FRIDAY, JANUARY 27
The drive up to San Francisco took about two and a half hours through some misty weather. It's quite a scenic drive up Highway 1 - this photo was taken near Half Moon Bay.
As we entered the pro shop at the Olympic Club, I heard the staff member behind the counter address the guy he was dealing with as Kevin. Sure enough, it was Mr. Reilly and we shook hands and chatted a bit before hitting the range. Mike Benham arrived shortly thereafter and it was off to the Lake Course. It rained for the duration of #2, but it cleared up once again and the temp rose to about 60.
This photo of the long, downhill par three 3rd reveals some of the tree removal that's been going on at the Lake Course. I'm sure Kevin and Mike can fill in the details, but going from what I'd seen on TV in the past, it seemed like it had opened up quite a bit. Though as I would find out throughout the day, missing the fairway a bit still meant a gnarly lie underneath the giant eucalyptus trees, but allowed you a bit more room to punch out.
The green at the short, uphill par four 7th. A close look reveals three distinct tiers rising from front to back.
Anna's tee shot on the uphill, par three 8th. One criticism I have of the par threes on the Lake Course is that, aside from the 3rd, they all look extremely similar and vary only slightly in length. It seems it's always all carry over steeply-lipped bunkers to a hidden green. They're pretty but you get the feeling you've played each of them before.
A look around the corner toward the green at the long, par five 16th. Anna took the straight route, Mike went left of the treeline onto the Ocean Course and Kevin and I battled the trees right off the bat.
Walking up the famed 18th with our two gracious hosts...
"Thin to win" on the 18th, half-blading a 52-degree to 15 feet for my only birdie. I'll take it! Afterward Mike was kind enough to give me a tour of the men's locker-room, which features several historical photos of the course's evolution. It was interesting to see how they'd reclaimed two of the lost Ocean Course holes and put together the Cliffs.
"Thin to win" again on the 2nd hole of the par three Cliffs Course. At this point, Huckaby had joined the proceedings and the competition was getting heated. Anna would birdie the next hole for the first skin and the game was on.
Our hosts discussing the nominees for Best Par Three Course, perhaps a bit biased at this point by their surroundings.
Anna fires another one at the pin. Mike had really found a groove at this point, too, and was striping his irons with laser-like precision. It would be Kevin, however, who would get the last laugh with a no-putt birdie from off the green at the 8th.
Back across the street for the closing hole.
It was nice to chat briefly after the round in the pro shop, though the lack of daylight called us off to dine and check out the Golden Gate. Better hosts we could not have asked for, and Anna and I hope to be able to return the favor if ever you find yourselves in Northern Michigan.
Up next: 17-Mile Drive and MPCC Shore Course