In contrast to many of my days on the Route 66 adventure, today was laid back. I still played 45 holes of golf at Shandin Hills Golf Club in San Bernardino, Rancho Duarte Golf Course in Duarte, and Santa Anita Golf Course in Arcadia but the temperatures weren't extreme and the driving was light. I discovered a good Route 66 restaurant and for the first time, checked into a motel where I will spend two nights.

I checked out of the hotel at 5:15 A.M. and nine miles later, was at Shandin Hills Golf Club by 5:30 A.M. I was the second single in line and it was dark! I'm not sure how the first single even saw his ball on the opening par 5.

I was next and it was still pretty dark when I teed off. I asked the twosome behind me to help me watch the ball and they both said it sounded like it was down the middle. In fact, it was just left of middle and luckily, I hit my second shot straight also. By the time I got to the ball, I could see the flag on the green as it was getting lighter. I was waived through the first single on the second tee and was on my way.

Shandin Hills has the best deal I've ever seen a golf course offer. For $26, Larry Pollard, Shandin Hills Pro Shop Manager, explained you can play golf all day with a cart, hit as many range balls as you want, and eat as many breakfast or lunch sandwiches as you can along with your choice of soft drinks. I had a breakfast sandwich after my round and it was made right there on the grill and wasn't a puny little fast food sandwich. What a deal! No wonder there were so many people there at the crack of dawn.

Shandin Hills was out of logo balls so the count stands at twenty-five for thirty-eight.

My next stop was Rancho Duarte Golf Course in Duarte, CA, 43 miles east of Shandin Hills. Rancho Duarte is a fabulous little nine hole course with a par of 31. At 1635 yards, it is an easy walking course.

When I checked in, I asked Mike Deacy behind the counter about logo balls and was informed they are fresh out.

I was paired with Austin and Ryan, two local golfers. Austin is a nurse at a hospital in Los Angeles and Ryan is currently between jobs. Ryan is a baseball freak and his clubs were in a Baltimore Orioles bag. We had great conversations about the baseball world given that the trading deadline was today at 4:00 P.M. I had another case of CRS and called Ryan Andy for about five holes until corrected by Austin. What a dweeb.

When I was standing on the second green, the starter came over to me and handed me a Rancho Duarte Range Ball emblazoned with the Rancho Duarte logo. Awesome! That puts the count at twenty-six for thirty-nine.

I set out on a 5 mile drive to Arcadia, CA to play Santa Anita Golf Course. This slice of Route 66 is nothing like most of what I've seen on the rest of the route. Route 66 from about San Bernardino to Santa Monica pier is going to be plastered with businesses on both sides of the road and full of the Southern California traffic. 

It was in the lower 90's when I hit the first tee at Santa Anita Golf Course. It was around 12:30 and the course was wide open. I played through one threesome at the turn and did not see another group until the 15th hole.

Santa Anita Golf Course, built in the 1950's, has a little bit of elevation change and quite a bit of contouring. It's a good test of golf.

Like the other courses I played today, Santa Anita was out of logo balls so the count is now a very disappointing twenty-six for forty.

My next stop was a late lunch less than a half a mile from the golf course in Arcadia. Matt Denny's Ale House Restaurant is exactly what I have been looking for on the trip.

There were several ice cold India Pale Ales on tap and I tried two of them as I worked on a very good cheeseburger.

By the time I was ready to leave, several of the restaurant staff including owner Matt Denny walked outside to check out the Mustang. After a few pictures, I was on my way to my lodging for the next two nights, the Saga Motor Hotel in Pasadena, about 6 more miles down the road.

Talk about a different check-in experience from the one last night! The Saga Motor Hotel provides a nightly rate of $66 to Route 66 travelers. Roger Padayao was a marked contrast to the rude employee at the Wigwam the previous evening. As a Route 66 traveler, I was asked to sign the motel's guest book. I have a very large room with a king bed that has most of the comforts of home. The entire motel is smoke-free.

The Saga Motor Hotel was built in 1957 and is right on the Rose Bowl Parade route. There are about seventy rooms built around a heated pool and sun deck surrounded by palm trees. Very nice and I highly recommend it.

Tomorrow is another light day as the trip nears its end. I'll be playing two private courses, Glendora Country Club in Glendora and Red Hill Country Club in Rancho Cucamonga. My first tee time isn't until 10:00 A.M. so I'll be able to catch up on my sleep a bit and leisurely eat a good breakfast.

Day 18: http://logoballtraveler.com/1/post/2016/08/route-66-day-18-two-private-courses-in-southern-california-two-courses-to-go.html