A Whole Lotta Updates...
Wow, I had no idea that I would not be around an internet connection for so long, and that so many distractions would pop up when I did have connectivity. This has left me with a lot of work to do to keep everyone updated about my trip. I'm going to be brief in my descriptions of the rounds in order to minimize the time spent on posts since I'm very tired from a big weekend in Vegas, and to be more user friendly to those who are not golf enthusiasts. Start from the bottom of this posting and work your way up for sequence. My promises to be more diligent in the future on post turnaround time. Enjoy!
Many golf afficionados claim that Spyglass Hill is the true jewel of the Monterey Penninsula. After playing the Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design, I concur. The course begins on the western side of the Penninsula, playing toward and against the
This is not an easy course, and it plays very long considering the rain the Penninsula has experienced and that most of the holes play uphill. My father and I did not play very well here either and it was reflected in our scores. Frustration overtook my father from the first swing of the club and would not let go until after the round as he hit 4 balls - not one reaching the fairway. On the 14th hole, the rain began. It was not a driving rain but more of a nussiance rain, unsure of whether to gain pace or receed - constantly switching between the two. At no fewer than 10 moments in the round did my father declare that he was finished playing for the day, but a club always seemed to find his hand at the next tee, reinforcing the sadistic lore which is golf and makes it so similarly punishing and addictive. The highlight of the day came on the fifth hole, a par 3 where my father and I both hit shots to within 6 feet. He made his birdie putt and I missed - making this possibly the only round ever where he scored a birdie and I did not. This is now 4 straight rounds without a birdie - quite a long streak and one that I wish to end in glorious fashion at the
Score: 92
Handicap: 10.3
Overnight Location:
Tomorrow's Course: None
Tomorrow's Overnight Location:
The legend which is
The round was slow which gave us plenty of time to take in the beauty of this famed course which hugs the ocean for a majority of the holes. The ocean turn begins on the 4th fairway and the blue waters remain an obstacle to contend with through the 10th hole. Steep cliffs built of black basalt rise hundreds of feet above the sand beach below and support the fairways and rough, and collect many a mistruck ball in the rock harbors below. Neither my father nor I played outstanding golf on the day. Perhaps we were too mystified by the lore of Pebble, or maybe the ocean waves clashing with the rocky shores or the salty smell and tastes became a distraction tempting us to try and focus on golf in such a beautiful arena. The reason for the poor golf will evade me, but the memories of playing this hallowed ground with my father will remain.
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Today's Course:
Score: 96
Handicap: 10.6
Overnight Location:
Tomorrow's Course: Spyglass Hill
Tomorrow's Overnight Location:
Round #23 - The Links at
Even while considered the unwanted stepchild of the 3 main
Score: 95
Handicap: 10.6
Overnight Location:
Tomorrow's Course:
Tomorrow's Overnight Location:
Round #22 –
Round #21 – Torrey Pines – South Course
In 2008 the U.S. Open will arrive at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course. This long track is probably the most revered municipal golf course in the country. I arrived at the course at 6:15 AM and took my place as 18th in line for a tee time. The line moved quickly and by 6:40 I found myself standing on the first tee with 3 playing partners: Ron, a dentist from
Jim, as a golfer was less than spectacular, and overbearing as a parent. His son Michael has the potential to be a very good player should he be able to eschew his father’s criticism and become his own golf critic.
My golf game was sporadic, and my ball striking was not crisp. I had one score on my card greater than bogey but no birdies. The 84 I carded was not terrific, but adequate considering my play. Tomorrow would bring with it play at Los Angeles Country Club and my first overnight stay on the
Today’s Course: Torrey Pines – South Course
Score: 84
Handicap: 11.7
Overnight Location:
Tomorrow’s Course:
Tomorrow’s Overnight Location:
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About 1 hour and 15 minutes lays a true golf gem by the name of profanity like Picaso to paint his huge, beautiful canvases of swearing throughout the arrid landscape. George and Scott argued across the desert, up mountain tops, and down in valleys, over how to rake a bunker, hit a drive, and go about a search for lost balls. The entire day George and Scott argued.
I played 8 of the greatest holes of my life and stood on the 9th tee at 1 over par. My double bogey still accounted for a 39 on the front, but I knew in the deep recesses of my brain that the streak was over. A 46 on the back nine left me with an 85 for the day. Score aside - this couse was incredible in its ability to create some of the most fabulous and memorable shots anywhere. This was without doubt one of the most incredible and creative courses I've played.
Today's Course:
Score: 85
Handicap: 10.8
Overnight Location:
Tomorrow's Course: TBD
Tomorrow's Overnight Location:
The round of golf at Aliante was scheduled not for the quality of golf but for the quality of the company. Lee Crank and Chris Garvey made the flight from DC to Vegas. It was the first trip to Vegas for both of them, Lee's first golf round of the year, and Chris' first golf round in an entire year. The afternoon was overcast and chilly as the 3 of us struggled through this difficult test of desert golf. On the 10th tee, in typical Vegas fashion, we decided to play "Wolf," a golf game which gives every player and equal chance of winning regardless of ability once handicap strokes were assigned. Much to everyone's surprise, Chris took home the $15 pot in dominating fashion.
Score: 87
Current Handicap: 11
Overnight Location:
Tomorrow's Course: Wolf Creek
Tomorrow's Overnight Location:
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The front nine of the course swings along the rear perimeter of a resort pool. There was a photo shoot on the pool deck with a model, clad in a bikini, facing away from the course. Jim turned the cart toward the pool, parked next to the fence separating the course from resort, moved from the cart to the fence and yelled “Hey, have her turn around! Don’t keep her to yourself!”
Through all the distractions, I finally began to play some golf. My drives were straight and I hit more greens in regulation than I can recall. After 18 holes, my scorecard read a surprising 78 – the lowest score recorded on my trip and in my career. My good fortune today was a good sign leading to the weekend in Vegas.
Today’s Score: 78
Handicap: 11.2
Tomorrow’s Course: Aliante Golf Club
Tomorrow’s Overnight Location:
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Next year the Accenture Match Play Championship - a tournament where the top 64 players in the world play individual matches against another player instead of playing against the entire field - will arrive at The Gallery South Course, where it will remain for 7 years. Once I heard this, I knew I had to find the time to add this course to my itinerary. Jay made my tee time happen, and 1 1/2 hours after completing my morning round at Vistoso, I found myself on the tee complex of the first hole at The Gallery South Course. Conditions from the morning changed dramatically - the entire front nine of this course played into a 4 club wind. This means if you have a shot of 150 yards, a nine iron for me under normal circumstances, when playing into the wind you would have to play the shot as if it were from 190 yards, a 5 iron for me, making a difference of 4 clubs. What a pain. I've never played so many consecutive holes into such a strong wind. The conditions became quite a nussiance and left me with a slightly more negative impresson of this magnificent course. Don't get me wrong, the course was
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Afternoon Course: The Gallery South Course
Score: 90
Handicap: 11.7
Tomorrow's Course: TPC Scottsdale - Stadium Course
Overnight Location: Tucson, AZ
Tomorrow's Overnight Location: Las Vegas, NV
Round #16 - Vistoso Golf Club, Tucson, AZ
Vistoso is a top tier course in Tucson that Jay was able to get me onto for free - thanks Jay! It requires accurate shots and a good touch around the greens to score well. I played in the morning with 2 older gentlemen named Lester and Gary. Gary was decent but Lester was incredible. The man hit the ball dead straight and long for someone his age. He shot 80, probably a few strokes higher than his age. A respectable score. They were great playing partners to have. Lester was boisterous and Gary reserved. The 3 of us together had an enjoyable round complementing each other's great shots, and providing excuses for the ones gone awry. The most notable event on this round today was my play from the greenside bunkers. My ball landed in a greenside bunker 6 times, and 4 of those instances, my ball came to rest in the hole 2 strokes after hitting the bunker. On one instance, my ball found the hole in 1 stroke - I holed a sand shot for the first time in my golf career - for birdie on the par 3 17th. My score for the day, after a few bad holes, was 88. After play, it was on to The Gallery Golf Club to play the South Course for my second round of the day.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3881/1976/320/DSC02150.jpg)
This Morning's Course: Vistoso
Score: 88
Handicap: 11.1
Next Course: The Gallery South Course
Overnight Location: Tucson, AZ
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