David W:
I don’t care what you think or RC or about Shady Canyon, Cascata, Southern Highlands, or any other of your high-end, ‘classy' favorites. I cannot imagine how people like you are at all good for any rating system, but that is not my call.
Likewise, I don’t give a damn if you want to exaggerate your golfing prowess-- this week you say you were even or one under at RC; a while back weren’t you saying you were (-2) after missing putts on the last couple of holes? Whatever works for you. But I take offense when you say or imply that I am a liar. Whatever else I may be, I do try to be honest, even if sometimes brutally so.
Here, again, is what you said above:
RC is too easily overpowered. I seem to remember that same rater you refer to shooting even or 1-under, driving 2 par 4's (1 with a 3-wood), hitting 3 par fives in 2 and making one eagle and five birdies total - as a 5-handicap. He also rendered most of the strategy irrelevant because every second shot was with a wedge.
Perhaps because of all the pre-round discussion, I remember your round better than most my own. I wouldn’t go down this route if I wasn’t confident that my memory is true.
And before you continue to call me a liar, let me remind you that we did not play as a twosome that day. It was a very enjoyable day and I am sorry that this is how it is being relived, but I don’t appreciate you bolstering your opinion through puffery, and I take offense when you call me a liar. Your round . . .
-- You did not shoot even par (72) or (-1.) You shot two or three over par, a 74 or 75. On the 18th tee, you noted that you were (+1) and that you needed a birdie to shoot even par. I do not recall whether you bogeyed the 18th hole or doubled it, but you did not par it and you certainly did not birdie it.
-- You did not “drive two par 4’s.” You definitely could have been on the green with a three wood on the easily reachable No. 3. But upon seeing No. 7 (a hole you had previously said was easily drivable) you agreed that you had likely been playing an up tee and that it was not drivable at all. On the other short Par 4, the much discussed No. 12, your drive was long enough to reach the green, but you were over near the bread-loaf mound, well right of the green and apron-- You did hit a terrific second shot of
75+ yards, landing on the upper portion near the pin and holding the green (a rarity for balls landing up there.) Unless you meant to say you had the distance but hit it about 60-70 yards right of the edge of the green, I am afraid your memory has failed you.
-- As for the hitting “three par 5’s in two” you will have to refresh my memory. I couldn’t forget your terrific eagle on No. 9-- a blasted three wood from the right side of the fairway from around 270 yds out, bounding up and stopping just a foot or so onto the right front peninsula portion of the green, then a nice uphill putt. But I also recall that you hit a 4 iron at the reachable first hole but bounced over the green and apron into the rough, as high fades are wont to do from the right side of the fairway. You chipped on and two putted for your par. I don’t doubt you hit No. 13-- it was definitely reachable for longer hitters. But while I have heard tales, I don’t think I have ever witnessed anyone reach No. 10 in two-- I don’t doubt it is very possible, but you didn’t do it.
-- While you did make some birdies, I don’t recall five, and I would if you did.
-- Every second shot with a wedge? You are dreaming. Sure on the three short Par 4’s and the Par 5’s,and the short 8th. But a wedge on every other hole? Let’s see, setting the above aside, that leaves the other par threes (not wedge holes) and No. 2 (457), No.11 (was 430, now 452), No. 14 (485), No. 16 (479), and No. 18 (456). You must have borrowed Matt Ward’s wedge.
Why you feel the need to exaggerate your already impressive accomplishment is beyond me. But in the future try to do so in a way that doesn’t impugn my integrity as well as yours.
. . .
As for Shady Canyon, you most certainly did decide that it was in a different class than Rustic before you played Shady Canyon. In fact this was our topic of conversation for most of the drive from the Airport to Rustic. You told me that this was a flaw in the system that kept courses like Rustic from getting recognized-- they couldn’t be expected to compete against courses like Shady Canyon, which were high end projects. I wouldn’t doubt that you have had similar but general conversations with others-- that the very nature of the low end or middle end publics ensures that they cannot compete with the high-end courses; that the high end courses are simply in a different “class.” How can you deny this given that we both know that you said it and believe it?
________________________________
Brad,
Thank you again for your explanations.
As for the Californians who think Rustic is ranked way too high, send them to Shady Canyon or have them go play some of the other higher end Southern California courses which pollute the other lists. Or better yet have them contact David W, who I am sure can come up with a long list of higher class courses, whether David has played them or not.
I too would rather we discussed the courses. But the ratings have influence, so while it doesn't make your life any easier, they should be scrutinized.