Everyone loves pics don't they...?!
I was fortunate enough to play the courses at Bandon as well CPC, Pasatiempo, Olympic as well as PB and Spyglass. Following are the pictures with some random musings/streams of consciousness. I wont post them, just highlights.
I should start by saying that I don't post enough on here, this is due to family and work commitments. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one on this site with kids and a pretty hectic job and the time constraints they impose! Anyway, just to say this is a great site and thank you to the hosts and members for making it such a valuable resource. Thank you GCA!
First up: Trails....
I'd read a lot about Bandon, and having played Bandon Dunes on arrival I was not overwhelmed. Being a UK'er I can't say I was smitten with Bandon... holes 9, 17 and 18 were missing the x-factor... however as you all know 4th, 5th, 16 etc... are all just great holes. So Trails was next and "wow"....
So Pac Dunes... The first modern golf course in my eyes that is comparable to the "golden age" designs... Somehow a notch higher than Kingsbarns or Castle Stewart. Full disclosure: I've not played Sand Hills....
Back to back par 3's, cool...!
Old Mac... played in a fog... A course I'd never seen the like of before. The third hole, wow. No pics worth posting I'm afraid.
Bandon... all up a great journey of across the four courses. To my uneducated eye, I'd put OM, PD and Trails above BD... but that's me. The choice and "it's all golf" ethos can't be beaten however.
Olympic
Thanks to members here we were able to gain access - thank you!
First five holes are serious tests of golf, as is the rest of the course! If you hit it long and straight then it's there for the taking... Alas it was hard going post Bandon and the last four holes reminded me of Bethpage Black in terms of difficulty just when lethargy is creeping in. A US Open course - no question.
Pebble Beach....
As a course, what some holes lack are offset by the experience and of course 6 thru 9 inclusive... the 12th and 14...hmmm... but overall OK it's $500 but once in your life I say pony up and enjoy the ride!
17 green is so shallow... I know "fast and firm" is the mantra here but from the back tees that green is impossible to hold.
Spyglass
You've read all about it, the first five holes etc... nothing I can add but some the bunkering on the remaining par 3's is "odd":
Cypress Point Club
I was never 100% sure I was going to tee it up, but the stars and luck aligned and I headed up there for early tee time.
I'll let the pictures do the talking... got out of the car, and this was the first I saw of the course... wow.
5th hole, who would have thought this hole would be on the same property as 15 and 16. Such a great hole, to my eye at least.
There was work being done to re-enforce the front of the green, erosion issues I guess... but all the same:
Different shot of 16...
I'm never sure of trees in the middle of the fairway, and sure enough I was blocked out on 17... anyway I hit a 9 iron over and around:
...the 18th, second shot:
CPC is a golf "club"... the clubhouse etc... are all low key and there's an elegance to it... kind of like an American Swinley if such an analogy exists. Part of the charm too is that the course isn't a Olympic or Bethpage Black... it's fun and pretty... what more do you really want?!
Pasatiempo
Some of the party had a Pebble/CPC double header, but I'd done PB so headed off to Pasatiempo. It'd been on my list for too long, and I didn't want to miss it, under any circumstances. Having played CPC AM, I somehow ended up with two guys who force fed me Margaritas all the way around. So my last 18 was in drunken haze, post CPC and it was the icing on the cake.
First is a stiff start and some how out of keeping with other AM courses I'd played.
As you all know the back nine is "all-world"... tenth green... wow:
Eleventh is a golf hole. I putted off the green as well... the greens were quick and the margaritas were strong!
16 green... a tough driving hole...but like the green was AM's favourite I've read somewhere....
I hope you enjoyed the pics...!
Thank you once again to the hosts and members of this site...
Greg