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Daryn_Soldan

  • Karma: +0/-0
Black Mesa Pictures
« on: July 07, 2005, 05:27:35 PM »
I was in the land of enchantment over the holiday weekend and was fortunate enough to play Black Mesa for the first time.  Below are some pictures.  I tried to get some that are not covered in the Course Profile section but there are a few repeats.  Comments to follow later this evening or tomorrow.

Approach to par 4 1st from higher right side of fairway


Uphill approach to par 4 2nd


Par 3 4th


Approach to par 5 6th with short par 4 7th in the background


Par 3 8th - anything missing green or bunker rolls off into native area


Approach to par 4 10th


Par 3 11th from the tee - playing into the mouth of a box canyon


11th green


Par 4 12th from the tee


Looking back at 12 from 13th tee

Daryn_Soldan

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2005, 05:39:11 PM »
Tee shot on the par 5 13th


A drive into the saddle part of the fairway leaves this approach to 13


Tee on the short par 4 14th - drive can go short, left, right or over the rough covered knob in the center of the fairway.  The green is left of the knob in the shadows.


A drive into the right side of the fairway leaves this approach


View from behind the par 3 15th


View from the lower tees on the par 5 16th


Looking southeast from the 17th green.  The 17th and 3rd (with bunkers) fairways are visible in the foreground.  The 4th green and flagstick can be seen just left of center and the 5th tee is on the left edge of the picture.


Approach to par 4 18th from right edge of the fairway


View of the clubhouse from short left of the 18th green

« Last Edit: July 07, 2005, 06:18:48 PM by Daryn_Soldan »

Daryn_Soldan

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #2 on: July 07, 2005, 05:41:03 PM »
OK, someone help me with why all of the pictures resized differently. Thanks

Daryn

A_Clay_Man

Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2005, 05:54:00 PM »
I can't help with the technicals, but as for the images, Thank you for posting.

Some people who were here in 03'
might notice a major change in the look of the bunkers.

Pat has deliberately allowed many of the edges
 to get a random craggy look. It really works,
 visually.
Playing wise, it does add a thrill to the element of recovery.


Also, for those who might remember,
the left bunker on #8 has been shrunk to approx.
 a third of it's former self.
 Now, instead of capturing balls that miss left,
 it's up to fates fate.
I think the rear section,
that is still bunker. looks like a blonde
 winking at you from across the bar.

Here's an old picture for contrast.
« Last Edit: July 08, 2005, 08:52:49 AM by Adam Clayman »

Daryn_Soldan

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2005, 06:08:25 PM »
Some of the more interesting and difficult green complexes I've seen in a while.  
Of course, it's interesting to hear from folks around Santa Fe about how "unfair" they are.
« Last Edit: July 07, 2005, 06:08:46 PM by Daryn_Soldan »

Craig Sweet

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2005, 06:12:20 PM »
Nice lumpy greens. I like!
No one is above the law. LOCK HIM UP!!!

tonyt

Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2005, 06:40:54 PM »
Take away the "Bunker Hair"

Take away the long views and big mountains

What's left?

 ;)

The lumpy fairways and contoured greens still remain  :)

Jason Hines

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #7 on: July 07, 2005, 07:35:13 PM »
I still remember and love the double humped 15th and "dinasour back" 16th greens.  Can't wait to go back.

Jason

Michael Whitaker

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #8 on: July 07, 2005, 08:53:36 PM »
Adam - I agree... the hairy bunkers look great and definitely fit. Can't wait for my return trip.
"Solving the paradox of proportionality is the heart of golf architecture."  - Tom Doak (11/20/05)

Matt_Ward

Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2005, 11:13:41 PM »
Daryn:

Great pictures of one of America's best courses.

Hats off to Baxter Spann, Eddie Peck and Pat Brockwell for the vision they carried out.

The pictures do a great service in understanding the place.

Pete Buczkowski

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #10 on: July 08, 2005, 01:52:01 AM »
Daryn:

Great pics, thanks for sharing.  I can't wait to return to NM and try this course.

Pete

Philip Gawith

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #11 on: July 08, 2005, 07:54:25 AM »
Great pictures! Makes a man want to get on a plane and exit grey - dangerous - London. You don't get much better pics than the 12th - fantastic looking hole.

What are other courses in that part of the world which win the affections of GCA folk? How far is Apache Stronghold? I suppose heat is a bit of a problem this time of the year, though maybe not when you are high enough?

Jfaspen

Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #12 on: July 08, 2005, 08:12:56 AM »
I love the 12th..  Seems like a hole that looks to be terrribly narrow, but you get out there and there is more room than you thought there could be.

And I might be way off, because I am much too new to this stuff to be applying architectual principals, but to me it looks almost like an inland cape hole.  <ducks>

I tend to like mountain views and it seems like this course has the green complexes necessary to step up the level of golf in the area.

Thanks for the pics
jf

James Edwards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #13 on: July 08, 2005, 08:54:02 AM »
The 14th green and approach looks a bloody nightmare?

Is it?
@EDI__ADI

Craig Van Egmond

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #14 on: July 08, 2005, 09:42:22 AM »
Black Mesa is looking better and better, they are doing a great job out there. What a fantastic course and affordable by people who actually have to pay greens fees.  ;)
« Last Edit: July 08, 2005, 09:42:58 AM by Craig Edgmand »

George Pazin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #15 on: July 08, 2005, 10:34:49 AM »
You did a terrific job capturing contours. Some day you'll have to explain to me how you did that.

That course sure looks wider than I remember. ;D

I do like the new look on the bunkers as well, just looks a bit more natural. I don't think you would lose much by taking away the views and the mountains. The course is very solid and enjoyable to play. I hope Morgan Hill is equally enjoyable (and maybe a bit more forgiving... :)).
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

A_Clay_Man

Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #16 on: July 08, 2005, 10:39:27 AM »
Dr. Bill, To categorize Black Mesa as a Mtn. course isn't strickly accurate.
Yes, it's at a mile high. Yes, it has some magnificiant views,
 but such is the case wherever you are in this part of the
country. Be it driving to the grocery store, or a titleist.

Black Mesa is NOT a mountain course in the traditional sense,
 mostly because it is walkable.
But, Black Mesa is much more than what it isn't.

IMO, It's a leap forward in GCA

 
« Last Edit: July 08, 2005, 10:40:37 AM by Adam Clayman »

Daryn_Soldan

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #17 on: July 08, 2005, 12:48:06 PM »
George,

Regarding capturing contours, I can't take much credit.  Just a good camera and that hour or
so before sunset that yields great shadows.  I was litterally running around the back nine
trying to get done before dark.

This was my first time around Black Mesa.  I had seen pictures and heard accounts from
numerous people.  The first words out of their mouths were usually penal, hard or unfair.  
I can see where the first time around this conclusion could be reached.  Also, pictures I've
seen definitely make most holes look narrower than they are.  However, I was pleasently
surprised at the playability, width wise, off the tee on most holes. There are several places
where a fairway plays significantly wider due elevated dessert on one side.  It seems that
many holes have fairways that sit perpendicular to the slope and are high on one side and
fall off sharply on the other.  On 5, 6, 7 and 10 I hit tee shots that hit on the high side
of the fairway in the dessert and simply rolled off the slope, through the minimal rough
and into the fairway. That being said, I saw this same principal cause balls that
landed near the center of the fairway to roll into trouble on the low side of holes 14, 16
and 17.  The fairways were probably the firmest of any I have ever played and combined
with the altitude made it unnecessary to hit driver on most holes.  Of course, there
are holes out there that just don't have much room off the tee or around the greens.  
Although its asking a lot for some of us, I guess you just have to hit it straight. ;)

Mike Nuzzo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #18 on: July 08, 2005, 01:15:11 PM »
The 14th green and approach looks a bloody nightmare?

Is it?

Not if you get up and down from the tee...   ;D
Thinking of Bob, Rihc, Bill, George, Neil, Dr. Childs, & Tiger.

A_Clay_Man

Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #19 on: July 08, 2005, 01:35:16 PM »
Everydayman- Pine Canyon was no leap in design philosophy for the architect.
I believe Black Mesa was, for Baxter.
He attributed Tobbaco rd. for it's scale, and,
 TOC for her greens. Emulating the craddle and
respecting other artists.

As for the rest of Black Mesa,
 it was dictated by the land and
any containment was purely coincidental and natural. i.e. #10's right side off the tee.
« Last Edit: July 08, 2005, 01:37:53 PM by Adam Clayman »

Matt_Ward

Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #20 on: July 08, 2005, 02:35:39 PM »
Bill:

I agree with Adam -- although Black Mesa is at 6,000+ altitude -- it's not a pure "mountain" course by strict definition.

I had the pleasure in playing Pine Canyon this past May and I enjoyed the layout but the sheer details -- the design attributes -- are much more sophisticated than what you see at Pine Canyon.

Let me mention that when you throw Morgan Hill into the picture you are talking about a VERY severe piece of land that was handled with great skill by Kelly Blake Moran. In many ways Moran did a finished product that has much to offer in the same way that Jim Engh did with Lakota Canyon Ranch in Colorado.

While I like the 1st hole at Morgan Hill (the green is rather unique) -- I have to say the closing hole at Morgan Hill is a big disappointment -- given the nature of what preceded it.

Bill -- I am also not a big fan of repeat shot values -- at Morgan Hill you have no less than two (2) dropshot par-3's holes. The first (7th) is well done -- the manner by which Moran weaves the green into the landscape makes for clear picture -- the second (12th) is purely a transition spot from one section of the property to the other holes that make-up the back nine. In sum -- a throw away hole.

Black Mesa is air-tight on all of its four par-3's. They go in different directions -- vary in length and elevation (uphill as well with the delicious 11th) and require the fullest range of control.

Morgan Hill is very well done -- no complaints from me whatsoever. Unfortunately, many people may pass off on the course because of the name of the architect. That would be really unfortunate because Kelly has clearly elevated his style with such a winning effort at Morgan Hill. I only hope that those who vote on "best new" courses would really take the time to appreciate the winning effort that was done there.

However, with all that said -- Black Mesa is simply an awesome layout to experience -- I would put it right there with Pacific Dunes -- minus the ocean views which always secure brownie points. It has the views of the New Mexico landscape with the mountains surrounding the property. The rolling terrain provides a comparable "links" type sensation as superintendent Pat Brockwell keeps the turf always firm and fast. This effort only adds to the design qualities created by Baxter.


Michael Dugger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Black Mesa Pictures
« Reply #21 on: July 09, 2005, 02:45:28 AM »
I think those bloody pictures make Black Mesa look even better than before.

Why can't every desert course be this good??
What does it matter if the poor player can putt all the way from tee to green, provided that he has to zigzag so frequently that he takes six or seven putts to reach it?     --Alistair Mackenzie--

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