Week of Paso Robles, CA
March 26, 2001

Thanks for your continuing interest as we competed at the Hunter Ranch Golf Course in Paso Robles, CA. The course is only 7 years old and I had met their professional Mike Bremer during our LPGA event at La Purisima GC many years ago. Mike is a great guy and he and his wife hosted Jody Niemann and another player in their home during the tournament. The course was in beautiful shape, hilly, trees well-placed (some in the middle of the fairway), and the greens were multi-leveled and fast.

I met with Don La Casto, a chiropractor in Paso Robles who really helped me with my ailing shoulder and neck. His adjustments on Monday and Wednesday were truly a great assist, and I thank him for the attention he gave to me and also to Val.

Paso Robles is a small city 320 miles from our last event near San Diego and near the coast. It is known for its many vineyards and wineries and our pro-am party included wine-tasting. In fact, my team won the pro-am and received large golf bags embroidered with the CHUMASH Casino logo and also a dolphin wood carved statue. Our team consisted of Bill Kneeland, George Rebhan and Bruce Clyde. It seemed that our scramble team was always in great position from George's huge drives, and Bill, Bruce and I seemed to be able to assist by making some nice iron shots and some fine putting. They hoped my good putting prowess that day (made putts from 15, 18, 27, and 33 feet) would continue during the event too! Bruce could not attend the dinner, but George brought his wife Diana, and Bill brought his wife Jane. We will not forget our fun day together - 4 individuals who have never met one another making 14 birdies and an eagle!

The first day of the event, we were paired in the final group, 1:20 and we played right until dark. I was playing ok as I was +2 after 13 holes. But bogey, quad, par, bogey, bogey finish was not what I was planning on. I didn't sleep much the next night anticipating our 7:40 tee time, knowing I had to play well on Day 2 to insure playing on Day 3.

Day 2 started great with a birdie on #10, bogey on #15, but another birdie on #18 to turn -1. Bogey on #1, and 7 more pars and a bogey finish on #9 as I got into the right tree line, finishing 73. It turned out that I made the greatest comeback to make the cut. That felt very good.

Day 3 we teed off at 8:50 and it started great again with a birdie on #10. And good pars all along and another birdie on #16 to go -2 for the day. An unfortunate double on #17 made me very irritable but I kept it under control for another 6 pars in a row. A bogey on #6 put me at +1 for the day, and if not for a great par on #8, it would have been +2 at that point. But I remained +1, and played a perfect final hole, #9, with 4 wood, 9 iron, and 1 putt from 2 feet for birdie to finish 72. A good day on a very tough course which requires placement. So no pain, and it seems we still have it in there somewhere.

Since this coming week in Patterson, CA there is no pro-am, it gives us one extra day. So at last minute we decided to be pure tourists in San Francisco. We arrived Sunday at 2 pm and stopped by 3Com Park (home of the 49'ers), Pacific Bell Park (new baseball home of the Giants), down Lombard street (the crookedest street in the world), and went to Ghirardelli square. Onto Pier 39 for dinner at the end of the pier called the Sea Lion Cafe. We bartered with a street vendor, listened to the street talent, and sadly passed by many homeless folks. It would not have been complete without the cable car ride one way seated, and then on the way back hanging out of the side of the cable car holding tightly. The ad for Rice-a-Roni is still on the side of the cable car, and it says, "Go ahead and sing it!"

We crossed the Golden Gate and departed over the Bay Bridge toward Oakland and southeast toward Patterson. Let's just say this next course called Diablo Grande is one of the toughest, hilliest, windiest courses in the middle of nowhere. We are staying in Westley and driving 1/2 hour to Diablo Grande. So fill up your tank, pack a lunch, and get ready for a full day. You will see by tomorrow's (Tuesday) photos how beautiful it is, and what a challenge for us all it will be. It is a beautiful course and clubhouse but with a range where you can only hit irons. And no real putting green, so the next 2 days on course will be very valuable.

And this will be the first week since last year in North Carolina where each player must ride, with no volunteers. Which means Val must walk and I must ride with the clubs strapped on the cart. So she will be able to ride between holes, just not within a hole. All players and caddies must go by the same rules, so it is like any week where she walks/runs, just without a bag, and without me by her side. She may just enjoy this ;-)

Thanks again for your interest, and we will return to the Sarasota area on April 2nd after a red-eye flight.

Sue E.

Back to Weekly Letters home