Running Y Ranch

Monday | 23 April 2001 | Klamath Falls, Oregon: Today we played golf at the Running Y Ranch, just outside of Klamath Falls, Oregon.  We had a 10:40 a.m. tee time, which was just ahead of a regional high school boys tournament. Boys, boys, everywhere.

9th Hole at Running Y

The day was just perfect. We were able to play without jackets all day! The course is at 4100 feet in elevation, the clouds were high and thin and the temperature was in the mid-60s. As I type this journal, I am slathered in After-Sun Creme. And the best news? My head-whack obviously has improved my golf game! Or... I was having a good day... whatever. The course is beautiful, with sweeping vistas of the surrounding mountains and vast water expanses teeming with bird life of every description. (This area is famed for bird watching.) It was just DT and I playing, no one ever in front or behind us - quiet scenic beauty all day - only occasionally disturbed by DT's mutterings. I told him, "Life is too short to drink cheap wine, but life is too long to moan about your crappy swing. Take lessons or shut up." He shut up. (Matt, I really missed you today.  You would have loved this course and you would have kept DT in check. Plus, we had extra chocolate chip cookies.)
 
I am a great advocate of walking golf courses and never take a cart, unless it is absolutely "required" by the course (like it often is in Hawaii and Arizona). This course - I offer for your consideration - needs a cart. We walked. Ouch. Running Y is an extremely hilly course and the walk between holes is long. Next time! I am also an advocate that golf should be 14 holes. 9 isn't worth showing-up-for, but 18 is just too long! On the 17th hole, I was struggling to lift my arms for my back swing! Maybe it was the altitude? Anyway, Running Y is a lovely, and extremely scenic course and I can't wait to play it again. As soon as I recover from today's round!
 
After we finished the 18th hole, we wandered into the clubhouse and had a snack. I chatted with a few high school boys (they are so cute and look so clean-cut in their school golf uniforms!) and snapped this photo of the 9th hole. The photo does not do justice to this hole - it is a steep drop-off and playing from the women's tees, I was able to smack my ball nearly to the green. The hole is a BLAST!
 
Later, we drove north along the west shore of Upper Klamath Lake - seeing many more birds, including a goose family with their approximately 10 new babies! Just adorable! Pelicans and sea gulls were also on the lake, though it is over 100 miles inland of the Pacific Ocean. We came back to Goldie and I decided to bake a focaccia bread for dinner. I threw water, olive oil, basil, garlic and a bit of left-over grated gruyere cheese into my bread (dough) machine, with the flour, salt and yeast. It turned-out to be a beautiful and savory loaf, which I served with a Greek Salad for a light supper.
 
My arm was nearly too tired to lift the fork to my mouth.

RV Park: Klamath Falls KOA