At Wildhawk Golf Club

Holly, Van, Sharon and I played Wildhawk Golf Club. To beat the heat, we had a 8:28 am tee time. Unfortunately, Sharon and I got a late start leaving the house and ran into a bunch of traffic. They were calling our group to the first tee as we were unloading the car. Van and I walked, while Sharon and Holly rode.

Not having a chance to warm up on the range and feeling rushed, I felt very discombobulated. I made a mess of the first couple of holes. After struggling at Ancil Hoffman last Wednesday and a disappointing review of my swing on Thursday, I got very discouraged.

I spent the round working on the position of my right elbow. I played a litte better on the back nine. I shot a liberally scored 52 on the back with three pars, a bogey and two double bogeys.

After the round, the four of us had lunch at TD Tofu House on Folsom Boulevard. It is a Korean Barbecue restaurant. I had Maewoon Dak (spicy chicken bbq) as an entrée.

At Ancil Hoffman

Donna, Kevin, Sharon and I played golf at Ancil Hoffman. We had an 11:48 am tee time.

Sharon played very well. She had three birdies, including the par three ninth, the par three fourteenth up to the elevated green and the fifteenth! She also had a par on another hole. She shot a 97.

I didn't play so well. After a lesson and four days at the driving range in the last week, I felt like I was making some progress on my swing. I started how horribly on the first hole and could never really get settled down. On the par three 5th, the par four 6th and par five 7th, I had solid shots to put myself next to the green, but then made an absolute mess around the green.

I have been trying to put the Game Is Not A Game of Perfect principles into play, but I failed. I got very frustrated on the back nine... I am not posting my scorecard.

After a dip in the pool, the four of us finished the day with dinner at Matteos. Sharon and I shared a special peach pizza and a lamb burger.

At Mather Golf Course

With Sharon's brother Tim's semi-retirement, we have been trying to get him out to play golf with us. On Tuesday, we finally got Tim and Brun out to play golf with us at Mather. We had a 8:14 am tee time.

Hitting balls on the range at Ancil on Monday and before the round at Mather, I felt like I am making some solid progress with my swing. After double bogeying the first hole, I proceeded to make a mess of the next couple holes around the green. It took me three shots to get out of the bunker on the second hole. On the third hole, I hit my tee shot in the bunker and then hit out of the bunker over the green.

I settled down and was very happy with how I played on the back nine. I am striking the ball more consistently.

With one gallery loss and one mulligan off the tee, I ended up with an honestly scored 110. I had a 49 on the back nine. Sharon shot a 107. Brun who has played in years said that he shot a 97.

The four of us had lunch at the clubhouse after the round.

At Cold Springs Golf and Country Club

Thursday afternoon, Holly, Van, Sharon and I played the Cold Springs Golf and Country Club. Over the last two and a half years, I have enjoyed playing a lot of different courses with Holly and Van. We teed off at 2:00 pm.

I had a Golftec lesson on Tuesday. I hit at the Ancil Hoffman driving range on Wednesday and Thursday morning. Warming up at Cold Springs, I felt like I was playing real progress with my swing. Unfortunately, I am struggling to translate this to the course.

Starting off ok, I quickly started to struggle. On the third hole, I hit my tee shot down the right side, but couldn't find the ball. I got very frustarted. It carried over on the next couple of holes. Combined with the fact that my left hip started brothering me, it was a long hot day.

I started to play better on the back nine. With a couple of nice one putts, I actually parred the par 4 13th hole and par 5 14th hole.

The four of us finished the day with dinner at the Independent Restaurant in Placerville. I had a Salmon Avocado Burger [6 oz. Fresh Premium Salmon Patty, Avocado, House-made Citrus Honey Dill Aioli, Lettuce, Red Onion, Tomato], while Sharon had a Classic Independence Burger [House-ground Patty, House-made Aioli, White Cheddar, Lettuce, Red Onion, Tomato]. For the second night in a row, Sharon was disappointed with her dinner...

At Ancil Hoffman

Friday morning, Sharon and I played nine holes at Ancil Hoffman with Jim and Debbie. Teeing off at 10:44 am, we walked the course.

After feeling good on the driving range on Thursday afternoon, I was very uneven on the range before the round. I had a rough first hole, but settled down. I feel like I am striking the ball more consistently. Although I was chippintg better after my lesson on Wednesday, I really struggled with my putting. Between the trees and the sand trap, I made a mess of the sixth hole. I ended up using one mulligan off the tee and no gallery losses. I played the whole round with one ball!

I enjoyed the round. I didn't get frustrated. I shot a liberally scored 58. Sharon said that she shot a 54.

2025 Donner Lake - Day #4 - Tahoe Donner Golf Course

The plan for the day was golf at the Tahoe Donner Golf Course. We had a 10:10 am tee time.

I felt good warming up on the range, but I am struggling to translate this to the course. Over the course of the day, I was very inconsistent. I had a number of very solid shots, but I can't seem to string a set of good shots together.

On the par three 7th, I hit my tee shot on to the green, pin high, about 15 feet to the left of the flag. I was pretty proud of myself until Sharon stepped up and hit her tee shot to within 10 inches…


I didn't do as well controlling my frustration as I did on Wednesday. As hitting two very solid shots to the front of the green on eight, I screwed up two chips and lost my cool. My problem of driving the ball to the left as I tire about twelve or thirteen also raised its ugly head.

I ended up with a liberally scored 111. I used one mulligan of the tee, but had fewer gallery losses than Wednesday...

Given how expensive the Tahoe Donner Golf Course is, I am not sure we will ever go back there. It is just not that unique or picturesque.

After golf, we headed back to Holly and Van's condo. We packed up the cars. SHaron and I were on the road about 3:30 pm and back in Carmichael about 5:15 pm.

It was a very nice getaway. We are going to be staying closer to home for the next two months.

2025 Donner Lake - Day #2 - Coyote Moon

The plan for the day was golf at the Coyote Moon Golf course. The course has only been open for the summer since last Friday, five days! We had a 10:20 am tee time. When we play with Holly and Van, I always ride with Van.

The course doesn't have a driving range. It has a set of nets where you can hit. Although it is hard to judge hitting into a net, I felt ok on the driving range.

Although I didn't score that well, I enjoyed the day. The course is beautiful. There are several difficult holes. Overall, I feel like I am making some progress with my game.

The greens were difficult and very slow. No one made a long putt. I didn't one putt a single green...

I ended up with a very liberally scored 110. I used one mulligan off the tee and more than a few gallery losses. More importantly, I didn't get frustrated.

Holly, Van, Sharon and I finished the day with dinner at Moody's Bistro, Bar & Beats in Truckee. I had elk chops, while Sharon had a hanger steak.

At Ancil Hoffman

Friday morning, Jack, Sharon and I played golf at Ancil Hoffman. We teed off at 10:04 am.

This was probably the best round of golf that I have ever played. I parred two holes on the front nine. I had a stretch of eight holes where I bogeyed six holes. I shot a fairly honestly scored 99. I used two mulligans on the front nine and one gallery loss on the back nine. Everyone played well; Jack had a 96 and Sharon shot a 98.

On the sixth, I hit two solid shots to the front of the green, but then ended up chipping back and forth over the green. I got very angry with myself. I used a mulligan off the tee on seven after I hit my worst shot of the day... I was able to settle down and string together the nice run over the next eight holes until I triple bogeyed 15 with the gallery loss.

I really enjoyed the round. It will be interesting to see how I play when we play again...

At Ancil Hoffman Golf Course

Thursday afternoon, Sharon and I played nine holes at Ancil Hoffman with Jim and Debbie. We teed off at 3:32 pm. There was no one in front of us or behind us! It felt like we had the course to ourselves.

Monday and Tuesday mornings, I hit balls on the driving range at Ancil Hoffman. Tuesday had a Golftec lesson. Thursday morning, I went to Haggin Oaks to hit balls using the Toptracer. I was hoping to score a little better. I didn't.

Really focusing on reaching back behind me with my swing, I was very inconsistent. I had a number of drives that I was very happy with. My chipping was also solid. I just couldn't string two shots together... I ended up with a very liberally scored 62.

I keep my emotions in check. I just kept working on the swing changes. I enjoyed walking the course.

At Haggen Oaks Alister MacKenzie Golf Course

Donna, Kevin, Sharon and I had a 11:56 am tee time at the Haggen Oaks Alister MacKenzie Golf Course. I haven't played this course in forty years. It is one of the courses that I used to play with Nooter, Wallen and Dave Hare.

Hitting on the driving range, I felt inconsistent. With everything going on, I haven't been to the range since my last lesson ten days ago.

I got off to a horrible start on the first two holes. I started to feel a mixture of disappointment, frustration, embarrassment and anger. It is a fairly easy course. I settled down a little bit and had a string of four bogeys and two double bogeys over the next seven holes, but was still struggling with my emotions. I fell apart on the back nine... I ended up with a liberally scored 118.

After golf, Donna and Kevin came for dinner. Although it isn't painted yet, Sharon wanted to show off the kitchen. Sharon made a nice Mexican dinner.

Golftec plus St. Andrews at Waymaker with Larkin

Tuesday morning, I had a lesson at Golftec. I am continuing to work on trying to get my swing inside out rather than outside in. Frankly, it is a struggle working to break fifty years of bad habits...

After the lesson, I wandered next door to Waymaker Brewing. Larkin joined me. We played the Old Course at St. Andrews. I enjoyed the afternoon, but I struggled. I didn't play as well as when I played with Jack, Drew and Sharon.

I really need to spend some time on the range after every lesson. I have too many different swing thoughts in my head.

At Ancil Hoffman

On Wednesday and Thursday mornings, I went to the driving range at Ancil Hoffman. Working on my swing, I feel like I may have finally unlocked something. The Golftec instructor has been highlighting that I am bringing swing back too far. I get my swing into a good spot, but keep raising up. Working on that and getting my hands behind me, I felt good on the range.

Debbie, Jim, Sharon and I teed off at Ancil Hoffman at 3:32 pm on Thursday afternoon. We have tried to get into a routine of playing with them as often as we can on Thursday afternoons. Jim and I walked, while Debbie and Sharon rode.

I was very happy with how I played. I felt like my work on the range actually translated to the course. I was striking the ball solidly. I three putted three greens and my chipping is still hit and miss. With one mulligan, I ended up with a fairly honestly scored 55.
Although it was slow over the first two holes, it took us about two hours and fifteen minutes to play nine. We sat and had a cocktail on the patio after the round. I really enjoy having Ancil Hoffman so close.

2025 Las Vegas - Day #2

Marlene, Phil, Sharon and I played the SouthShore Country Club. Marlene and Phil are members.

I felt ok on the driving range. I rode with Phil. Teeing off at 8:50 am, I was happy with how I played the front nine. I didn't embrass myself. Using a mulligan on my tee shot, I actually parred the Par 5 sixth hole.

As I get tired, something happens. I really start to struggle with my tee shots. I have got to figure out a strategy for dealing with this issue. I struggled off the tee on the back nine. I was very intimated by the last three holes.

I ended up with a loosely scored 113. I lost a couple of balls on the holes 16 and 17.

The four of us had lunch at the country club. i had an Ahi Poke Bowl, while Sharon had a Cobb Salad.

After lunch, Phil and I headed to the store to buy groceries for dinner. When we got back to the condo, Phil and I did a walking tour of the Shoreline neighborhood. We walked through the three model homes.

The four of us spent the late afternoon in the spa and pool talking about our life stories. Eventually, we moved to the sky deck for horderves.

We finished the day with a very late dinner of pork chops, potatoes and green beans. It was almost 11:30 by the time I wandered upstairs and crashed.

The Old Course at St. Andrews at Waymaker Brewing

When Sharon and I were staying at Drew and Carmen's house, Drew expressed an interest in playing the golf stimulator. Coordinating with Jack, we made plans to go to the Kings game on Friday game and then to Waymaker Brewing on Saturday.

Jack, Drew, Sharon and I went to Waymaker Brewing on Saturday morning. We played The Old Course at St. Andrews. It took us over five hours to play 18 holes; we were there from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm. Jack played extremely well. Given that he has swung a club in two years, I was impressed with how well Drew did. It was a very nice day!

As an added bonus, the Master golf tournament was on a giant screen right behind our bay.

At Mather Golf Course

Friday afternoon, I played golf with Larkin, Alan and Matt at the Mather Golf Course. Alan and Matt worked for Larkin in the late 1980s and early 1990s at Raley's. I know Alan from the Sacramento CIO/CTO Roundtable that I used to attend. He and I played together in the Quest Tech golf tournament at Granite Bay last year.

Larkin and I walked, while Alan and Matt rode. We teed off about 12:10 pm.

I was happy with how I played. On the short course, I ended up with seven bogies and six double bogies. Although I would like to get more distance on my driver and hybrids, I feel like I am striking the ball pretty well. Having a couple of cocktails along the way, it was more of a social round; I wasn't stressing as much about my game. I ended up with a loosely scored 108.

It was a slow round. The round took over five hours. Meeting Jack and Drew for dinner and the Kings game, I dashed to the car and headed downtown when we were finished.

At Ancil Hoffman

Debbie, Jim, Sharon and I played the front nine at Ancil Hoffman on Thursday afternoon. After I retired, we started playing with our neighbors Debbie and Jim as often as we could on Thursday afternoon. We teed off at 3:24 pm.

After being completed discouraged last Thursday, I was very happy with how I played. I had a par, three bogeys and two double bogeys. In spite of two nines, I scored an honest 55. I played with the same ball! Although I feel like my chipping is improving, I lost at least five strokes chipping around the sixth and ninth greens.

The four of us plus Murphy finished the day with dinner at the River City Brewing Company. Sharon had a burger and I had a steak salad.

Golftec plus Pebble Beach at Waymaker Brewing

I had a lesson at Golftec in the morning. I continue to struggle with my swing being outside in rather than inside out. We worked on the position of my elbows with an impact ball and rotating my right hip.

After the lesson, I wandered next door to Waymaker Brewing. After hitting on the range for a few minutes, I started playing Pebble Beach. I didn't intend to play 18 holes. Once I got to about the 11th, I decide to just keep going. It took me about an hour and half to play the course. Although the putting was killing me, I enjoyed the round!

On the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach

Emerald Lakes Golf Course

Tuesday morning, I had a Golftec lesson. The lesson focused on my right elbow and getting the club back in the right position so that I can swing inside out rather than outside in.

Tuesday afternoon, Donna, Kevin, Sharon and I played nine holes at Emerald Lakes Golf Course. We teed off at 1:30 pm. I have never played this course. Sharon played there in December with Jack, Jason and Jason's dad. Additionally, Jack played this course a number of times when he was on the golf team in eighth grade [SEAS Golf Qualifying Round, 2012 PAL Golf - SEAS versus SI and 2012 Spring Training Day 4].

I always feel like it is a bad idea to have a lesson and not be able to spend some time at the driving range. Hitting a few balls on the range before the round, I felt inconsistent. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the round. I was very happy with my par on the long par three second hole.

My chipping is continuing to be my achilles heel. Additionally, the greens at Emerald Bay were tricky. I ended up with a fairly honestly scored 52.

After golf, we stopped briefly at Donna and Kevin's house. From there, we had dinner at Raw Sushi. We split garlic edadmame, a dragon roll, a tiger roll, hamachi, vegetable tempura and a Dante's inferno roll.

After a nightcap back at Donna and Kevin's house, we wandered home.

2025 San Francisco - Day #2 - Presidio Golf Course

The plan for the day was golf at the Presidio Golf Course. I played this course twice before: once with Sharon and Jack in July of 2023 and again in August of 2023 with Jack, Ryan and Jason.

After breakfast at the Lodge at the Presidio, we headed to the golf course. It was literally less than five minutes away. We had a 10:30 am tee time.

Warming up on the driving range, I felt great. Unfortunately, I got off to a horrible start and struggled all day. I felt like I was never on flat ground; the ball was always above or below my feet. My putting was terrible. I ended up picking up and not finishing several holes. After playing pretty well at Hiddenbrook on Wednesday, it was very disappointing.

Then, on the long par five 18th, I drove three shots straight down the middle of the fairway, chipped to the middle of the green and two putted for a bogey. What an odd game...


The four of us took advantage of the wine and cheese reception in the lobby. Getting cleaned up, we headed to dinner. Based on a recommendation from a high school classmate, Sharon made a 7 pm reservation at Sotto Mare in North Beach.

We ended up taking a driverless Waymo rather than an Uber! It was an interesting experience. Holly described it as a Disney ride. The car was clean and comfortable. The Waymo moved at a much more relaxed pace than the Uber drivers that we usually experience. I was very impressed.

We had a very nice dinner. All of us had a blue cheese wedge and crab cioppino for dinner. I also had a couple of oysters.

After dinner, we wandered around the area for a little while. We caught a Waymo back to the lodge. We finished the night sitting in the lobby talking about the plan for Friday. I am trying to get the group to do some of the San Francisco Doublecross Trail.

2025 San Francisco - Day #1 - Hiddenbrook

Heading to San Francisco for a few days, we met Holly and Van for Hiddenbrook Golf Course in Vallejo. While we have never played there, Jack has played this course a couple of times.

I had some apprehension about the day. In late November, my driver was broken in a freak accident. I played at Se@ Ranch and at Turkey Creek with my five wood off the tee. I got fitted for a new driver at Golftec in January. Using it on the range, I have been struggling to get comfortable with it.

Teeing off at 10 am, it rained lightly for the first four plus holes. I was very happy with how well I was striking the ball. Unfortunately, I melted down on twelve. After hitting three solid shots on a tough par five, I was about 30 yards in front of the green. I duffed three staight chips and ended up with a nine.

I ended up with a fairly honestly scored 109. I was very happy with how I played.


Leaving the golf course, we head to the Presidio in San Francisco. We are spending three nights at the Lodge at the Presidio. Sharon and I stayed here once before in July of 2021. We are in room 218 with a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

After getting settled in the room, the four of us met at the wine and cheese in the lobby. We finished the night with dinner at Dalida just up the street from the lodge. Sharon and Tom had dinner here when they were in San Francisco in January.

Eating family style, the four spilt Octopus and Sujuk, Breaking Bread, Fattoush salad, Anatolian Erishte, Cypriot Lamb Chops and Seasonal Vegetables. The food was very good.