A word from "The Rocket" commentary by Rick Rodriguez

Blood Mountain Appalachian Trail Commentary by Rick Rodriguez

Commentary by Rick Rodriguez

Alone again, hiking on the Appalachian Trail (AT), adhering to my inner Thoreau, thinking thoroughly about what I was doing and whether I would summit the 4400 ft. Blood Mountain, I charged forward. Each step filled with the ambivalence of excitement and the trepidation of wandering into the unknown. Yet now, looking back to that Sunday in August, the reasons are pretty clear why I was on that mountain.  I know the secrets that cause me to saunter about consumed by the scent of nature. I've seen the treasures a day on the trails can offer, typically much more than any one day could provide in a city park.  Still, however, I wonder of this innate sense of discovery we humans have.

What compels those that hike or wander about in nature?  What drives those that seek to discover the lesser taken paths littered all around often not far from the secure confines of our households?  I often ask. But, I know the answer to my questions because I have tasted the gifts that Mother Nature has shared with me.

So that day, I set off from the suburban confines of John's Creek, Georgia,where I happen to be working as a volunteer at the 93rd PGA Championship and with only a limited amount of time; not an anomaly when it comes to time and my unplanned excursions.  Determined, I dashed off to this hiker's paradise, a trail junkie's dream--the Appalachian Trail!

Though the hike that day started fairly benignly, through canopy covered and root strewn trail, it would change to rocky outcropping and barely discernible trail markers.  It was a warm day. Other hikers could be heard occasionally, which I would take as a good sign that I was correctly navigating the trail and also giving me a sense of safety as I stepped through toward a summit called Blood. 

Signs warned hikers of Bears and other wildlife in the area, a lone whistle my only protection, a whistle (?); what was I thinking? But the urge had struck to get out into nature, and I often don't know when the urge will strike and I trample into an unknown passage, a place my eye has never seen.  Risk teasing me to discover and try its beckoning. And, usually I am unequipped to handle any adversity but today I would find no adverse conditions.

As sweat consumed my stripped golf shirt, my heart pumping at an elevated pace, I was at peace with only a thought of what would happen if I encountered something on the trail. Despite the thought, I kept going, quiet as a cat crossing a wooden floor, it was the trail and me!  It was the appreciation of the moment.  One of many moments that I've been fortunate enough to receive.  Gifts, blessings, opportunities, call them what you will but this was one of those and it was memorable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few hours later, I reached the summit of Blood Mountain.  Someone had built a shelter there for hikers that needed to catch a break or seek an evening's rest.  After inspecting the shelter, I caught a whisper of a few voices around a bend near a large boulder.  I rounded the corner to find a couple sitting admiring the panoramic view of the Appalachian Mountains.  I introduced myself and we proceeded to chat about the strange crossing of our paths.  They filled me on a little history of the trail and showed me where they lived, near the beginning of AT at Springer Mountain (a long distance from our position).  It was a chance encounter, but for those ten or so minutes, our paths crossed.  In all the paths and trails of life, I walked into their path.  We shared some experiences about how a lone hiker from California would come to cross their path....and I was off again.  Before I left, I asked them to take this picture.  I am glad I did and I am glad I met them.

Once I came down the mountain, pleased to have made it back unscathed, I drove back down to the Atlanta Athletic Club, host course of 93rd PGA Championship, and I enjoyed a relaxing day of watching golf.  I was richer for what the day had given me.  It was a day well spent...and a day my friend Thoreau would have greatly appreciated.

Rick Rodriguez is a writer and is frequently published in opinion/editorial sections in local and national newspapers. Rick, a San Francisco Bay Area native and graduate of Saint Mary's College lives in Danville, California with his two children.  Contact Rick at rrodriguez@pacunion.com or (510) 326-4795.

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On the road with Saint Mary's College Men's Basketball Team Commentary by Rick Rodriguez

Commentary By Rick Rodriguez

I am back on the road this week headed to Murray, Kentucky to watch the Saint Mary's College Men's Basketball team take on Murray State and this occasion has brought back memories of the last time I was in the region in Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville, is a short distance from Murray, Kentucky.

Nashville, is a great small town with a big city feel and definitely a festive atmosphere. Moreover, it is the home of one of my high school friends, Jim Marshall, and he knows the town well.  Additionally, as the head honcho at Coyote Ugly Saloon, he takes great care of his guests when we come for a visit. 

Wikipedia "Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home to a large number of colleges and universities. It is most notably known as a center of the music industry, earning it the nickname "Music City".  

Aside from checking in at some local sites including Titan Stadium and  BB King's Blues Club on my last visit, my travel companion, Vince Howell and I treated ourselves to a meal at Prime 108.  Here's a very accurate description: "First of all I love the location. You feel like you are walking into a train station. There is a big clock on the wall and a train schedule just like you would find at a real train station. This place is a good alternative for chains like Morton's or Ruth Chris."  I couldn't agree more!  It was an impressive venue and the food worthy of a return trip.

The big highlight of the trip was watching the Saint Mary's Men's College Basketball team take on the Vanderbilt Commodores. While the result didn't turn out in the Gaels favor, the experience was a memorable one.  Vanderbilt, a South Eastern Conference team, plays in a historic venue.  

"Memorial Gymnasium was built in the early 1950s. It was dedicated as the campus memorial to students and alumni killed in World War II; a plaque commemorating these people is displayed in the lobby. At the time of its construction, there was a serious discussion within the Vanderbilt community about whether the school should de-emphasize intercollegiate athletics. As a compromise, the gymnasium was built to hold only about 8,000 seats, and it would be readily adaptable to other uses.

The gymnasium floor was built up above its surroundings, more in the nature of a stage.   Memorial Gym is well known for its unusual design. The end-of-the-floor bench location is now unique in major college basketball, and said to give Vanderbilt a home court advantage, since no other facility in which opponents play is arranged in such a way. The interior walls were unpainted cinder blocks prior to a major renovation in the early 2000s. The middle of the three decks has a low ceiling and when the house lights are turned off during game play gives the distinct impression of watching a Cinemascope movie of basketball."

Unfortunately, the Gaels were defeated in the match up with the Commodores on that day (89-70) though it was close at halftime.  Saint Mary's (17-3), at the time, hadn't lost since Dec. 1 to San Diego State, and this loss was a tough end to a week when the Gaels moved into the rankings for the first time since Jan. 26, 2010. This game was the second part of a home-and-home, and coach Randy Bennett said "the scheduling was a payback to Vandy visiting last season and would have preferred to play this game earlier to give his Gaels more time to learn some painful lessons." 

Hopefully, Saint Mary's will pull out a big victory this time around in the ESPN Bracketbuster game vs Murray State!  And, with Dick Vitale broadcasting for ESPN it will be the marquee match up of the weekend.  That alone will make it another great Nashville experience!  Whatever happens, I'll be there taking in the experience of pre-March Madness basketball among a partisan crowd with but a few Gaels taking and a whole bunch of Racers!  That's part of the experience of being on the road with the Saint Mary's College Men's Basketball team!

 

Rick Rodriguez is a writer and is frequently published in opinion/editorial sections in local and national newspapers. Rick, a San Francisco Bay Area native and graduate of Saint Mary's College lives in Danville, California with his two children.  Contact Rick at rrodriguez@pacunion.com or (510) 326-4795.

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Going Low by Patrick Cohn, Ph. D commentary by Rick Rodriguez

Commentary By Rick Rodriguez

After reading Going Low by Patrick Cohn, I played golf with golf professional & long-drive champion Vince Howell longdrivers in Houston, Texas. This wasn't the 1st time I've played golf with Vince Howell. In fact, I've played golf with him hundreds of times over the course of our twenty-year relationship. Watching Vince Howell do spectacular things on a golf course doesn't surprise me; however, seeing him walk on the 1st tee on a never before seen course, and shoot 68 is pretty impressive!

Going Low By Patrick Cohn (Cohn P.27) "To play well, you first must be confident in your ability to play, rather than wait to play well so you can be confident. The sport psychology adage "you must believe before you can achieve" is certainly true and required for great golf!" This is a great definition of confidence, but when it comes to confidence there are varying degrees of it. It can range from no confidence to complete confidence in any given task." The author goes on to detail the 4 levels of confidence, and I won't expound here on the Author's instruction. In the Houston round, I noticed that Vince Howell plays the game from a "knowing" standpoint. Even though we went from the Airport to the 1st tee, Vince didn't spend much time analyzing his swing or taking practice swings. He swings the club from a knowing standpoint!

Going Low by Patrick Cohn (Cohn P.128) "To perform to your full potential, you must change how you usually think about your golf game and how you perceive yourself. You must overcome the barriers that impede your performance. Your point of view of the world around you and of yourself needs to change. In short, you must play beyond "the box." Easier said than done! I know it's difficult to magically convert thoughts for strong golf performance, but it is exactly those limiting thoughts that have limited the development of my game. Check out Peaksports to learn more about Patrick Cohn!

Going Low by Patrick Cohn (Cohn P. 124) "Do you have trouble taking compliments? Do you downplay even small accomplishments? Are you an extreme pessimist? The first behavior that prevents you from developing confidence is when you "disqualify the positive." The tendency to disqualify the positive, such as when you downplay achievements, is often a side effect of perfectionism. Perfectionists are very hard on themselves. Even small successes are not recognized as a positive step, because perfectionists demand so much from themselves." Yikes! How's that for brutal honesty! When I struck that tee shot that landed some 300 yards from it's origin, I looked over and saw Vince just on the other side of the fairway, in no way could that moment happen by affirmatively answering to the above questions. However, Mr. Perfection catches up to me often enough to prevent me from breaking through! And, perhaps there is the lesson for me and why I came to this book back in 2002, and why I chose today to put it's lessons back to use.

Going Low by Patrick Cohn offers many anecdotes, advice, and instruction about the game of golf. However, perhaps its greatest value may be the contributions it offers to the mental side of golf and for that matter any sport. I recommend reading and putting its lessons to use. The book will go along way on helping overcome the barriers that may be holding you back from your best golf game. And, of course, having a great Pro like Vince Howell as a friend doesn't hurt, either!

Going Low by Patrick Cohn is 161 pages. I read it in April of 2002.

Rick Rodriguez is a Real Estate Broker & Property Manager with 27+ years of experience in the real estate business. Rick, a Bay Area native and graduate of Saint Mary's College, services the San Francisco East Bay Area including the communities in the 680/580 freeway corridors, and Southern Alameda & Southern Contra Costa County. Contact Rick at rrodriguez@pacunion.com or (510) 326-4795.

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Silver Falls State Park Silverton, Oregon Commentary by Rick Rodriguez

Commentary by Rick Rodriguez

It was nearly a perfect day, a round of golf at O.G.A. golf course at Tukwila in Woodburn, Oregon followed by an afternoon stroll in the majestic wonder of Silver Falls State Park in Silverton, Oregon!  It was all new to me having driven up the previous night from the San Francisco Bay Area (10 hour drive) and with only one opportunity to explore the area I headed off after spotting this sign on the road near the golf course.  It was about 30 miles east of my location and I decided I needed to find out what was there.  Adhering to the mantra of always challenging myself to expand my horizons, I headed off about 3pm with only a slight bit of trepidation over the time of day.  

"Silver Falls State Park is a state park in the U.S state of Oregon, located near  Silverton, about 20 miles (32 km) east-southeast of Salem. It is the largest state park in Oregon with an area of more than 9,000 acres, and it includes more than 24 miles of walking trails, 14 miles of horse trails, and a 4-mile bike path. Its 8.7-mile Canyon Trail/Trail of Ten Falls runs along the banks of Silver Creek and by ten waterfalls, from which the park received its name. Four of the ten falls have an amphitheater-like surrounding that allows the trail to pass behind the flow of the falls"

So, as the day was beginning to shed its sunlight I wandered onto the grounds of Silver Falls State Park for a quick peak.  After catching a briefing from a local, I followed the trail over to the sound of crashing water.  As I descended the stone steps and rounded a corner, I entered a rock enclosed amphitheater where the star attraction was a narrow cascading waterfall--North Falls!  I can tell you the sight and sound of it was captivating!  Why, I wonder does nature have an amazing way of keeping us focused on its beauty?   Perhaps, our old friend Henry David Thoreau can expound on the cause (Walking Thoreau Beacon Press P.97-98)  "Life consists with wildness. The most alive is the wildest.  Not yet subdued by man, its presence refreshes him.  One who pressed forward incessantly and never rested from his labors, who grew fast and made infinite demands on life, would always find himself in a new country or wilderness, and surrounded by the raw material of life.  He would be climbing over the prostrate stems of primitive forest-trees.  Hope and the future for me are not in lawns and cultivated fields, not in the towns or cities, but in the impervious and quaking swamps." Does Thoreau contend that this is where life is most lived?  I've often wondered so and I can tell you nature draws me in.  I step gingerly onto its trails sauntering and weaving to an unknown conclusion thoughtless and unencumbered!  It is where I cross personal barriers and feel very much alive!

I stayed in this location and around the trail for some time before I headed to the Upper North Falls. There, I sat down, and took in the sights and sounds of the Upper North Falls!  I couldn't tear myself away from trying to move further into the park.  Sometimes, I prefer to acquaint myself as thoroughly as possible with a certain place rather than move quickly to a new location.  Silver Falls State Park is a place that needs this kind of attention!

All in all, my short excursion on the Silver Falls Tour Route and brief moment in Silver Falls State Park nourished my desire and replenished my soul of a much needed dose of nature.  As I walked about in the park, intuitively, I knew that my purpose on this trip through Oregon and my reward for coming to there was this place; this trail, and this experience.  I felt it in the air and absorbed it with each breath!  As I said earlier, it was nearly a perfect day!  It was moments of time traded for moments well spent.  Thoreau would have probably agreed!

Rick Rodriguez is a writer and is frequently published in opinion/editorial sections in local and national newspapers. Rick, a San Francisco Bay Area native and graduate of Saint Mary's College lives in Danville, California with his two children.  Contact Rick at rrodriguez@pacunion.com or (510) 326-4795.

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Pinehurst No. 2 Pinehurst, North Carolina May 2011 Commentary by Rick Rodriguez

Commentary by Rick Rodriguez

It promised to be a very long day.  I was to wake early about 4am and drive from Wilmington, North Carolina to Pinehurst Country Club, home of the famed Pinehurst No. 2 golf course for a 9am tee time, and then afterward drive northeast to Virginia Beach, Virginia.  All toll perhaps some 6 to 7 hours of driving and 18 holes as a break in between.  I was in Wilmington for a golf tournament and after 5 days of golf one more day at Pinehurst Golf Club seemed like an overdose but heck this was Pinehurst, I had to do it!

But I digress, playing a tournament at Magnolia Greens Golf Course in Leeland, North Carolina was the main purpose of my trip.  There, I was treated to a fine course near the town of Wilmington and for the ensuing five days the pars, birdies, bogeys, and others came and went.  Forming new friendships and visiting small towns like Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina further highlighted the trip.  But at the end of my week in Leeland, stood the carrot, the jewel, Pinehurst!

After an uneventful 2.5 hour drive, I arrived at Pinehurst Golf Club, parked, and went into the clubhouse.  Seemingly obligatory at most famed golf clubs, the hospitality is rarely exceeded and this place was no different.   Guests are treated with extraordinary care and the service level is high.  After cleaning up a bit and changing in the men's locker room, I strolled about checking out the memorabilia adorning the walls and hallways of the club.  In a short time, I was on the practice range hitting shots into a wide practice range.  I found the fairway on my 1st tee shot and a pleasurable afternoon ensued.  As I strolled down the fairway, I wondered about all the greats that had walked these same fairways that Donald J. Ross had originally designed in 1907 and how here I was enjoying the privilege myself. 

 
"Ross's most famous designs are Pinehurst No. 2, Aronimink Golf Club, Seminole Golf Club, Oak Hill and Oakland Hills.  He displayed great attention to detail. Often he created challenging courses with very little earth moving; according to  Jack Nicklaus, "His stamp as an architect was naturalness." His most widely known trademark is the crowned or "turtleback" green, most famously seen on Pinehurst No. 2,"  and as I stood over a 165 yard shot I pulled a 7 Iron, gazing at the target, without the benefit of GPS, I hit a shot the soared high and directly at the flag, I watched as it bounced and disappeared from my sight.  I wondered if I had fallen victim to the turtleback greens that Mr. Ross had made famous here.  It wasn't until I was very near the green that I noticed my ball three feet away from the cup.  It was one of few memories Pinehurst Golf Club would give me that day.  "Ross often created holes which invited run-up shots but had severe trouble at the back of the green, typically in the form of fallaway slopes. In the 1930s he revolutionized greenskeeping practices in the Southern United States when he oversaw the transition of the putting surfaces at Pinehurst No. 2 from oiled sand to Bermuda grass."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was in the midst of hot Carolina afternoon, when the early rise and 6th consecutive day of golf caught up to me.  I limped off the golf course and into the relaxing confines of the clubhouse, showered and headed off to lunch.  Shortly thereafter, I was headed up to Virginia Beach.

My experience at Pinehurst Golf Club's No. 2 golf course was everything I thought it would be! I'll recall Pinehurst as a necessity for all aficionados of great golf courses world-wide.  Though I was disappointed with the speed of the greens, and the course wasn't as intimidating as I had anticipated, the overall experience was excellent.  The white sand fairway bunkers place a premium on hitting the fairway and even then hitting the green doesn't guarantee par!  The course was set for amateur play and I can only imagine how fast greens would make putting a nightmare!

"In 2011 Pinehurst #2 completed a $2.5 million, year long renovation by a group led by Ben Crenshaw. The goal was to revert the course back to the original Donald Ross design. 

In an unprecedented move, the USGA will bring both the men's and women's U.S. Opens to Pinehurst #2 in 2014. The men will play their Open at its normal time, ending on the third Sunday in June, and the women will play the following week.

The resort now has eight golf courses, three hotels, a spa and extensive sports and leisure facilities. In 1996 Pinehurst was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior." 

Now, that I've experienced Pinehurst, watching the upcoming U.S. Open's there will be a more familiar and greater treat!

What tornado warning? Orlando, Florida January 2011 Commentary by Rick Rodriguez

Commentary by Rick Rodriguez

Alligators, rattle snakes, tornado warnings, and the best clubhouse I've ever seen all in a few days in Florida in January?  You betcha!  No, I'm not kidding....what the heck were we thinking?  Surely, bracing ourselves inside a mid-size rental car was not what two neophytes from California had in mind when we scheduled a trip to the PGA merchandise show in Orlando, Florida!  But, there we were driving straight into doomsday and without a clue on how to deal with it!

We had just completed our round at Bella Collina golf course, located in the small town of Montevedre, Florida, and a fabulous track with the most amazing clubhouse I've seen (above), when acknowledging an impending storm hovering in our direction, our hosts decided it best, we leave!  Scurrying to our vehicles, we headed west toward Groveland and there we ran straight into a tornado.  I wasn't too worried until the car started shaking, garbage cans began torpedoing by, and Vince, my buddy and driver, started calling in his final rights to his wife back home!  What the heck was this force rattling our car like we were driving a hot wheel?  A tornado....no way....were we really going to screw up our existences with a goofy mistake like driving straight into a tornado?

Groveland, UNITED STATES (USA), Wed 26 Jan 2011, 08:15 GMT

MORE THAN A DOZEN HOMES ARE REPORTED DAMAGED IN THE HEART OF FLORIDA - WEST OF ORLANDO.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS A "SUPER CELL" MAY BE TO BLAME.

JUST ABOUT EVERY CORNER OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WAS UNDER EITHER A TORNADO WARNING OR WATCH TUESDAY EVENING.
IN GROVELAND, RESIDENTS ARE REPORTING TREES DOWN AND POWER KNOCKED OUT.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS THAT 12 TO 20 HOMES ARE DAMAGED.
IT'S UNCLEAR IF A TORNADO CAUSED THE DESTRUCTION.

STEVE SMITH says: "There is a house that had a tree that had fallen in the back of the house, the homeowner is still there, they don't wanna leave, they have dogs in the house."
STEVE SMITH says: "But I've heard we had we've had approximately five homes that were damaged over there, and I think I've heard reports of two to three that are uninhabitable."
RONNIE SMITH says: "You gotta messed up Ford truck, that was in good condition. Now, it's worth nothing, probably. (Reporter: "Crushed.") Yeah, the cab's crushed in."
LOCAL RED CROSS OFFICIALS ARE IN PLACE TO HANDLE ANYONE WHO MAY BE DISPLACED.
THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL HANDLED DOZENS OF CRASHES AS THE STORM STRUCK

 

 

I certainly can't imagine what a full blown (no pun) tornado must be to experience.  This one was relatively benign but I can tell you that we were at the mercy of Mother Nature.  There was little or nothing we could do but continue driving through it.  Once we made it through the cell, the rains settled and the ferocity of the wind diminished.  It was a unparalleled experience for two rookies from California and one that I have no interest in reliving!

 

Despite this potentially devastating disaster, we were able to enjoy some pretty outstanding golf courses including the aforementioned Bella Collina; a private gem called Red Tail; and our hosts' home track Mount Dora Golf Club in Mount Dora, Florida!  And, I was able to see and experience PGA demo day at Orange County National Golf Center, a singular golf experience held in conjunction with the PGA merchandise show.

 

The town, Mt. Dora, is located about 30 miles west of Orlando, it is a small town and is sparsely populated with only about 12,000 inhabitants.  There is some incentive to return to this area as I have a friend that lives in an adjoining town of Eustis.  Ironically, I met this friend running a half-marathon in Petaluma, California in 1993 and we've been friends since.

 

 
So, we dodged it, once again, Vince Howell and Rick Rodriguez, averted disaster.  I've never felt so unprotected and vulnerable in my life as I did that day in Groveland!  But for some reason, my friend and me always seem to find an adventure like this one.  I guess it was okay I was with Vinny...we always seem to come out okay!  But, it isn't like we completely ignore danger warnings.  We didn't ignore this one because a short while later a 10 foot Alligator popped up on the hole we were playing! It was the 1st time I had seen a gator on a golf course and while it looked docile from a distance I didn't come anywhere near its domain. 

 

The adventure concluded the next day at Orlando International Airport.  Vince, my childhood friend, headed back to San Francisco and I headed to Los Angeles for yet another golf experience of hitting a white sphere with a metal stick.  It promised to be yet another great experience sans the unique hazards found in this part of Central Florida!

 

 

An encounter with Arnold on Lanai, Hawaii commentary by Rick Rodriguez

 
Commentary By Rick Rodriguez

I had hit an errant tee shot and was busily searching for it in a wooded area on THE EXPERIENCE, a golf course on Lanai, when I noticed Arnold Schwarzennegger sitting in a golf cart.  I wasn't sure what to make of THE TERMINATOR as he sat there contemplating who knows what....but figuring I might not get another chance I grabbed my camera and attempted to catch him before he scurried off.  There was hardly a soul on the golf course but there I was in the woods staring at Arnold.  As I prepared to shoot this pre-Govenator photograph, Arnold turned toward me with a menacing look, every muscle fiber in his body fully clenched, and gave me an "I'll be back stare" as my camera clicked! 

"The Experience at Koele Lodge was designed by legendary golfer Greg Norman and architect Ted  Robinson. Part of the pair of world-class golf courses offered by the Four Seasons resorts on the island of  Lanai, this inland golf course offers different obstacles for golfers. While the Challege at Manele offers sweeping ocean views and dramatic cliffs, the Koele Lodge Golf Course has a cooler climate and wooded slopes. Terraced water hazards have proven especially challenging for those golfing on Lanai.

The course begins on a plateau at 2,000 feet above sea level. Maui can be seen across the channel from this starting point of The Experience at Koele Lodge. The front nine proceeds through ravines lined with pine and eucalyptus trees. Seven lakes, streams, and waterfalls periodically come into view throughout the course. Golf at Four Seasons Lodge at Koele is further challenged by a range of architectural and terrain obstacles. An incredible combination of highland landscape makes the Koele Lodge Golf Course unique from other Hawaiian options" 

 

I didn't stay at the Lodge at Koele but instead took a water taxi from Maui over to play THE EXPERIENCE on Lanai.  Our accommodations, The Grand Wailea, a sprawling masterpiece of a Hotel located on the Wailea side of Maui, is a memorable place, and I understood very quickly why it is so grand when I sat down for a drink in the cavernous lobby, an open-air centerpiece, that immediately displays the magnificence of this place!  That night we had dinner at Humuhumunukunukuapua'a, Humu for short, one of the Resorts' restaurants, and an amazing place for dinner especially for fish dishes.  And, from there, almost every night we visited a new place on Wailea for dinner.  Nick's Fishmarket at The Fairmont  at Kea Lani stands out as another great dining experience and probably the best service I've ever had anywhere. On the surface, that may sound like a great time but after awhile I would easily have settled for just a home cooked meal; proving the old adage of "too much of a good thing ain't always that great," but what was great was the inclusiveness of the entire resort.  From the water slides to the running track to the proximity to great golf courses; THE GRAND WAILEA is a pretty remarkable place to stay on Maui!

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the golf, I made a trek up to Mount Haleakala to ride AT V's on the hilly slopes of the Mountain.  Be prepared to get dirt drenched riding up there.   But, it was a lot of fun and certainly something I would try again!  And, swimming with the sharks at Molokini Crater, is certainly a can't miss experience unless, like me, you choose not to be shark bait!! It's a popular spot near Maui and tour boats take passengers out to the crater and diving right in with an array of fish is the thing to do.  Small sharks are part of the package but appear oblivious to human encounters.

Overall, my experience at THE GRAND WAILEA and the Wailea side of Maui was like many experiences at vacation spots throughout the world; it is a very inclusive experience.  In other words, once on that side of Maui, there is little reason to leave since every want or need is available there except for the aforementioned treks. 

So, I was captured by Wailea and all the luxury that encompasses this beautiful place.  But, deep down I knew that the decadence of this place was not necessary for me to have a good time.  I was fortunate to have that experience on Maui but I learned it's really about whom you share your experiences with rather than all accouterments that make a place extra special.  It was a special time!

Later, I ran into Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Pro Shop after our respective golf rounds were completed; he was buying a shirt.  He wanted the salesman to confirm the exchange policy with him prior to his buying the shirt.  After several assurances, Arnold admonished the salesman with these parting words "if the shirt doesn't fit--I'll be back!" 

 

Oklahoma City to Wichita, Kansas commentary by Rick Rodriguez

By Rick Rodriguez

I told Dad I'd be right back.  I was going to go for a drive.  It's something I enjoy doing whenever I'm in a new spot in the world.  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is not a new spot for me but it has changed a lot since I first visited 25 or so years ago. Back then, there was very little that appealed to me in the area but I had no choice; my parents had been relocated there for good!

I had two spots in mind the day I drove off from my folks place in OKC.  I could go north east toward Tulsa or north toward Kansas.  I chose Kansas because that would allow me the opportunity to enter another state in the United States.  Soon after, I drove out of Oklahoma City metro, and found myself pointed toward Guthrie.  Either way I looked out of my car windows from the I-35 thoroughfare I saw the flat land that Oklahoma is known for and somehow the open plains had me thinking of what once roamed here!  I looked for landmarks and saw an occasional building or barn but little else.  I marveled at the condition of the roads; excellent by any standards.   

I took I-35 North toward the Kansas state line and drove straight through to Wichita.  It was the biggest city on my path that day.  After about a 130 miles, I drove into Wichita and parked the car next to a river (Arkansas) where I found a nicely paved riverfront.  Despite the warm day, I decided to go for a run up the river and then back around.  I crossed over at Lewis Street and read the marker describing the importance of the Lewis Street Bridge and then ran over to the other side where I discovered a baseball field!

The field was typical of baseball parks where much of the ballpark is decorated with advertising.  I reasoned because of its size that it must have been a minor league field.  As I canvassed the closed park, I noticed a workman tending to his duties on the lush green outfield.  The entrance gate was ajar and I wandered in for a look.  In this little ballpark, I discovered that it was loaded with Baseball history and took some pictures of the significant events that had occurred there a long time ago.  As I snapped away, the workman noticed that I had entered the park and quickly moved to ask me out!  He told me the park was closed and watched as I exited the ballpark.  I smiled as I walked back toward the gate learning a little bit more about a town and a ball field I never knew I'd cross paths with.  The ballpark had written testament of what had occurred there many years ago.  I took a few pictures and read about the history of the place before I left.

Afterward, I went back to my run, running for a ways before crossing back across the Arkansas river.  I made it back to my car.  Hopped in and went looking for a place to grab a quick bite for the ride home.  I chugged a Canadian Molson beer and a tasty sandwich while chatting it up with the bartender at Chicago Pizza.  He filled me in on Wichita and told me about a great golf course the Seniors use on the Champions Tour just north of Wichita!  I made one more stop in the plaza before heading South.  Dad had asked me not to be late as he was making dinner and just can't stand serving food that is just not perfect!  I raced back to the folks place in record time catching the commute hour into Oklahoma City.

It was a fun day spent alone driving I-35 and it never ceases to amaze me what can be discovered here in our own backyard.  Somewhat amusing is that I came across this field especially with my love of the game of baseball.  All that history happened on that land over 75 years ago and I stumbled across that field; rewarded for going for a drive!

I don't think I'll ever look or think about Oklahoma City the way I used to back when my parents first moved there so long ago.  It's a place in the world!  And, like all places it has its significance, more so now than ever, and it has my parents and a sprawling new generation of Rodriguez's there!

Moreover,  I've been going for drives for so long now that it has become my habit to continue to venture on!  Seeing the roads, trails, paths, and history that others before me have seen!  I was thrilled that one day I drove north toward Wichita!  I was thrilled to see America at it's mid-section and at one time its frontier.  I can see the road even now, as I write these words, and feel the freedom to be able to drive over this great country restricted only by my time line and nothing more!  America..... truly at its finest and me enjoying as much of it as it would give me!

Next time I go for a drive I'll take Dad with me and buy him dinner!  After all, it was because of him that I came to know America and all its special places!

Boston Garden--Boston, Massachusetts February 5-8, 1993 commentary by Rick Rodriguez

By Rick Rodriguez

As a basketball fanatic, I've always had the game in and around my life.  Growing up in a rather tough blue collar neighborhood, my friends and me honed our skills on the asphalt courts of the neighborhood playgrounds.  My love for the game of basketball grew from here and it led me to Boston.

Growing up in the 1970's and 1980's  much of the talk of legendary basketball teams centered around the Bucks (Central), and the Knicks, 76ers, and the Boston Celtics of the East Coast.  In the decade of the 1980's, professional basketball was about two clubs--the Los Angeles Lakers & Boston Celtics!  That was it basically!  This is most profoundly evidenced by the decade of the 1980's where these two clubs captured eight NBA Championships; Detroit and Philadelphia the only intruders to a championship decade sweep!

The Boston Garden was an arena which opened November 17, 1928 in Boston, Massachusetts.  Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third incarnation of New York's Madison Square Garden, the arena was originally called the "Boston Madison Square Garden", but eventually got clipped to the Boston Garden. It would eventually outlive its original namesake by some 30 years. Located on top of North Station, a train station, which was originally a hub for the Boston and Maine Railroad, and today MBTA Commuter Rail and Amtrak trains, the Garden hosted home games for the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics as well as rock concerts, amateur sports, boxing and wrestling cards, circuses and ice shows. It was also used as an exposition hall for political rallies such as the speech by John F. Kennedy in November, 1960. The Boston Garden was demolished in 1997, a few years after the completion of its new successor arena, the FleetCenter, which is now known as TD Garden!

Out of my love of Basketball grew my fascination to see a game at the legendary Boston Garden! In 1993, along with my brother, we did just that catching the aforementioned Philadelphia 76ers led by the recently deceased Manute Bol, and the Golden State Warriors led by erstwhile Warriors Tim Hardaway, Sarunus Marciulionis and Latrell Spreewell taking on the Boston Celtics!  Boston led by Dee Brown and Kevin Mchale were headed toward their down period, perhaps coinciding with their soon to be replaced beloved Boston Garden. And in fact, the team would get hit with the tradgedies of Reggie Lewis and Len Bias, which also affected their downward spiral!

I wanted to see the GARDEN or GAAADEN as a rank and file Bostonian might pronounce it; and I did!  The Garden did not fail my expectations or me.  I saw the dead spots on the floor; the old dilapidated arena; the yellowish chipped paint on the well worn seats, and I also felt the aura of being in the  hallowed arena.  I felt what the Warriors felt.  Commanding a surprising attention throughout the game only to succumb 87-82 in the final four minutes: the fan base only awakened in the final minutes in order to secure an assumed victory!  Yes, the Warriors, my team, were beat that night.  And the Garden was later defeated, too!  

Later, my Brother (Javier) and me did the traditional Freedom Trail walk featuring Paul Revere's house, Breed Hill Monument (It's 297 steps to the top), Faneuil Hall, etc. http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/visitor/visitor.html and made our way out to Fenway Park!

My guess is a lot has changed in Boston since the last time I visited.  I don't know what the new stadium is like and while I am sure I'd appreciate the modern NBA arena amenities; I bet the mystique of the Old Boston Garden is missed by many.  Many decades later, I reflect on those days on the playground; playing all day long by tossing a ball in a hoop!  I can go there now, even tomorrow, but only in my mind and memory can I visit the Boston Garden!

 

Reno, Nevada September 2009 52nd Western States Golf Team Championship commentary by Rick Rodriguez

By Rick Rodriguez

The 52nd Western States golf team championship took place in Reno, Nevada last month.  The two man best ball championship was contested over three courses.  This year the tournament was held at Lakeridge, Wolf Run, and Red Hawk golf courses.   

My partner was Mark Dunn, an avid golfer, and long time friend and co-worker.  We headed out Labor Day which is usually a travel day for this west coast tournament.  After a pleasant 3 1/2 hour drive,  we arrived in Reno, Nevada, checked in at Harrah's Hotel & Casino and proceeded to find a late night meal.  We quickly found the hotel's restaurant, scarfed down a fast dinner and turned in for the night. 

Like many Reno Hotels, Harrah's is a good place to stay especially at affordable rates that are seemingly ubiquitous around town.  If playing golf, the hotel is centrally located to courses and walking about town is a breeze, and in addition to decent sized rooms; the pool area is generous in size and workout facilities well appointed.

Lakeridge golf course is noted for its signature Par 3, an island green where the tee is perched high up on a hill.  The tee shot is seemingly a shot into the heavens and a drop down to the island green.  I hit a 4 wood, an easy one, and my shot landed over the pin but up against the bunker seen in the background.  Unfortunately, my ball landed against the first cut of rough and with an awkward lie; I ran my ball ten feet past the cup and missed the Par putt.  A slight disappointment given the pleasing tee shot: a smooth, floating arch of white circumference headed out over the blue sky background sinking towards its destiny.

The rest of the day was a paradox of good play intertwined with some missed opportunities!  Overall, I was really pleased with Lakeridge; the greens were excellent; fairways generous and difficult.  We shot a net 63 that had us tied for 4th after the 1st round.

After returning to the Hotel, we decided to head over to dinner at The Silver Legacy's Sterling Steakhouse, but prior to that we stopped at the Hospitality Suite for marvelous views and spirits as a pre-dinner warm up.  The tournament had reserved a Hospitality Suite at The Legacy in order for the players to engage in the day's game conversation, or commiserate over the round's missed opportunities.  The views and the camaraderie were as expected--excellent!  The dinner at Sterling's was just spectacular.  Mark & I had rib-eye steaks that were cooked to perfection, generous in size, and the accompaniments perfect!

Day two saw us head to Wolf Run Golf Course, an easier course in my opinion, and this showed as I got off to a quick start.   Mark, my partner, saved us at times where my Driver failed my instruction, and after basically letting the round get away from us we ended with a net 62.  Still a pretty decent day but not enough to put us anywhere near the lead.  In best ball tournaments, it's days like this day, that either puts a team in the hunt or the team falls further behind.  In our case, the latter ensued, making the final day critical to our outcome.

The final day had us playing at Red Hawk Golf Course, a sprawling two course golf complex located in Sparks, Nevada.  The practice area, clubhouse, and restaurant are impressive. The overall feeling of this place is fantastic!

As I stood looking at the wide open 1st fairway, I thought nothing of the out of bounds all along the left side of the hole; however, as soon as I launched my tee shot I knew it was out of bounds.  Fortunately, Mark made Par and saved us and also saved us on the next Par 5 hole. It wasn't until the 3rd Hole (No.1 Handicap) that I launched a crushing tee shot that left a short sand wedge to the green.  I promptly made Par and we took off from there shooting 31 on the front nine.  After a Par on 10, Mark and I each bogeyed holes 11 thru 15, ending any comeback or thoughts of coming in the money for this tournament; alas there is always another tournament to look towards. 

Chagrined somewhat from seeing our efforts go awry on the final 8 holes; nonetheless, we had an excellent time.  The tournament host put on a great event worthy of their long tenured legacy and we eagerly look forward to a return to next year's tournament. 

It had been some time since I've been up in Reno but I particularly enjoyed the ride to and from the Bay Area and to Reno.  Once past the mundane ride to Sacramento; the scenic towns of Auburn, Emigrant Gap, and Truckee ensue along with elevation and stunning California Redwoods.

While I was somewhat familiar with the Donner Party's travails through the region, I didn't know much about the significance of Emigrant Gap.   "Emigrant Gap is a gap in a ridge on the California Trail as it crosses the Sierra Nevada, to the west of what is now known as Donner Pass. Here the cliffs are so steep that, back in the 1840s, the pioneers on their way to California had to lower their wagons on ropes in order to continue.

The Emigrant Gap was so named because it was a low gap on a ridge where the emigrants' wagons crossed from the American River drainage to the Bear River drainage. It was part of the Truckee Route, a portion of the California Trail by which pioneers, heading west, emigrated from the United States to California, which was part of Mexico until it was captured by the United States in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848)."

So, even as I put a bit of my golf history in the past, I grabbed a piece of California's, United States', and Mexico's history.  This history along with Reno golf courses, affordable accommodations and an excellent steakhouse made this short trip very worthwhile. Moreover, rekindling my interest in exploring my own backyard is always a special treat!