[THuckaby2]

Brent:

As I say, I pick my splurges.  But please also understand there's a reason I will be flying NORTH instead of WEST upon the conclusion of that storied event.  Oh yes, I have found a way to wrap this into a business trip.  Quite proud of myself, I am.

 

[John Kirk]

I've got a friend who joined there early this year.  I'm pretty sure the initiation fee has dropped considerably from $300k.  Only one or two memberships sold for that price; now I think the price is closer to $150k.  Monthly dues there are very reasonable, about $150-200 per month.

It's a little sad the are rebuilding the tee box on #4.  It had to be the smallest tee area on a world class golf course anywhere.  If it was 8 feet wide I'd be surprised.

More Pasatiempo tips for different holes:

#6 -  Second shot has to be straight on this narrow par 5.  I play it driver, 3-iron, sand wedge.  Not worth trying to reach in two shots.

#7  -  Have to hit it straight, so 2 or 3 iron if you're spraying the ball that morning, or 3 wood if you're playing well.

#8  -  It's way downhill, but I think it's only one club less.  The green is so sloped you won't believe it.

#12 -  Play tee shot to right half of fairway.  Otherwise, you may be blocked by trees on your approach.

#14  -  Ideally, I'll fade driver/3-wood to right half of the fairway.  The left half has a deep swale.  Although the left side may be the better angle, you can't see the green from there, and you often have uncomfortable stances over there.

#18 -  Plays about one club less.  At 173 from the back box, it's usually a 7-iron for me.  Very important here not to be long.  Of course, you have to carry that barranca.  Or is it an arroyo?

[THuckaby2]

JMK:

I too was sad to hear about #4 tee, as it surely was unique.  But it was sliding down toward 3 green from what I heard, so something had to be done.  I also thought they wanted to lower it a bit, in tune with MacKenzie's intent for that hole... Darn, we had some conversation on here awhile back with the people doing the actual work and I just don't remember what's what.  In any case, from the pics, it doesn't look all THAT different, which is cool.

As for memberships, if they've come down to $150K that is one hell of a drop.  I could see it as possible though given the volatility and the downturn... But still, my friend and I inquired about a year and a half ago and it was in the $320K range.  Not that I was gonna buy - nor was he, he was just deluding himself - we were just curious and both do love the place.  In any case it is amazing the fluctuation in this.

As for the tips, great calls on all of them.

I have reached #6, but the problem can come that even if you do, you still have a very hard 3rd shot!  Pin placement there is everything and if it's tucked, you may not be all that well off on the green in the wrong spot.  All this makes it not worth the risk so your play of D-3I-SW makes great sense.  I just don't think I could get D-3I that far!  For me it might go D-3I-8I.  But still, the principle remains the same.

Whoops... I just read your assessment of 18 over again.  If you play a 7I to #18, we are playing two different games.  That's generally 4 or 5 for me.  I also don't find it to play one club less... every time I play for that I leave it in the barranca.  Of course long is no great place to be, but it beats in the hazard to hell and gone.

TH

[johnk]

Huck, MB -

I recall when I first played there, back in 98 or 99, I played with a member lady and her daughter, and they were talking about someone who had just sold their membership for $90k...

I don't know about tips for Bel-Air, but these tips really helped me be a lot more confident.  If you've never played there, you may not need them as much as I did, because without this info, I literally would be standing on holes going: "Hmm, I remember something bad about being left here, but maybe it was right.  Crap..."  So it definitely was more fun for me being a bit more confident and not letting my vague memories mess with me...

Besides, I'm also not a Senior-am quality player, and have no practice days.  Every day is a practice day for me

Someone mentioned laying up short on 10.  Yeah, if I was in a tournament, I might think about that, but I'd never do that anytime else... that shot is *too good* to not try.  Of course, yesterday it resulted in a double... from being well short... in the front bunkers

[THuckaby2]

If that lady sold for $90K in 98-99, she got some REALLY bad advice and someone got a FANTASTIC deal.  But, these things are equity and surely can be sold for whatever one wants, or given away.  So I'm sure it is possible!

As for laying up on 10, jeez I can only see doing that if my drive is way back and I'm playing match play with the opponent in the hazard, or stroke play and I am protecting a 10 shot lead.  No short shot around that green is going to be easy, whether in or out of the bunker.  Therefore might as well try to get it on the green.... the only real danger is going long (OB) so I guess one should guard against that... But the green surrounds are is so contoured, and the green itself is so severe, that I can't see being in the bunkers as all that much worse than any other place short... I guess a chip straight down from the right is the best miss.  So put all this together and I just don't see intentionally laying up as a viable play.  I guess if you're in the trees, you do what you must - so lay it down to the bottom of the hill, 100 yards short.  That sort of makes sense.  But if the green is in range at all, even with a three-wood, I'd think you just fire it up there.  Right side of the green isn't that tough to hit... and a miss right is a good miss....

TH

[Peter Galea]

Huck,
"a miss right is a good miss." Yeah, as long as the pin is not cut forward!

[THuckaby2]

Pete:

Right on, bruthah.  Pin position would change things.  But the only pin that makes a right miss bad would be a very front right one or tucked front left one, and even then, for most people it's better to be there than in the bunker, because most people just suck at sand play.    

I still say fire away, no matter where the pin is.  Just DON'T get tempted to aim at a far left pin, unless you've hit a monster drive and have a very short iron in.  The miss left on the hill there is worse than the miss right with a front right pin...

I guess the general rule of avoiding shortsiding one's self is REALLY in play on this great hole.

TH

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