This summer I was granted access to heaven. At least, as a social worker. I was fortunate enough to spend this summer caddying at Cypress Point. I feel like you guys would be the best ones to talk and share this with as you are probably the only people who can realize how fantastic and rare such an oppurtunity is.
I just wanted to share some things I learned this summer.
This summer I learned that really great golf courses are head and shoulders better than really good golf courses. It was unbelievable how I looked at Spyglass, and even Pebble, after spending time at Cypress. I have to put forth some sort of apology to Matt Ward regarding hism opinions to Pebble Beach, because after seeing and experiencing a couple truly great
designs, I can much better relate to what he is saying. The point is, is that seeing a couple truly great courses like Riviera and Cypress (just to name a couple) really puts other courses into perspective. It was astounding how good Cypress was, not just the ocean holes, but every hole. Everything was unique, original, stunning, fantastic, and head and shoulder, and it opened my eyes to what a truly great golf course is. Riviera had that same effect on me.
Cypress also taught me how greens don't have to present bold, huge contours to be efficient and work so well. Cypress has four greens (5, 8, 9, and 13) with big contours, and thats it. The rest of the greens are just sloped, sometimes brutally, but they force precision to every shot and make the round altogether a lot more fun. And I loved that. I loved the fact I could have wedge in my hand on almost every hole, and still have the thought in the back of my head that if I put it on the wrong spot on the green I'm done for. It's just good design, and in my opinion a very good way to challenge players.
The par-5's at Cypress Point were something out of this world. While pehaps overlooked in most evaluations of the course, they were so good. The cape tee shot on two is really good. The hill up to that fairway cannot be described by anything except first hand experience. It's just really steep. But, each hole is unique and wonderful. The bunkering on the fifth is probably my favorite on the entire golf course. And it's extraordinary, really, how they fit so perfectly with the surrounds, as if they were just meant to be there. The tee shot on the sixth is one of a kind; perhaps it's best desrcibed in incredibly unique, with emphasis on incredible. And even ten, which some call the weakest hole on the course, is great in my book. The tee shot next to the big dune, down the hill to a broad fairway is so fun to hit. And that green is one to watch for. I don't want to blab, but the par-5's really are out of this world.
The sixth and eleventh greens alone are worthy of a trip to Cypress. It's almost unreal, but the greens are allmost flat, as in the front edge of the green is at the same level as the back. Yet, you could stare at them, up close and personal, for as long as you want and still never get that. It's supreme visual deception. And that feature alone really allowed me to appreciate that I got to caddy and not just spend one round at Cypress. Because I really got to enjoy and understand the genius that can be overlooked in one round.
I could blab for hours but really I just wanted to spark some discussion. As mentioned, you guys are perhaps the only ones who might understand how exciting a summer I had. And I just wanted to take some time to share about it, becauseI just really want to. It's too great NOT to share about it.
Questions, comments, whatever, I'm all ears.
Cheers,
Jordan
PS - Tim Bert you will get your hat, I have not been avoiding you. Some trouble at home has distracted me but you will get it!!
