West: 9-Hole Gems

West Central East
Welcome to the my home and the Western part of the country. I have played many 9-hole courses in these states and I hope I am able to help you with your journey. West states include: Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Nevada/California/Oregon:  Golfing with the Cartwrights and dining with the Donner Party!

This was definitely a strange pairing. We played two courses that have a connection to the TV show Bonanza and the Ponderosa Ranch. That explains the Cartwright family connection. But dining with the Donner Party? One of our Always Time for 9 staff members has the last name Donner. He is a big man with a hearty appetite. As we traveled over Donner Pass from Nevada to California and eventually to Oregon, we made sure to stop at every rest area and restaurant to make sure his stomach was full. You just never know…

Old Brockway Golf Course, Kings Beach, CA
Ponderosa Golf Course, Truckee, CA
The Links at Kiley Ranch, Sparks, NV
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, OR
Tucker Oaks Golf Course, Redding, CA
Old Back Nine, Bend, OR

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If you have ever driven on I-80 through Wyoming, you understand. The speed limit in the western part of the state is 80 mph; the wind is always blowing at 80 mph; there are always 80 semis to every 1 car along the route; you will see 80 herd of antelope grazing along the highway; Little America Resorts have 80 billboard signs littering the landscape; bathrooms are always at least 80 miles apart; and my golf scores are almost always in the 80’s. For all those semi drivers who need a break and want to get in a quick 9, here are a few suggestions:

Sinclair Golf Course, Sinclair, WY
Leaning Rock Golf Course, Pine Bluffs, WY
Little America Resort and Golf, Cheyenne, WY
Kingham Prairie View Golf Course, Cheyenne, WY

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The year was 1982. Karen and I had just gotten married and our honeymoon took us down the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. 36 years later, we decided to recreate the Oregon portion of that trip.

Back in 1982, Bandon Dunes wasn’t even on the map. Coos Bay hadn’t changed much in 36 years. In Gold Beach, we could now afford a better hotel. Also at Gold Beach, we were able to recreate a photo of me sitting on the same piece of driftwood at the beach. Of course, I am now an old man instead of a young, vibrant lover. Karen somehow has not changed much.

After a quick stop in Grants Pass and Crater Lake National Park, we arrived in Bend…and decided to stay. We sold our house in Colorado and moved to Bend. I guess you can go Back to the Future.

Hidden Valley Golf Course, Cottage Grove, OR
Forest Hills Country Club, Reedsport, OR
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, OR
Cedar Bend Golf Club, Gold Beach, OR
Applegate River Golf Club, Grants Pass, OR
Old Back Nine, Bend, OR (now my home course)

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The main focus of this buddy trip was to become one with nature in the Redwood forests and to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Or was it photo El Capitan and play golf in Yosemite? I know we did one of the two!

The trip started in San Francisco, as we sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge, sampled Irish coffee and even had time to play a 9-hole round. It was decided that we play golf (at our 2018 Course of the Year) before we started to sample wine in Sonoma. Cruising along the coast on Hwy. 1, our destination was Little River Inn, North Coast Brewery and Humboldt Redwood State Park. Our trip was complete with golf and hiking in Yosemite National Park.

Gleneagles Golf Course at McLaren Park, San Francisco, CA
Northwood Golf Club, Monte Rio, CA
Little River Inn Golf Course, Little River, CA
Big Trees Golf Course, Yosemite National Park, CA

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A trip to Southern California in winter is always a treat if you live in Colorado. The San Diego trip started in the rain; turned into snow as I made my way to Borrego Springs; and ended in glorious sunshine.

Besides playing golf, I was able to attend the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines; explore Balboa Park; visit La Jolla Cove; and reunite with an old childhood friend.

So many fun places to visit but so little time.

National City Golf Course – National City, CA
Balboa Park Golf Course – San Diego, CA
The Springs at Borrego RV Park and Golf Course – Borrego Springs, CA

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Pacific Northwest/CO: 2020 – The Year of COVID-19

I never thought a year could be crazier than 1968. That was the summer between my senior year in high school and freshman year in college. On our way to Aurora College in Aurora, IL, we drove through Chicago as the protests were happening at the Democratic National Convention. As Bob Dylan would say…the times they are a changin’!

Fast forward 52 years…and it did get worse. Just to highlight: COVID-19; I turned 70; we missed golf trips to Scotland and the New England states; protests; devastating fires; unemployment; business hardships; and political accusations of lies, fake news, hoaxes and conspiracy theories.

But in spite of all this, we were still able to golf the fairways less traveled! We stayed close to home and concentrated most of our playing to the Pacific Northwest. During this time we felt it necessary to help support the small town, family-owned golf courses that may have struggled due to COVID restrictions.

Let’s continue to support these small town courses that can mean so much to their communities. As we move to 2021, think…Support Small Business!

Old Back Nine – Bend, OR
Sunriver Resort (Caldera Links) – Sunriver, OR
Orcas Island Golf Course – Eastsound, WA
Ellensburg Golf Club – Ellensburg, WA
Hidden Valley Golf Course – Cottage Grove, OR
River Ridge Golf Complex – Eugene, OR
The Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills (Blue Course) – Westminster, CO
Pelican Lakes Golf and Country Club (Falls Course) – Windsor, CO

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Colorado/Wyoming: The Border War – Who wins the Golden Golf Shoe?

This is the Always Time for 9 take on the classic Border War Football Game between Colorado State University and the University of Wyoming. the winner holds the coveted Bronze Boot for the year. I will try to be objective in my decisions but loyalty is a strong motivator. Mrs. Always Time for 9, my mother-in-law and father-in-law, one brother-in-law, and Always Time for 9 team member, Armchair Piper (Ed) are all alumni of CSU.

Let the competition begin and please forgive me if I am a little biased toward Colorado!

Colorado vs. Wyoming: Winner – Colorado. They have the Broncos; Rockies; Avalanche; Nuggets; Vail; The Broadmoor; Castle Pines. Wyoming has wind.

Fort Collins vs. Laramie: Winner – Fort Collins. No contest – I met and married Mrs. Always Time for 9 there many years ago!

Colorado State University vs. University of Wyoming: Winner- CSU. Please refer to the first paragraph. I need to live to see another day.

Green/Gold vs. Brown/Yellow: Winner – Tie. I’m more partial to the Blue/White of Aurora University.

Rams vs. Cowboys: Winner – Cowboys. Karen asked me how I could vote against that little cutie, “Cam, the Ram”? This comes from a Ft. Collins High graduate who’s mascot is a “Lambkin”. A mighty “Lambkin”?

Enough of this foolishness, it’s time for golf and the real challenge. Following are a few 9-hole courses from which to choose when traveling in Northern Colorado and/or Southern Wyoming.

Fox Run GC (Laramie) vs. City Park 9 (Ft. Collins): Winner – City Park 9
Little America GC (Cheyenne) vs. Mountain Vista GC (Ft. Collins): Winner: Little America
Kingham Prairie View GC (Cheyenne) vs. Pelican Lakes Golf Club – Falls Course (Windsor, CO): Winner – Pelican Lakes (Falls). Our 2015 Course of the Year.
Leaning Rock GC (Pine Bluffs, WY) vs. Mt. Meadows GC (Red Feather Lakes, CO): Winner – Tie (Neither deserves to win!)

You can read more about all these courses on the following links…

Fox Run Golf Course – Laramie, WY
City Park 9 – Fort Collins, CO
Little America Golf Course – Cheyenne, WY
Mountain Vista Golf Course – Fort Collins, CO
Kingham Prarie View Golf Course – Cheyenne, WY
Pelican Lakes Golf and Country Club – Windsor, CO
Leaning Rock Golf Course – Pine Bluffs, WY
Mt. Meadows Golf Course – Red Feather Lakes, CO

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Northern Oregon Coast: “More Golf, Les(s) Nessman!”

If you are younger than 60, you probably have no idea what the above means. If you are older than 60, your mind has probably erased all knowledge of WKRP in Cincinnati. Of course this is my own take on their old station motto, “more music, and Les Nessman!”

What does this nonsense have to do with anything? This Oregon trip started with the McMenamins Herb Tarlek Day Golf Tournament at Gearhart Golf Links. So now you’re asking, “who the heck is Herb Tarlek?” Herb was the sales manager at WKRP and was best know for his atrocious taste in clothes. His outfits consisted of white belts; white shoes; and suits made of polyester, covered with loud plaid patterns. If you were young and hip in the 1970’s (I was), this was the wardrobe hanging in your closet. No use denying it, this is how YOU dressed. He claimed he bought his suits at a golf pro shop in Northern Kentucky.

That brings us back to golf and our first stop of this trip – Gearhart Golf Links. The Herb Tarlek Day was billed as “Bad pants, tacky shirts…the ugliest affair on the coast.” You’ll have to visit my website, YouTube, and Instagram accounts for pictures from that frightful day.

Gearhart Golf Links – Gearhart, OR
Crestview Golf Club – Walport, OR
Neskowin Marsh Golf Course – Neskowin, OR
Seaside Golf Club – Seaside, OR
Highlands Golf Club – Gearhart, OR
Agate Beach Golf Course – Newport, OR

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OR, ID, MT, WA: The Bitterroot Range Route…This Spud’s for you

Discussions about Idaho will eventually turn to the…Potato. Baked, fried, mashed, scalloped, and the list goes on. If you are a big fan of this vegetable, there is no better place to visit than Blackfoot, ID – “The Potato Capitol of the World”. Seated in Bingham County, it produces more potatoes than any county in the United States! You can learn much, much more about the potato at the Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot. The next time you are having a beer, burger, and fries at the 19th hole after a grueling day of golf, you can amaze your playing partners with your knowledge of the potato.

The trip took us through parts of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Washington. The roads we traveled were I-84, I-15, and I-90. If you study a road map of these highways they outline the perfect shape of a…wait for it…Russet Potato! Looking at that map you will see growing out of the middle of the route, the Bitterroot Mountain Range.

After visiting the Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot and The Museum of Clean in Pocatello, we didn’t have time for 18-hole rounds, but there was Always Time for 9!

You will discover more about these two museums and a little about golf as you travel The Bitterroot Range Route.

Country View Golf Course – Ontario, OR
Falcon Crest Golf Course – Kuna, ID
Journey’s End Golf Course – Shelley, ID
American Falls Golf Course – American Falls, ID
Deer Park Golf Course – Deer Lodge, MT
University of Montana – Missoula, MT
Ellensburg Golf Course – Ellensburg, WA

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