Ok I have a tendency to start these way too early, but I've now booked my next few trips top Vegas and after six trips in the last 15 months, there are things i want to do, and others i want to do again.

This trip started solo and now includes partly a best friend from college. He will show up from LA when he shows up, and leave when he leaves. I don't expect him until day two or so, but that's ok.

The trip will now also include another 10 or so St. Louisans, including big gamblers, a few dealers from our local and some of each who golf.

I used to love to golf in Vegas, then stopped mostly do to 112 degree temps in June or August, or just wanting to spend the days at the pool on trips with my wife. The trip changes that.

Initial plans:

Taking the early evening flight on SWA from St Louis and arriving in time for late dinner. Then poker for a few hours at Aria. Most likely 2-5-rock or 1-2 PLO.

Why only a few hours? The next morning is dedicated to golf. I will play Thursday and Friday, and in some order to be determined in the next few weeks, will be playing Shadow Creek and Bali Hai. Please let me know anything I need to know about Shadow Creek. Ive played Bali Hai plenty and its the course we can take more guys to, and just be closer to the strip.

Hotel(s):

4 nights at the Bellagio
4 nights at the Palazzo

The same four nights. Palazzo is completely free and includes dining and gambling credits. I wont be staying there, but I may let a friend take the room if its someone i trust. Much of this extended group may npt fit that description, I just dont know them that well.

Bellagio is resort fee only. Dining credit too. Thats home base. Fountain view room.


general plans for the trip:

March Madness games on TR, Fri and Sat
Dinner at Prime or Harvest
Lunch at Joes Stone Crab
Late lunch at Haddie Bs


I'm bringing about six pairs of shoes!! Ok, maybe five, but adidas has been good to me lately, and I assume i will need at least one pair of dress shoes.

Updates to plans coming soon.

Nice! Seven of us will be there those dates as well, just a little longer GL!

Yesterday I booked a foursome at Shadow Creek for the first full day of my trip. I've been to Vegas 15 times, maybe more, and I don't remember being this excited for anything else in the past while in Vegas.

Man I loved me some Haddie B’s. Way spicier than anticipated, plus that pimento Mac and cheese.

Subbed. Get em

So next week I head back to Vegas for the Sweet Sixteen, golf and a bunch of PLO. There are a few odd additions to this trip as well.

I just pushed my flight up to 5:40am on Wednesday so I will be at Bellagio for breakfast, not by dinner like previously planned. That said, in prepping for my Thursday round at Shadow Creek, I'm getting a round in Wednesday at Bali Hai. I love that course as Vegas courses go, as its convenient, always in shape and plays really well to my eye.

I'm so excited this time I have already started packing. And I have bought all new stuff just for this trip.

Goals for this trip include: three great rounds of golf, securing gold M life for another year (should happen this trip) and mostly changing my run bad in PLO and having mother variance look kindly on me again.

Pics upcoming shortly!

First things first! New golf bag and new Odyssey putter. The putter will help my game immensely, as I’ve always used substandard putters. This one almost keeps it straight by itself.


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Better view of the bag.



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And then, when eight pairs of golf shoes aren’t enough? Two new pairs. While this may seem extreme, neither of these have spikes, soft or otherwise. I’m sold on these new styles and the G fore ones are the most comfortable I’ve ever owned.


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New luggage!!

If you ever need luggage, and can time your purchase after Christmas, check out the surf brand Dakine. These were at least 40 percent off, and I believe had an additional discount applied. Price points are way less than most brands, and they are guaranteed.



The smaller one can be a carry bag, at 42L in size, and the big one is 85L. It won’t make this trip.

The best part was the big bag shipped, and showed up in duplicate. Two huge bags for $135. There was no record of a second sale, so looks like the family will travel in style going forward.


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My 15 year old told me I can’t borrow his Beats Solo 3 wireless, so these just showed up this week.


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I thought drivers were ridiculously huge before I saw this putter

On a serious note, looking forward to tons of pics from Shadow Creek. For a dollar per hour value, it's gotta be more economical than the craps table, lol

Subbed! What’s your golf handicap OP?

I got as low as a 5 when I played regularly. I haven't played hardly at all in two years but that changes this year. Four years ago I shot a 75 at Bali Hai. I would be thrilled with low to mid eighties for first round out. My wild guess is 8-10 handicap just getting back on bike cold. My goal this year to is to be 5 again.

My biggest issue in the past was playing for money too often, and not improvement. When playing for skins, i would routinely take big risks, and if they didn't work, could wreck a score quick on one hole.

Case in point. I usually chose at a regular course to go over the water (saw the PGA guys do it, so why not) on a par 4, knowing if I made it dry I win the hole. It was a 280 carry, with no room for error to a peninsula green. 3 wood high and hope it sticks. I bet i made it a few times, and won every time. I also believe there are more than a few $4 Callaways in that lake as well. It was an decently easy par, if you go the dry land route. My average score was higher than par. My ROI in skins was super high though when I made it.

This year my entire focus is fixing my game, dropping my index, and someday getting to a 3.

We'll see how legendary it is.

In and run good bro.

In for the golf pics.

also in for golf pics, whats the 3rd course you're playing after bali and shadow? good luck in the PLO too!

subscribing in epic bread

GL OP!

It’s here!!! Omg 3:15am is early for me to wake up and start my day. But anytime i can take the early flight and get to Vegas for breakfast it’s a win. Two things always strike me as odd even after taking this trip many times. There’s an off camaraderie in riding the airport shuttle bus to the airport with the very same employees who will be seeing you off that day.

Standing at TSA pre check line while TSA is still setting up in the morning is a weird feeling as well. I started to snap a photo, and was quickly told no. Ok.

Another travel note, as SWA used to be the fastest way to get in and out of town, gates right by security and off you go.

Hey have now taken over a previously dormant terminal, vacant for 20 years form the TWA / American merger fallout, and spruced it up nicely. Except, it’s a MILE to my gate!


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Ok. A couple of quick ones for TR protocol:

Shoes



And yes, it’s early:




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OMG the date is wrong on my watch! If i don’t take that dumb pic I may not have known that for a month


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GL

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Shoes




What kind of shoes are these? All I can think of is that Seinfeld episode with Jimmy and the jumping shoes.

Where are you going for breakfast?

Bouchon is awesome.

What airport is that?