Gents, I tried.
I had a real catchy title about repeated tactical detail equaling overall strategic success. As I recounted much of the training we received this past week in high threat driving, weapons tactics, and combat life saving; I thought over and over again about how anal our former SEAL instructor was about each footstep, each head movement, each fleeting movement of weapon, team, and vehicle. After many VERY detailed repetitions, a bunch of
chAIR FORCE desk jockeys and pilots were catching onto real deal, spec ops type tactics and training. After painstaking detail in each and every facet of our skills, the strategic goal of making us a formidable "advisor" in Iraq was taking shape.
I wanted to sit down this evening and write about how Pine Valley was such an organism. I wanted to write about how each and every hole is unique, challenging, well placed, and--above all--an addition that makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts. I tried so hard to gut out 500 or so words of real nuts and bolts about one of the world's best. But alas, I failed as an objective seeker of great golf architecture.
Where I failed in objectivity, I hope I can shine as a story teller. Pine Valley Golf Club near Clementon, NJ is everything you've heard about it, and (gasp) more.
Five weeks ago I was sitting in my living room, lamenting the sudden news of an unwanted deployment. As I reviewed the various online golf avenues, I noticed a thread by a friend--Mike Nuzzo--informing the golf world of the news. Within hours, the outpouring of concern, support, offers to play, etc., were filling up my inbox at a torrid pace. Buried in a collection of 40 or so emails from a group of the most generous men of earth, was a very short note. "
When you find out your weekly schedule and figure out your days off, please let me know if you'd like to join me for a round of golf at Pine Valley before you head out for deployment."
My wife was cooking dinner as a guttural yell formed deep in the recesses of my caveman lineage. My labrador--Bogey--seemed to understand as he and I jumped and skipped around the house and backyard for three or four minutes. I was going to Pine Valley! A bastion of golf, challenge, beauty, and as I came to learn, camaraderie.
Fast forward to this past Sunday morning. Tee time at 1130, show time at the club at 1030, 0930 departure time from Ft. Dix. Which means I was awake at....0630. I pressed my khakis and cleaned my shoes like I was meeting a four star general. My clubs were shined with Brasso (really). My bag was trimmed of weight so as not to piss off one of the legendary caddies. Every detail was perfected as if I was flying a mission into Kabul. Some of you who are in my contact list may have woken up Sunday morning with a text message from me that looked like this.
Fellas, the most famous ferris wheel in golf. Thanks for being a great group of golf buddies.As I drove down Atlantic Ave next to the tracks, I flashed back to Peter Herreid's "Operation Ferris Wheel" and Tommy Naccarato getting out of the car and dancing as soon as they got past the gate. Was this really happening? The gate guard, with a smooth amble out of his shack asked my name. I glanced down as he looked at his sheet and sure enough, there was my name. I was in!
I went to the clubhouse and was informed that I'd meet my host at the north range. As I drove through the woods, I caught glimpses of the terrifying 5th and the all world 7th. My heart never beats this fast at 300 knots and 6 G's. I had the entire range to myself. With exact yardages at each station, I was able to accurately assess how far each of my badly chunked 7 iron's were traveling. I thought to myself "
7 iron, 42 yards. I'll make sure I make a note of that yardage for my caddy" After 10 minutes or so, my host joined me on the practice tee. We talked for 20 minutes about various topics. I'd grown accustomed to this weird, almost latent familiarity that most online golf nuts share when first meeting.
For those of you that have played or seen the golf course, no review that I can provide will show anything that hasn't been presented before. For those of you that haven't played or seen the golf course, no review I can provide can possibly help you understand how wonderful the place is. With respect to the club, folks that haven't seen it, and my host, I won't post too much. But from this view
...until this one...
...the golf was at the highest level. The sensory overload is never-ending for the entire round. One amazing view after another. One great challenge after another. One great green after another. It goes on and on.
As objectively minded as I can be 24 hours removed from the experience, Pine Valley is the best golf course I've ever seen. Here's why. Variety and playability. Not a single shot is alike. No two holes are remotely similar in my opinion. The fairways are very generous, the approaches are brutal. The greens are a near perfect combination of contour, tilt, and subtlety. The golf course is in many ways as tough--or tougher--than the toughest I've ever seen. But unlike places like Oakmont and Olympic Lake, the sting of a poor hole is followed by another chance to succeed and make a shot. I always felt like I had a chance. It was as if I was alternating between punches and kisses from a Victoria Secret model.
I found myself looking around at various times in the day and wondering at what else George Crump could have done had he been able to stick around for a few more years. Would he have even tried to build another course? Could any piece of land ever have compared to the rolling pine barrens just outside Philadelphia? I think one part of Pine Valley's greatness is that we'll never know. Like Oakmont and Pebble Beach, the uniqueness of each may add to their mystique. Suffice to say though friends, that Crump was a very talented man. (EDIT--This is purely an experiential post, but I would welcome architectural discussion about the course)
After our round my host and I had a drink with our playing partners. It was pretty cool to see my host win the final of a season long "knockout" tournament with me as his guest and the legendary Leo on the bag. I did the obligatory New Jersey economic recovery plan in the proshop while the assistant behind the desk kept calling me Captain. Just another cool detail in day full of them. We took a peek at the short course and how it replicates certain aspects of the big course. I thought I was pretty clever when I told my host, "this might be Fazio's best work!" It seems that I remain a beard puller, even in the midst of such ethereal moments.
All in all, it was a very fitting addition to my trip here in Jersey. I can't say that the task ahead becomes any less difficult with a day like yesterday, but it sure helps. For a day, I was as much a kid as I have ever been. I was witness to a rare and timeless experience. With eyes wide open and a full heart, I am humbled by these past few weeks. And above all I learned, when it comes to golf course architecture, the journey is just beginning.
(more pics from the week and weekend)
Combat life saving (or) my card after the short par 4 8th.
A hole that has generated some discussion here.
Anyone know CPR?
Hey Mr. Christian, want to be a pilot? I'll trade you!
