McCall, Idaho

The Lovely Sharon and I arrived home last night from our annual trip to McCall, Idaho to play in the Payette Cup at the Whitetail Country Club. This is the sixth year of the tournament and we have played all six years. This is one of my favorite things to do each year. Last week we drove to Boise on Tuesday and checked into the Cambria Inn. We had a lovely dinner in downtown Boise at the Bardenay Restaurant. On Wednesday we drove to McCall to play golf. Wednesday was a rainy day so we only played nine holes. After golf we checked into the Shore Lodge. The Shore Lodge was built in 1948 and sits on the edge of the beautiful Payette Lake. I love the hotel and I love the lake.

Wednesday night we stayed in our room watching the US Open tennis championships, ordered room service and shared a bottle of wine. It was kind of nice to have a low key evening just crashing on the couches and watching tennis.

Thursday was the practice round of the tournament. It was a cold day but we only had rain on one or two of the holes. Out of all six of the years we have been going to the tournament, this was undoubtedly the coldest day, but I must say I have played golf in a lot worse weather than we played in on Thursday. We had a cart cover and kept pretty warm in the cart. Thursday night was the annual cocktail party at the Whitetail Swim and Fish Club. This is a great facility which is a different building than the golf club house. Even though it is referred to as a cocktail party, there is a buffet so it is basically a dinner. The food was great, the tee prizes were handed out and we had a wonderful couple of hours, eating drinking and joking with our fellow competitors.

Friday was the first round of the tournament. It was cool but no rain. Sharon and I played absolutely terrible. Our playing companions were great fun so we still enjoyed the day. Friday night we attended a cocktail party at Kevin and Cathy’s house. Kevin and Cathy are full time residents of McCall and we have been friends with them since we first met them six years ago. Their cocktail party was great fun and the view from their house on a mountain top is stunning with its panoramic views of Payette Lake and the Whitetail Golf course. From their patio I was overwhelmed by the blue sky, blue lake, green golf course and pine trees as far as you could see.

The final tournament round was Saturday. Saturday was spectacular, not a cloud in the sky, with an afternoon high around 72 degrees. A number of players played in shorts and were comfortable. I played a little better than the previous day and the Lovely Sharon played a lot better. After the tournament all the players were talking and laughing and just enjoying a beautiful autumn day together. Hidden Valley friends Bruce and Grace took first place net in the tournament and Hidden Valley friends Dave and Sue took second gross. On Friday, Sue shot a 74; wow, what a great round for Sue.

Saturday night was the award banquet at the Shore Lodge Pavilion Room which overlooks the lake. As we stood by the open floor to ceiling windows before dinner, we watched sail boats, water skiers and motor boats enjoying the late afternoon early evening sun.

We meandered our way home driving through Stanley, stopping at Redfish Lake and enjoying a quiet lunch in Sun Valley

The Payette Cup tournament is one of the best things we do each year. It is great golf, great parties, wonderful new and old friends and wonderful scenery. Its a romantic get away with the Lovely Sharon.  If you can arrange to go some time, you should do so. I hope I am able to make to the seventh annual Payette Cup next year.