Series: Diary of A Golf College Student
Article 15: Arizona Part II

by Jonathan Gibbins

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Desert Trip- Part Two

Pine Bluff Country Club is a wonderful course kept in pristine condition. The highest point overlooks the whole complex and on for many miles of scrub bushes and straight desert roads. The signature hole is a long par three over the deepest ravine I have ever seen. I can’t imagine what would happen if you went down to get your favourite ball or your clumsy playing partner, and couldn’t get back up. It reminded me of a funny incident when I was a junior when I played a seaside links. My playing partner was looking for his ball and ended up forgetting which sand dune his golf bag was left in. We looked longer for the bag in the end!

There was also some breathtaking downhill tee shots that see the ball soar against the desert canvas below- but it wasn’t all positive. The course was constructed over a huge area in a humid part of the world, which meant a long and steamy connection between some holes.

Anyway, the tournament got underway and the experience was another personal first for me with leader-boards spread around the course and a reasonable crowd on each hole. The appearance of people was a sudden change from nobody at all and I found myself gazing at them far too much when they lined some fairways. Pretty American girls were the main culprit.

The first two rounds were a real grind but I enjoyed myself. The team didn’t play all that well and we missed the cut by a shot. I played only two rounds but it feels a lot more than that.

The end of the golfing means the return road journey must begin.

On the way back, we decide to take a different route which will take us past some notable sights. One of them is Monement Valley, a famous expanse of desert with towering pillars of rock. I have always wanted to see it and we follow directions right into the middle of the valley, which takes us also into the middle of fog. Cannot see anything. We leave.

The trip back seemed to take forever but we manage to make the most of it. It takes us two days to drive through Texas (which is twice the size of England) and we have a scary moment in the middle of nowhere (we were actually near area 51- a UFO hotspot) with only thirty miles left in the tank.

When we finally trundle our way back into the college campus we have driven over 4,500 miles and been in 14 different states. America is one big place alright.

Hope you have enjoyed this series!!