[Mike_Sweeney]

On a non-golfing family trip (prenegotiated with wife for a no clubs trip) down the California coastline, I was hosted by Bob Huntley at MPCC to take a cart tour of the new Shore Course by Mike Stranz.

It all comes together here, the 178 yard 11th hole, a par 3 with Cypress Point, Spyglass and Pacific Ocean in the background.



I think this is the 5th hole (thanks Huck), a 340 yard dogleg right.



I loved the rock as a backdrop for this green site.



A couple of thoughts:

1. MPCC requested that the architect (Mike Stranz) would move to Monterey and live at the course. The details of the bunkering were amazing to me at this early stage. Even my son Dylan commented that the bunkers looked like they were from the 1920's.

2. With holes 5-15 playing as "Ocean" holes, how long will it take the raters to place the The Shore ahead of The Dunes. I have only played The Dunes, but my guess is I would lean 7-3 in favor of The Shore.

3. With 36 holes and a greater diversity and number of ocean holes, is MPCC the best golf club on The Monterey Peninsula?

Two of the best partners in golf, Dylan Sweeney and Bob Huntley. Thanks again Bob.



I will try to post some more pictures later. Unfortunately, I never made it to Huckaby National as Legoland prevailed.

[THuckaby2]

Well if Huckaby National is to be missed, you did
it for the right cause.  

FANTASTIC pics, particularly the last.

As for comparisons between and rankings of the two
golf courses, well let's not forget that the Dunes is
pretty damn fantastic in its own right.  In fact it still
holds the single best hole of the entire 36 - #14, as
so wonderfully described by Brian Gracely in another thread
recently.  Based on that, and the fantastic #10, and the
two damn fine par threes on the front nine, I'd give the nod
in the par 3 category to the Dunes, although the Shore's are
also fantastic as you saw, and posted here!

So anyway without time to get too in-depth, I'd say that
7-3 is stretching things... in the long run.  Oh I don't doubt
that 7 out of 10 raters who participate HERE will put the
Shore ahead of the Dunes right now, but to me that's because
of the honeymoon factor plus the reverence for Strantz and
disdain for Rees.

Over time, I have a feeling it's gonna be 50/50 between the
two courses - both in the minds of raters and in the minds
of members and guests.  Both courses are pretty damn
great.

And as for MPCC being the best golf club on the peninsula,
well... when was it not?

TH

[A_Clay_Man]

Great Post Mike!

That 11th is a whole enchilada, idn't it?
I would love to see the pin right where
 the tree points. Exactly along the coast,
and it looks like the narrowest part of the green,
with a full carry, SCRUMPTIOUS!. How'd I do?

[DPL11]

Mike,

Great pictures from a golf course that looks and sounds like it turned out wonderfully.

What a mind-blowing vista from #11 tee.

Thanks for sharing.

[Jimmy Muratt]

Wow, those are terrific pictures Mike.  It appears that Mike Strantz has designed a strategic and unique course that definitely can hold it's head high with the other courses on the Peninsula.

I love the look of #6 from the tee.  It just dares you to bite off a little bit more of the dogleg.

I hope the Mike Strantz gets the recognition that he deserves for this course.  And, to work under his difficult health conditions is really remarkable.

[THuckaby2]

What's also cool about #11 is that the tee
is perched very high up in a little tower of boulders...
you really do feel on top of the world up there.
Mike's pic sorta shows this, but it is REALLY neat
in person.

And yes, a pin on the far right would be something!
But it's not as narrow as it looks... there is more
room than this photo would seem to show.

I don't think the second photo is #6... it looks
more like #5 to me, short par 4 dl right... idiot play
is to try and get near the green (Huckaby).  Smart
play is to bunt something out 200-210 and have a wedge
in (Benham).

Of course I could be completely wrong about the
photo.

TH

[Brad Swanson]

Mike,
   Thanks for sharing.  I'm about to turn 35, and I've never been to San Fran or Monterey .  Looks like its time to book a trip!  Great pics.

Cheers,
Brad

[Mike Benham]

Mike -

Your 2nd pick is of the par-4 5th hole ...




It looks like (at times) the weather never changes ... these were taken July 2nd ...

[Mike Hendren]

Let's be honest.  We'd all like to be Dylan in that photograph with Bob Huntley.  The golf course is just (outstanding) gravy.

Kindest regards,

Mike

[Mike_Sweeney]

There are 5 Par 3's at The Shore. In addition to #11 above they are:

# 3 153 yards



# 7 219 yards


# 9 224 yards



# 14 188 yards

[Mike Benham]

I would like ask my playing partners on the July 2nd outing with Sir Bob to confirm,
but in the pictures posted by Mike, it seems that the hole locations ARE EXACTLY the same.


The memories of #14 are extremely painful ...

[Scott_Burroughs]

It seems like those last 4 par 3's all favor a fade and have
greens that angle in the same direction.  Only the first
doesn't.  Were the pics all taken from the tee?

[Mike Benham]

It seems like those last 4 par 3's all favor a fade and have
greens that angle in the same direction.  Only the first
doesn't.  Were the pics all taken from the tee?

If I recall, those pics are taken reasonably close to the center of the tee box.  

But your observation is correct although #7 is a round green with the fairway
 giving you the visual left to right.  With the ocean on the left, I would assume
 the wind is left to right.  The right hole location also cements your premise.


#9 plays straight away (to me anyway) and the wind is right to left.  Visually,
 it is all carry although when greenside, there is fairway short of the green.


Left side view of front of #9 green ...

[Mike_Sweeney]

Mike,

What did you think of 18 ? If there is a Stranz quirky hole, it is probably #18 which reminded me of CPC 18, with an uphill second shot, and a deep bunker to carry with a shallow green.

[johnk]

M Benham - the pins all look to be in the same places to me.

I had the chance to play 11 with the pin on the far right. The eagle's aerie tee box was closed that day.  Senor Huckaby is right that there's more room than it looks like, but that's only because it looks like there is absolutely none.  From the 146 marker, a really high 8 iron has a chance if hit well - it was birdied by one member of our group with that type shot.  It's also possible to land it to the left, but on the pin side of the ridge and have it feed in.

The Dunes is not to be mis-underestimated, as Tom points out.

[johnk]

Scott, I don't think the par 3s are fade-favorers, really.
Mike's shot of #14 is taken from a knoll to the left and well above the tee.  Big green allows for options - and a cut is a good one, but a draw would work too. #11 doesn't reward a fade, due to the slope from front to back, and ridge sloping to right...  Similarly for #3, I think, although you certain can fade it in if you want... #7 and #9 are far away, and the greens are so big, that even skilled sticks like M Benham are just hopping to hit it there - what with the wind...  

I might be wrong about all that, and with my swing, I usually look for the fade/cut option first.

[Mike Benham]

I think 18 is an awkward hole, compared to the other 17 (that concept is similar to CPC #18).

It is the most exacting tee shot on the course, as a slight to hard fade is required.  You don't have to be a long hitter to hit a straight tee shot into the bunker.

The green is very difficult to approach off of an awkward (there's that word again ...) sidehill-uphill lie.

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