Thunderbird’s 5th hole – Click for larger image
Last week I had a spectacular time camping in Zion National Park with my dad and two of my three offspring. Zion’s topography is unlike any place in the world with red sandstone cliffs rising thousands of feet from the canyon bottom. That trip is a story for another day.
We decided to take a “scenic byway” on the way home, rather than driving on the main freeway, I15. The scenic byway, Interstate 9, would take us through several small towns in the middle of nowhere, Utah. I mean nowhere.
We found a town called Mt. Carmel Junction, about 12 miles east of Zion where we made a pit stop. This was a sort of outpost from where one could head to Zion, the Grand Canyon or northern Utah. Out the window I saw a very small golf hole with perhaps the smallest and most narrow sand trap I’ve ever seen (upper right). Literally the trap was two feet wide and about eight feet long. I’d soon learn that the hole was the 5th at the Thunderbird Golf Course, which I’d never heard of.
Thunderbird golf course is a par 31 track with a slope of 102 and rating of 63.3 (for 18 holes if you play the nine twice). This salty little golf course looked intriguing so I drove around the “Thunderbird Motel and Restaurant,” home of the “ho” made pies (see pic below), and found the golf shop.
Thunderbirdt Restaurant, home of the “ho” made pies
Inside the golf shop was a fun character to talk to whose name I neglected to write down but I think it was Marty. It appeared that Marty was running the pro shop and possibly running the hotel front desk at the same time. Marty showed me around the shop, told me about the salty golf cart in there which was the first ever on the course, then showed me the rate sheet. 10 bucks to golf. My kind of price.
I asked Marty how old the course was and he gave me a classic small town answer I’ll always love:
“Well it has been around about as long as Ed, and Ed’s pretty old.”
I didn’t know who Ed was, but now I know that he’s the measuring stick for how old things are in this little town. Marty also told me that the course originally opened because the owner at the time (don’t know if it is the same owner) was at risk of losing his water rights and by opening a golf course was able to keep them. Perhaps this was once a farm in which the farmer gave up on that trade and opened the Thunderbird Motel.
Unfortunately I didn’t bring my sticks, nor would I have had the time to test my skills out on the Thunderbird. But this course is now a golf bucket list item for me. I fully plan to get back there to see my new pal Marty, meet the legendary “Ed” and test my golf game out on this layout soon.
Thunderbird Gallery
I’ve created a HOG Thunderbird Gallery for you to see more images. I’ll get better ones when I play the course soon.
This has been a fun and productive review for me. I’ve had the same wedges, great ones, in my bag for over five years. It was quite hard to take the old ones out and adjust to the new feel and look of my C. Carnahan Wedges. I’m happy to say I’m dialing them in more and more every time I play or practice.
Carnahan Wedges - Click for larger (even more dreamy) image
About C. Carnahan
C. (Chris) Carnahan is an Oregon based maker of what they call “boutique” golf clubs, found primarily in golf shops. When I first heard the description I wasn’t sure what it was supposed to mean. It could either mean they’re really awesome but uncommon. It could mean that they’re just an unknown trying to sound good. I’ll go with awesome and uncommon. Boutique to them means specialized, high quality and not mass produced.
Design / Construction
Carnahan Wedges are like many great and simple things on this planet: eggs, circles, Google, Apple products. Carnahan wedges are simple in design and function yet elegant, effective and easy to use.
The Carnahan wedges are a classic wedge design. No funny markings, designs, cavities, removable faces, adjustable heads, movable weights or clowns which pop out of them and blow up balloons into funny shapes.
(more…)
Hooked On Golf Blog nearly cracked the 3,000,000 hit mark last month, with 2.9. Yesterday though, HOG did crack the 3 million barrier for April, 2011!
Thanks to all HOG readers and friends for making this the best golf blog on this planet and several others.
The sun is out today, finally. The snow has melted. Looking forward to hitting the links soon for golf and gear reviews!
Week #10 (The Heritage) Winner
Congratulations to “19th Hole Green Keepers” on the win this week!
This week’s prize, and the weekly prizes through the US OPEN will be a box of Bridgestone Golf’s e5 golf balls with the new dual dimple pattern.
Weekly fantasy golf prizes until US OPEN are a box of Bridgestone Golf e5 Golf Balls!
Many thanks to Bridgestone Golf for sponsoring the Spring segment of HOG Space Fantasy Golf.
It is not too late to compete and have a chance at all the weekly, segment and yearly prizes! Sign up now and get in on the action, free!
FREE FANTASY GOLF SIGN UP INFORMATION:
1. Point your browser to Kerplookee.com.
2. Create an account if you don’t have one.
3. Click on Join a private league.
4. Enter league ID 145
5. Password is: Masters
HOG SPACE Fantasy Golf is presented by Hooked On Golf Blog and The Golf Space.
Talk all about fantasy golf in The Golf Space Fantasy Golf Discussion Thread.
Thanks to all the great sponsors who are providing prizes this year. Do them a favor and click through to their web sites and give them some love.
*Pre paid additional shipping charges applied for winners outside of the continental USA!
Once again, due to snow I can’t get out on the course today. The next time I do hit the links, I plan on taking my first test drive with the new Bushnell “neo” (yes, all lower case) pocket golf GPS.
Bushnell neo golf GPS - haven't put it in play yet, but it is already in my list of top new cool golf gadgets for 2011! Click for more images...
This thing is smaller than my Canon camera, which I always carry with me in my pocket. The rounded corners are nice when it is in the pocket. The unit comes with a belt mount too.
The unit does NOT require a subscription or fee to use either, which is nice.
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