Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Golf, fly fishing have much in common

Paula DelGiudice

Thursday, Aug. 3, 2000 | 10:54 a.m.

Paula DelGiudice's outdoors notebook appears weekly. Reach her at PDelGiudice@compuserve.com.

This is the time of summer that everyone hates. The temperatures climb to unmerciful highs barely dipping down at night. The air is hazy and full of smoke from range fires throughout the West. It's so dry that all vegetation that isn't irrigated looks like it could just combust spontaneously.

Striper fishermen are busy chasing striper boils. It's a hot way to enjoy fishing, though if the boils are good the action can almost make you forget the air temperature.

Hiking at the top of Mt. Charleston can help you find temperatures that are a few degrees cooler than here on the valley floor. About a week ago, my friend and I took our kids on a short hike on Mt. Charleston and actually found some cool breezes blowing and the shade a nice break.

You can travel someplace distant to find respite from the heat (and that's not a bad idea). I know I'd like to be wading in a river with my fly rod in hand chasing hungry trout, but that's not in the cards this summer.

We did, however, find a break from the heat this week just a little over an hour's drive from here in Mesquite at the CasaBlanca. With a great massage at the spa, a refreshing dip in the pool and a nice dinner, it's a bit different from the traditional outdoor activities of hunting and fishing. But even hunters and anglers have need for rest and relaxation in a different setting.

I have to admit our whole family even hit the golf course the next morning. I had always resisted learning golf, thinking that all that practice would take time away from my fly fishing. Then events conspired to foil that notion.

First we moved to Southern Nevada where the fly fishing opportunities are fewer in number than in Northern Nevada. Then our son Kevin picked up a golf club when he was 3 and began counting the days until he turned 5 and could take lessons.

The more time I spent as a "golf mom" the more I wanted to learn the sport. So last year, I took lessons with Tom Carlson, Kevin's teacher of nearly five years.

I found my approach to be much like it was with fly fishing. When I took up fly fishing, I took casting lessons, read incessantly, practiced casting, tied flies, acquired gear and dreamed of making the perfect cast and hooking a beautiful fish. I was secretly a bit intimidated by the aura surrounding fly fishing and was reluctant to actually try to fish with my skills. Finally I broke down and took my fly rod to the Truckee River running through Reno, near my home at the time. I caught my first trout that evening on a fly that I had tied myself. I was hooked.

I did the same with golf: I took the lessons, practiced my swing, headed for the driving range and listened to Carlson present his lessons to Kevin each week. It was finally time to hit the golf course for the first time.

Early Monday morning, the whole family piled out of the truck and into golf carts for 18 holes at CasaBlanca. It was a first for Kevin, too: He'd never golfed an entire 18 holes.

The setting was incredible. The CasaBlanca course has a good combination of green fairways, wetlands and natural desert. As a result, we were treated to a wonderful array of wildlife: cottontail and jackrabbits, roadrunners, Canada geese, a variety of ducks and shorebirds and even a golden eagle.

I have a long way to go as a golfer, but I made some pretty good shots; the desert, bunkers and water hazards didn't eat as many of my balls as I predicted. I had a great time. It's not easy being "whupped" by your 9-year-old son, but I'm glad all those lessons are paying off. It was the perfect quick getaway -- just enough of a break to make the hot August days and nights bearable.

Next time, though, I'm going to save the massage for after the round of golf.