If it is August, it is time to visit dear friends, Ken and Debbie in Southern California near Westlake Village. I am looking forward to a break from the heat, as well as some marathon card and table games with them. And I am sure we will have a gathering of friends for a barbecue at their wonderful condo at Sherwood Country Club. If you dont know Sherwood, here is a brief history: This land was purchased by David Murdock of Dole fame, in 1984. And Lake Sherwood, originally known as Potrero Lake, is the oldest lake in California. It was built in 1904 and covers about 165 acres. We have motored on the Lake on previous trips. They said I was several shades of green, even though the waves are miniscule. The name of the lake was changed to Lake Sherwood in 1921, when the area was used to film Robin Hood. It starred Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., and the surrounding areas became known as Sherwood Forest. Inside the gates, there is the Robin Hood Cabin, built for the movie, and rumored to have housed Fairbanks during the filming.<br style=color: #201f1e; Verdana;
13.3333px; />Sherwood Country Club opened in 1989, and has a clubhouse, a Jack Nicklaus designed championship golf course, along with pools, spas, and tennis courts. Tiger previously held his charity tournament here in the Fall, called the Target World Challenge. In 2006, a par 3, course called Bears Best was added. The list of famous residents and members has changed over the years. Some that I recall are Kenny G, Joe Pesci, Wil Smith, Jamie Foxx, Pete Sampras, Wayne Gretzky (formerly), Paul Anka, Tom Petty, among others.
But I am here to visit dear friends, play cards, and laugh at their silly stories. We first met Debbie about twenty years ago, while golfing in Maui. She is about the sweetest and most generous person we know. And she is a great golfer, almost always wins any tournament she enters. They live in Las Vegas during the winter and spend the summer here at Sherwood.
If you think about how friendships are formed, the golf course ranks right up there. I have many friends who I have met on the golf course. More on the golf course, than in bars or
restaurants. But Debbie has always remained a special part of our lives. Thank you, Debbie, for being you!!!
You probably wonder how and why I spend so much time here, since I no longer play golf. Every visit is special, since we talk, tell stories, play cards, have dinner parties, and find interesting things to do. Once in a while, we go out to dinner, or take a ride over to Malibu for some beach time. And we may barbecue, and have a few friends over, like Bobcat (Cathy) and Jim. They are a special couple too!!!
I visit Ken and Debbie about twice a year, late fall in their Vegas home, and summer in their Sherwood home. I have not been here since they remodeled a few years ago. The view that you see above is quite spectacular, especially as we sit outside in the cool evening breeze. The champagne or sparkling wine is flowing, the barbecue is going, and our laughter spreads across the lake. I cant wait!
