Alright folks, grab your visors, because this Saguaro rookie just survived their first round and lived to tell the tale! Wanted those crazy cacti for ages, finally booked a tee time last week. Bit nervous, heard it was tough.
So I showed up way too early. Seriously, my heart was pounding like a drum solo. Checked in, grabbed the cart keys, and immediately drove straight to the driving range. Hitting a few balls helped settle the nerves big time. Highly recommend doing this if you’re new, gets the jitters out before you embarrass yourself on hole 1.
First tee shot was… well, let’s just say it disappeared faster than my confidence. Thing vanished straight into the desert scrub. Learned Tip #1 the hard way: Take WAY less club than you think. That desert eats balls for breakfast. On the second hole, I used my trusty 7-iron off the tee instead of driver. Ball stayed nicely in the short grass. Felt like a genius.
The Real Desert Experience Kicked In
Hole 4 looked gorgeous with saguaros framing the green. Tried to be fancy. Result? My ball ended up nestled right under this spiky monster. Tip #2: Don’t be a hero. Just punch out sideways. Seriously. Lost another ball trying to be Seve Ballesteros before I swallowed my pride and chipped safely back to the fairway. Took my medicine, saved strokes.
By the back nine, the heat was cooking. Drank half my water bottle by hole 10. Big mistake. Started feeling dizzy around hole 13. Slammed on the brakes, bought two more giant bottles at the snack shack (yes, the prices hurt almost as much as my score). Tip #3: Bring tons of water. Like, double what you think you need. Arizona sun is no joke, mates.
Those greens were trickier than a Rubik’s cube. First few putts zoomed 10 feet past the hole. Felt like putting on ice. Finally started pacing off putts slower, really looking at the slopes. Tip #4: Put your ego away and putt defensively. Aim for the fat side of the hole, focus on lagging it close instead of drilling it. Saved me a million three-putts later on.
The Biggest Takeaway Was Actually Simple
Honestly? It was hot, my score was awful, and I lost more balls than I care to admit. But walking (well, riding) through that landscape? Unreal. Saw hawks circling, sun bouncing off red rocks. Tip #5 hit me hardest: Forget your score and soak it in. It’s a beautiful, brutal walk in the desert. Play smart, laugh at the bad shots, high-five the good ones. Nobody expects miracles on their first try.
So yeah. Sticky, sweaty, humbled, but grinning ear to ear walking off 18. Planning the revenge round already. Just gotta buy more golf balls first.
