Safe Refuge

  Lake Havasu City, Arizona, United States
Monday, December 1, 2008

There are several reasons why I decided to make a trip to Lake Havasu.  First, I wanted to accompany my mother on her return flight back from DC to Las Vegas.  Second, I have a goal to post rounds of golf during all months of the year.  Since I live in DC, you can not golf year around, so during the winter I have to pack my bags in search for warmer climates.  In the past these trips have taken me to Florida, California and Hawaii...now I will

Refuge #2

be golfing in Arizona.  The final reason is I wanted to see London bridge; therefore I selected Lake Havasu over other AZ golf destinations like Phoenix or Scottsdale.

This morning I will be playing, the Refuge.  A golf course designed by Arnold Palmer located along the northern shore of the lake.  I did not get paired up with anyone for today's round and I managed to tee off just in front of a foursome...good timing on my part.  My round started on a good note when I parred the second hole, a relatively short (450 yard) par 5. After a good drive onto the fairway, I was tempted to go for the green in two.  The green was tucked around a water hazard on the left side, so I decided to play it smart and lay up in front of the green...good choice.  I think Arnie enjoys waterfalls because every course I played that was designed by him had a waterfall/s along the holes.  This waterfall provide a nice frame to the number 2 green.  I also managed to par another hole with water along the entire left-side.  This one was the #7, 366 yard par 4.  I played this hole by the numbers;  220 yard drive onto the fairway, 6 iron approach shot over water and onto the green & two putts.  It was a decent front nine with a final total of 50 on the regulation par 37 nine holes...there were 3 par 5's.

Refuge #12

Mountains from Refuge #14

Since the course was a regulation 72, there were three par 3 holes in the back nine.  Fortunately even though I have not swung a club for 3 weeks, my iron play was in mid-season form.  I parred two of the holes and bogeyed the other.  The first par 3 was the  #12, a 134 yarder with waste area all along the right side.  I hit my 8 iron stiff on the green to within a make-able one putt distance from the hole, but I missed my birdie putt...you can't have everything.  The next par 3 was a 141 yarder with I made the green in regulation using a 7 iron.  You had an amazing view of the mountains from this hole.  I had some time to wait since I caught up to a group ahead of me.  Fortunately, they let me play through.  I played the back nine in 46 for a satisfying sub 100 round.

Interestingly, most of the holes on this course routed away from the lake, so you saw more mountain than water.  Arnie made up for this with the #18 when you played back towards the clubhouse with a gorgeous view of the lake.  Some how I manage to focus enough to crush the ball 260 yards with my 3 wood.  You definitely needed all the distance because the hole was the number 2 handicap playing at 434 yards. 

Refuge #18

Unfortunately, my focus waned on the approach shot but I manage to get a double bogey, which is better than an "other".  Since I was by myself and the groups on the course were courteous enough to let me play through when I caught up to them, I finished the round in under 3 hours.  Just in time for lunch.  Of course, I used up some of this time driving around Lake Havasu City looking for a Wendy's because that was what my mom wanted for lunch.  I gave up in frustration and picked up some Whoppers at Burger King near the condo.