The Kokopelli Golf Stance

6641 Yds. Par 71, Slope 123

Golfweb

They say: "WELCOME to the Villa de Paz - Golf ClubVoted the best inexpensive 18 holes in the "Valley of the Sun" by the Rep's Best as featured by the Arizona Republic Newspaper, Villa de Paz Golf Club ia Arizona's best golfing value. The course was built in the early 1970's and is one of the oldest 18-hole facilities on the Westside of Phoenix. It is a traditional, parkland style layout that is a challenge to even the most experienced players. It is also easy enough for the novice and begginer golfer to still have an enjoyable experience. Remodeled in the fall of 2002, the 6700-yard, par-71 layout features a variety of challenges with water coming into play on 10 of the 18 holes. It's the perfect choice toplay in the summer, with shade in abundance thanks to the mature trees that line many of the holes."

By-and-Large, VdP is a flat, ordinary, 2nd tier course in pretty good condition. #4, the #1 handicap hole, IS a very tough hole, 275 to the corner on a 450 yd. dogleg. I floundered around with a drive to the base of a tree, a mangled safety, a snaphook 5 wood, a chunked pitch shot off the gravel rough, for an 8. Didn't bother me, I parred the next hole, but finished the front nine with two more double-bogeys.

The pace of play started out excellent, till the 7th hole, and then a single played thru. It upset me somehow. . . even tho' we finished the round in less than 5 hours, it seemed longer to me, since we were always waiting on the single stuck behind the next 4some. Mr. Science waved him thru, cuz he was riding our ass everyhole, but then there he was every hole after that, right in front of us.

On 7 & 8, both 340+ yds, I used my 3 wood instead of driver, and hit the best shot of our 4some (longest & straightest) then mishit my short approaches and bogeyed those holes. After waiting an extraordinary time, it felt to me, on the single. Never did get into gear. Finished 47-51=98, with 5 pars, while Mr. Science continued his scorching level of play with a 36-38=74, with 3 birdies.

Slow play and an unmemorable course will do me in every time, but very little perturbs Mr. Science.

I had another couple of snowmen on the back 9, including on #18, the signature hole, with a green well protected by a water hazard. Neither of us played the last hole well: for me it was the predictable ending; for Mr. Science, a disappointing finishing double-bogey: par would have given him a new personal record low 72.

I had a very indifferent Breakfast sandwich there, possibly that may have had something to do with it, but it bears mentioning that the countergirl that served us at the turn has to be the most beautiful & charming in the valley.