:The Prepound

As I told Bjorn this weekend, finding golf packages for this winter is difficult in June. Most places have summer rates posted only. So if we’re serious about a desert golf trip, we should look more in the fall.

I didn’t think I would say this after my experience in Vegas two years ago, but I’m up for a return trip. It’d be nice to stay on the strip (read: not the Holiday Inn) and golf during the day, or take a trip to the Grand Canyon, etc. That way we’d have some entertainment during the evening time. Plus, flights to Vegas are typically cheaper. And I’m also down for a trip to Palm Springs. We could fly into LA - see you, Bjorn - and then drive to Palm Springs.

Good times, good times.

First, I submit that we posthumously dub Vegas 2004 as Prepound I, then 2005 in Whistler as Prepound II and this year will be Prepound III.

With my new job starting soon, I would prefer to take a few days off the weekend before Christmas like Dec 15 - 19th?  A golf trip in Arizona or back to Vegas would be fun.  Both Vegas and L.A. would be cheap to fly to.  I do think Vegas would be fun to do again but with a few days of golfing.

If we go to Whistler again, we should stay right in the village at one of those places with the hot tubs as large as an Olympic pool.  Do we want to bring the ladies if we go to Whistler again?

Should we invite other people or keep it the four of us?  There are people we all know, like Todd and Garrett that went to Vegas with us.  And there are people we each know from school or church that would like to come.

I’m honestly up for anything as long as we do SOMETHING.

I second Drew’s motion. Prepound III it is.

Also, if we do Whistler again it’d be nice to bring the ladies. Since we’d have twice the company we could look into renting a condo for the weekend. But since skiing was last year I think we should focus our efforts on golfing. Thoughts?

I’m up for inviting other people, but keeping it limited to just Todd and/or Garret in addition to last year’s crew.

I doubt Garrett would be able to make it but Todd would be a great addition to a golf trip.  I bet he has some good ideas on places to go…the Bethel golf team use to take a trip every spring break.  Matt…give him a call if you have a chance.

I talked with Matt yesterday and it’s looking doubtful that he can swing the trip both financially and time-wise. He’ll have to say more about that. But I relayed to him I thought it was important that we are all together - regardless of location. With that being said, should we think about flying to Detroit and spending a weekend in Toronto? Obviously it’s not ideal - I’d rather be working on a tan and my tee shot in the desert somewhere - but could be a good compromise.

Thoughts? Reactions?

Regardless of where we go, is there a better weekend that would work?  Any earlier gets a little tough for me - as it is it will be like last year, right after finals for me. 

Bjorn - does the 15-19th work?  The weekend after is when Matt’s family leaves on the cruise (Sat, Dec 23rd). 

I talked to Matt and here is the deal: He has two main possibilities of rotations in December.  If the rotation is at his school in Michigan it would go until the end of the end of the third week in December, the 22nd.  So, the only possibility would be for him to take a Friday or Monday off on the previous weekend and we could all go to Toronto. (Blows.  Random Google Image search for Toronto:

)

If he gets the rotation in the Twin Cities the he is free the whole week before Xmas and he would be able to leave from the cities and we certainly won’t make the extra effort to go back to Toronto.  Recall:

The problem with Matt’s deal is that he won’t know which rotation he has until Sept/Oct.  But if Matt and I leave from the cities, I bet we could swing (har har) a golf trip somewhere.  I am confident we can make something work either way.

p.s.

The 15th-19th should work, unless we get some wacky finals schedule but I won’t know until later in the summer.

Sounds good - let’s hope Matt gets the Minnesota rotation if he knows what’s good for him.  Maybe he should get his lazy kidney on his computer and post for himself.

Matt on the Prepound is like a Muppet driving a car.

I did some preliminary number-pulling for a trip to Phoenix/Scottsdale for four days/three nights on Dec 15-19 and here is how things are shaking up:

There are plenty of hotels and for four people, it will be about $100 each for the weekend.  The direct or one-stop flights are currently $350 from MSP, $300 from SEA, and $140 from LAX.  Car rental is tops $40/person + gas.

So depending on where everyone will fly from, it is about $500 or less plus golf and food…much less expensive than Canada.

I have a brother of a friend in Scottsdale I will give a call to in the next week.  I suspect I can get some great advice from him about places to stay and golf.

I’m open to the 15th-19th of December. The flight might be a little too much for me - but I think I’m locked in to paying $300+ no matter where PrePound III is.

I worked on my golf game a little bit this weekend and I’m totally looking forward to a trip. Turns out a two-year hiatus from the game translates into kick-ass consistency on my drives.

I got a quote for four of us at a nicer hotel and at good courses.  The total for hotel, golfing, and fees per person is $550.  I will just forward the email.

Homos-
what’s up guys? I finally pulled my head out and decided to join the conversation. So, I have
talked to Drew about this a bit. I am unsure if any of this golf trip stuff is even going to work
for me at all. Both financially and timing -wise it is going to be tough. I am going to Chicago in a
week and Vegas in Oct. for SOMA for 5 days. I am also going on the family Hawaiian cruise.
All of this translates to alot of money. While the chance is strong that I will be off the weekend of
Dec. 15-16, I still may not be able to go. As D-sauce said, I won’t know the status of my U of M
rotation until the 1st week in Oct. With this in mind, I suggest that you guys go ahead and plan to
take the trip with or without me. If I can go great, if not…. I hope someone is able to take my
place. I am going to give Todd a call tonight again. Maybe I will hear back from him if I am
persistent. Drew, thanks for checking into all of this for us. Looks like some fun times. Sorry
to put such a downer of a spin on things.

Here is a quote I got from a company called Tucson Golf. (Tuscon is about an hour and a half from Phoenix).  This is certianly on the high side, but I figured we can start with this:

Group Name:      Drew Whitson

Dates:                  December 14-17, 2006

# of Players:        4

Tucson Package #1:  includes the following:

3 Nights of deluxe accommodations which includes (1) two-bedroom/two-bath casita (condo) fully furnished with all the luxuries of home: Your condo is located within a few minutes walk to one of the best golf courses in Tucson, The Golf Club at Vistoso.The restaurant and accommodations are First Class!

Amenities include the following below:

• Heated pool & Jacuzzi (shared).
• BBQ grills within the common areas.
• Expanded cable and DVD player.
• Full-size washer, dryer and refrigerator.
• Patio or balcony for sunset or sunrise viewing.
• High speed internet access is available for an additional $50 per stay.
• Maid service is available for $55 per cleaning.
• Complimentary twelve pack of ice-cold beer, soda and bottled water in your condo to start.
• Complimentary dinner for 4 at Sullivan’s Steakhouse (Alcohol is not included).
• 2 Sleeves of Titleist PRO V1X golf balls per player.

Golf (for 4) to be played at the top rated courses listed below (18-18-18-18). Four rounds of golf total per player. Proposed Golf Courses— We will arrange all tee times according to your request 60-90 days in advance and provide all directions. This is a suggested golf course selection. Golf carts and range balls are included at each course.

• The Golf Club at Vistoso———-(18)
• Tucson National———————(18)
• Del Lago————————–—–(18)
• The Gallery———————–—-(18)—-New home of the WGC Accenture Match Play 2007!

This is a suggested golf course selection. To discuss other golf course options with pricing, please call or email us and we would be happy to arrange the golf the way you desire. To view scorecards and course information, please click here at Tucson Golf Courses

Total cost per player: $550.00USD Based on 4 players. This price is based on the suggested golf courses and includes all applicable fees.

Update:

In case Todd’s deal does not work out, I have a nice place we can stay in Tuscon or free….friend’s parent’s second home.

So what’s our current status?  Are we still waiting to find out what Matt’s doing in December?

So to pick up this conversation again, due to Matt’s rotation in MN and my poverty in December, we’re looking at scheduling something in Big Sky, MT for the last weekend in January.

Not sure what the cost would be for you, Drew, but Bjorn, if you wanted to fly into Seattle we could then all drive over together. I don’t really want to make that trip - a 12 hour drive - alone. Thoughts?

I would probably have to fly out there….according to Google Maps it is just over 1,000 miles.  Right now tickets are pretty pricy $425-550, but I will see how things work out.

FYI: you fly into Bozeman, MT (BZN) to get to Big Sky.

Matt - think you can score us some lift tickets?

I’m out the last weekend in January and the first weekend in February.  Both weekends I’ll be at conferences presenting my research from last summer.

Man, we’re having a hell of a time trying to work something out. Your presentation sounds pretty sweet, Bjorn.

So, what are the chances this just has to be postponed for another year? If I hear this right, December is out because Matt is on rotation in MN and I’ve got little cash after a weird autumn. January/Feb is out because Bjorn is at conferences. Here, then, is what I propose:

1) Cancel this altogether until next December. PrePound III was a good idea - and one we’ve been talking about and hoping for since PrePound II - but it feels like the reality of our diverse lives may be coming to bear. Or we can…

2) Begin talking about Spring Break ‘07. Or…

3) Talk about something for next summer. This may be least favorite - Jess and I are planning a trip to Europe in August - but if it’s an early June trip I think we could swing it.

Thoughts? Reactions? Critiques?

Dudes,

I appreciate all the efforts to gt something going for pre-pound III out in Big Sky.  I know that I will not be able to get any other lift tickets for you guys (already asked and got laughed at).  We would have to stay at some sort of lodging other than the place I will be staying for the month and I can only stay there as long as I am working there.  Also, the dates seem to kinda blow for everyone.  The oly thing that might work is the first weekend in March.  I am planning on spending a few extra days out there anyway working to make up for Feb. being a shory month but I could technically only have to work from the 1 - 28 of Feb.  Again, I would have to find my own accomodations if I was not working….

 Any thoughts would be appreciated but it looks like we might be looking towards next year normal time (Dec.) instead.  THis may or may not work out either since I am going to be an intern and my ass will be at the hospital 24/7.  Right…. after that optimistic outlook I hope you all are well.  Talk to you guys soon.

MP