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<\/a>My formal introduction to the ‘treasures of the desert\u2019 probably took place in the early 70s, when brother, Jack<\/strong> took a job as restaurant manager at Ironwood Country Club<\/strong> in Palm Desert<\/strong> and he invited me out for a weekend. I believe it was in March and I was teaching school in southern California at the time; I remember thinking as I made the drive to Palm Desert<\/strong> just how close the desert really was \u2013 only about an hour and half drive and yet, I was to find out, a world apart. And while the weather was certainly nice in Orange County<\/strong> in March, it was amazing in Palm Desert<\/strong>, especially the nights. I remember sitting out on a beautifully clear evening with a billion stars all around, wondering how long this had been going on \u2013 apparently for quite some time.<\/p>\n![\"painter's](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/painters-pallet-1.jpeg\")
<\/a>‘Painter’s Palette’ Death Valley<\/p><\/div>\n
My love and fascination with the desert and its flora and fauna has continued to this day. I was amazed at the colors and the shear beauty of the desert on my first visit to Death Valley<\/strong> where I was also intrigued with \u2018desert stories\u2019<\/strong> like that of \u2018Scotty\u2019s Castle\u2019<\/strong>. My two treks through Joshua Tree National Park<\/strong> introduced me to unique rock formations, eerie hidden caves and spectacular views. My hike through Havasupai<\/strong> introduced me to the extraordinary water features in what was seemingly a dry, desolate desert. I recently visited the Desert Museum<\/strong> in Tucson<\/strong> with niece, Shelley Watson<\/strong> and continued to be amazed at all the beauty and life that exists in the Arizona-Sonora desert.<\/strong> The Raptor Show<\/strong>, featuring Ravens<\/strong>, Great Horned Owls<\/strong> and Falcons<\/strong> was remarkable!<\/p>\n Aside from the \u2018family treasures\u2019<\/strong> in the desert, such as my sister, Suzanne<\/strong> living in Scottsdale<\/strong> and my sister-in-law, Starlet<\/strong> in Apache Junction<\/strong>, there\u2019s a small oasis about three-and-a-half hours from home that calls to Linda<\/strong> a couple of times each year; you might know the place . . . Las Vegas<\/strong>. Linda<\/strong> has not met a\u00a0Top Dollar<\/strong> slot machine that she doesn\u2019t think she can hit the \u2018big one\u2019 on, so for her birthday each year, I \u2018surprise\u2019 her with a trip to visit our money. This year we did manage to salvage a little education out of the trip with an excursion to Hoover Dam<\/strong>, the building of which was amazing.<\/p>\n Primm, Nevada<\/p><\/div>\n With all the hikes, excursions, timeshare in Palm Desert and trips to Vegas<\/strong>, you\u2019d think I\u2019d have my fill of the desert, but no, there is yet another pilgrimage that we make each year and from which I have just returned –\u00a0Primm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Primm<\/strong>, or what used to be called Stateline<\/strong>, is on the California-Nevada border<\/strong>, and at first passing you wonder why anyone would stop there with Vegas just 30 minutes away. The answer is\u00a0Primm’s two 18-hole golf courses<\/strong>, which have a unique history of their own. Famous golf course designer, Tom Fazio<\/strong>, was contracted by Steve Wynn<\/strong> to design the golf course at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas<\/strong>, under the condition that he would not design another golf course in the state of Nevada<\/strong>. Thus, the two magnificent courses he designed at Primm<\/strong> are just over the border in California<\/strong>.<\/p>\n South Point Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV<\/p><\/div>\n A group of 12 couples from Yorba Linda Country Club<\/strong> have been going to Primm<\/strong> on \u2018Derby Weekend\u2019<\/strong> since 1996<\/strong>. The outing was originally put together by Debbie Osborne<\/strong>, who with husband Russ,<\/strong> still attend, along with two other original members, John & Judy VanBoxmeer<\/strong> and Don & Marilyn Spradling<\/strong>, who made the trip this year from their home in Fresno<\/strong>. Linda and I have been lucky enough to have been part of this\u00a0\u2018gang that couldn\u2019t shoot straight\u2019<\/strong> for the last 12 years<\/p>\n Rodeo at South Point Equestrian Center<\/p><\/div>\n A small wrinkle in the Primm<\/strong> trip this year was, for the first time, we didn\u2019t stay in Primm<\/strong>. While the golf courses are top quality, the Primm Resort & Casino<\/strong> would be lucky to get the tip of one star in a five-star rating. So, one of this year\u2019s organizers, Chuck Sager<\/strong>, who has \u2018connections\u2019 at South Point Hotel & Casino<\/strong> in Las Vegas<\/strong>, suggested a change of venue. The South Point Hotel<\/strong> is very unique among Las Vegas hotels \u2013 it has 124 bowling lanes<\/strong> as well as horse stables<\/strong> and a full equestrian center<\/strong>, where, last weekend, many of us witnessed our first rodeo<\/strong>. It is truly an amazing place. \u00a0Thank you Chuck! \u00a0We also changed golf courses to Rhodes Ranch<\/strong>, another ‘treasure in the desert’.<\/p>\n Sometimes a ‘winner’ is a ‘loser’<\/p><\/div>\n A tradition at this gathering is a large bet on the Kentucky Derby<\/strong>. We have two legitimate \u2018pony players\u2019<\/strong> in the group, Jack Budd<\/strong> and Russ Osborne<\/strong>, so everyone gives them $105 and they make some sort of boxed, parlay, quinella bet to heighten our interest in watching \u2018The Derby\u2019<\/strong>. We actually won about $24,000<\/strong> in 2011<\/strong>, of course it was split amongst 24 people, but still, it was a lot more fun than losing, or winning the way we did this year. Jack & Russ<\/strong> actually picked the top 4 finishers, but because they were mostly favorites, our $105 bet got us a $30 return, so \u2018winning\u2019 produced a $75 loss<\/strong>. But it was exciting for a moment, before we realized that winning was actually losing – more mysteries of the desert!<\/p>\n Whether I\u2019m hiking, exploring, golfing or just losing money, the desert continues to lure me to its hidden treasures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Bob Sparrow My formal introduction to the ‘treasures of the desert\u2019 probably took place in the early 70s, when brother, Jack took a job as restaurant manager at Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert and he invited me out … read more![\"primm3\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/primm3.jpeg\")
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