preRA: Diablo Grande Golf

Today’s theme was golf and then some more golf.  As part of a stay-and-play deal at the Best Western, we played and suffered and worked and enjoyed our way through 36 holes at two Diablo Grande courses here in Patterson, CA.

We played the Ranch course in the AM, featuring some particularly nasty tee shots into narrow fairways.   Even from the short men’s tee, this course is rated around 72 with a slope of 130 – one tough layout.  But it is surrounded by gorgeous stark hills of brown grasses dotted with trees.  Nothing too stellar about any of our play, but I will say that my new clubs were hitting very nicely and I’m excited about getting better acquainted with them.  Alas, this will have to wait 3 months.

Lunch, and then a second round on the Legends course.  This course is easier, with more open spaces and fewer disaster opportunities.  And similar beauty and peace all around.

We finished the back nine to chilly breezes and thin rain.  Jack and I thought maybe this is beginning to ready us for the cold and wet further north.  A few photos from the course below…

Jack hitting great on the range
Jack wishing he were still on the range

 

Beautiful swing, beautiful course
Pretty big snake (and not dead)
These deer were plentiful just off the fairways