That Hollow Feeling

If the weather forecast is correct, we are in for a hot one today………predicted mid-nineties for the afternoon while we will be finishing up our round at Sand Hollow, a course I have been looking forward to playing again since the trip started. It must have been at least ten years ago when the boys trip went to Mesquite and we did a road trip up here for one of our 36 hole days. Great memories.

Our tee time is 10:03……..I have no idea where the :03 came from but sure some golf pro could explain it to me…….we arrive in plenty of time, and I am totally amazed at the development that has taken place and is still ongoing at the property. Of course when we were here last they were operating out of a big construction trailer, and that was pro shop, offices, everything. All buildings have a very low profile, no peaked roofs, stucco exterior finish in a modern adobe style, and colours that blend into the surrounding desert. This is really well done. The clubhouse is beautiful…….we only took about a hundred pictures of it from every angle imaginable.

I chatted up a couple of locals who were coming over to the driving range to hit balls, and they tell me that the Ironman North American Championships are taking place right here tomorrow………the Sand Hollow area includes not just the golf course, but the adjacent State Park with it’s reservoir, so the 2 mile swim takes place there, then it is on the bikes for 100 miles, followed by a full running marathon……….you know, if we didn’t already have that hiking date scheduled at Zion National Park……..geeeez what a bummer to miss this one.

We are teamed up for the round with Don and his son Sam from LA…….Don just picked up Sam from CU in Boulder, and they are golfing their way home and having a blast. The course is everything I remembered it to be, and I had a great round…….Jutta was a little off to day for the first time since I don’t know when, but still enjoyed the course. Sure enough when we got back to the truck, the thermometer was reading 94 degrees and we were cooked.

Back to Plan B where we have some cold ones in the fridge, and when deciding on dinner it was easy to say we weren’t cooking because it was too damn hot, even easier to say let’s just go down the road to Taquelina Cafe. Last night was no fluke, as the food and drink this evening was every bit as good. Turns out it is two sisters who opened the restaurant just before COVID hit, but they hung on and survived on take-out business alone until things opened up again. I suggested to Jutta that maybe she and Sibylle should team up on a little German eatery…….maybe even one that specialized in seafood……….suggestion not well received!