The kiss of death...

I knew I shouldn't have said anything about the weather (but I just can't help myself). After shooting a blistering 74 on my old neighborhood course in Chandler (can't remember EVER putting that well) on Sunday, I had a 7:20am tee time for Monday at my home course (Longbow in Mesa). I usually check the weather the night before (to see how much sunblock to bring), but Sunday night turned ugly with clouds and shudder! rain in the forecast! I couldn't believe my eyes but I brought the rainsuit just in case (I no longer own a golf umbrella, just the little fold up kind). It was overcast and very windy when I got to the golf course and the first hole was directly into the teeth of the wind... several shots were literally blown off course. Then the rain started (the usual ten minutes then stop variety) but just enough to be annoying. Calling on my vast experience of playing in the rain (remembering by last visit to New York and New Jersey...) I hunkered down and concentrated like never before (or so it seemed). I even had to use the bathroom to light my cigar it was so windy. After an opening bogie on the first hole, I tore up the next 8 holes and finished the front nine with a score of 1 under par 34, including back to back birdies on 8 and 9...

That's when the wind and rain really picked up... Scrambling into the wind, I made a curling 20 footer for bogie on 10 after the wind blew my drive into the desert. But then I came back on the par three 11th with a tee shot to within 3 feet for a birdie 2 (downwind). Then back into the wind on 12 for the worst hole of the day. I buried my tee shot in the fairway bunker and barely got it out on my second shot. The wind was howling and I hit 8 iron from 100 yds (I usually hit 8 iron around 160) and it landed 10 yards short of the green! Chipped on and two-putted for double bogie. Scrambled for par on 13, three putted from 80 feet for bogie on 14 and then settled in for pars on 15, 16, and 17. The 18th hole is a reachable par 5 in 2 with a narrow landing area and a barranca (gorge or wash) separating the fairway. I decided to go for broke and mashed a drive right down the middle...only to have the wind blow me right into the barranca (I really like saying that word). I was about 190 yards to the hole and hitting off the "native" (desert rocks and sand) with the wind behind me. I hit 6 iron high and right for the green and the wind helped and I was on in two putting for eagle from about 35 feet... if I made the putt I would shoot even par 71 for the round in the worst conditions since Victor and I played in a hurricane at Ashbrook when we were kids. I just missed the putt and tapped in for 72...my best round in Arizona.

More good news...Tuesday morning came and the sun was up and the 10 day forecast is sunshine and temps in the 70's and 80's... GOD! I love it here. No work for Jim until Friday and Saturday so its back to work on the golf game. Everything else is moving along nicely, except my dishwasher crapped out and I need to report it to the management... Syracuse, Michigan State and Notre Dame took a dump in my NCAA pool... (what else is new), but the games have been exciting (Go Arizona---even though I didn't pick you). And how about those Virginia schools VCU and the Spiders of Richmond... I'm out to work on my tan (got to "cheeto" the rest of my body) and work on my short game. Adios, for now...