I am surprised at how good the Ocean Course is. I'm not sure what I expected, but it was never on my list of courses I dreamed of seeing one day. It should have been.
I played three rounds and was lucky to get both an East wind (the prevailing direction) and a light west breeze and found the course played just as well in both directions. I found it far superior to any Dye course I have played (probably around 10) and, on first reaction, would list it among my favorite courses anywhere. To try and draw distinctions between Sand Hills, Pacific Dunes, Royal Melbourne West, Ballybunion, the Old Course, Royal Dornoch and the Ocean Course comes down to splitting hairs. Each course provides an inspiring and memorable experience.
The setting is incredible. The par 3’s and 5’s are among the best anywhere. The course has a terrific natural and raw look to it. The bunkers are great fun, with every possible lie from buried to hardpan. The green surrounds allow every sort of play from a flop to a putter.
The course improperly has a reputation as a brute. Although, like any course, it can be brutal, most likely the player has imposed that experience on himself by playing tees significantly longer than he should or the weather was extremely difficult that day. I saw a 24 handicap have the best 9 holes of his life. I saw a 6 handicap shoot a match play 74 with some concessions. In general I think the Ocean Course played easier for our group with wide ranging skills than some of the other, more traditional courses at the resort.
The greenside hazards were less severe than I expected and both the greens and the fairways provide a wide range of appropriate lines one can take for a shot.
I had a terrific "rabbit and hare" match on my final round in which I hit it 250 off the tee but was shaky with iron play and my opponent hit it 190 down the middle.
A great example of design combining with setting combining with a good match occurred on the 16th – a par five of 500 yards or so that played with a helping right to left breeze. Coming into the hole, I was one up but giving shots on 16 and 18. I suspected I needed to either win or at least tie 16 to win the match. I also suspected my opponent would make 5. I was right on both counts.
(Pictures are from Ran’s profile).
My opponent hit it 190 down the middle twice and hit a 13 wood short and right of the green. He chipped up and made par – net birdie.
I killed a drive on an aggressive line that was slightly too aggressive. It wound up in a waste bunker 200 yards from the pin. Nonetheless, my lie was good and I had a great chance to put it on the large green. With a right to left wind, a right to left slope and a bunker that must be 10-15 feet deep left of the green, my caddie wisely gave me a line well right of the green to accommodate the wind and my draw.
I flushed it right on line but it held against the wind and smacked into a dune to the right of the green. When I failed to get it up and down after an unplayable lie, I lost the hole.
I consider that sort of hole golf at its finest. I tempted fate and got burned twice. My opponent executed beautifully accepting his limitations. We both had a great chance for success despite very different skills.
Add in the setting, the competition and a a great caddie (ask for Nick) and golf does not get better.