Visitors come to the desert

Here is June making its way to the desert as I embark on my first summer in the Valley of the Sun. Two friends from New Jersey, Mike and Roseanne, have come to Arizona to visit family and play some golf (the latter with me). Mike and Roseanne are good friends of Set Shot Mike (aka Mike the Tooth) who worked with me at Goodyear Wholesale and Max Finkelstein and was one of my drinking buddies back a lifetime ago. I met Mike originally through "the Tooth" and we have kept in contact so when he and Rosie came out here, we golfed our asses off for four straight days. I met them on Monday at La Paloma Golf Resort in Tucson (I love a road trip!) and played with them and Uncle Bill...(I finally met someone who has more to say than I do! I know it's hard to believe, but it's true). The critters were out in force (prairie dogs, lizards, rabbits, road runners,etc) and I saw my first javelina running across the fairway on the back nine (wild pigs). I still haven't seen a snake yet and believe me, if I don't see one, I won't be too disappointed (snakes creep me out!). To make our game more competitive, Mike and Rosie played best ball against me and I played from the far back tees, Mike from the men's tees and Rosie from the ladies tees... (I won).

After lunch, (at the pool side bar with the "misters" keeping us cool) we made reservations at Gold Canyon for Tuesday... They were staying at the resort and I got the Arizona resident rate so the price was still under 50 bucks...(can't wait to pay more than that when I go back to NJ and NY...NOT!). We played the Dinosaur course which wound through the Canyons and housing developments with spectacular views of the mountains and surrounding desert (a coyote wandered across the fairway while we were playing). My buddy Steve went with me and witnessed yet another victory by the Arizona Kid in the "best ball against my ball" series... The knee is holding its own very nicely (I now ice my knee when I get back from golf and just before sleep and it's working well)... Had lunch overlooking the golf course from the restaurant and used Steve's iPhone to make reservations at The Raven at South Mountain in Phoenix for Wednesday morning...

Another beautiful day in Phoenix... (hear you're getting a lot of rain out East). A tight fought battle between Mike and Rosie and myself, with Jim coming out on top yet again... (If anyone was along who didn't know us, they would think we all hated each other... full blown "Jersey golf" with insults flying and "f" bombs dropping). I had warned Steve ahead of time, but I don't think he realized the extent until my "Jersey" resurfaced playing with Mike and Roseanne...(I'm going to have to isolate myself after returning from the East Coast for awhile). We took our guests to our favorite watering hole for lunch (Majerle's is a sports bar in Chandler right off "the" 101). Had a great lunch and made reservations at Ocotillo (the course around the corner from my house) for Thursday... Oh, by the way, the temperature hit 106 in the afternoon on Wednesday.

Thursday morning at Ocotillo was the first time in Arizona where it felt like I was back in NJ. The high temperatures don't hit until around 4pm out here, so it was warm overnight and because there is a lot of water at the golf course (I guess) it felt humid as well as hot...(brought back some painful, sticky memories). But luckily, Jim was as hot as the weather... (and needed to be because Mike and Rosie shot 79 as a best ball team. I countered with 76). So the Arizona Kid remained undefeated on the week... Four days playing fabulous courses in beautiful weather... it doesn't get any better than this...

Today (Friday) is a much needed rest day (this old man is worn out). I'm hosting an "art walk" through downtown Phoenix tonight for E&A.... then off to dinner with the group later. We are meeting at the Irish Cultural Center (cool!) and walking along through the art community (over 70 galleries and such in the area). Tomorrow morning it's off to the gym for a personal trainer class at Pure Fitness and maybe a round of golf in the afternoon... Then I have no plans set until I leave next Thursday morning for the "East coast swing" beginning in Virginia and ending up in NY/NJ... All transportation is handled and I'm ready to go (sort of)...