Aerial of the Day #127 - 24 Jun 2002

[Scott_Burroughs]

All of the talk in the "Who stole the Game" thread revolved
around Pebble and some course called Grand Waikapu, which
surprised me that I'd never heard of it.

This course gets my vote for being a big contributor to
the "stealing of the game".

Not only did it steal the game, but it stole an outrageously
inappropriate name.

One consolation for this course, it allows walking anytime,
though I'll take a stab that nobody takes advantage of it:

[SPDB]

funny, none of the par 3s looked "mailed in"

[Mike_Cirba]

The ironic thing is that it's far south of its namesake.  

[Scott_Burroughs]

This architect team isn't known for "mail-ins", at least not on this site.

Known more for drivable, yet risky par 4's.

This course was much more liked before the housing was put
in.  What does that say about housing affect on how one
rates a course?

Will be at a meeting from 10:30-12:30 (EDT), so you guys will
have to provide more clues, though I thought it would be easier.

Have had a couple prior AOTDs in this state and quite nearby.

[Scott_Burroughs]

This course was monumental to the advent of CCFADs.

[SPDB]

Scott -
I think you may have missed the hint I was dropping.

[Scott_Park]

I can't believe how many houses have been built in the 4 yrs since my last visit.

[Allan Long]

If this is what I think it is, one would be smart to watch how
they mark their ball.

[Brad Swanson]

I played here in 1991, not too long after it had opened I think.  I don't recall a single house from that round.  I wonder if Tiger could find enough guys to remove that "loose impedement" on the 3rd .

Brad Swanson

[Scott_Burroughs]

This is the Monument course at Troon North in Scottsdale,
AZ, by Weiskopf/Morrish.  Quite possibly the start of the
CCFAD phenomenon in the mid-80's.  Or at least
immaculately conditioned courses plus other "service" for lots
of money.

Originally this was the only course at Troon North, until the
second course was built, now called the Pinnacle. There is
also a private Troon G&CC in Scottsdale which I believe
is/was owned by the same company.

It is so ironic that they would name a desert course with
conditions and environment completely different from
Scottish Links, only to name it after a famous Scottish Open
course.

other clues:

SPDB's "mailed in" par 3 clue refers to the real (Royal)
Troon's Postage Stamp par 3 8th.

Weiskopf/Morrish known for their drivable par 4's.

Past AOTDs in AZ include Desert Highlands, Whisper Rock,
and Talking Stick (North).



Brad's Tiger comment referred to Phoenix Open's TPC of
Scottsdale, so I'm not sure the clue, other than the
town/state.

Here's Troon North's web site, with very few pics of the course(s):

http://www.troonnorthgolf.com

[Brad Swanson]

Scott,
   My "clue", lame as it was, refers to the massive boulder in
the par 5 3rd fairway at the dogleg.  Its the dogleg left near
the far left of the overhead, and the boulder almost looks like
a bunker from the overhead.  Its one of the things that stuck
in my mind after playing the course.  You correctly made the
connection with Tiger's boulder moving incident at the
Phoenix Open.
   This is only the 2nd course I've played that's been and
AOTD, so I thought I'd give a shot at a clue.

Brad Swanson

[Scott_Burroughs]

Brad, you're right, it does look like a bunker, and I'd be
willing to bet it'd be a better hole if it WAS a bunker.

Also, I guess I should have gone by the fact that the
Tiger "incident" wasn't on the 3rd hole of the TPC, as you mentioned.

[Allan Long]

My "clue" and I use that term loosly, was in reference to an
incident between Weiskopf and amateur Jim Stahl at the 1996 U.S. Sr. Open in which TW claimed that Stahl, among various other things, didn't use the proper coin to spot his ball on the green.

[Brad Swanson]

I've got some photos of this course, and of the said boulder
in the third fairway that I'll try to dig-up and post tonite after work.

Brad Swanson

[BV]

funny, none of the par 3s looked "mailed in"

The mailed in par 3 is #16 lamely named postcard and is not terrible interesting.

This course was the vista/view /expeience champion when it was new with no houses.  The view on # 11 was unequalled, probably the most awe-inspiring I have ever seen on a course of its type.  Now it looks like suburbia.

The sister course has the longest ride between nines in the world.  The info they told me was once the Monument fell out of the Top 100 they would rearrange the nines into two new "courses".

Great architecture, huh.

Bullshit, and the Pinnacle is one of the most boring I have ever played.