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July golf trip

Discussion in 'Vegas Trip Reports' started by LV Terry, Aug 8, 2005.

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  1. LV Terry

    LV Terry Captain Flop'N Fold

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    My Trip Report

    Good morning gentlemen, it’s 110 degrees….the harddeck for this hop will be ten thousand feet….





    Ok, so it’s just a flight to Philadelphia, but I gotta entertain myself somehow. Let’s if I can piece together a trip report from my golf trip last month….





    Picked up my boy early Saturday morning, and packed the back of the Expedition as if we were going on Safari… it always cracks me up to see all the stuff we take with us… cases of water, Gatorade, beer, energy bars… hilarious. We’re packed and on the road by 7am, right on schedule. I announce that my intention is to keep my speed above the temperature for as long as I can….my boy immediately launches into a diatribe about me being too weak to last as far as Venutura… so, five minutes into the trip, It…Is…ON. Shocking. In my defense, I made it nearly to Victorville, where the temp went ovcr 90, and, well…I just wasn’t in That big a rush.





    We pull into the parking lot at Rio Secco golf course at about noon. When we left Santa Barbara it was 60 degrees….unoficial temp on the clubhouse thermometer? 120 freakin’ degrees! Awwwww yeah. Doubled the temp in five hours… time to swing it. We get organized, sunscreened up, pay, hit a few range balls, and we’re on the tee box before 1:00. Nice.





    The front and back nines have been switched since last time we played here, and I think it’s a good move, as the more spectacular holes are now on the back nine, which gives you a chance to warm up before tackling them.





    Standard Vegas golf wager… lap dance or dinner… we decide to kick it off with the lap dance, so the stakes are high….not because it’s a lot of money, but because nobody wants to have to explain to a beautiful naked girl that your paying for your buddie’s lappy cause he kicked your ass at golf that day.





    We battle all afternoon, both playing well (for us), which makes it even more fun. The highlight of the round was an early par 3, all carry over a deep canyon… we both hit great shots to inside five feet, and pushed the hole with birdies… believe me, there was some high fiving over that. The match came down to the 18th…we both miss the green in reglation, and have to chip on…putting contest! I cozy my putt up to the hole, feeling pretty good, until my boy goes Slim Pickens on me, and drops the Bomb from about twenty feet out. Damn that guy! Looks like I’m payin’ for the lappy.





    We head out to the Luxor to get checked in. We arrive and load up one of the baggage carts with all of our provisions, getting some funny looks from other people who just have luggage.. hahaha We are Baked. Did I mention it was warm? Get checked in, and in the elevator I make my standard offer… “I will give you $20 if I can use the shower firstâ€. There are a few other people in the elevator, so of course my buddy points out that since he worked me at golf, I was in no position to negotiate. Fine, I’ll ice down the beers, but hurry up… rrrrriiiiiiight. Man did that shower feel good.





    Showered and changed, with a cold beer in hand, we decide to go to the Burger Bar at Mandalay Place… it does not disappoint. Angus beef, with jalapeno bacon and cheddar cheese…. Hell Yeah. Our waitress says the people at the table next to here were mean to her because the food was slow arriving… I point out that they were probably just jealous of her rock hard abs (you just have to love midriff shirts), and we are instant buddies with the best service ever.. hahaha She was a lot of fun. At this point we realize that neither of us really has the energy left to do Cheetah’s properly, so I square the wager by paying for dinner. Went back to the pyramid to play some poker, but couldn’t really get any cards, so called it a night around 12:30… definitely a good day.

    message board says I have to break this TR into multiple posts... sorry about that...
     
  2. LV Terry

    LV Terry Captain Flop'N Fold

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    Sunday morning we’re off to Angel Park. This place just feels like home. Since we are cardholders here, we play for $35…insanity… where else in Vegas can you be entertained for five hours on $35?! We play the Mountain Course, and have a blast. We both play well again, and the match ends in a tie.. no blood. Over lunch we decide that it’s still early, we both still feel good, and that we should play again. So we tee it up on the Lakes Course and go at it again. It’s the afternoon now, which means it is quite warm… like 112 degrees warm. Have to be extra vigilant with the fluids. We are pretty much drinking a bottle of water per hole, and never need to use the bathroom.. you do the math. Every once in a while we’d catch the other person doing something goofy, and make them drink more water… the rule is, if your buddy says you need to drink, you have to drink, no arguing… this works well for us, and we’ve survived many summer trips doing it. We’ve seen other people not be vigilant and crash and burn.. not pretty. Oh yeah, I win the second match by a couple of holes, so dinner is on my boy.





    We get back to the Lux, shower and change, down a couple ice cold beers….you know the routine by now… and head off to Red Square at Mandalay Bay. They have a Huge assortment of vodka there, along with a bar that is ice… kinda cool. I also Love the feel of the place. We both get the Red Square martini… I forget what kind of vodka, but it was Good, and the olives were stuffed with blue cheese….all the different flavors and textures were amazing… really good. We decide to have dinner here, and get a table in the upper room. I ordered the blue cheese encrusted filet mingon….this is the Best Steak I have ever had…I highly recommend it. My got the blackened Ahi, and it was spectacular as well. We both order a “Chernobyl†martini with dinner… there is like five different kinds of alcohol in this thing…it is Big, and goes down like soda… Very Dangerous.





    We decide to try our hand at black jack for a while, and meet a very nice couple from Houston. Lot’s of fun. After a while, I must play poker… I just have to.





    I put my name on the list for 4/8 and 2/4, and get called to a 2/4 table. Sit next to three very nice young women from Long Beach, and commence having one hell of a good time. They are drinking something called a Madras, and demand that I have one as well. A Madras turns out to be Ketel 1, orange juice, and cranberry juice…. Oh my dear God are they good. MB makes change for the rake with quarters, so there are quarters in every pot… the girls are taking theirs and putting them in a big plastic cup, so they can try to win a Z4 BMW playing slots later. After a while (and a few Madras’s), I start putting my quarters in the cup… then other people start contributing to the fund as well…it was a very fun table.





    SweetP had told me she was staying at MB, and was getting in Saturday night, so I sent her a couple text messages letting her know where I was, and to come by and say hi after she got out of “O†at Bellagio. Sure enough, she came by and introduced herself, and pulled up a chair next to me and the girls, and joined in the fun. SweetP turned out to be my lucky charm, and I started winning some nice pots, including the Big Blind K2 offsuit that turned into a Full House! Crazy. We were all having lots of fun, and the Madras’s kept flowing, but I felt guilty about having SweetP just watching, so I suggested we go play some blackjack. I bid goodnight to my friends at the table, and walked away up a couple hundred.





    The blackjack stakes at MB were too steep, so I suggested walking over to Luxor for something more reasonable… on the way over SweetP realized that being on East Coast time was catching up with her, and opted to just call it a night instead. Very fun girl… I’m glad we got to meet. So, now I’m drunk, it’s late, and I have a 7:30 tee time in the morning…. Of Course I went back to the poker room!! I walk right up to my table, and the girls are very happy to see me… I guess the guy who took my chair wasn’t as much fun…oh yeah, and he was getting hiss ass handed to him….so I had to bust the, “I’ll give you $20 for your seat right now†on him… he could not get out that chair fast enough, and the girls thought it was hilarious (hey, they were drunk)…lots of hugs and high fives. Awesome. Another Madras? Well… I really shouldn’t…. damn those things are good. We play for a couple of hours, and then it happens… yep, I look at my watch…. Damn.. I tee off in three hours…. No sense going to bed now!! One of the girls decides it’s time to eat and orders room service for all of us… delivered to the table, not their room….I made a point of telling them how wrong that was, and that they were messing up my Vegas story.. hahaha. So, a couple more hours of poker, and I’m off to take a shower, change, and head out for golf.
     
  3. LV Terry

    LV Terry Captain Flop'N Fold

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    I inform my buddy that since I am still…eerrr.. impaired, he’s driving. It’s off to Paiute, about twenty minutes north of Vegas, to play one of the best courses in town The Wolf. Paiute has three great courses… two older Pete Dye courses with the signature railroad tie lined bunkers and other evil stuff he’s famous for, and the newer more friendly, but also more spectacular Wolf course. My boy is rubbing his hands together on the first tee, as he can tell I’m a bit crunchy from staying up all night… F that! It’s ON! We have a great time playing one of our favorite courses, and continue to play well… exactly what we had hoped for. Again, the match comes down to the last hole, and Again that a-hole drops a long putt he has No Business making (not that I’m bitter) to beat me. Damn that guy. Lunch is on me. Again.





    We eat lunch in the great clubhouse restaurant at Paiute, which has a floor to ceiling glass wall, looking down onto the 18th hole of one of the other courses… really nice. As I’m sitting there waiting for cobb salad to arrive, I start to nod off… that’s when I realize there is no way I’ll survive another 18 holes in that heat. I inform my buddy of the situation, and get “the lookâ€â€¦ sorry bro, I was drunk and playing poker with three very fun women, I was not gonna go to bed. I managed to stay awake until we got back to the Luxor, but after a shower and a beer, I knew what I had to do….before my boy could give me any pain, I informed him that I was Not taking a nap, I was going to bed for the previous night! There’s a difference!!





    A few hours later I wake up and feel Much better. Good to go. My buddy had spotted an oyster bar on the way into Mandalay Bay while I was sleeping…when I told him I had never had raw oysters, he insisted that we go there… so we do. I can’t think of the name of the place, but it is right at the end of Mandalay Place, right before you enter the casino… very nice… we get a couple of vodka martinis and he orders a bunch of oysters from different locations. They show up, and the presentation is very nice. We start off with oyster shooters, which were very good, but I like cocktail sauce, so that’s not much of an endorsement. Now on to the real deal. I slide the first one into my mouth and chew it…. I swear the thought that jumped into my head was…. “this tastes like surfingâ€â€¦ I was ok with the texture and all that, but it just tasted like ocean water to me. He thought they were outstanding, so I’ll take his word for it. I guess it must be an acquired taste. I guess I’m just more of a jalapeño bacon guy than an oyster guy.





    We decide to walk over to restaurant row to see what looks good for dinner. While wandering, we decide to get another Martini at Red Square. We get them with Effin vodka, mostly because we want to be able to demand that the bartended “give us some effin martini’s!!â€. They were Very good… if you go to RS and are a little stumped by the huge selection of vodka, try the Effin.





    So we chat with some people at the bar for a little while, then walk across the isle to Wolfgang Puck’s. There is a wait for tables… would we like a seat at the bar while we wait? Wellllll…ok. ;-) We sit down and I notice that couple next to me are the people from Houston we played blackjack with! During the course of conversation she mentions being pregnant, and I remember her standing up at the BJ table, and I was going to mention it, but she wasn’t very big, and that can turn ugly real fast if you’ve made a bad assumption… I tell her this, and she assures me that in my condition, she most certainly would have pretended not to be, just to give me a hard time. Nice.





    We get our table, and I have a swordfish steak that comes on a bed of mushrooms and celery… really, really good. My buddy has some sort of pasta, which he says is good, but then, how do you mess up pasta. Another restaurant I would eat at again.





    My buddy is off to play some blackjack, and I am headed back to my new favorite poker room. Well… it’s at least tied with Mirage… they’re different. Anyway, I again put my name on both 4/8 and 2/4 lists. They decided they have enough players to start a fresh 2/4 table. Everyone was really nice, and it turned out that there were lots of AFC West fans… we find this out after Raider Boy (me) cannot let the Bronco hat across from me go without comment. Turns out there were like two Chiefs fans, a Charger fan, Bronco Boy, and me, representing Raider Nation. Football smack at a poker table… that’s just good stuff.





    Played for a while, and then it was a time for a dealer change….as he was getting situated, we kind of gave each other the “I know you from somewhere†look. After a couple of hands the dealer says, “I’ve dealt to you beforeâ€â€¦ then I realize it’s Russle from the Mirage! One of my favorite dealers! Runs a very tight table, and has a cutting wit. Once we figure that out, we know exactly who the other person is, and basically, it is On. Russle is running smack about my hands to the other players, which is hilarious. One example was when I had A 10 of spades…hit the ace on the flop and the ten on the river… there were at least four callers, and as he’s calling out the hands he says, “this gentleman has a Real hand, I’m giving him the chipsâ€. And wen I hit my four of a kind (worth an extra $50 for high hand), he says, “Gentleman has two pair… a pair of red tens, and a pair of black tens… sir, your nut flush is No Good!†hahahaa Gotta love a dealer who can run it.
     
  4. LV Terry

    LV Terry Captain Flop'N Fold

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    The next morning, we are off to play TPC at the Canyons. We have a great time, including at the par 3 where I nearly get a hole in one… my ball dropped about four feet in front of the stick and rolled right at it… I thought it was finally going to happen (which would have been Very expensive in Vegas), but it bounced off the stick, and didn’t drop in. My buddy was yelling “you cheap bastard!! I can’t believe you didn’t put that in the hole!!†hahahaa we laughed and high fived for like three minutes.





    This day turned out to be the hottest day in recorded Vegas history… I belive it was 117.. official. So what do you do on a day That hot? Damn skippy.. .you play again. Hell yeah. Really great day. We were playing so well, and having so much fun, that on the last hole of the first round, my buddy kicks my ten foot putt away from the hole and declares, “That’s Goodâ€â€¦ to tie the match. Instead of high fiving, we hugged.. it was that much fun.





    After we finished our second round, on the hottest recorded day in Vegas history, we walk back into the clubhouse (on our way to the bar), and my buddy quips to the girl working the desk, “how much to go around Again?!â€. She looks at us for a few seconds then says, “I’ll tell you what… if you two can finish Another 18 today, I will personally pay for your rounds.†Hahahaha Damn. Called our bluff. No thanks… I think we’ve had enough.





    Back to Lux for the usual post round activities. We decide on Burger Bar for our last meal. Rock tummy waitress sees us at the podium, and tells the hostess to seat us in her section… nice. Burgers, beers, and service were all outstanding.





    More poker this night, but not too late, as the drive home after all that golf in the sun can be tough.





    Overall this trip was pretty much exactly what we had hoped for, with the notable exception of no Strip Club, although neither of us seemed to mind. Shit! I Am getting old! Sonofa…..





    See you all next time!





    T.

    p.s. had plenty of time to write this, what with the three hours of flight delays due to severe thunder storms in Philly (especially liked the part where we landed at a different airport to refuel) ... did ya'll not get the memo that it's freakin' Summertime?! Oh yeah, and nice 85% humidity. Well, at least that 6:30 wake up call is gonna feel like 3:30 to my body... wait... aw hell, I might as well stay up!
     
  5. duffelbag don

    duffelbag don Low-Roller

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    Hungover golf or still drunk...you decide!

    C'mon Terry, golf in the triple teens, you guys are out of your freakin' mind! I played 36 last weekend in Galena and I was beat. And it was ONLY 98 degrees! You guys are hardcore duffers! Then on top of it, you stay up all night just to make the tee time the following day. Couldn't do it. Nope. No way. No how. Wouldn't even be able to tee up the ball.

    Looks like you spent most of the time at MB and the Lux. Nice to see some more info on the Burger Bar and also RedSquare. Both sound very appetizing.

    Effin is the sh*t. Excellent marketing campaign behind that one. Wonder what else they'll come out with?
     
  6. ponyboy

    ponyboy Guest

    Nice TR Terry,

    so question to you since appears you have played a few there. If you had to pick one course to play that has awesome scenery and a few nice signature holes, which course would you pick to play in Vegas?
     
  7. Thekiller

    Thekiller Tourist

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    Crazy Golfers

    Another five star report from the master![​IMG] I had to go get a glass of ice water after reading your TR. Do those golf carts have A/C.

    Nice that you could find some young girls to beat up on at the poker tables before a rematch with your nemesis from Minnesota.[​IMG]
     
  8. HoyaHeel

    HoyaHeel Grammar Police & Admin

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    Terry--why has it not occurred to you & your golfin buddies to make the annual Vegas golf trip in April, or October, or--any time it's not 120 out on the course?? As usual, I'm amazed and impressed by your stamina!!
     
  9. Coaster Kikky

    Coaster Kikky Tourist

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    ouch! BTW, Summertime = thunderstorms in most of the country. And humidity. You pay the big bucks to not have to deal with it, remember? ;)
     
  10. HoyaHeel

    HoyaHeel Grammar Police & Admin

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    Yeah, this is my flight memo to self--summer, don't fly through Dallas Ft Worth, winter don't fly through Chicago....The rest of the time it's gonna be equally bad no matter where you travel:goofy: We're having storms all day today---good thing, because we need the rain!!!
     
  11. RamBill

    RamBill Tourist

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    [​IMG]

    'nuff said.
     
  12. doctor_al

    doctor_al VIP Whale

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    Golf at 90 F blows. I can't imagine golf at 117. Sounds like a nice run at the poker tables though. I got lost in the Narrative, but that was at MB, right?
     
  13. Jack21

    Jack21 Guest

    Thoroughly enjoyed that TR, Terry. You have some amazing stamina. I suspect chowing on big fat burgers served by lean-abd women holds a certain amount of energizing power. Perhaps I'll have to take that room-service-to-the-poker-table stunt to the craps tables when I roll the bones (I can just see my lobster tail and caesars salad spilling all over the don't).

    You da man, good times, etc...etc... :thumbsup:

    J21
     
  14. HoyaHeel

    HoyaHeel Grammar Police & Admin

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    Heck, I have a hard time drinking and playing craps at the same time (I'm struggling & practicing like hell to overcome that obstacle!!) I cannot imagine trying to eat anything at a craps table.....
     
  15. edwood32

    edwood32 VIP Whale

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    Great report! I played in 119 degree heat in Indian Wells about a month ago...ouch, I feel your pain!
     
  16. doctor_al

    doctor_al VIP Whale

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    I'm disappointed no one picked up on the oyster dinner, with a dude.

    I'm just sayin'.
     
  17. kitson

    kitson VIP Whale

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    hey, that guy can drink all night, then play golf at 110 degrees!

    i aint saying nothin about oysters, other than, can i buy you some more, sir?
     
  18. LV Terry

    LV Terry Captain Flop'N Fold

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    Nice

    Nothing like putting in a long day, coming back to your room, and getting a good laugh...

    You guys Rule.
     
  19. jeffkauf

    jeffkauf Tourist

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    A few hours later I wake up and feel Much better. Good to go. My buddy had spotted an oyster bar on the way into Mandalay Bay while I was sleeping…when I told him I had never had raw oysters, he insisted that we go there… so we do. I can’t think of the name of the place, but it is right at the end of Mandalay Place, right before you enter the casino… very nice…


    Was the restaurant possibly RM?
     
  20. RossW

    RossW North of the 49th

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    lots of H2O

    Damn son, that was a good read. :thumbsup:

    I like playin' in the heat as well. The hotter it is the better I seem to hit them. It would be nice to tee it up for 18 in LV w/ you some day.
    The H2O thing is key, I know what you mean there dude....I've been one of those guys who has crashed......and that being on the east coast, in the heat, nothing like in 117 degree desert heat.....YUP...you gots the stamina....

    Well Done, T

    RW

    P.S. (note to self) - "learn to play poker better, Ross" - it seems like it would be a hoot in LV, at a lower limit table
     
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