Arg's Travel Log

[StoutKing]

Nice review Arg.  Cool course.  Only time I played it the temp was 110 no joke.  It was plenty hard.  Don't remember much other than rinsing one on 17.

[Mullenboy]

Concur.  Great review, great pics.  Stadium was built to trick the pros and be hard for them in that way.  It's also just plain hard for us regular guys.  That being said.... I have found that the more one plays it the more fun it gets.  I've been lucky to play it a bunch and that's sure how it has worked out for me.  I sure hope to play it again some day.

[Double Mocha Man]

2 hours ago, caniac6 said:

No cows, or did I miss it?

 

I just want to know if they're Guernseys or Holsteins.

[StoutKing]

13 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

I just want to know if they're Guernseys or Holsteins.

Probably spotted cow but I'm not sure if Arg drinks those since he's from south of the border.

[StoutKing]

Arg - have you ever done an eclectic 18?  Basically you would pick one hole per course for your favorite 18 in 2024.  Par should be between 69-73.  It's a fun exercise and Lord knows you've seen some nice tracks this year.

[Mullenboy]

3 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

Arg - have you ever done an eclectic 18?  Basically you would pick one hole per course for your favorite 18 in 2024.  Par should be between 69-73.  It's a fun exercise and Lord knows you've seen some nice tracks this year.

GREAT IDEA!   That would be very fun to see.  I bet it would be a very tough course.  😉

[carrera]

Someone has been reading GCA:

 

Eclectic 18 Thread

[Mullenboy]

5 minutes ago, carrera said:

Someone has been reading GCA:

 

Eclectic 18 Thread

Not me that's for sure!  I avoid that place like the plague.  You hopefully know why.

 

I've done a few myself over the years... it's harder than one thinks, if one limits one hole per course as it is normally done.

 

I'd be really interested in Arg's 18.  🙂

[StoutKing]

7 minutes ago, carrera said:

Someone has been reading GCA:

 

Eclectic 18 Thread

Let's just say I do this every year.  This year I've only played 18 courses so there are some not great holes in there LOL.

[Mullenboy]

6 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

Let's just say I do this every year.  This year I've only played 18 courses so there are some not great holes in there LOL.

 

That's Ok King.  I'm nearly certain I haven't played 18 different courses this year.  I've played one a lot and another a REALLY REALLY lot.  😉

 

In any case the more these include unique, lesser-known holes... the cooler they are (I think).  Too often these become "look at all the great places I've played" dick-measuring contests.  Since anyone who's followed Arg already knows all the many great places he's been, his won't be that way... and it will be very interesting (I think) which exact holes of his MANY MANY MANY possible choices he picks out.

 

It'll also give him something to do over an Imperial Stout or plate of Mole.  🙂

Edited December 4, 2024 by Mullenboy

[Argonne69]

3 hours ago, StoutKing said:

Arg - have you ever done an eclectic 18?  Basically you would pick one hole per course for your favorite 18 in 2024.  Par should be between 69-73.  It's a fun exercise and Lord knows you've seen some nice tracks this year.

 

I think I did it a few years ago. Fun exercise. 

 

I throw out almost all of my scorecards, so it would be tough to do one this year. Easy pick for the 18th, though. Pebble Beach. However, Kapalua Plantation's 18th is no slouch. 

 

Probably have a couple from Chambers Bay and Pacific Dunes. 

 

Sheep Ranch #1 was excellent. Definitely set the stage for the rest of the round with the Pacific as a backdrop. 

 

Edited December 4, 2024 by Argonne69

[Mullenboy]

That's what will make this fun, Arg.  The tough choices like 18 Pebble or 18 KP Plantation.  🙂

 

It does tend to be a lot of work though.  

 

 

 

Edited December 4, 2024 by Mullenboy

[Bonneville85308]

12 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

I throw out almost all of my scorecards 

 

 

You may have answered this at some point over the past few years, but do you keep any physical memento of each course you play?

 

I'm a bit fanatical about keeping a scorecard from every new-to-me course and keeping them in photo albums organized by geographic area. Often with a few comments written in them of what I thought of the course and if I'd play it again or if it's a once-and-done. I have them going all the way back to the late 90s.

[Argonne69]

Decided to give the wrist a break today. Knees and ankles? Umm, not so much. Lol. Took a short three hour, 4.3 mile hike on the Skyline Trail, also know as the Cactus to Clouds Trail. The full trail is a monster 10 mile, 10,000' climb from the trailhead at Palm Springs Art Museum to the summit of San Jacinto Peak (10,883') in San Jacinto State Park. I managed to climb 2000' before heading back. The first half of the trail is very tough with numerous rocky sections that are more scrambling than hiking. I thought I'd give the wrist a rest, but I actually had to put weight on it several times coming down while lowering myself down several steep steps. Ouch. Pretty sure there's a glitch in the AllTrails app, as it's showing 4000' of climb. There were a few sections on the way down that climbed gently up, but no way I climbed another 2000' while descending. 

 

The hike provides some very nice views of the Coachella Valley, but I bet it gets a lot more scenic at higher elevations once one gets above the treeline. 

 

In hindsight I probably should have driven to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, taken it up to the top, and then hiked to the summit from there. Maybe next time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/b4aljnjxchlirbxiqbdlh/AJ7wDzkvaJrb0hbCEvt4isA?rlkey=15kz6xsf0238h50hghhhbd1fs&st=uiry22jc&dl=0

 

[Argonne69]

32 minutes ago, Bonneville85308 said:

 

You may have answered this at some point over the past few years, but do you keep any physical memento of each course you play?

 

I'm a bit fanatical about keeping a scorecard from every new-to-me course and keeping them in photo albums organized by geographic area. Often with a few comments written in them of what I thought of the course and if I'd play it again or if it's a once-and-done. I have them going all the way back to the late 90s.

 

I used to keep every scorecard in my office at work. The stack was over 2 feet high. I kept a handful of ones from iconic courses when I retired, but the rest went in the trash. 

 

On this odyssey I've kept the scorecards from the handful of Top 100 courses. Otherwise it's just memories and photos. Not sure what I'd do with 725 scorecards. Or ballmarkers for that matter. Lol. 

 

Edited December 4, 2024 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

No breweries open in Palm Springs, and the taplists looked meh anyway, so I made the long drive to Rancho Mirage for another dose of Belgian Aleve at Yard House. Started with the standard Delirium Tremens. The Chimay Blue Grande Reserve Belgian Strong Dark is on deck. 

 

 

[Argonne69]

It's been a while since I had some good BBQ. Wasn't expecting much in the area, but I saw a few reviews for Big Earl's BBQ in Palm Springs. Now, I don't usually comment on ambiance, but this place really stood out. The owner rents space from Fireside Lounge, a local bar that's been around for 40+ years. Yeah, smells like it. I walked in and it felt like I was punched in the face with a wall of cigarette smoke. They only allow smoking on the patio, but either the air is pulling in from the patio side, or the 30 years of smoking has caked the walls with yellow tar, but it was simply nasty. Almost walked out before I ordered. There were a group of 20 locals sitting at numerous tables in the middle of the dark, low ceiling bar playing Yatzee. Don't recall ever seeing that before. 

 

Anyway, wound up ordering a half pound of brisket, half pound of baby back ribs, and a hot link. Spoke with the owner, and he says he's still working on the menu. No combos, but he was kind enough to toss in a small portion of baked beans. 

 

Well, it was definitely worth risking lung cancer. Lol. The brisket was fantastic. Tender and fatty. The ribs were a little too tender, as I prefer to have to chew a little bit, but oh they were good. The hot link was very good with a nice kick, but I mentioned that a cheddar and Jalepeno one would be heavenly. 

 

The beans were excellent. The regular sauce was meh, but the sweet and tangy sauce was excellent. One of the better ones that I recall. 

 

If you're in the valley and want some seriously good Q, then definitely stop at Big Earl's. Going to head back to the RV park and toss my clothes in the washer. Lol. 

 

 

Edited December 4, 2024 by Argonne69

[Shankyouverymuch]

On 11/21/2024 at 9:09 PM, Argonne69 said:

 

The California Zephyr is the most scenic Amtrak route with crossings through the Rockies and Sierra Nevadas. 

 

Via Rail's Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto is quite special. 

 

My father was a fireman on a steam locomotive in the late 50's. He was always telling great stories. 

 

Grew up near trains. From 3 years old to my late 20s I was living close to the tracks. 

 

Practically neighbors. I grew up on the other side of the tracks.

[Argonne69]

Wonderful day. This really is a great time to be in the valley. Mornings aren't cold. Daytime highs are pleasant. Winter crowds won't show up for a few weeks. Got out early and walked eighteen behind two local foresomes that played at a nice pace. Waited on a couple of shots late, but never felt like I had to play through. 

 

The South Course at Indian Canyons Golf Resort today. Not much of a resort, but it was a decent enough layout. I was told that the North course hosted the Bob Hope Classic for a few years, but it's not as scenic as the South course. Definitely not a top course in the valley, but it was in great shape and was the cheapest round I've played here this year. Homes line the perimeter, but the course itself is a continuous piece of property other than the par 3 15th. Not much in the way of elevation change on this palm tree lined parkland layout. Fairway bunkering was OK. Greenside was moderate. Water in play on six holes. Four holes with minor left/right movement. 

 

Easy off the tee with generous fairways and little trouble. Minor misses would catch the generous rough, although you could have a palm tree problem. Big misses would generally be playable from an adjacent fairway. Approaches were generally straightforward. A few greens were well defended, e.g. the short par 4 16th, but most were fairly open. Greens had light contouring and slope. Pretty benign. Up and downs were fairly easy, but there were a couple of greens where one could shortside oneself. 

 

The five par 3s were forgettable. The long 12th was the best of the bunch with water in play. The five par 5s were meh. Nothing reachable, and not much trouble off the tee or on the layup. The pair of short par 4s were boring. Both had water in play, but there was plenty of room to stay away from the wet stuff and still have a wedge in. 

 

Conditions were very good. The overseeded fairways looked great, but they were shaggy and stealing rollout. Rough was a good height. Bunkers were excellent with plenty of groomed sand. Greens were smooth, but speed was only 9. Too many unrepaired ballmarks. Just don't understand why it's so difficult to bend over and fix one or two. Doesn't even have to be your ballmark. Just fix two. 

 

Played a Black/Teal combo at 6420 yds (70.4/121). Spotty day with the driver. Irons were the usual miss right variety. Wedges were golden. Got up and down seven times, and only a couple were easy chip shots. Two birdies and five bogies. Highlight was clearly the wedge game. Missed the putting surface half a dozen times by more than 20 yds, but hit some really nice high pitches to makeable range. 

 

5 cows here. When many of you have hung up the clubs for the season, or are staring out the window at a foot of snow wondering if it'll melt quickly, I know that a nice looking course should merit more, but this one is just underwhelming. Very nice views of the mountains, and very good conditions, but the design will put you to sleep. Certainly not a goat track, but there are plenty of better options in the area. No walking rate, but nice that they allow walking. The $140 weekday rate isn't crazy, but felt high until you realize that most courses in the area are over $200. Definitely not a must play, but if you're looking to fill out your schedule with a cheaper round, it'll do. 

 

[Argonne69]

Indian Canyons Golf Resort, South Course, Palm Springs, CA 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/vgnb1pm78zxo1r9nr9b7z/AP42Al1v7oJvDHaox-gASXE?rlkey=u010phqc9u20vvccuerih8pd4&st=0y2grx5u&dl=0

 

Edited December 5, 2024 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

Surprisingly, the first order of business after my round was not a taproom, but PGA Superstore. I really needed to pick up a new wind vest. My old FootJoy vest is at least 15 years old, and the black color is now a putrid brown due to UV damage. I've been looking for a new vest for a year, but I can't stand those puffy vests and/or quarter zips. Finally settled on a crazy expensive FootJoy thermal vest. It's not solid black like a wanted, but the grey trim isn't bad, and since I generally wear grey and black, it should look fairly stylish. I say crazy expensive, but the other brands I looked at were nearly 50 percent pricier. 

 

Also put a new Flatso 3.0 grip on my putter. The bag chatter on my Hoofer is so bad that it's basically destroyed the putter grip. 

 

Looked for a new Ping 9 wood, but that's like trying to find a pearl in an oyster. The major golf retailers only stock 3 through 5, with an occasional 7 wood. 

 

Eventually made it to Yard House. The Belgian parade continues today with a House Belgian Amber Tripel. As the name suggests, it's a darker tripel than usual, but it's very tasty. The St Bernardus Abt 12 Belgian Quad is on deck. Been here four days in a row, and haven't had the same beer twice. Unfortunately the local breweries are pretty meh, so I'm not going to pass up quality beer for a mediocre pour. 

 

 

[StoutKing]

Arg - are you pushing a cart or carrying for your rounds?

[Argonne69]

Just now, StoutKing said:

Arg - are you pushing a cart or carrying for your rounds?

 

I carry. Only time I used a cart was last year when I came off of surgery and the doctor requested that I use a pushcart for a couple of weeks,

 

I did use a pushcart for one round in Jackson, WY, if I recall, and found it to be a nuisance.

 

[Argonne69]

Tomorrow I head to Arizona, and bid adieu to California, and my 11 month western swing. I crossed into California from Yuma back in early January. Played my first round at Rams Hill, and spent ~22 weeks in the state this year. I played 103 rounds on 102 different courses. Wow.

 

Can't say I'm going to miss the high gas and food prices, but the courses weren't half bad. A few meh layouts, but also 20 courses with a rating of 7 cows or better. Highlight was Pebble Beach, but there were many more that were excellent.

 

I had a few rainy days, and a few chilly mornings, but overall the weather was pretty decent, especially given that I was here in the early and late seasons.

 

 

[StoutKing]

6 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

I carry. Only time I used a cart was last year when I came off of surgery and the doctor requested that I use a pushcart for a couple of weeks,

 

I did use a pushcart for one round in Jackson, WY, if I recall, and found it to be a nuisance.

 

That's awesome man.  Props.  If you haven't done it I'd love to see a WITB and your carry setup.  Really impressive with the quantity of rounds you've put in.

[TiScape]

Love it all! When I grow up I wanna be like A69!! 😊

[Mullenboy]

34 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Tomorrow I head to Arizona, and bid adieu to California, and my 11 month western swing. I crossed into California from Yuma back in early January. Played my first round at Rams Hill, and spent ~22 weeks in the state this year. I played 103 rounds on 102 different courses. Wow.

 

Can't say I'm going to miss the high gas and food prices, but the courses weren't half bad. A few meh layouts, but also 20 courses with a rating of 7 cows or better. Highlight was Pebble Beach, but there were many more that were excellent.

 

I had a few rainy days, and a few chilly mornings, but overall the weather was pretty decent, especially given that I was here in the early and late seasons.

 

 

We'll miss you.  😉

[DavePelz4]

22 minutes ago, TiScape said:

Love it all! When I grow up I wanna be like A69!! 😊

 

Here's a life hint TiS...don't grow up. It's WAY overrated.

[Argonne69]

29 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

That's awesome man.  Props.  If you haven't done it I'd love to see a WITB and your carry setup.  Really impressive with the quantity of rounds you've put in.

 

My Witb is in my signature, but in case it's not visible:

 

Ping G425 Max 12.0 - Aldila Ascent Red 50 Flex-S 46"
TaylorMade AeroBurner Mini Driver 16 - Matrix Speed RUL-Z 60 Stiff
Ping G410 9wd 23.5 - Alta CB 65 Stiff (42.5")
Ping G425 6h 30.0 - Alta CB 70 Stiff

Ping i200 7-P Orange Dot (2 Deg Weak, 2 Deg Flat) - True Temper XP 95 S

Ping Glide 4.0 52-12 S, 56-10 Eye2, and 60-10 S Orange Dot (2 Deg Flat) - Ping Z-Z115 Wedge
PXG Blackjack 36" (390g) - SuperStroke Flatso 3.0 (50g CounterCore)

 

My carry bag is a Ping Hoofer Tour. I have a Skycaddie SX550 GPS, and the new Nikon Coolshot Pro II Stabilized rangefinder. 

 

[Argonne69]

5 minutes ago, DavePelz4 said:

 

Here's a life hint TiS...don't grow up. It's WAY overrated.

 

One of my favorite quotes is "You're never too old to have a happy childhood."