Golf in Rio Verde

Played in my third straight member-guest with friend Cliff down in Rio Verde AZ, at the far NE corner of Scottsdale.

Cliff holes out in our first shootout chip-off

Average temps were over 25 degrees higher than the past two years - 102-103f for the competition days. We didn’t played great but were grinders, finding a way to win or tie our final 4 out of 5 matches. This qualified us for the shootout.

Shootout is quite a spectacle with two different gaggles of 13 teams going out in alternating shot, eliminating three teams each hole. We survived three holes to make the final 8 then lost in a chip-off. I blame my poor lag putt that prevented us from making par and avoiding the chip-off; Cliff probably blames himself for not being just a foot or two closer to the hole.

My game is in an ok state after some major swing changes this summer. Driving is best it has been but approach play is lacking. I’ll work on it.

Bee colony in transition

Always enjoy the desert wildlife. Checked a few birds off my list: Harris’ hawk, gila woodpecker, and a few more. Highlight though was a bee colony that temporarily relocated from a ground stump to this branch in Cliff’s backyard.