A severe thunderstorm hit the Oklahoma City area around 8:00 P.M. Monday evening. The weather service was calling for two to three inches of rain. That much rain would probably put a damper on my morning round at SilverHorn in Oklahoma City. Luckily, when I left the motel at 6:00 A.M., the parking lot was dry although it had obviously rained. So I played SilverHorn with no issues and set out on a 31 mile drive to El Reno for lunch at Roberts Grill, snapping a few pictures along the way. I then traveled another 58 miles down the road to play Riverside Golf Course in Clinton, OK. Finally, I checked into a chain motel and then found a Mexican restaurant for dinner.
I arrived at SilverHorn Golf Club and quickly checked in at the Pro Shop. There were a dozen or so golfers waiting to tee off but I had the first tee time at 6:30 A.M. Early in the round, it was cart paths only but the course was not soggy. The ground soaked all the rain up like a sponge.
It was, however, extremely humid. About the only issue I had on the front nine was looking for my ball in a sand bunker that was filled with water. Luckily, I found it beyond the bunker.
When I made the turn in a little over an hour, there was a twosome on the tenth hole. That's one of my pet peeves--making good time because of the first tee time of the day and then finding golfers on the back nine to slow you down. I was able to play through them on the eleventh tee.
When I completed my round, there were a dozen or so children on the putting green getting ready for Juniors Day. Always a good sight!
On the logo ball front, SilverHorn came through and the count stands at nineteen for twenty-seven.
I left the course and began the tough navigation of Route 66 through Oklahoma City. Big cities are always tough because there are so many turns through usually old, narrow neighborhoods. But when I made the turn onto N. Lincoln Blvd, the Oklahoma State Capitol came into view in the distance.
On the way to El Reno, I passed through the towns of Warr Acres and Bethany and as I drove into Yukon, I saw a huge grain elevator on the left. As I left Yukon, the skies opened and I drove through a torrential downpour for fifteen minutes.
It was, however, extremely humid. About the only issue I had on the front nine was looking for my ball in a sand bunker that was filled with water. Luckily, I found it beyond the bunker.
When I made the turn in a little over an hour, there was a twosome on the tenth hole. That's one of my pet peeves--making good time because of the first tee time of the day and then finding golfers on the back nine to slow you down. I was able to play through them on the eleventh tee.
When I completed my round, there were a dozen or so children on the putting green getting ready for Juniors Day. Always a good sight!
On the logo ball front, SilverHorn came through and the count stands at nineteen for twenty-seven.
I left the course and began the tough navigation of Route 66 through Oklahoma City. Big cities are always tough because there are so many turns through usually old, narrow neighborhoods. But when I made the turn onto N. Lincoln Blvd, the Oklahoma State Capitol came into view in the distance.
On the way to El Reno, I passed through the towns of Warr Acres and Bethany and as I drove into Yukon, I saw a huge grain elevator on the left. As I left Yukon, the skies opened and I drove through a torrential downpour for fifteen minutes.
 Oklahoma State Capitol Building |  The Massive Grain Elevator in Yukon, OK |
Finally in El Reno, I stopped at Roberts Grill for lunch. Directly behind my parked car was a railroad track and I later found out El Reno is the only town in Oklahoma that still has an active street car in its downtown. El Reno also gained notoriety in 2013 when multiple tornadoes ripped through the city, taking the lives of several storm chasers.
Roberts Grill is a basic hamburger joint with lots of character.
Roberts Grill is a basic hamburger joint with lots of character.
Ed Graham, Owner, Roberts Grill The only seating is bar stools at the counter overlooking the grill. Ed Graham has owned the restaurant for 27 years. He began working at the restaurant at age 12 and ten years later, became the owner.
The place was half full when I sat down on a stool and it was apparent it's a favorite spot of the locals.
Ed made me a cheeseburger and fries which I washed down with a root beer.
Before I left, Ed insisted I try a sample of his chili and also a slaw that he uses on many of his offerings. Of course, I am no slaw fan but did not want to be rude so I tried a bite. Won't be having that again!
I had a 58 mile drive before me to Clinton, OK. Route 66 on this stretch is concrete with beveled curbs, somewhat narrow with many asphalt patches. It is a bumpy ride in places. I passed through Fort Reno and Calumet and then came upon an awesome bridge over the South Canadian River. This bridge was built over an eleven month period in 1932/33. It consists of 38 small trusses (called pony trusses) and is 3394.33 feet long according to the plaque on the bridge.
The place was half full when I sat down on a stool and it was apparent it's a favorite spot of the locals.
Ed made me a cheeseburger and fries which I washed down with a root beer.
Before I left, Ed insisted I try a sample of his chili and also a slaw that he uses on many of his offerings. Of course, I am no slaw fan but did not want to be rude so I tried a bite. Won't be having that again!
I had a 58 mile drive before me to Clinton, OK. Route 66 on this stretch is concrete with beveled curbs, somewhat narrow with many asphalt patches. It is a bumpy ride in places. I passed through Fort Reno and Calumet and then came upon an awesome bridge over the South Canadian River. This bridge was built over an eleven month period in 1932/33. It consists of 38 small trusses (called pony trusses) and is 3394.33 feet long according to the plaque on the bridge.
The 3394 Foot Bridge Over the South Canadian River
Lucille's, Built in 1927; Vacant But Nicely Restored Further down the road, I passed three motorcycles, certainly Route 66 tourists and all waived. I passed through the towns of Bridgeport and Hydro and came upon a vacant but restored gas station. It was built by Lucille Harmon and she ran it until her death in 2000. It's now owned and preserved by the owner of a modern Lucille's Roadhouse in Weatherford, OK just a little to the west.
I don't want to take this tourist thing too far but I found myself spending thirty minutes or so in the Cherokee Trading Post a I neared Clinton looking for souvenirs for the family.
I don't want to take this tourist thing too far but I found myself spending thirty minutes or so in the Cherokee Trading Post a I neared Clinton looking for souvenirs for the family.
Riverside Golf Course was the most pleasant surprise of my trip. I've played hundreds of golf courses in small towns over the years and generally, they are average to below average. Riverside was the exception.
Built in 1956 and since tweaked, it has the best greens of the 28 courses I've played on my trip to this point. And in this hot climate, they are bent grass greens! It is not a long course and the fairways are pretty wide.
Built in 1956 and since tweaked, it has the best greens of the 28 courses I've played on my trip to this point. And in this hot climate, they are bent grass greens! It is not a long course and the fairways are pretty wide.
Although it was still fairly humid, the sky was overcast which kept the temperature in check. I teed off around 1:30 and there was a spattering of twosomes throughout the course.
As I came to the fourth tee, I noticed a feature I haven't seen before on any golf course. The cart path was squeezed between the tee and a railroad track. I mean really close. I can only assume the rail traffic on this spur is minimal.
Riverside was well stocked with logo balls and the end of the day tally is twenty for twenty-eight.
As I came to the fourth tee, I noticed a feature I haven't seen before on any golf course. The cart path was squeezed between the tee and a railroad track. I mean really close. I can only assume the rail traffic on this spur is minimal.
Riverside was well stocked with logo balls and the end of the day tally is twenty for twenty-eight.
I had dinner at the Picante Grille on Route 66 in Clinton, right next door to my motel. There's nothing special about this restaurant's history on Route 66 but the food was good.
Tomorrow morning, I'll travel 45 miles to Sayre, OK where I will close out the Oklahoma portion of my trip at the nine hole Sayre Municipal Golf Course. Then I will make a 136 mile drive to Amarillo, TX to play the only Route 66 course in Texas, the Amarillo Country Club. I'll end the day another 32 miles down the road at the Bonanza Motel in Vega, TX.
When the day ends, I'll have 30 courses and five states down with 14 courses and three states left.
Tomorrow morning, I'll travel 45 miles to Sayre, OK where I will close out the Oklahoma portion of my trip at the nine hole Sayre Municipal Golf Course. Then I will make a 136 mile drive to Amarillo, TX to play the only Route 66 course in Texas, the Amarillo Country Club. I'll end the day another 32 miles down the road at the Bonanza Motel in Vega, TX.
When the day ends, I'll have 30 courses and five states down with 14 courses and three states left.
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