Westward Bound: Our First Weeks on the Road

After months of planning, practicing, and camper renovations, my wife Brittany and I (along with our dog, Ella, and cat, Penelope) finally embarked on our cross-country voyage on January 3rd.

Though there were some nerves and uncertainties for the trip — pulling a 30-foot camper across the country was certainly a new item on the resume for me — the excitement for this next step on the journey toward professional golf far outweighed it all.

We arrived in Phoenix, AZ after 8 days on the road, winding our way through the southern US.  We’ve begun to settle into our new normal and are actually quite comfortable in our 275 sq ft home on wheels (stay tuned for before/after pictures of the renovation).  One thing’s for sure – the desert sunrises sure are worth the early wakeup call!

Here are a few highlights from our Charlotte, NC to Phoenix, AZ trip:

New Orleans, LA

Having never been to NOLA, we took a day to check out the city and, of course, play golf!  Our first stop was at TPC Louisiana – home of the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic.  This Pete Dye design provides plenty of challenge and the closing 3-hole stretch lives up to the hype.  Stay tuned for a full blog post on the course in the coming weeks.

After the round, we made our way to the French Quarter.  A New Orleans inspired dinner was followed by a (very quick) stop on Bourbon Street, before we caught some jazz music on Frenchman Street.  If you’re into hanging out and grabbing a few drinks, but want to avoid the chaos that is Bourbon St., we recommend checking out Frenchman St.  Head to Blue Nile for some good live music.

Austin, TX

As one of our favorite cities, this stop was a must.  We spent a few days in McKinney Falls State Park (highlighted by a sighting of a coyote on a stroll in our “backyard!”), as well as exploring Congress Ave near downtown Austin.

I also found a cool spot to practice.  The Joe Balander Short Course features a short-game area as well as 4 holes ranging from 85 to 200 yards (play all day for just $5).  Add a huge driving range, and a large practice putting green and you’ve got everything you need for an afternoon session.

Marfa, TX

Where? Exactly!  We needed a spot to stop in west Texas, so we found the quirky little town of Marfa. If you’re passing through Texas and need a spot to stop (assuming you are RVing or book the one hotel in town), check it out.  Buns N’ Roses makes a pretty mean omelette (and doughnuts if you’re in the mood) and the standalone Prada structure makes for an interesting desert photo opp.

Phoenix, AZ

We arrived in Phoenix the same day as the National Championship football game.  Being a Clemson alumni, we met some friends at University of Phoenix stadium and were lucky enough to get some last minute tickets to watch the Tigers take on Alabama.

We’ll be around the Phoenix area for most of the winter and spring.  Plenty more to come on tournament results and great courses to play in the coming months!  If you want to stay in-the-know, be sure to follow by email by signing-up on the right side of the homepage.