Just got back from playing some courses on my way up the coast. Rustic Canyon was great and I want to thank everyone for their recommendations in regards to the course. It's an instant favorite!
Heard some interesting news on Sandpiper, which by the way, was alot of fun. Better than Torrey. Anyway, the guys at the shop there told me that the same guy that owns Rancho San Marcos, Ty (Miller or Morgan
) also owns Sandpiper and Montecito CC. He plans on having RTJ jr. completely redo Sandpiper into a "links" course and charge around $300 in an effort to be the "Pebble" of the south. I asked why, since there was nothing wrong with the course now. He said they want to have an authentic "links" experience for golfers. I said they don't have links land so they couldn't possibly provide that for customers and the course is fine the way it was. They didn't know what to say. This owner also plans to have Nicklaus completely redo Montecito CC. I know this course has been touched since Behr did it, but there is so few of his courses that it would be a crime if that happened. I finished the "conversation" by telling them that if he wants to change Sandpiper, he couldn't have picked a better arch to do it since his brother really screwed up Torrey, another of Bell jr.s courses, and changed a course that had nothing wrong w/ it. They looked dumbfounded by my comments and I left it alone. As always, it's always about the dollars. And as my mother always says, money doesn't talk, IT SCREAMS!
Loved what Mr. Doak did at Pasatiempo. I will post a seperate thread on that course later in regards to some questions about the course.
And I couldn't resist another go at PG. Is there a better value in golf?? So much fun. Best bang for the buck I've experienced.
As a side note, I visited Valley Club on Monday when it was closed just to look around. WOW!!! What a place! There was nobody there and it was just great to just walk around, as the sun was setting. You can definitely feel Dr. Mack. there. Fantastic clubhouse as well. Though I didn't play it, it was one of the best golf experiences of my life. Same feeling I get everytime I see Cypress Point, which I saw again on this trip. Although I've never played either of them, just to see them is a thrill. The aura of both places is so surreal.
Thanks again to everyone for the helpful info.