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Peter_Herreid

  • Karma: +0/-0
Olympic Club-Lake course videos
« on: June 25, 2008, 06:26:40 PM »
The last in the set of 3 NorCal course videos, here are 5 minutes of the front nine and almost 4 minutes of the back nine...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMN7kP2geRM (Front Nine)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QX06Koh8G8 (Back Nine)

Highlights:  Note the video from the way back tee on#3, from the edge of the practice green below and to the right of the #1 tee.

 In the view from the 7th fairway, one can just make out the earth-moving in the trees to the west (right when viewing the video) of the 7th tee.  this should create a gentle turn left in the hole when the tee is implemented. 

IN the video from behind the 8th green (I'm basically standing in the winged O box hedge--while talking to Bob Sarlatte, BTW, for you Bay Area denizens), one can envision the location of the proposed new 8th tee down in the woods below and to the left (when viewing the video) of the 8th tee.

One of the famous hamburger shacks--fortunately for you, no video of the actual burger being eaten...

The loud voice you will hear some of, and the elderly gentleman you will see a bit of, is my Uncle Jack, who has been a member at Olympic since 1960.  Nearly every memory I have of the Olympic Club is in some way tied to Jack--engagements, weddings, births, break-ups, job changes, great rounds, passing of great friends, etc have all been celebrated or commiserated upon with times at the Olympic Club.

I envy those of you who can separate out course rankings from some of the more subjective "experential' aspects of playing a course.  There will never be a waking breath when I could analyze the Lake Course in a clinical fashion.  For me, it is beautiful, breathtaking and exhilarating all for reasons that have nothing to do with architecture. 

In the same vein, I have already begun to anticipate with some dread the possible time in the not-so-distant future when the drive through those gates will not be followed by the simple wave of the cap from the old guy in the fleece jacket and trucker's hat, and the bellowing out of "Dr. Herreid--get your ass up to the tee!"

The less frequent visits now are even more cherished as time wanders on; every re-told joke and every mis-read putt from my uncle brings a slightly broader, knowing smile...

If I were given the opportunity to know when that final stroll up past the IOU bunkers would take place, I'm not sure I could bring myself to take it.  It could have just happened, or it could be in June 2012, or it could be a few more years hence when four generations might be together...

There's just now way to "rank" that, although I'd be inclined to give it an "11" on the walk-in-the-park scale...

John Keenan

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Olympic Club-Lake course videos
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2008, 07:04:18 PM »
Peter

As Sarlatte was there you should have had Butch Wax and the Glass Packs do your sound track

The things a man has heard and seen are threads of life, and if he pulls them carefully from the confused distaff of memory, any who will can weave them into whatever garments of belief please them best.

Chip Gaskins

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Olympic Club-Lake course videos
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2008, 07:19:43 PM »
man i do love the 7th hole at olympic.  what a fantastic green and approach shot.

Mike Benham

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Olympic Club-Lake course videos
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2008, 07:55:24 PM »
150 yards into 5 green ... Big hitter, the Lama ...
"... and I liked the guy ..."

Carl Nichols

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Olympic Club-Lake course videos
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2008, 10:09:00 PM »
Thanks Peter.  I don't what it is about Olympic exactly--it might just be how different it is from the East Coast, where I've lived most of my life--but I absolutely love the place. 

Wayne Wiggins, Jr.

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Olympic Club-Lake course videos
« Reply #5 on: June 26, 2008, 08:50:35 PM »
man i do love the 7th hole at olympic.  what a fantastic green and approach shot.

Well, you better go play it again soon, before they "f" it up!!!  I was out there last Friday, and saw the plans for all of the alterations on display in the clubhouse.  Didn't get a chance to thoroughly inspect them, but it's disheartening to see this is the direction we're heading.

To give some credit in this situation, they are revitalizing the 18th green in terms of size and slope which will bring back some of the interest here.  But, that is certainly overshadowed by what's planned for #7, #8, #13, and #15.


Jim Nugent

Re: Olympic Club-Lake course videos
« Reply #6 on: June 28, 2008, 02:41:45 AM »
Quote
But, that is certainly overshadowed by what's planned for #7, #8, #13, and #15.

What is planned for #13 and #15? 

They were the only slight letdown I felt with Olympic, as the holes seemed a bit similar. 

Mike Benham

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Olympic Club-Lake course videos
« Reply #7 on: June 28, 2008, 11:54:21 AM »
Quote
But, that is certainly overshadowed by what's planned for #7, #8, #13, and #15.

What is planned for #13 and #15? 

They were the only slight letdown I felt with Olympic, as the holes seemed a bit similar. 


It is always interesting to hear that people think that 13 and 15 are too similar.  The only two features of each hole that is duplicated is the front center high lipped bunker and the direction of play.

The 13th is barely uphill, bunkers front and right with a long narrowish green and overhangng trees while 15 is a plateau, should be a skyline green, that is basically square with 4 bunkers surrounding the green.
"... and I liked the guy ..."

Jim Nugent

Re: Olympic Club-Lake course videos
« Reply #8 on: June 28, 2008, 03:47:05 PM »
Mike, other than length, do the two holes play much different? 

Also, do you know what changes are in store for them? 

MHiserman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Olympic Club-Lake course videos
« Reply #9 on: July 25, 2008, 02:18:55 AM »
Hello Jim,
The 13th  and 15th on the Lake Course do play quite differently even though they look similar and are both forced carry shots with greens nearly surrounded by bunkering. 
The two holes have a yardage difference of 30 yards at Championship length.  Also the two holes change in direction by nearly 90 deg.   On a regular play basis, the wind that comes off the Pacific influences the these shots very differently. 
Just hitting the greens is always quite a challenge on both of the holes.
Also the 15th does bring you back near to the burger shack for a "roadie" burger...not much wrong with that. 
"Whether my schedule for the next day called for a tournament round or a trip to the practice tee, the prospect that there was going to be golf in it made me feel priviledged and extremely happy, and I couldn't wait for the sun to come up the next morning so that I could get on the course"-BH