A "Hole" New Arrangement at Aztec Municipal Golf Course

On to golf…

     Not much to report really.  First, the golf course has a new hole arrangement, or, depending on how you look at it, a whole new arrangement.  It’s…interesting.  The front nine is no different from before, save two holes.  When we finish playing #7 now, instead of heading to what used to be #8, we turn back around and play the old #14.  So, the old #14 is the new #8.  Then we finish up the front nine on what used to be #18.  So, #18 is now the new #9.  Savvy?

     For the back, it’s a bit more confusing, but it works.  We start on #10 just like before, but instead of heading back to the clubhouse on  #11, we now head over to what used to be #13.  #13 is the new #11.  Then we come back on what used to be #8.  Following that hole now is what used to be #11.  #11 is now the new #13, the one that takes us back to the clubhouse, and that makes three short par fours in a row.  If I am driving the ball with confidence, I have a chance to score well on this part of the new arrangement.

     The new #14 is the old #12, the most difficult par three on the course.  In an unusual way of looking at this, #14 switched from the easiest hole on the golf course to arguably the most difficult.  This par three has the hardest green to hit in regulation, in my opinion, and I typically score more double bogeys and bogeys than pars on this hole.  A par has always felt like a birdie here.

     After the new #14, we head over to what used to be #17, the one that doglegs left around the water.  Then we complete our trip all the way around that water by playing the new #16, which used to be the old #15.  Completely confused?  I recommend playing it to fully understand what’s going on.  

     After we play #16, we play the new #17, which used to be the old #16.  To wrap things up, we come in on the new #18, which used to be the old #9, and that’s the only par five on the new back nine now.  That’s it.  Those are the changes.  

     This new layout is tough.  When I first played the front nine, I was robbed (sort of) of two birdies.  I got a four on the new #1, but a four there is now a par, not a birdie.  I earned another four on #18, but that has also been changed from a par five to a par four, so no birdie there either.  To be honest, though, the tees were moved up making that hole shorter.  My tee shot flew over the biggest hill on the right side, and I was pretty sure it was going to be in the ditch.  After searching for a bit, though, I saw a ball about 40 yards short of the new #18’s green.  My ball had flown the ditch, so I will have to think of a new strategy for playing this hole now.  It is just weird to play #3’s fairway on this hole now.  When teeing off from the new location, the advantage of going left on this hole is silly.  It’s like teeing off at more of a 90˚ angle to the left now. 

     I played the front nine on Easter, and I shot a 46.  The new par is 36, so not so good.  When I played with C.J. on Tuesday, I did worse on the new front nine, shooting a 48.  I did much better on the back, though, rebounding and shooting a 40.  Par on the new back is 34, so I was just 6 over on the back.  Better.  He still beat me by two strokes when we adjusted for our handicaps.

     With this new arrangement, an adjustment period is likely.  With #1 and #18 now par fours instead of par fives, the opportunities for eagles and birdies is diminished.  I’ll have plenty of opportunities to score birdies this summer, though, because I just paid for my new membership.  I’m set for another year.
     In sad news, Bruce has decided not to renew his membership this year.  Because he does not get the government employee discount after retiring from the schools, he is choosing to put his money elsewhere, either Hillcrest or Pinon Hills.  From here on out, if we want to play with Bruce, we’ll need to play at a different course.  No more Hidden Valley for Bruce.  Ack!  It’s like the end of an era.  Sigh.  Most people have a regular golf foursome, but C.J., Bruce, and I have been a regular golf threesome for years and years.  It’s possible he might join us for a tournament or two in Aztec, though, so we’ve got that going for us.

On 4/20, This Is How I Get High

Written on 4-20-17.

     I am not lost on the whole “420” thing, but I have not once in my life tried marijuana.  No desire.  And, to be honest, no offers.  Also, with my view tonight from the back of Casita #16 at the Abiquiu Inn, who needs Mary Jane (isn’t that one its nicknames?) when I can get high off this fresh air and my incredible view?  I am sitting in the screened-in porch, and this is what I see.

     First, I’m sitting at a rustic metal-topped Corona Extra table, nicked mostly around the perimeter, and it has high, firetruck red legs.  I’m on a bar stool, one of four, and they all have worn beige leather seats with low backs.  I look through the screens, and my breath isn’t taken away; rather, it’s calm…slowed.  

     I see clouds with gray tops and pink bottoms, and they fill the sky.  I see New Mexico mountains and hills peppered with sagebrush and other native bushes and trees.  In one of my picture frame window panes, I see three horses.  In another, I see two more, and in a third I see two side by side and one other just barely visible, hiding among the trees.  I hear occasional satisfied whinnies.  The horses are a mix of pale white, cocoa brown, and/or coffee with cream colors.  Gorgeous.  All are happily roaming and feeding.  

     A small pond is directly in my view, just a pitch away and straight out the back door, and it’s reflecting the clouds, the lone tall tree on its far side, and the taller reeds and grasses that grow around it like a dwarf’s beard surrounding a pudgy face.  

     As dusk continues, the clouds trade in their gray tops for white ones and their pink bottoms for gray ones, like they’re changing into their pajamas, and I see bats beginning to loop around as they begin their nightly feedings.  Wow!  I’m here on business, but sometimes my mind gets seriously tricked into thinking this is a vacation.  What a blessing!  Grateful and happy, that’s how I feel in this moment.

"Damndelions"

     Belinda and I started a new 12-week program for getting fit again.  I’m sick of my complacency.  It started with a cold.  Then the asthma returned.  Those are just excuses, though.  I stopped working out for about a month, but I lost weight due to a bit better eating and possible muscle loss?  It was about seven pounds, so I was suspicious about it being muscle loss.  Did I have that much muscle to lose in the first place?  We are only on Day 2, but it feels good knowing we are on a plan for better health.  The exercise isn’t easy, but it’s easier than the eating part.  I am amazed at how mentally weak I can be if I’m not on a “program.”  Going to see James helps with the motivation, too.  Tomorrow, though, I will really be tested when I go on the road again.  You can do it, Pat.  Stay positive out there, kid.

     One more little piece of news.  We had record numbers of dandelions in our yard this month/spring.  Wow!  It got so bad, I had to use my weed popper for about two hours straight this past Saturday.  On Easter Sunday, they came back with a vengeance.  I worked for about the same amount of time yesterday, just two days later.  It was ridiculous and infuriating.  Did I completely waste my time the first time I plucked them all out of the ground?  I gave them a new nickname: “damndelions.”  I checked again today, and sure enough, they are on their way back, just not quite as bad as they were yesterday.  I will win!  I got some weed killer.  I am not happy about this, but I will win.  Damndelions! 

     I’m off to go make a healthy dinner with B now.  When I return, I’ll catch up on the golf, of course.

Mom's Birthday and April Updates

Written on 3-28-17.

     Happy birthday to my Mom today!  She was born in 1941, so I’ll let you do the math.  I am having dinner at the Artesian Restaurant at the Ojo Resort and Spa tonight.

Written on 4-18-17.

     I got busy eating at the restaurant last time I wrote, and I felt a bit embarrassed (yes, it’s me) to type away just after eating there (it is a fancy restaurant), so I just stopped and never got back to it.  Just like eating right and exercising are harder when I travel, finding time to write can be just as difficult.  I spent a large chunk of my time (1.5 hours) to attend a webinar for Time to Teach on my last trip, too.

     Let’s see.  What’s new?  Belinda and I hosted two new Up With People kiddos at our house earlier this month.  It was comparable to when Belinda was pregnant and just about ready to go to the hospital.  The time kept changing for the delivery/pick-up, and we didn’t know if we would end up with boys or girls.  We got two boys this time, Ryan and Jeremy.  They were excellent guests, entertainers, and people.  I got choked up again watching the show; it really brings out my emotions.  

     Why can’t we all just get along?  This show asks the same question.  If 100 young people...

1st First Tee Activities

Written on 3-14-17.

     I helped with The First Tee at McCoy with Tom and Coach T. today, and it was super fun!  Instead of being a teacher and dropping off my students to hurriedly head back to my classroom and my prep time in order to do my best to get one task done (or maybe two), I got to stay to teach and play golf. My one or two tasks did not include, however, going to the bathroom and having a snack.

     I’ve set my dates for this summer’s program, and I am working on getting certified again.  I’m really looking forward to this summer and doing another session.  

     I have one new birdie to report, so here I go.

Aztec Municipal Golf Course-Hole #8-Birdie #5 of 2017

     The day before this birdie, I saw Pat Otero, and I told him that C.J. and I were going to be playing at 10:30 the next morning, but I didn’t expect him to show up.  He did, though, and that was great.  So, C.J., Pat, and I played nine holes before I played another nine holes with Whitney and Cutler for The First Tee.  

     We decided on the skins game, the escalating one, and off we went.  It was close, but this birdie gave me the win, even though we all tied on the last hole.  Pat won the second greatest amount of money when he won hole #6 with a par.  He ended up with $170,000.00 for his total.  C.J. won the first bonus with the longest drive on hole #1, and he shared the money on the last hole, too.

     I attempted to drive the green, and my ball flight ended up being a slight draw that floated over the trees on the right side of the fairway.  Pat said he would have liked to have seen that drive with a pro tracer.  I ended up on the left side in the rough, a short pitch from the green.  The pin was on the middle tier this time, so I knew I had to get it to stop on that section.  I used my approach wedge, and it worked.  It came out low, but it bounced on the bottom tier, and it rolled up to the left of the flag.  My putt was an 18-footer, and it was straight.  Making this birdie helped, but I only needed a par; my partners both made bogeys.  I ended up winning $190,000.00 when all was said and done.  

     I ended up shooting a 40.  A long putt on hole #2 pushed the money after Pat put his putt from just out of the bunker right next to the hole for his par.  I might have had an even lower score without the double bogey on hole #3.  I wanted to drive the green again and get a birdie.  Pat found my ball on the right side of the green on #4 when we played that hole.  Enough for now.  I need to eat dinner and get ready for a church meeting.

Until next time…