The Conclusion of the Ely/White Pine Experience

Written on 7-21-24.

     On the back, I won the most points I could possibly get on the first two holes with a longer drive, two greens in regulation, and two pars.  We figured out during this round that the most you could get on a par four was six points, a par three was seven, and a par five was eight.  Then Eric won the next three holes, and the momentum switched to his favor.  I grappled it right back for the final four holes, however, scoring four pars in a row.

Everything clicked.  I was in the zone.  Drives were long and straight.  Approaches landed and rolled up onto the greens.  Pitches landed close to the hole.  Putts for par were solid, confident, and smooth.  It felt wonderful.  I’ve played so many bad rounds to get to that feeling and that kind of a performance.

If I go back to where the controversy happened, and I give him those nine points, it would...

not have mattered.  According to my math, the front nine score would have been Pat: 21, Eric: 28.  I managed 33 points on the back, and Eric earned 17, so the final score would have been Pat: 54, Eric: 45.  It would have been closer, for sure, but I would have won.  As it turned out, the scores ended up being Pat: 63 and Eric: 34.

I shot a 41 on the back for an 85, and Eric shot 45 on the back for a final 91.  Not bad shooting for either of us.

That was our White Pine experience, and it was super.  The scorecard says it is “America’s Most Remote 18-Hole Golf Course.”  I agree.  When we drove over to Cave Lake State Park the day before, we saw five vehicles.  Maybe six.  I wondered aloud where all the people were.  If we were driving to Colorado Springs or Lakewood, we would have seen hundreds of vehicles.  It was a bit eerie, and it felt a bit post-apocalyptic.

Also, it seemed easier, because there wasn’t  much trouble we could get into.  I see the slope on the scorecard is 114, whereas Pinon Hills is 127.  Not to downplay my better play, but I could feel it was simpler and more straightforward.  Not a lot of obstacles.  When I shoot a 41 on the front nine at Pinon, I know I have done something.  I wish I could play as confidently at Pinon as I felt when I played at White Pine.  

Another thing to consider is this was our first time playing there, though.  Usually, playing a different course adds ten strokes, so that’s a bonus.

Cave Lake was under construction, and they had an algal problem.  Because of the construction, we only saw a little bit of water in the bottom of the lake.  We made sure to watch Kody, so he wouldn’t drink any of the water, although I knew it was safe up by the campground.  We love our Kody, and we don’t want any harm to come to him.

Next up, I hope to play with Herman (not his real name) again on Tuesday.  We head up to Colorado Springs to visit the folks and Lamberts on Thursday.

Until next time…