Into the Badlands

  Las vegas, Nevada, United States
Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Clouds over Red Rock

Early morning start because I had a tee time at 8:45, so I needed to be checked out of the room before driving to the golf course.  Also I am renting clubs from the course and would need more time to warm-up and get accustomed to the foreign clubs.  I checked in at the pro shop around 7:30 and they issued me my bag of Callaway clubs.  Since my real bag contains Callaway X-18 irons, I knew the X-20 irons would not be too different.  However my woods are Cobra clubs with a graphite shaft with regular stiff shaft, I did not know how I would be hitting the Callaway fairway woods with a steel shaft.  After several swings I started to get the hang of the clubs.  Out in the distance beyond the driving range, you can see the cloud covered Red Rock mountains.  It appeared pretty ominous; hopefully the weather will stay away from here.  The starter was trying to push people through, so since I was a single he grouped me with a threesome teeing off at 8:30.  Because of the change in tee time, I did not get a chance to swing the Hyper-X driver on the range; therefore I will not be using that club, today.  Unfortunately, I also did not have time to practice putting...I can not get away with not using the putter for the entire round.

"Go West", Diablo #2

Today, I am playing the Badlands, a course designed by Johnny Miller with a little help from Chi Chi Rodriguez.  The Badlands has three 9 holes named Desperado, Diablo and Outland.  As the name suggest, this is definitely a desert course layout with green patches of grass surrounded by desert wasteland.  The holes play over, around and in desert canyons, where you have to watch out of such hazards as rattlesnakes, scorpions and horned toads.  One hole is listed in the book, "1001 Golf holes you must play before you die".  According to the book, the famous hole is suppose to be the Desperado Nine (541 yard par 5); however according to the score card this hole is a 387 yard par 4.  I will have to checkout each par 5 to see which one meets the description in the book.  I asked whether I could play all 27 holes however they are currently working on the Outlaw 9...hopefully the hole is not on that nine.  I will be playing Desperado and then Diablo. 

The three guys (John, Ken and Kevin) I was paired up with all work for some pharmaceutical manufacturing company.  I could tell from the beginning that Ken was the boss.  Ken asked whether I wanted to get in one their waging; I declined based on the fact that I am playing with rented clubs...also playing from the Back tees would also put me at a disadvantage.  I could tell right away that John, my cart mate, is the best golfer in the group when he struck a crisp drive with a slight draw.  Ken sliced his first drive while Kevin topped his first.  I hit a nice 3-wood (like I said I will not be using the driver all day) onto the fairway.  After a nice up and down, I finished the hole with a par 4, the lowest score of the four.  After I holed the ball with a putt from the fringe on #4 (504 yard par 5) for a birdie 4, I was leading John by 2 strokes...I bet they were glad I did not take them up on their wagers.  Of course, my Mr. Hyde side showed up on #6 (385 par 4).  I sliced the ball out of bounds and chunked my third shot into the Gulch, which is the name of the hole.  After several shots to get out of the Gulch, I posted a nice fat snowman for the hole.  I made up for this with a regulation par on #8 (169 par 3) where I landed my 5 iron shot on the green and two putted.  Overall I am happy with my play on this nine finishing with a 47 and 4 strokes behind John's 43.

"Overlook", Diablo #4

Several holes provide a spectacular view of the Red Rock mountains and I could not resist snapping a few pictures.  The others in the group were doing the same, but we still managed to keep ahead of pace.  I managed to get another par on the #5 Lone Mountain (206 yard par3).  I struck a 3 Hybrid onto the green...I do not own a Hybrid club but will consider buying one if I always strike the ball this well when using them.  I am having a great day on the par 3 holes...For the #7, Hawk's Alley (171 yard) I chipped the ball in for another par.  There was one amazing hole called Overlook, where you tee off from an elevated tee into a canyon approximately 100 feet below.  Although I had a good drive to the left rough, I struggled with my approach shot which landed in the dry river bed crossing in front of the green and scored a 7.  I think I found the famous hole.  On the score card it is a

"Boothill", Diablo #8

551 yard par 5 called Boothill, Diablo #8.  I based this on the description in the book about the elevated green on the edge of waste area.  This time I managed to avoid problem and scored a 7 on the hole; too bad I can not say the same for Ken and Kevin, who lost balls into the desert.  I think John cleaned up on the wagers.  He finished with a 81.  I finished with a round of 96; a pretty decent round considering the rental clubs.  I was really amazed that I need only 30 putts for the round with no practice on the putting green and a strange putter...fortunately it was also a blade putter like my Slazenger, so I was somewhat comfortable with the rented putter.  Of course your putting average is helped when you holed two greens from outside the putting surface.  The Badlands was not so bad after all.