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Garland Bayley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Monarch Dunes in SLO
« Reply #50 on: June 08, 2009, 12:08:12 AM »

Richard Boult has some pics on flickr

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"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

astavrides

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Monarch Dunes in SLO
« Reply #51 on: December 23, 2011, 01:37:57 PM »
I played this course yesterday on my drive from San Jose to LA.  I was blown away by how many bad holes there were on the regulation 18 hole course.  The home encroachment is awful also.  Conversely, I thought the 12 hole short course was fantastic.

Garland Bayley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Monarch Dunes in SLO
« Reply #52 on: December 23, 2011, 02:14:04 PM »
I thought the 12 hole short course was ridiculous. Do they have any other ideas other than a forced carry over water to a par 3? How many such holes did C&C build at the preserve? Just wait until MD short course is filled with homes and you might change your story.

I thoroughly dislike the front 9 of the 18 hole course, but found the back 9 to be one of the better 9s I've seen in the area.
"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

astavrides

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Monarch Dunes in SLO
« Reply #53 on: December 23, 2011, 03:04:06 PM »
I thought the 12 hole short course was ridiculous. Do they have any other ideas other than a forced carry over water to a par 3? How many such holes did C&C build at the preserve? Just wait until MD short course is filled with homes and you might change your story.

I thoroughly dislike the front 9 of the 18 hole course, but found the back 9 to be one of the better 9s I've seen in the area.


The back 9 is much better than the front, that's true.

And, yes, if they build homes around the short course, then I would definitely change my tune.
« Last Edit: December 23, 2011, 03:07:52 PM by astavrides »

Mike Benham

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Monarch Dunes in SLO
« Reply #54 on: December 23, 2011, 04:07:40 PM »

... but found the back 9 to be one of the better 9s I've seen in the area ...



I've only played one round in the SLO area, is there much competition to be among the best?
"... and I liked the guy ..."

Garland Bayley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Monarch Dunes in SLO
« Reply #55 on: December 23, 2011, 05:20:01 PM »

... but found the back 9 to be one of the better 9s I've seen in the area ...



I've only played one round in the SLO area, is there much competition to be among the best?

I guess my SLO area may extend a little further than one might think of off hand.
The courses I have played that I am comparing MD to.
Hunter Ranch
Cypress Ridge
La Purisma
Rancho Maria
Dairy Creek
Santa Maria CC
Rancho San Marcos
"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

Ted Cahill

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Monarch Dunes in SLO
« Reply #56 on: December 23, 2011, 11:00:27 PM »
Alex- I'm with you: I really enjoyed the short course- it will always be on my itinerary when I drive from SF to LA.
“Bandon Dunes is like Chamonix for skiers or the
North Shore of Oahu for surfers,” Rogers said. “It is
where those who really care end up.”

Greg Chambers

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Monarch Dunes in SLO
« Reply #57 on: December 24, 2011, 12:39:50 AM »
Ted,

On the drive back, Olivas Links is an excellent stopping off point
"It's good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling.”

Kyle Henderson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Monarch Dunes in SLO
« Reply #58 on: December 24, 2011, 01:40:11 AM »
I've play "The Old Course" at Monarch Dunes each of the past 3 years. The velvet bent grass greens were phenomenal during my first play, but have deteriorated gradually. The front is not so great, but I do enjoy putting around on the 3rd green (sort of a sideways Biarritz-ish affair) along with the recovery shots around the 5th and 8th green.

The back is certainly a better collection of holes. I quite like the 10th, though the centerline hazards don't offer quite enough space to compel golfers to take the short/risky route. 13 is a very clever hole with lots of half-shot hazards in the offing, and the angled tee shot at the 16th is fun to attack. The 17th and 18th greens feature pronounced "domes" that protrude above the surrounding contours by a foot or more. Apparently, during the annual "U.S. Open" Tournament the holes are cut on top of the mounds to force volcano putting.

The Challenge is a great concept ruined by the overabundance of forced-carry water hazards and long treks between holes (traversing unbuilt home lots). There's something wrong when everyone takes carts on a 12-hole par 3 course.

Monarch Dunes is not a must play, but it makes for a nice stop on the way up or down HWY 101 for those eager to have a hit somewhere (that is to say, it's a ~Doak 4 or 5).
"I always knew terrorists hated us for our freedom. Now they love us for our bondage." -- Stephen T. Colbert discusses the popularity of '50 Shades of Grey' at Gitmo

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