I do enjoy going out to the Palm Springs area, all the courses, the killer golf shops, and the sense that I am amongst kindred golf spirits. I also really enjoy Shadow Ridge. I normally just stay there the night, get up, play early before the heat and enjoy the pool.

I was delighted to see the UnderPar deal and so we had six guys lined up to go play.

I didn't book the time as one of the guys likes to get out at first light and be first off the tee, so he booked us at 0600 and 0609 respectively.

We arrived at 0530 and were greeted by two guys, one was still pulling carts out of the barn, the other was setting up the range. As usual they were helpful and courteous. They hooked us up with carts and made an extra effort to set up spots for us to hit balls.

About 0550 I popped up to the pro shop to check us in. Doors are locked. No one there. I head back downstairs and ask the same two guys abut checking in and they let me know the shop opens at 0600. Ok cool, no worries from them, no worries from me.

As 0600 creeps up things get crazy bad and essentially had me PO'd for the rest of the day.

The starter starts yelling at us for not being on the tee. Ok then we will head to the tee. Oh now he wants to yell at us for not checking in. Ok so we head upstairs and check in. The guys in the shop are way cool, very laid back.

Back downstairs and the starter starts going off again, "Shots need to be in the air by now! You guys are late." and so on. That pretty much did it for me. I didn't go off on the guy but did complain to the shop after the first 9.

In my mind the staff need to be ready to receive guests before the start time. If you are unable or incapable of getting to the clubhouse by 0530, don't sell 0600 tee times. And if you insist on sleeping in, then set up a system where the guys who have that early tee time can go at the time they booked. It is pretty hard to check in upstairs at 0600 and also tee off at 0600. In short, your lack of organization does not constitute a fault on my part.

As for the starter. I have used Marriott facilities all over the world and it is clear he has not attended any customer service courses offered by the corporation. He behaves like the Secretary at Muirfield. Really? Your process is screwed up, not your customers.

The course was in very nice shape save for a few nasty little spots on some greens. Lots of run out had us all being skittish on our chip shots. Conversely, full shots into the green held well.

A few of the tee boxes need a leveling, but not bad overall. Number 5 has my number though.

Summertime is coming up so fees drop at the course and if you can stand the heat, it is well worth the cost. Just don't get the first tee time.

The greens ate my score. No kidding, on the day I played the super was in a very bad mood. Holes were cut in places that I just couldn't stop the ball. I three putted 6 times. Yikes!

Otherwise, course was in great shape, a little dry and running so careful on the run out after landing. 17 is my favorite here, what a beautimus view. I really don't care much for 13. Iron off the tee and if it runs, that's a stroke. Getting penalized for hitting the fairway....uh yeah, no.

Now if they just do something about the cellphone signal, I need the GPS help. But wait, then I would get calls......never mind.

Played Goose Creek day before Thanksgiving. Very, very, nice. The course is in great shape. I have to say this course is probably the best maintained course in the IE. Plush fairways like emerald carpets. The greens putt true and were on the + side today. I will guess that they played about a nine on the stimp. A few greens had some spots that need tending, but am willing to allow that in the spring they should be in great shape.

Pace was a bit slow. Per the staff they were not expecting the crowd that was there today, so it is to be expected. I really can't complain though, we started at about 1 and darkness had us withdraw after 17 holes.

The best practice facilities around, except for the chipping green. Just fairway grass cut down and the practice bunker is in the firing line of the range., The short game area near the Academy looks tempting, but not sure if one can practice there when the academy is not in session. As an aside, if you have a kid bring them here. They seem to specialize in helping junior golfers as I saw a few juniors on the range.

Staff as always is great.

Love this place. Am looking forward to my next round.

On a Florida vacation, brought my sticks, so I played the Disney Lake Buena Vista course. As always Disney golf does not disappoint. The course is well kept, greens were very good, fairways were fantastic, bunkers were immaculate, and the tee boxes were fabulous. I can't say enough about the customer service. From bag drop to the starter, the entire staff shines and you shouldn't expect any less from a Disney resort course.

The front nine runs through a resort, so be ready for the intermittent yell at the kids, and the back side is a little more wild. I really liked the opening hole, not very hard but woods on the right, water on the left is not a standard sight for an IE guy.

I do recommend you have your distances dialed in, not sure if it was a function of the wind, the location, or just me but kept popping shots over the green.

On the plus side, played with a few locals. Great folks who retired in Orlando from Washington. They treated me like I was a regular foursome partner. All walk ups should get treated this well. I stayed in a Treehouse Villa off the 17th and they pointed out that was the regular spot for the Nicklaus family. I looked throughout the villa but couldn't find any game left there by the Bear. I did leave a few tees hidden in the villa, my small homage to Jack.

Ah the General. It is where I learned to play while I was still an Airman and the AF had lots of funds to keep the course up. I can still see Gene in his 'Sansabelts' at the counter taking money but no crap. But enough nostalgia....

Greens are a little bumpy and have not recovered from the punching as of yet.

Fairways are a bit sparse.

Bunkers played nicely.

Wish they would put water back into the ponds on 3 and 13. 13 is still my favorite hole, nothing like a drive sailing against that back drop. Only one that beats it in the IE is the fifth at Soboba.

A nice day overall. Not really anything remarkable or anything very maddening. The General has always struck me as a course with so much potential, just needs a bit of a redesign.

Only thing that really needs work is the range. The line needs to get tore up and leveled again. But on the plus side, you can work on downhill, uphill, and sidehill lies just by moving around on the driving line.