Death Valley National Park is a special place in that its the hottest place on earth 🌎 , the lowest elevation in the United States 🇺🇸 and the largest National Park in the lower 48 states. Biggest, Hottest and Lowest are just three of the things that it has to its credit.

  Monday morning I headed over to Death Valley and to get there from Enterprise, Nevada one must drive through the desert 🏜 town of Purump.

  Aaron Sorkin put the town on the map when he wrote it into a two part episode of his show, Studio 60 almost 20 years ago.

It was wanting to see Purump 👀 for myself, years ago, that led me to my first trip over to Death Valley. Trip number two came as a means to gather steps 🚶‍♂️on a Monday.

Wayne Carter is my oldest brother and someone who gave his adult life to the education of others. Now in his early 70’s he is searching for the meaning of Life and I can totally relate to this because it is a question I ask myself on a daily basis.

We talked a bit on my drive over and then I headed in to the extreme Heat that is Death Valley.

On the way you drive through Death Valley Junction which is the definition of a deserted little community that adds to the lore of the name.

The day held only one promise, it was going to be HOT 🔥. Otherwise, it was just an adventure waiting to happen. Well, it turns out that the lowest elevation that a person in the United States 🇺🇸 can play golf ⛳ at is -214 feet below sea level. But you have to be off the course by 1:30 pm because of the temperature 🌡. Literally, to HOT to play golf ⛳…

  Golfing was not on the radar when the day started, not even a little. But when you find yourself at the doorstep of the lowest elevation golf course, how do you not grab your clubs???

The gentleman running the course was over the moon 🌙 helpful and full of stories about the history of the place. One of those stories was about the day that Phil Mickelson was driving through the Valley with his family, saw the same sign that I did and pulled in to play the course.

  The line about the Lottery is that you cannot win if you don’t play. It’s a catchy phrase that applies to life itself, at least to me. You never know what you might stumble upon if you are open to exploring.

  Was on the ninth green with a long putt for 39 but it wasn’t meant to be. The back nine will have to wait ✋ for another day because it was 1:00pm and 119° so the course was shutting down for the day. Side note 📝 Green Fees were only $22.00.

Now we have to take the story full circle 🔵 and that means Shawn Montgomery. Mr Montgomery, like my brother, has spent his life teaching and coaching other people’s children. At Carroll County High School he teaches Social Studies while coaching both Cross Country in the Fall and Outdoor Track 👣 in the Spring.

Our current project, running 🏃‍♂️ through the month of July, is assisting Coach Montgomery in replacing the worn out High Jump area. There is still time to join the effort and if you write ✍ a check for $100.00 to Carroll County High School you will receive a round of golf ⛳ with a cart at Olde Mill Golf Resort in Laurel Fork.

Have yourself a Blessed Day 🙌!