Here we are trying to regain our strength after the 3 day, 1 round of 27 per day, Bob West Memorial.  On Feb 24, while we were staying with Jim Garnett in Tuscon Arizona we were told about a small local tournament in Phoenix called Hoops Hoopla at Hoops park.  This was a 9 hole course with alternating tee pads so you could play 18.  The course was wide open with some elevation change, trees, and some OB as well.  We could tell that this was a nice course while still in the van driving up.  Hoops park was set up right next to a school, inside of a neighborhood, which is giving great exposure to the sport.

I don't believe many people would agree with the way the alternate tees were set up, with the crossing traffic and on one hole in particular you putted out to walk to the next tee box that was all of 30 feet from the basket.   All in all the course was fun and challenging, plus the tourney was run well by Dan O.  

While we were in Tuscon we played a little bit on Jim's home course, Santa Cruz River Park. This was a straight-up desert course with lots of rocks and sand.  There were trees but they were so short you could just throw right over them.  The park consisted of 3 sets of tees and 18 holes.  

After the seemingly endless 2 week break, the Bob West was finally rolling around and the tension was rising.  We did get to practice the course in advance and played on it a lot, but some pins were going to be moved around so we bought some bamboo and hooked palm fronds to the top for visual purposes.  Even though were not going to play the Fountain course, Vista del Camino was looking promising.  Length, OB, wind, and lots of distractions with people walking on the winding path that led all the way through the course.  

After the first round of the tournament it was me, followed by Climo, Cam, and Ron.  The second round was rather fun with some great golf shots by all of us on the lead card.  I had the worst round of the group with a -12, followed by Cam and Ron with a -14 and Climo at -15.  With a few people in the hunt it was looking like showdown Sunday.  

At the start of Sundays' round, Climo was at -28, me and Cam at -26, and Ron at -24.  Ken stepped up to the first hole and (surprisingly) splash, he throws in the water.  Me, Cam, and Ron birdied so me and Cam were tied for the lead.    A couple of holes went by and I nabbed the box on a long hole that I managed to par all 3 times.  Wow!  I had the lead by myself for about 3 holes and then, disaster.  I thought the shot I threw was good, but I splashed and took a 4.  OK, go to the next one and splash again.  I just really dorked this one with all of them birdie-ing and me, ohh, another 4.  We went through about the next 10 holes with Ken and Cam really storming and Ron shooting steady.  By the time we arrived to the extra holes, A-J, I had, yes, thrown in the water again and took a 5 this time, which put me back to even.  I'm not real sure what they were all at, but after hole B Cam had everyone, but then Cam tosses a shot barely OB on hole C to take a 4, and then OB for Cam on D, barely once again.  Ken had the lead now, but they bogeys two holes later and Ron's now tied with Ken for the lead.  

To say the least the leader card was very interesting with Ron getting a 2 on the second to the last hole and Ken parred, giving Ron the lead.  On the last hole Ken gave it a run from about 45 feet but hit the top of the basket, Ron was the champ.  

All in all it was a great tourney, but when you come to Phoenix, bring your chapstick!!