Monarch Dunes in SLO

[David_Tepper]

There is an article about the new Monarch Dunes course in San Luis Obispo (desgined by Damian Pascuzzo) in one of the SLO papers. Has anyone seen the course yet?

This link may or may not work:

www.sanluisobispo.com/mid/sanluisobispo/13577405.htm  

If you click on Sports, you will be able to find the article.

[Aidan Bradley]

David,

I photographed Monarch Dunes a few months ago (some images below). An executive 9 hole and another 18 are in the works. As a golfer I look forward to playing the course, a good variety in the look and feel of the holes, some elevation changes, and if the wind blows a stiff challenge. Only drawback from a purists viewpoint, houses on some of the holes, otherwise looks like a fun experience. I can post more images if there is any interest.

Aidan.

[David_Tepper]

Aidan -

Thanks for posting the pix. Post as many as you want!

Am I reading correctly that the plans are to have two 18's plus an executive nine at this facility? Is it private or daily fee?

DT

[Aidan Bradley]

David,

You are correct, two 18's and an excutive. All are daily fee. Opened the start of the year. More pics below.

Aidan.

[Tom_Doak]

Some unusual shaping there, or are those dunes real?

Can a town like San Luis Obispo really support a new 45 holes?  Didn't John Harbottle just build a new muni there about 5-10 years ago?

[Aidan Bradley]

Tom,

Blacklake GC has 27 holes and is within a John Daly 3 wood Monarch Dunes. I am quite sure the developer has done his homework and has decided this is a feasable project. I believe Monarch Dunes can draw golfers from Santa Barbara to Paso Robles and every other growing city and town for quite a distance. Affordable home prices and favourable weather are helping to grow the population in this area. I believe "The Woodlands" is the name of the real estae developement surrounding the golf courses and I am sure the new home owners will provide a solid consistent base for the courses. Another fine course Cypress Ridge is also in the area.

Aidan.

[Jimmy Chandler]

I found this link with info about the course:

http://www.golfslo.com/monarchdunes.asp

The preview rates are $42 weekday/$52 weekend.

As I noted on the Pasatiempo/Santa Cruz thread, I'll be traveling up the coast from LA to SF in March, and this course sounds intriguing, so I'm curious to hear any reports.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Take a look:

www.monarchdunes.com

I may be in LA in June. How long is driving time from there?

[Aidan Bradley]

Depending on your foot, the traffic, or your need to get there, two and half to three hours.

[Andrew Cunningham]

Definitively do NOT take HWY. 1!  Not 101, 1.  What an idiot!  So much for a romantic drive.  Stupid tourists!

[Joel_Stewart]

That last picture scares me, not only with those wierd mounds but not native euc's everywhere.   He couldn't leave well enough alone to have to bring in trees?

[Aidan Bradley]

While I have no financial interest in this project other than having photographed the course it blows me away how peolple can utter such sheer bs without having been on property. I can assure you that all those trees existed long before the dozers rolled.

[Andrew Cunningham]

Great pictures, by the way.  You most be a pro.

[Joel_Stewart]

While I have no financial interest in this project other than having photographed the course it blows me away how peolple can utter such sheer bs without having been on property. I can assure you that all those trees existed long before the dozers rolled.

I'm making an observation without playing the course based on your photos and you call it bs?   If you didn't want observations than you should not have posted the photos.  Why don't you give us some information other than photos if you're so brilliant.  

As for the trees, euclyptus trees are not native to California and most courses in California are removing them not keeping them.  They are dirty, drink enormous amounts of water and generally grow like weeds.  Perhaps you could explain why the trees are cut in straight lines and not cut in random patterns?

I think bs photographers should keep their mouths shut.

[Aidan Bradley]

Joel,

The words "bs" may have been inappropriate, for that, I apologize.

Aidan.

[Chris Moore]

Fugly.  

[David_Tepper]

Aidan -

Thanks for posting the additional excellent pix. Do you do anything special to get the colors so rich in your photos?

Monarch Dunes looks quite intriguing and very different from anything I can recall seeing in California. I would love to here what the feedback is once people have played there.  

Do you know who will be designing the other 18-hole course there and what the construction timetable is for that course?

DT

[Aidan Bradley]

David,

Damian Pascuzzo who designed the first 18 is also the designer of record for the second 18.

With regards to the saturation in the images it is a combination of the film and across polarization filter.

From what I have heard the feedback has been very positive.  As for a time table, my uneducated guess for completion of the second 18 would be another 18 months(please don't hold me to that).

Aidan.

[Michael Robin]

Aidan - are the "paintings" on the website touchups of your photos? Given that your photos were for display purposes, is the actual site as vivid as your photography in terms of color?

[Jim Nugent]

Aidan: Tom's other question about the dunes remains.  Real or Memorex?

Joel: is it feasible to import and plant that many Eucalyptus trees?   If they don't grow straight in straight rows like that, could the builder have cut them that way?
 

[Michael Robin]

That whole area of Nipomo is covered with Eucs. I'm guessing they've been there awhile. They look to be of similar size to the ones at Riviera which were planted in 1925.

[Brad Klein]

Damian Pascuzzo told me all of the dunes were created by his construction crew and he's very proud of the work.

[Aidan Bradley]

Michael,

The "paintings " on the official site are my original images. I have to assume that whoever created the site used this "painterly" effect to enhance the look of the site. The vividness in the photographs comes from a combination of the film I use(Velvia) and the use of a warming cross polarization filter which when photographed at a 90 degree angle to the sun will a create a deep saturation in the images. Given that every monitor is a different I not sure what degree of saturation you are seeing. As for the site itself, if you were to walk the course at the appropriate time of day and used polarized sunglasses you would witness colors somewhat the same as I have posted.

Jim

As Brad Klein had mentioned in his post, the "dunes/mounds" were created by the construction crew.

[Joel_Stewart]

Damian Pascuzzo told me all of the dunes were created by his construction crew and he's very proud of the work.

I wonder if its "his crew" or someone like Landscapes Unlimited?  A couple of good shapers can make Damian look good, at least for one project.

[Dan King]

Just judging from the photos I don't like the looks of the dunes. The fairways all look very flat and then the dunes are on  the outside of the fairways. If the fairways were a bit bumpier perhaps the dunes would work, looking more natural. They look totally out of place. Do any of the dunes come near the line of play?

In some ways the pics remind me of Poppy Hills.

It will be interesting to check out. The area has lots of golf courses, but not a lot of good courses. I usally play at the nine hole Sea Pines in Los Osos when in the area.

Dan King

It's like replacing Bo Derek with Roseanne Barr.
 --Johnny Miller (on Poppy Hills replacing Cypress Point as part of the home for the AT&T Pro-Am)