This is probably going to read more like something you might read on my personal blog. A lot of the feedback I've gotten about the Caddie Chronicles is that you guys like the untethered, honest me. A look behind the curtain. Dumb adventures to burn through an empty afternoon. So, here are three things I want to write about on the eve of the Black Desert Championship.
Zion National Park
Everything I'd ever heard about Zion was ~glowing~
One of my favorite things about my job is how many unique places we go. Places that I would never convince myself to visit. When people ask my favorite place we've been: Boise, and it's not close. When people ask about my most surprisingly fun city: Myrtle Beach was honestly awesome. Coolest things I've checked off the list?
To name a few: Rocky Mountain National Park, Wrigley Field, The Golden Gate Bridge, Broadway, Sixth Street, 8 Mile Drive, The Mall of America, The Bean, Grand Central Station, Niagara Falls, Dealey Plaza, Bourbon Street, Dominican beaches, The Alamo, Juno Beach, and The Gaslamp Quarter.
Wow, what a year. I'm sure I left a few out.
Where was I? Zion.
I wanted to preface my Zion experience by pointing out all of the cool places we've been — because it helps paint my experience more clearly. It fell just a little flat. Was it an absolute delight? Yes, 100%. But someone told me that it would eclipse my Grand Canyon experience, and that basically set Zion up for failure. However, we didn't get to the narrows or the tunnel — we only had a few hours, so we went on a hike. So, in Zion's defense, maybe that's like going to New York City and seeing the Statue of Liberty and Times Square instead of Central Park and the West Village. And if that's the case, that's on me.
The weather was fantastic, just warm enough for a light sweat, and just shaded enough to dry it up. We climbed 96 floors on our 3-mile hike. It was me, Riedel, and Sargent — enjoying nature with no cell service, sometimes just what you didn't know you desperately needed. The canyons were beautiful. Some of the most underrated moments in life are the ones when you look around in awe. There's a lot of that at Zion.
I oh so badly wanted to buy a hat or shirt in the visitor center, but they didn't have anything that caught my eye. Overall experience: 8.3/10. I love a good hike; the only demerits were that it was oversold to me. Better than the Grand Canyon is going to get some strict grade marks.
Murda's Week Off
I have an inordinate number of people asking for content on what I do on my off weeks. The only problem: I don't find my day-to-day activities interesting enough to document (because they're not). So, instead of giving you a dayinthelife, I'll give you some statistics from my most recent week off.
I flew to Tampa Bay on Sunday to go see Riedel's new pad, very cool. The boy is all grown up. We drove to Sea Island for some golf and a quick practice session. Will Gordon cooked us a fantastic flank steak as we watched Monday Night Football. I flew home on Tuesday morning. Had dinner with a few friends that night at a dumpling place — food was mediocre, company was exquisite. For those curious, Austin is home right now.
I wrote a ton — mostly for myself. A lot of it needs refinement, a softer hand. I admire people who can make others think without coming off as harsh; that's something I fall back on too easily when trying to land a point. My notes app has become a sprawling mess of chaotic thoughts — ideas that need to be dug into and fleshed out properly. In due time.
I found a great coffee shop that I've declared my own: The Meteor on Congress. It checks so many of my coffee shop boxes. Hushed voices just faint enough to avoid distraction. Music is on but undetectable. Sunlight peering in. Old windows speckled with shrapnel to give the place an illusion of age. Drip coffee in a mug, with a complimentary refill served in a teapot. Pastries that look better than they taste. Plenty of outlets for my finicky laptop. And a constant buzz of people coming in and out. I grab a seat in the corner closest to the street — a view out of a window, what's better? The warmth of the sunlight, a few pages of a few books, my laptop, and some caffeine. Who has it better than me?
I ran 38 miles in 6 days. Including a half-marathon. No, it didn't go well. Yes, my knees ache. Yes, that's pride you hear in my voice. My morning runs on Town Lake have been delightful. Oh, the adrenaline you get from a run before the sun pokes its head out.
I watched 7 movies: Gone Girl, Spotlight, Zodiac, Manchurian Candidate, Fight Club, Molly's Game, and The Accountant. In that order. My movie education is poor, and I think they're imperative to worldview and growing up. Better late than never.
Early mornings, early nights. Diligent fasting, better diet. Helping out my grandparents with any errands they deem too laborious — unfortunately, not enough errands reach that category. And that's my week off. I left out many moments, but those are the bones, the blueprint. When I'm home, I try to relax. I try to recalibrate my body, I spend a ton of time reading/writing, and time by myself.
And that's my week off, see? Told you it's not that interesting.
Black Desert
Black Desert is dope. That's the tweet. A golf course built around the remains of volcanic rock — it's like something you'd see in a Tiger Woods video game, one of those fake golf courses that only your imagination could conceive.
If I were a guy who went on golf trips with buddies (I'm not), Black Desert would be very high on my list. And it definitely would not have been before this week, I hadn't even heard about it. First of all, the property itself is a damn compound — sleek buildings, underground parking garages, massive corporate spaces, and housing for (what looks like) the entire state of Utah. I think I heard someone say they're putting in a billy by the end of it all, and I believe it. The pro shop is filled with every good golf brand you could want: Malbon, Sun Day Red, Greyson, and of course, yours truly. Always good to see the Del Campos in a prestigious golf shop, worthy. For those curious, the snack pack is Murda's favorite these days.
With all that being said, it wouldn't matter unless the golf course stands up to it. And it does.
If you're a 5 handicap, you might want to bring an extra dozen golf balls on your trip, but the views are spectacular. The holes are unique — windy, changing elevation, and heavily varied. Some holes are straightforward, right in front of you; others, the complete opposite. I think it's going to be a really good test. If you hit fairways, the course can play simply — attack easy pins, navigate around the tough ones. But if you aren't hitting fairways, get ready to learn provisional, buddy.
Let's go launch 'em.
Drew Murdock aka Murda
