman took good advantage of the terrain. Good water hazards and a challenging driving course. I used rental clubs but the driver was really helping me. Number 17 was the best hole - a drive over water that allows you to cut off as much as you want. Even thought I hit 1 of 2 drivers in the water, it was real challenge. During the week, I had the course nearly to myself.
11. Commonground - Aurora, CO
This course was not only new, but marked a new architect for me, the acclaimed Tom Doak. I didn't know what to expect. This was the best of both worlds. A great course that anyone can play. On the 6th hole, I thought I'd play it safe to the right and hit it where I wanted. When I got up there the ball had rolled all the left to only be 4 feet from the hole. Boy was I surprised! So much that .. I missed it. The ball did truly go further in the mountain air. It got very hot as well. I thought it would be milder in the Mile High City but not in July. A very good course, probably the best of the year. It co-hosted the 2012 US Amateur with Cherry Hills.
12. Alice Municipal - Alice, TX
Perhaps the most satisfying on the list. What that means is that I had heard my friend Richard talk of his younger days playing here. His story reminded me of my younger days and I wanted to see it for myself. Turns out our McAllen CC pro Mike had grown up here too. So on Columbus Day, we three ( including Jaboney) went up to play. We were treated like visiting royalty with our PGA pro in tow. We met their pro, Joe Hernandez, who as it turns out, worked at the McAllen CC in the 70s and 80s. So long ago, that he knew a lot more than any of us. We never would have known this if we hadn't gone. A good South Texas style course, we enjoyed seeing the houses and streets in the back. Reminded me of the San Antonio CC in its square layout.
So that makes 12 courses! If I didn't have the goal, I probably would not have played half of these. It was good to spur me on. This year, my goal is to go on 12 business trips out of town. Maybe I'll get 12 new golf experiences as well. I'll try and keep count!
I didn't make the full 12 new but the goal did get me out of the comfort zone and I made some special efforts to get towards the goal. A goal like that didn't have to be hit to be an accomplishment as you will see.
1. McAllen Country Club Ano Nuevo Tournament. Your home course? That's not new! True but I had never played in this 2 day, member/guest, 27 hole each day, popular tournament. I played with Jaboney and we had a pretty good time while not setting any scoring records. A good first step in trying something new. The tournament is going on now for 2016 but I don't think I'll play again - not my cup of tea.
2. Great Hill Country Club - Austin. Again, this was a course I had actually played once 25 years ago. But I figured if I couldn't remember it, it didn't count. I did make a special effort to play on a Tuesday with Tom Seekatz, who is my friend Jeff's dad and also was on the UT golf team with my dad in the 50s. Tom has shot his age many times, and is an excellent player. I had not spent a lot of adult time with him and I enjoyed hearing his stories. He's 78 years old now so we've got to take advantage of the time we've got. Well worth the effort to play with him anywhere.
3. Los Lagos - Edinburg. I thought that playing the courses nearby that I don't go to would be an easy way to add to the list. But you've played this course many time! It still felt like a fresh idea to go there. A very challenging driving course make me work my weakness. I've not only got to hit long-ish drives but to keep them in the fairway. A good test anytime. Shot a respectable 87 that day.
I played there again on May 2 in a tournament with Andrew who I had just met that day. On the 11th hole he hit a 5 iron that I knew right away was going right at the hole. And in for a Hole in One, the first I'd ever see from the tee. Super exciting to be there.
4. Roy Kizer - Austin. When you have to GPS the directions to a course, it feels new. I had played here once, I think. I had wanted to play that day but the rain had other plans. When the day cleared about 3 p.m I thought "I'm going for it." I had the course nearly to myself and enjoyed a round that ended near dark. A good game on my birthday weekend.
5. Morris Williams - Austin. This was at least a definition of "somewhat new". The course had been renovated with $6 million and there were some new holes. It was like seeing an old friend. Read my review here.
6. Brackenridge Park - San Antonio. One of my favorites - yes, I've played here before. No one said this goal was easy. I went out to play on Wednesday and we got rained out hard on hole #7. Of course that was a long walk back in through hard rain. I did get a rain check - the fee was pretty high for a weekday - $50. So when I was free on Friday afternoon, the thought of the cost was still in my mind. I figured I'd better go play at least some golf because I'd never use it otherwise. I played #1 and #2, then skipped to #8 and #9. Playing OK at this point. I added up the scores and had a respectable 42. So I decided to keep going. On #10, I hit a great shot - could it be MY hole in one?
Not quite, but the game was on! I was very excited to try and play as well as I could since I knew I was on. When I birdied #15, I knew a breaking 80 was a possibility. But, the pressure is great! 16 was tough off the tee and I scrambled to make bogey. On 17 I was in the fairway, wedge to the green, thinking eagle. I chunked the wedge into the water - double bogey. 18 was still pressure packed. I hit a decent shot but missed the green somewhat. I chipped up about 15 feet - makeable, but... didn't. 4 over on the last 3 holes for an 83. Still probably the best round of the year. Glad I went back.
7. Rancho Viejo - Brownsville. Finally a course I'd never played. And one with some history. The PGA Qualifying School was played here in the 70s. It was probably a reasonably long course then. Still a good challenge off the tee. The resacas were very pretty. A good amount of water that came into play. It was a full day affair, but I'm glad I did it. I would not have gone if it were not for the goal.
8. Tony Butler - Harlingen. Again, a brand new course, right in the area. You drive by it all the time on the freeway and I always thought of playing there. I invited my spiritual advisor, Father Jim to play and he really liked the idea of a new course. As it turns out, what you see from the freeway is not really the real course. A classic municipal, there was even a man Felipe selling balls on the course. A real entrepreneur. Support your local businesses! A number of dogleg holes made for a challenging day.
9. Houston Country Club. Now you've gone too far! The course you grew up playing? Well, everything is new each time. In what has become a tradition, Sean and I play 2 rounds in the summer and make a trip of it. Our friend Ed joined us both day. Hole number 8 which has been under construction was just about to open back up. So both 8 and 10 were shut down for us, but we still had an enjoyable 16 hole day x 2. Plus it provoked a lot of good conversation about the history of the course, which Sean and I know well having played together since the 70s.
Here's what Ben Crenshaw says of Number 8 restoration:
HEADLINE NEWS...A MESSAGE FROM BEN CRENSHAW
Dear Members,
I wanted to send along my best wishes to Houston Country Club, with the opening, finally, of the infamous eighth hole. I will hopefully come and visit the Club this fall!
We looked at the eighth hole with an opportunity to transform a par 5 of a different nature of yesteryear, to present a tough hole of today with flexible opportunities for all classes of golfers. These opportunities were brought about through the removal of several trees, which had grown up over several decades, which LIMITED corridors of play throughout the membership. There became only one way to play the eighth, which was to keep the ball well right - and go around, adding tremendous length to the hole. The transformation occurred, when one envisioned the possibilities of a par 4 risk-reward nature, dealing with Buffalo Bayou on the tee shot and the second shot.
I must confess that I thought of the 5th hole at Colonial in reverse. There, the Trinity River serves as the main culprit, but the hole famously bends to the right. There, trees on the corner limit play, but nonetheless, offers similar bold choices.
Two honest shots, from whichever tee one plays from, sums up what we had in mind at the present hole. A fair entrance to the green was vital for all classes of golfers. To offer a narrower entrance to the green would have been less considerate.
I want to personally thank the Club for patience and understanding throughout this time. Mother Nature was a tough old Grandmother to deal with, but there is sufficient reward in the end. I cannot thank enough the hard work of Kevin Borowski and his staff, Gordon Johnson, Doug Dillon and Hunter Nelson for their leadership.
Yours in Gumbo!
Sincerely,
Ben Crenshaw
10. Rio Mar - River Course - Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
For sure a new course! There are actually 2 courses here at this resort based around the golf courses, but the Fazio course was closed. The River course designed by Greg Norman took good advantage of the terrain. Good water hazards and a challenging driving course. I used rental clubs but the driver was really helping me. Number 17 was the best hole - a drive over water that allows you to cut off as much as you want. Even thought I hit 1 of 2 drivers in the water, it was real challenge. During the week, I had the course nearly to myself.
11. Commonground - Aurora, CO
This course was not only new, but marked a new architect for me, the acclaimed Tom Doak. I didn't know what to expect. This was the best of both worlds. A great course that anyone can play. On the 6th hole, I thought I'd play it safe to the right and hit it where I wanted. When I got up there the ball had rolled all the left to only be 4 feet from the hole. Boy was I surprised! So much that .. I missed it. The ball did truly go further in the mountain air. It got very hot as well. I thought it would be milder in the Mile High City but not in July. A very good course, probably the best of the year. It co-hosted the 2012 US Amateur with Cherry Hills.
12. Alice Municipal - Alice, TX
Perhaps the most satisfying on the list. What that means is that I had heard my friend Richard talk of his younger days playing here. His story reminded me of my younger days and I wanted to see it for myself. Turns out our McAllen CC pro Mike had grown up here too. So on Columbus Day, we three ( including Jaboney) went up to play. We were treated like visiting royalty with our PGA pro in tow. We met their pro, Joe Hernandez, who as it turns out, worked at the McAllen CC in the 70s and 80s. So long ago, that he knew a lot more than any of us. We never would have known this if we hadn't gone. A good South Texas style course, we enjoyed seeing the houses and streets in the back. Reminded me of the San Antonio CC in its square layout.
So that makes 12 courses! If I didn't have the goal, I probably would not have played half of these. It was good to spur me on. This year, my goal is to go on 12 business trips out of town. Maybe I'll get 12 new golf experiences as well. I'll try and keep count!
Friday, January 15, 2016
Cancun Mexico
Our time share program through the Westin Hotels allowed us to come to the Westin Lagunamar in Cancun this week. We arrived Friday very late at midnight but the nonstop flight from Reynosa MX made it worthwhile.
My highlight was that I wanted to go to the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza and the trip did not disappoint. It was a full day commitment but the time of year was ideal - it would have been very tough in the heat of the summer in the central Yucatan jungle. But during January... perfect! Our bus tour left at 0730 and the trip went very fast with someone else driving. I had read there would be a crush of tourists but the area was very large and they knew how to absorb all the people. The temples were quite large and impressive but it was cool to think that there was so much more to be uncovered. We really don´t know a lot about the culture since it was quickly repressed and destroyed by the Spanish colonizers-conquerors. All was mystery, impenetrable mystery -according to a quote in 5 Unlucky Days, the book by my classmate Jim Diego Kelly. I´m glad I read it before I came.
On the way back we went to the Ik Kil cenote which was.. the best swimming hole ever. I really enjoyed it and it is hard to describe how cool it was. But it was about 26 meters down to the water. The water depth was 50 meters so it was like an ancient waterfall plunge pool caved in on all sides.
When I got back it had been a big day. Glad I did it.
That was the big excursion of the week. Otherwise it was a true vacation of sleeping late, not driving, eating and drinking, reading, even watching some football and CNN. It was nice to think that everything could stay on hold for a week with out me.
My highlight was that I wanted to go to the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza and the trip did not disappoint. It was a full day commitment but the time of year was ideal - it would have been very tough in the heat of the summer in the central Yucatan jungle. But during January... perfect! Our bus tour left at 0730 and the trip went very fast with someone else driving. I had read there would be a crush of tourists but the area was very large and they knew how to absorb all the people. The temples were quite large and impressive but it was cool to think that there was so much more to be uncovered. We really don´t know a lot about the culture since it was quickly repressed and destroyed by the Spanish colonizers-conquerors. All was mystery, impenetrable mystery -according to a quote in 5 Unlucky Days, the book by my classmate Jim Diego Kelly. I´m glad I read it before I came.
On the way back we went to the Ik Kil cenote which was.. the best swimming hole ever. I really enjoyed it and it is hard to describe how cool it was. But it was about 26 meters down to the water. The water depth was 50 meters so it was like an ancient waterfall plunge pool caved in on all sides.
When I got back it had been a big day. Glad I did it.
That was the big excursion of the week. Otherwise it was a true vacation of sleeping late, not driving, eating and drinking, reading, even watching some football and CNN. It was nice to think that everything could stay on hold for a week with out me.
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