A Sunday in October. Leaves skittering across the patio at PopStroke Scottsdale, a nip in the air, football murmuring from somewhere inside. My father-in-law, a retired dentist with opinions about everything, had agreed to play eighteen with me.
He believed putting was a matter of character. Mine was under review.
On the 9th I faced a short, slippery downhill putt, four feet, maybe less. He watched me the way he once watched molars. I hit it too firm. It rattled in anyway, hard against the back of the cup.
"Lucky," he said. Then, after a pause: "Let's eat."
The buffalo chicken dip came out to our patio table warm and bubbling. A creamy blend of slow-roasted chicken and cream cheese, rich and comforting as an old wool blanket. Over the top, a scattering of pico de gallo, bright and fresh, a little confetti thrown over a quiet celebration. Alongside, crispy house-made tortilla chips, sturdy enough to scoop, light enough to forget you've had fourteen.
He scooped first. He scooped again. He said nothing for several minutes, which, from him, is a standing ovation.
On the back nine he started calling me by my first name. On the 16th he offered me his putter to try. I sank a long lag with it. He told me to keep it until next Sunday, which I understood to mean there would be a next Sunday.
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the menu
Grilled Wings
Jumbo brined wings, available in homemade BBQ, mild, hot, garlic parmesan, mango habanero, sweet heat, hot BBQ, honey-roasted garlic, or Nashville hot dry rub. Served with your choice of blue cheese or ranch.
$18.50
Nachos
Crispy corn tortillas topped with pico de gallo, jalapenos, queso, avocado lime crema, and guacamole. Add chicken or seasoned beef for $4
$14
Ahi Tuna Nachos
Fresh ahi tuna* atop crisp wonton chips, sweet sriracha aioli, and a medley of avocado, cucumber, mango, and jalapenos. Finished with sesame seeds, onion relish, cilantro, and carrots. * Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness.
$20