Switched things up a bit, golf pro friend got us on for free at Spanish Trail, so we played Canyon/Lakes on Saturday. I really enjoyed it, Lakes more than Canyon, which I thought was pretty boring. If you're able to place shots better than I am I think both nines would be more fun; there's some cool spots where if you can make a shot you can be in some fun spots. I shot an 86 after opening with two doubles and doubling nearly all the par 3s (could not avoid the water); I haven't touched a club since September other than a Top Golf stint, so I was happy enough with that (I'm an 11.1 GHIN). Weather was perfect, IMO: 65 and sunny.
Sunday we played the Sun course at Paiute. Sun seems to be the consistent least-favorite of the three, but I really liked it. Wolf was too hard to get on, as they closed the course down early for Super Bowl. Played 18 in just under four hours despite players out there, which was heaven compared to the just under five at Spanish. Without traffic didn't take as long to get out there from SLS as I thought it might. I've never played golf outside of the NW and the Bay Area, so true "desert golf" was a fun, new experience for me. Wind out there is no joke; thankfully it didn't pick up until the end of the round.
Guys I was playing with got beat up pretty bad at Spanish so we played from the whites, which makes my 79 much less impressive. Came out to a 9 differential, and honestly thought it would be worse than that. Ended double-double after losing a ball in the desert on 17, then plunking a ball in one of only two water hazards on the course on 18. Four birdies on the day, though. Greens were fast but very true.