OR Vacation - Golf

One of the things we made a point of doing on our recent vacation was get in a few rounds of golf. It was kind of cool the way it worked out; we started small and worked our way up.

The first place we played was the Pub Course at Edgefield, where we stayed Sunday night. It's a 17-hole pitch and putt course - the longest hole was 90 yards, but most were more like 60. All you need is a wedge, a putter, and a few balls. Here's the clubhouse:



Here's the view from the tee box on one of the holes on the back 9 - as you can see, you hit off the mats:



It was a pretty squelchy day, and wet grass is kind of a phobia of Mich's. I thought it was hilarious when her ball got stuck under this tree, and with every swing, she got sprinkled on. Nice guy, I know...



Anyway, we played OK, and had fun with it. Sure wish there was a short course like that here in Reno.

The next place we played was near McMinnville, at the Bayou Golf Club. It's an OK course, pretty cheap green fees, which we were happy for later in the week. Kind of winds through some swampy area, hence the name "Bayou" I think. Didn't get any pictures of it - we both played pretty bad, and didn't feel like taking any. I think I shot a 96 - it's been awhile since I haven't broken 95. I'm usually right around 90, hopefully just under.

The golf finale was in Sunriver, at the course where I worked for 7 summers in the 90's, the Woodlands. Course is the same, but it's changed a bit since I worked there - much more up-market. For one thing, when I worked there, the public green fee was $65 - Now it's $135. Sure, it's ten years later, but that seems quite a jump. That said, everything was much nicer - someone came out to clean your clubs, the range balls were free and waiting for you at the range, and the course was in REALLY good shape. New restrooms on the course as well. I guess I was inspired, because I shot a 40 on the front 9, and bogeyed 7,8 and 9 to do that. Best 9 I've played in a long time. Totally lost my rhythm on the back 9 and shot a 52. Mich did the opposite - improved by 12 strokes on the back 9. The only picture I took on the course was from the 6th tee:



Kind of a boring picture, but makes me proud - I cleared that bunker with my drive and had about 180 left on the par 5. Chuffed the approach shot, though, and ended up making par.

So we had some fun playing golf - wish we had more time to do it at home. Mich is pretty fun to play with; she has a good attitude about the game. Out for fun - not too serious, but enjoys hitting good shots.

OR Vacation - Friends

It was really nice to see some friends when we were up in Oregon. Mostly just the first couple of days; we took off by ourselves after that. The first night, we went to Karl and Brandi's Biergarten party, then stayed the night at their place. Here's Karl, manning the grill:



And Karl in the middle, Brandi on the right, and other friend Rachel on the left:



Rachel's husband, Matt, was playing some darts in the garage:



With another friend and fellow Boyz-tripper Ashley:



Absenting themselves from the party games, on the back porch were Mich, Brandi and Rachel:



Things got a little fuzzy after that...



But the next day we took the kids over to Matt and Rachel's for their son Nathan's first birthday party. Here's Nathan with his cupcake:



Sofia posing with her cupcake:



And Julien and Marin (Nathan's older sister) having some lunch.



Also met up with friends from Reno: Chris, Abby, their daughter Hannah and their friend Aaron were at the half-marathon outside of Bend. Didn't have my camera there, though...

OR Vacation - Itinerary

Well, instead of doing on big huge post about our recent vacation, I 've decided to do a bunch of little posts on different topics of it. I'll start, though, with a basic itinerary to give an idea of where we were:

Saturday, August 4
Left Reno at about 4:30 am, heading to Vancouver. Had breakfast in Ashland, a quick ice cream stop at Prince Pucklers in Eugene, and got to Vancouver at about 2:00 or so. Got the kids set up with my parents, ran a couple errands, and headed to ou friend's Karl and Brandi's house in Portland for their Biergarten party. Saw lots of friends, had a great time. Stayed at Karl and Brandi's.

Sunday, August 5
Had a nice breakfast with Karl and Brandi, then went back to Vancouver and collected the kids. Went to some other Portland friends, Matt and Rachel's house for their son Nathan's first birthday. Had yummy cupcakes, let kids play. Took the kids back to my parents in Vancouver and headed to Edgefield. Had dinner and stayed there.

Monday, August 6
Breakfast at Edgefield, the 17 holes of golf on their par 3 "Pub Course". Some pstcard writing and gift shopping, then drove to McMinnville, where we found our B&B. Dinner at a local microbrewery, and Bourne Ultimatum at the theater.

Tuesday, August 7
Run in the morning for Turi. Breakfast at the B&B, then some golf near McMinnville. Nap in the afternoon, then dinner at the Joel Palmer House.

Wednesday, August 8
B&B Breakfast, then it some balls and chipping at the golf course. Visited the Air Museum near McMinnville and saw the Spruce Goose. North to wine country - lunch at Tina's in Dundee. Drove through some vineyards, but didn't stop. Nap at the B&B, some pool at the Hotel Oregon. Dinner at La Rambla, a tapas bar.

Thursday, August 9
Finished up at the B&B, then headed east. Stopped at the OGA Golf course near I5, but didn't play. Continued on to Bend, then Sunriver. Checked in to our house, got some groceries, and relaxed. Had dinner at the house.

Friday, August 10
Breakfast at the house, then golf at the Sunriver Woodlands. Into Bend for lat lunch at the Brewery, then back to Sunriver to relax at the house.

Saturday, August 11
Met parents and the kids in Bend around noon, had a picnic on the river. Back to Sunriver to play for awhile. Dinner at the house there with everyone.

Sunday, August 12
Turi had early race in Bend. Everyone else met him there afterwards, then drove south to drop Ken and Gail off for PCT hike. Shuttled car to hike end, then back to Reno. Got home about 9:00. Started laundry.

Back from Vacation

For those of you who didn't know, we spent the last week up in Oregon. Drove up to Vancouver, dropped the kids off with Grandma Gail and Grandpa Ken, and did a little tour of Oregon. Edgefield for a night, then McMinnville for a few days and Sunriver for a few days. Met my parents in Sunriver, then headed back home. I'll get more in depth as I can - I had my laptop along, and all our lodging had wifi, but my computer just wouldn't start. Seems to be working now, though...