Wow...its been a while.

It has been a while since my last post and a lot has happened. My goal of cutting my handicap in half didn't happen but I did cut it down to 10.5 last year and won a local tournament with a score of 80. The crazy thing is I was only 3 over after 15 holes...then I thought too much about it and the wheels came off. It was a great time and I only ended up winning by 1 stroke.

It is currently 34 degrees outside and I am looking forward to getting out again soon. I think we'll take a family trip to St. George and I should be able to sneak out once or twice while I'm there.

Courses I've Played in Utah...

I thought it would be fun to see all the different courses I've played here in Utah...from the very first time when I was 10 years old going with my grandfather until now, taking my 8 year old son...that's over 3 decades. Let's have a look at all the tracks I've played.

1. Cove View Golf Course - Richfield, Utah
   
2. Palisade Golf Course - Sterling, Utah
   
3. Birch Creek Golf Club - Smithfield, Utah
4. Logan River Golf Course - Logan, Utah
   
5. Sherwood Hills Resort - Sardine Canyon, Utah
6. Eagle Mountain Golf Course - Brigham City, Utah
7. Rose Park Golf Course - Salt Lake City, Utah
8. Mick Riley Golf Course - Murry, Utah
9. Forest Dale Golf Course - Salt Lake City, Utah
10. Meadow Brook Golf Course - Murray, Utah
11. West Ridge Golf Course - West Valley, Utah
12. Mountain Dell Golf Course - Canyon Course - Parley's Canyon, Utah
13. Mountain Dell Golf Course - Lake Course - Parley's Canyon, Utah
    
14. Bountiful Ridge Golf Course - Bountiful, Utah
15. Wasatch Golf Course - Midway, Utah
16. Homestead Resort - Midway, Utah
17. Wolf Creek Golf Resort - Eden, Utah
18. Park City Golf Course - Park City, Utah
19. East Bay Golf Course - Provo, Utah
20. Old Mill Golf Club - Salt Lake City, Utah
21. Glenwild Golf Club - Park City, Utah
22. Soldier Hollow Golf Course - Gold & Silver Course - Midway, Utah
23. Promontory Golf Club - Pete Dye Course - Park City, Utah
24. Park Meadows Golf Club - Park City, Utah
25. Tri-City Golf Course - American Fork, Utah
26. Promontory Golf Club - Jack Nicklaus Course - Park City, Utah
27. Round Valley Golf Course - Morgan, Utah
28. Wingpointe Golf Course - Salt Lake City, Utah
29. Stonebridge Golf Course - West Valley, Utah
30. Eaglewood Golf Course - Bountiful, Utah
31. The Jeremy Golf Club - Park City, Utah
32. Red Ledges - Heber City, Utah (Thanks to Jack Johnson I was able to work with Jack Nicklaus and his designers on this one...a truly beautiful course.) I love working here!
    

I love golf courses...I'm lucky enough to be able to help design them too.

The Reason Why...

I would like to fill you in on the reason why I haven't had a post since May. In the subdivision we live in one has 6 month's from the time one moves in to submit a landscape plan, get it approved and implement the plan. Well the HOA gave us a break over the winter (a bit difficult to do it then with the frozen ground and all) but with the arrival of the spring and summer a letter came stating we had one month to finish it or we would be assessed a fine for July & August ($200 a month). We have been working on the landscape little by little since we moved in...the picture to the left is before we started, but it wasn't enough to stay the hand of the HOA. I decided to step it up and get it done...that meant little to no golf for a month and a half!! The horror!! well...I think I slipped a few rounds in...but don't tell anyone. I have a great wife who understands my needs and is very giving...very cool.

With the help of my wife and kids we were able to complete the task in time and way under budget!! We have a ton of man (woman & kid too!!) hours in this landscape but I think it turned out well. Here are a few images of the progress and the finished product. We have a dry riverbed that goes from the front to the back yard...these rocks were all gathered from our yard...this soil breads rocks!! We had a lot of help from our local nursery Spring Creek planting trees. They gave us a great deal and planted them all within a day...it was great!

Look at the views we have...this valley is incredibly beautiful...plus the golf here is spectacular...5 18 hole courses and only $40 for 18 & a cart...so nice!!

It All Started...

It all started with my grandfather James who loved the game and me enough to take his 10 year old grandson to a remote Golf Course in Richfield Utah...

The year was 1977, the place was Cove View Golf Course (it was only 9 holes back then), the shoes were spiked (Metal spikes), the pants were tight and the clubs were...well...really hard to hit. I don't remember what clubs I used (until my father bought a set of blue Northwesterns for me) but I do remember that when I hit a good shot it made me want to come back again and again.

My grandfather used to love to get there before the course was open...we would play our 9 holes, then go in the clubhouse and pay on the way out. He would also love to look for balls...which was a good thing for me because I'd loose them as fast as he'd find them. There is an open field right of the number 3 par 5, you know the one, he would make me jump the fence and walk on the dirt road looking for any stray balls that might have been sliced that way...good times.

My father wasn't into golf like my grandfather was. Although he did take me quite a bit one summer while we were working on his semi-truck. We would do the same drill as grandpa and I did...get up early...play 9 holes and pay on the way out. Good memories...maybe thats why I like the early morning rounds better than the afternoon rounds...

Welcome fellow golf enthusiasts!

I am starting this blog as a way to document my progress and goals in golf...My goal is the PGA...kidding...my ultimate goal would be to beat my buddy John in a straight up stroke play match. I currently have a 15.3 handicap index and John's Index is a 1 or 2...not sure but next time I talk to him I'll find out. This may be a lofty goal but I think I could do it in a few years...I know a few of his weaknesses...Oreos, politics, sandbaggers...the list goes on.

In all seriousness I would like to at least cut my index in half this year...I think its attainable...so lets say by the end of the golf season here in Utah I'll have a handicap index of at least a 7.5...there I said it...I know I can do it...I started out the year with a 16 and dropped .7 already!

I hope you all will enjoy this journey as much as will...more later!