Oh what a decision process! Our timing continues to be interesting. About the time we rolled into town the LPGA was setting up for the Kraft Nabisco, formerly known as the Dinah Shore. For forty years this event has been held at the Mission Hills Country Club with no end in sight.
I got to meet Christina Kim thanks to my ballsy friend, Kaye. Beyond having "stick" she was a hoot!
To watch the perfect swings was inspiring.
Known for the 18th hole that has been made famous by the leap into the water by the winner on Sunday afternoon.
After complaining about the dirty water, the club drained the pond so the ladies can leap feeling as though they are jumping into their private swimming pool. After the thermometer hit 104 yesterday we all wanted to jump into that clean deep puddle!
We spent the better part of the week looking at the club, checking out real estate, and trying to get a feel for Mission Hills and Rancho Mirage. It does help that we also have friends living at least part time in the community. We thoroughly enjoyed Linda and Kurt's home and hospitality as they coaxed us to share their fun in the desert and hopefully become their neighbors.
With 54 holes, the ability to drive your own designer golf cart,
it seems like a good fit for us. Because our timing wasn't quite right (again) we were able to play only the Palmer course. Teamed up with 18 year member Bob and his 19 year old daughter Anna, we got the 411 from a man who knows just about everything about the club and a young woman who grew up on it.
On a golf scholarship to the University of Hawaii, I loved watching Anna's swing.
Mike liked the mature traditional tree lined lay out of the Palmer course.
The greens rolled well enough but weren't all that pretty due to the poanna grass that is invading the greens.
The course was well, fine, in my opinion. Perhaps I have become spoiled (nah) but I prefer courses with elevations and a few more tricks to them. I really love courses with little to no homes, but that's tough to find especially when we are wanting to live in a home ON a course. Perhaps my opinion of the club was tarnished when someone from the pro shop raced out to the first fairway to tell Bob that his guest's shorts were inappropriate. Never mind that I bought them at a pro shop at an LPGA event and their club was currently hosting such an event.
On second thought perhaps.they are a bit on the short side. Or my gams are on the long side? Oh well.
The house hunting has been disheartening. I just don't want to live in the homes we can afford at Mission Hills. They offered for us to play the additional courses next week but after being underwhelmed with the real estate, we will forego that opportunity.
Beyond being disappointed with the homes, we got a preview of summer this week and honestly, I'm not so sure I can handle the heat. Uh boy.
Today the temps dropped 20 degrees to a perfect 84 so we decided to stay home at our RV park in Desert Hot Springs and enjoy the course here.
After hearing me blather now for years about my love for the game, Kaye joined us at the driving range where Mike and I attempted to jointly give her her first lesson. Poor thing.
It was a gorgeous day and she was doing so well that we all decided to play the 9 hole course.
The mountains continue to stir my soul.
On our final hole I was able to show Kaye the penalty for getting a birdie.
Kaye played well enough to want to seek out professional help so after a great Mexican meal we stopped in at Desert Dunes, a public course half a mile from her home. Recently acquired by a group of Canadians, we were amazed by this hidden gem that has no homes on the course and is a terrific Robert Trent Jones design.
The pro offered Kaye a great beginner's package that will include a nine hole playing lesson. He also invited Mike and I to play with him tomorrow morning on our way out of town, which I couldn't pass up after he gave us a quick golf cart tour of the course that only served to whet my appetite.
Off to Mom's house after golf tomorrow. I have allowed nearly six months to lapse since we've seen each other so we have much to catch up on at her newly remodeled home. From there we will head to San Diego where we will set up camp while I escape to North Carolina for a Girls Golf tournament/boondoggle and Mike plays with his San Diego buds.
For now we are loving the cooler temps but battening down the hatches for the 40 mph winds.
Thank you for hanging with us...
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