Star Craven TR #2 Corporate networking aka Golf in the USA

[amaroo]

Verdict : Would return to this place in an instant. Great food albeit not cheap, lovely ambiance with live music and great service. Once again we had to book and the place was chockablock.

Looks good .... enjoying the TR!

 

[amaroo]

Just caught up .... smashing TR. Before I was old enough to drink, drive, etc, etc .... I was a pretty decent 6 handicapper, your photos of these stunning courses is stirring that old feeling. I might actually make use of my long dormant club membership again. Wonder if my “wooden’ 1 wood will still do the trick

 

[craven morehead]

Looks good .... enjoying the TR!

Thank you @amaroo a little light on the finer dining side of things but I had a blast.

 

[craven morehead]

I would struggle on this type of course and would only play it for the novelty value and the stunning scenery. Thoroughly enjoying your trip report and the golf courses you played.

Thanks @JohnK - I went there with the same attitude knowing it would be tough but as you said the novelty/scenery just added to the enjoyment

Also I am guessing this was paid for by work? I saw some tour prices a few years back for 6 nights in Palm Springs and 6 nights in Phoenix and it looks too expensive for me. Would this type of tour be easy enough for someone to organise by themselves? Courses easy enough to get a game?

There was definitely a tax effective component to the trip. I only briefly read the itinerary before we left but I vaguely recall all the courses were between US$140-200 and I'm assuming that was a group rate. There's no denying it wasn't cheap especially at AUD$0.75 to the US$1.00. The previous time I was here it was AUD$1.10 to the US$1.00. I firmly believe you could arrange a trip on your own. As long as you had your tee times booked in advance, however there are so many good courses around Phoenix that you would get a hit somewhere. At the Hyatt House where we stayed there would have been at least 4 golfing groups staying there also.

 

[craven morehead]

Last game of golf for the trip : my lower back is very happy about this lol.
Rio Secco Golf Club is a public golf course located in the affluent Seven Hills neighborhood of Henderson, in the Las Vegas Valley.
Open for public play since 1997, the Rees Jones-designed layout at Rio Secco Golf Club quickly earned acclaim as a player’s course routed through steep canyons, desert washes and high plateaus overlooking Las Vegas. #1 instructor, Butch Harmon teaches everyone from tour pros to amateurs at the Butch Harmon School of Golf, located at Rio Secco.




The course is very spread out


Ubiquitous bunnies !!





TBC :

 

[RooFlyer]

Well I've just caught up a few pages and I'm buggered!

Beautiful pictures!

Almost enough to get me back golfing! I'm happy enough caddying and pouring the drinks between holes

 

[RooFlyer]

What camera used, please? Images uploaded to AFF as full file or reduced somehow?

 

[craven morehead]

What camera used, please? Images uploaded to AFF as full file or reduced somehow?

Samsung Galaxy 8 Note uploaded as full file. More so to speed things up. I'm finding less reasons to pack my bulky but excellent Canon these days except if I need the ability for quality zoom. For example if I was in the Kruger NP or the like.

 

[craven morehead]

Well I've just caught up a few pages and I'm buggered!

Beautiful pictures!

Almost enough to get me back golfing! I'm happy enough caddying and pouring the drinks between holes

Hahaha thanks @RooFlyer good work mate yes it has been hectic! I get the same way if I miss some of the TR's for more than a few days.
I was a little concerned that there would be little in this for the non-golfer but the contrasting colours of the courses have been just stunning and I hope people have enjoyed some of the photos. I'm really glad we didn't end up at some swanky lush green country clubs and that these courses were so very different to home. I'm sure you would make a very knowledgeable caddy, certainly a well travelled one ! I have been down to Barnbougle & Lost Farm which I believe is in your region. Cheers & safe travels.

 

[craven morehead]

Rio Secco Golf Club cont:






A very tough par 3 across the ravine which is much deeper than the photo suggests.

Not exactly a poor neighbourhood!



And so comes and end to the golfing part of the trip. This was so very different to my usual golf trips to Asia and NZ. Even though completely knackered I have enjoyed this immensely. Tomorrow a road trip to San Diego for an overnighter enroute to LA

 

[rock86]

WOW, they have been some incredible golf courses you've played. Wolf Creek Golf Course looked on another level though!

 

[VPS]

I think I've been on a golf course twice but loved the photos of the scenery. Thanks

 

[craven morehead]

WOW, they have been some incredible golf courses you've played. Wolf Creek Golf Course looked on another level though!

Couldn't agree more @rock86 !

 

[craven morehead]

I think I've been on a golf course twice but loved the photos of the scenery. Thanks

Many thanks @VPS it certainly added a layer to your normal game of golf.

 

[craven morehead]

A couple of random shots around Vegas for those that haven't been there :






Loved this number plate on the white car in front "MUMBLA" my wife is making noises about getting me one for Father's Day


Gold Nugget Las Vegas overlooking the Fremont Street Experience, this classic downtown casino hotel opened in 1946

Making a contribution to the local economy. I'm not a big gambler and only had a lash on two occasions.


Righto off to San Diego we go :

 

[craven morehead]

Bye bye Sin City it's been a blast !! Road trippin' to SAN around 360 miles / 580 kms





Fuel stop at the servo attached to / next to Whiskey Pete's Hotel & Casino

So this is inside the gas station and you can just see in the far right of picture there is a room with about 30 slot machines in it .. who wouldn't want to win their fuel money back ??

Back on the road and the scenery didn't change much for most of the trip.






TBC :

 

[craven morehead]

I saw this place advertised on a billboard some 30 miles out so with my 3 trusty sidekicks all sleeping I made an executive decision to take a lunch break and have a driver change. It also happened to be near on exactly halfway to San Diego. There was little else around in these parts besides the occasional gas station fast food places. There also appeared to be some sort of military base / depot across the road.
Peggy Sue's 50's Diner : Small, 1950's style diner with American classics such as meatloaf & chicken-fried steak on the menu.
35654 Yermo Rd, Yermo, CA 92398, USA


We had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated and they more or less direct you into their touristy/tacky curio shop whilst you wait.


Righto in we go for a feed.






TBC :

 

[craven morehead]

I've decided to give the Frankie Avalon Philly Steak Sandwich a run. As usual meal portions are on the large side. I also ordered a Choc-Malt milkshake for probably the first time in over 20 years.It should have been called a Thickshake as it was literally half ice cream. Not something I'm likely to do again anytime soon but it was nice for a change.



The boys all struggled to finish their meals due to the portion size and all the sides that come with the meals. Anyway it was something different to the normal cough yank fast food.

The Gents :

Looking across the road :

I sent this picture to my son who is currently at RMC Duntroon and he informed me that Australia only has 56 tanks in total. I think there was at least that many over the road at the base/depot and on the train.

Back on the road

Finally approaching somewhere that is not pure desert landscape.


Back in civilsation


Overnighter in San Diego

 

[craven morehead]

Welcome to San Diego
Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego Bay Downtown
This place was recommended to us by one of the chaps on the trip who had stayed here a few times previously. He had gone ahead for a few days R&R up at Laguna Beach with family. We would meet him again in a few days in the lounge at LAX. This place was in a great location.
I borrowed this shot from Qantas Hotels site to give some perspective of the location.

So we buddied up again and got twin rooms at around US$200 per night. They were perfect for what we needed and would be great for a longer stay. Happy Hour free drinks and snacks from 5.30-7.30 IIRC and breakfast (nothing to rave about) was included in room rate.









I would have no problem recommending this hotel and location.

 

[RooFlyer]

Peggy Sue's 50's Diner : Small, 1950's style diner with American classics such as meatloaf & chicken-fried steak on the menu.
35654 Yermo Rd, Yermo, CA 92398, USA

Ha ha. Have eaten there! I once did some geo work near Barstow, where Peggy's is marginal to. We were walking around a prospect out in the semi desert, where we came across some human remains (bones), in remains of clothes and called the cops. Spent the rest of the day waiting for them to arrive, investigate the area, being interviewed etc. Never did find out what the story was.

Also, have a look at your route (I15 I assume) from Barstow to San Diego on Google Earth, satellite view. That straight line striking NW-SE immediately north of San Bernardino that you drove across is the San Andreas fault.