A New General Manager/Director of Golf at AMGC

Written on 7-14-18.

     I played by myself this past Wednesday after the supervised practice session for the Par kids.  C.J. wasn’t going to play, because he had two scramble tournaments coming up on Thursday and Friday.  Bruce and I planned on playing yesterday, so he didn’t join me either.  It gave me some time to work with my new clubs some more.  My goal, and my personal par (what I taught the kids about on Tuesday) right now is to shoot 80 or better, and to hit at least 8 greens in regulation for eighteen holes.  I almost got both goals.  I beat the Bogey Man by shooting a 79, my lowest score so far this year.  I managed six greens in regulation, but it was close to eight, because two shots ended up just off the greens.  

     I’ll be wrapping up The First Tee this coming week, and it will be a relief when I’m all done.  I haven’t reported it here yet, but Randy hired a new general manager/director of golf operations at Hidden Valley, and his name is Ty Ried. 

Ty D. Ried is a former Class A PGA Professional of ten years with playing experience resulting in four professional victories. In addition, he has experience in managing several prominent golf facilities nationwide. Ty is a graduate of the New Mexico State University Professional Golf Management Program endorsed by the Professional Golfer’s Association of America where he was a member of the Men’s Golf Team as both a player and an Assistant Coach.  He also earned his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from NMSU.  Ty has 6 hole-in-ones and one double eagle to his record.

     I am excited to have someone promoting golf there again.  

     When I played alone this past week, a final birdie helped me get under 80.  This is how it happened…

Bruce Shoots a 69!

Written on 7-10-18.

     I just wrote a handwritten letter to James.  Belinda is sending a package to him for his birthday (sent way early to ensure it gets there in time), but we are also sending a children’s book to one of his friends for their new baby, and we want James to get his AztecStrong shirt, too. 

     I also just posted my 3-Pointer story above on Facebook.  It’s such a fun story that I thought I would share with others, and it includes Kevin, Jeff N., John, Jeff C., and coach, so I am curious to learn how they remember it.  

On to golf…

     I have one new birdie to report, and Bruce just played his best round of the season so far yesterday.  C.J. came up with this great idea for a game.  We switched partners every six holes, so I played with C.J. first, then Bruce, and finally Norm who was playing one last time here before heading back home today.  In the end, we would count to see who had won the most holes.  Clever game, C.J.!

     C.J. and I nearly got skunked, however, during our six holes together.  It was partly due to Bruce playing well, but it was also because C.J. and I couldn’t get anything going ourselves.  Thankfully, my new trusty 9-iron gave...

4th of July and 3 Birdies

Written on 7-4-18.

     Well, hello.  Happy 4th of July!  It’s 3:42 in the afternoon, so I’ve got a little over an hour before I need to get the barbecue going for the party here at our place.  We are having Dale, Amanda, Eric, Char, Dorrie, and Craig over for our 4th of July celebration and dinner tonight.  

     Life is great right now.  Belinda and I cleaned our whole house and did some yard work a couple of days ago.  Yesterday, I played golf in the morning and then we met the Moores for the movie Incredibles 2 and had dinner at their home afterward.  Today, we got even more done, including working out, a little bit of shopping, and paying Gross Receipts.  I am feeling pretty accomplished right now, which is great because I head out of town to go to Orlando early tomorrow morning.  It’s time for my Time to Teach training on how to host invitationals, and I am so looking forward to this new and exciting opportunity.  

On to golf…

     I have three new birdies to add, so here I go…

Aztec Municipal Golf Course-Hole #16-Birdie #16 of 2018             

     Hey, I got my 16th birdie this year on the 16th hole.  Cool.  C.J. and I were playing the Reverse Handicap Game, but we decided on our own the rankings of the holes before we played, which made it much better.  He was whooping up on me on the front nine, so I was behind 37 to 62, but I heated up on the back.  I only lost hole #14, and we tied on the last hole, so I got all of the rest of the points on the back nine.

     This birdie, of course, helped.  I teed off with my...

A Toast to Bruce and Diane

Written on 7-1-18.

     I am watching the Quicken Loans Tournament on my Chromecast this Sunday.  Guy was literally there a couple of hours ago with ShyShay, but they left due to the heat.  On the broadcast, they are saying it’s 95º, but it feels like 110º.  Francesco Molinari is putting on a clinic in golf expertise right now and blowing away the field.  Amanda Balionis just showed how he is either first or tied for first in a variety of categories like scoring on par three, four, and five holes, strokes gained in putting and scrambling, and more.  On the back nine, he has started out eagle, birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie.  Wow!

    Tiger has gone away from -10 and back to it three times, but he just got to 11 under for the first time, a minor victory.  They just said he is leading the field in birdies, but he’s had too many bogeys and double bogeys to hinder those better scores.  I have said it, but I haven’t written it yet; Tiger will win again.  It’s just a matter of time.  The commentators are mentioning how he has had a tough time after making the turn, and how that’s becoming a repeated script.  He gets momentum, and then he loses it.  Things get tougher on the back nine for some reason.

     It’s been a tough week for us and...