help re Soule Park (Bell) in Ojai, Calif

[mark chalfant]

Does this course  have some Bell attributes remaining, is the
routing and topography interesting.  Standout holes?
How does it compare with courses such as Ojai and La  Cumbre
thanks

[Bill_McBride]

Mark, I haven't played Soule Park since my college days in Santa Barbara 40 years ago, but do remember it as on nice rolling terrain, don't remember much else.  Ojai, which is nearby, is on some gentle terrain with steep hills and barrancas in the area which was the beginning of the back nine but will be the front nine apparently.  Bell assisted George Thomas with the construction of Ojai.

Thomas also designed La Cumbre in Santa Barbara but I don't see much similarity to either Soule Park or Ojai.  I don't think either has the kikuyu which is choking La Cumbre these days.

There was some talk a while back about possibly playing Soule Park as part of the King's Putter GCA unoffical event in the spring.

[Robert_Ball]

Mark, I'd tell you everything I know about Soule Park but it wouldn't matter because the course is in the middle of a renovation by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner.  I've heard that the course is open during construction with 18 temp greens ($9 wkdays) which likely means they're rebuilding the greens & bunkers and leaving the routing.  Sounds like a good idea for a gca.com outing- Playing a course AND watching its construction!

The par 5 7th was/is the standout hole- 565yds, barranca hugs the left side and must be carried on approach shot.  My understanding is that it was William F. Bell who originally designed Soule Park not the elder William P. (Billy) Bell.  Think Los Verdes or Recreation Park vs. the older Billy Bell work like LaCumbre or Ojai Valley.

If I'm able to get out there this week I'll post my findings or IM you directly with an update

-Robert