Shell: Nicklaus, Miller, and Olympic Club

[Carlyle Rood]

I just watched the Shell's Wonderful World of Golf episode with Jack Nicklaus and John(ny) Miller at Olympic Club.  I want to say they played in 1995?  I'm really beginning to appreciate that show.

Nicklaus (70, -1) pounded Miller (81, +10).  Miller actually hit the ball well; but, his putting was horrific.  He was very agressive on his first putts and left himself with some very awkward return putts.  And then when Miller hit some approach shots closer, he couldn't get a birdie up to scare the hole.  Boy, those greens were firm.  And if you ended up on the wrong side of the hole, you were fortunate to get down in two strokes.

Nicklaus was clinical.  He made one long bomb; otherwise, it was an academic round.

Why am I giving a blow-by-blow account?  The match was played almost eight years ago, for goodness sake!  Still, it's useful to see these matches played on great tracks.

Jack Whitaker mentioned a third course at Olympic by Weiskopf and Morrish.  He went on to talk about the "native iceplant."  For you California natives, is iceplant actually native to the west coast?  I just presumed it was an invasive-exotic from Japan (like Kudzu in Georgia).

[Evan_Green]

Carlyle-

The show you have in mind actually occured in 1997. Nicklaus was really great that day. Even well into his mid 50's he showed why he is the greatest golfer of all time (Tiger still has 11 more professional majors left to win before he takes Jack's place) Miller was not exactly on his game, but still that is a really enjoyable episode of Shell's. The 3rd course they are talking about at Olympic is the 9 hole par 3 Cliffs course which is full of ice plant and views of the Pacific. Whether or not iceplant is truly native to California- I have no idea, but I do not associate any plant with golf in Northern California (Monterey to SF) mroe than iceplant nor does the sight of any other plant energize me more about golf- I am simply in love with iceplant.

[coniferator]

Miller's putting that day did indeed resemble his on-air comments.  I fell asleep watching.  

Thank goodness some of the trees have been removed since that broadacast.  Simply amazing how many trees came out of there in the 1980's and even the early 1990's and it still looked like that in 1997. 1800 in the early 1980's El Niņo alone.

[A_Clay_Man]

Ice Plant is not native to California, this country or this continent. It was used by who else? The U.s Army to try to hold in the dunes at Ft. Ord. The Plant, is so prolific it has spread and spread and spread. As far as i know, there are a couple of types of The Plant. One, found on the G.C's in the Kingdom is the one with these larger leaves(?) Almost phalic looking, when obliterated with a mighty swing, will yield quite a bit of moisture since they are succulents.

When the Plant was removed from the periprial of the Lighthouse at Pt. Pinos, the adjacent fairway of 11th hole at PG, started having really bad wet conditions in the winter.

I have no scientific evidence that the removal of the succulent added all of that extra water but it seems like cause and effect to me.

A creative solution I thought would be to carve out a meandering barranca right down the middlle of the hole towards the natural low spot, next to the 15th green. This centerline hazard could maybe be about three feet deep and would snake it's way down the hill, dividing the fairway, causing more fear and emphasis on shotmaking with recoverability, on this short driveable par 4 of just under 300 hundred yards complete with false front and dune behind. The start of heaven!

[Bob_Huntley]

Adam

re ice-plant and the US army and Fort Ord. Are you sure? It is my understanding that the stuff was on the courses before David Jacks sold the property to the U.S. Govt.

[SPDB]

Bob - I was under the same impression. I thought ice plant was initially introduced around oil storage tanks and railroads to prevent soil erosion. I think this was done, at least initially, in the 1800's. I think I recall reading some interesting history on it related to the Del Monte Dunes case.

I've also heard about some overzealous surveyors planting the stuff when they went about their jobs.

[klangone]

Having played OC more than a few times, I believe it is the hardest course in California.  The greens are rock hard and the fairways get no roll.  And if you get roll, it usually hits the reverse dog leg and ends up in the rough.  It is the ultimate members' course.  I brought a +3 out there for his first round there and he shot 80 from the tips.  He shot 68 at SFGC the day before and 67 at Spyglass that week.  It is very difficult but very fair!

[A_Clay_Man]

Bob- I have friends who were non-com's and were often disciplined which meant they did most of the planting. It may have been introduced earlier but I think it would take the mind of a pentagon employee to bring a strain all the way from either Africa or the netherlands (i'm not sure of its origin) to the peninsula.

Also, Hasn't the military been on the peninsula since 1776? That's what it says on the entrance to the presidio. The presidio must sit upon the greatest parcel in the country.

[Joel_Stewart]

Thank goodness some of the trees have been removed since that broadacast.  Simply amazing how many trees came out of there in the 1980's and even the early 1990's and it still looked like that in 1997.

I was out at Olympic yesterday and it look like about 100 trees had been removed on #2 in the last month.  A new tee has been graded on #2 as well, 49 yards back from the back tee.  A few trees fell down on the 8th tee opening up the par 3 and work begins next week on removing trees on #4.  I would estimate they have removed 500 trees in the last 6 months and you can barely tell.

[Evan_Green]

Joel-

Not to mention the trees removed from the right of 1st fairway on the tee shot making the landing area wider- also I think the trees near the landing area for the 2nd shot on #1 on the right side got a haircut. Many trees on #2 - Also many trees behind the 3rd green were removed- this will make that shot a lot more difficult because it is much more exposed to the wind now.

Doesnt surprise me that they are lengthining #2- I expect them to do the same in time to #4, #5, #6 (As if those werent the toughtest holes to begin with!), #17- I am assuming these changes are being made for upcoming USGA events. Jr Am next year- I heard 2008 US amateur is going to be held at OC, can you confirm? and maybe 2012 Open?

[Joel_Stewart]

Doesnt surprise me that they are lengthining #2- I expect them to do the same in time to #4, #5, #6 (As if those werent the toughtest holes to begin with!), #17- I am assuming these changes are being made for upcoming USGA events. Jr Am next year- I heard 2008 US amateur is going to be held at OC, can you confirm? and maybe 2012 Open?

There is no plan to lengthen any other holes presently.  The 2008 Amateur was announced to the membership but the USGA has not announced it?

I don't think the lack of trees will effect the wind on #3?  

[Mike Benham]

Not to mention the trees removed from the right of 1st fairway on the tee shot making the landing area wider- also I think the trees near the landing area for the 2nd shot on #1 on the right side got a haircut. Many trees on #2 - Also many trees behind the 3rd green were removed- this will make that shot a lot more difficult because it is much more exposed to the wind now.

Doesnt surprise me that they are lengthining #2- I expect them to do the same in time to #4, #5, #6 (As if those werent the toughtest holes to begin with!), #17- I am assuming these changes are being made for upcoming USGA events. Jr Am next year- I heard 2008 US amateur is going to be held at OC, can you confirm? and maybe 2012 Open?

Evan - The trees on the right of #1 don't widen the landing area, it will give the perception that the landing area is wider with the thought that the golfer might try an cut-off the slight dog-leg (which isn't possible) ... as long as the staff leaves the fairway cut where it has always been (and so far they have ...) there still will be substantially more trouble right than left off the tee.

Klangone - For the past year or so, with the new superintendent, the Lake has been playing firm and fast including the fairways ... strategy off the tee is different with these fairway conditions as even the subtle doglegs (#2, #9, #10, etc.) you have to place your tee shot in the right part of the fairways so that it doesn't run through into the rough ...

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Some random access from the web:

Lanphere Dunes Ice Plant Pull

One can't help but wonder at the long journey of the "iceplant" from South Africa all the way to Northern California. "How did it get here?", was one of the most commonly asked questions by Watershed Stewards who attended the monthly meeting and restoration day held at Lanphere-Christensen Dunes Preserve in Arcata on March 8th. "Carpobrotus chilensis", more commonly known as iceplant, or sea fig, is thought to have been introduced to Northern California as early as the 1500's in ship ballast. Further invasion was triggered by Caltrans use of iceplant for roadside landscaping and erosion control. Iceplant is one of the three non-native, invasive plants that are being removed from the Preserve in the restoration efforts, the other two being European beach brass and yellow bush lupine.

Nearly forty dedicated WSP members came hiking over the sand dunes toward the blankets of iceplant that were choking the native dune species. Members spent almost four hours pulling iceplant from areas of second growth and managed to thoroughly remove the plant from six large plots. Such removal of these non-native plant species allows for increased habitat for the native species. The natives will revive and the natural processes of dune movement will re-establish.

[Scott_Burroughs]

This WWOG episode has been mentioned before and it turns
out that at least 3 GCAers attended this event, all separately
without knowing each other (and pre-GCA.com).  One (Gib)
was on TV behind Miller's shoulder at the 18th green trophy
presentation and supposedly there were brief glimpses of
the Huckster in the crowd.  Don't remember if Mr. Benham
said he got any screen time.

[Carlyle Rood]

Some random access from the web:

Lanphere Dunes Ice Plant Pull

One can't help but wonder at the long journey of the "iceplant" from South Africa all the way to Northern California.

Well done!  I had a hunch that it was an invasive-exotic.  It was just seemed to be too successful.  I think you should call it "California Kudzu!"  

[Kevin_Reilly]

This WWOG episode has been mentioned before and it turns
out that at least 3 GCAers attended this event, all separately
without knowing each other (and pre-GCA.com).  One (Gib)
was on TV behind Miller's shoulder at the 18th green trophy
presentation and supposedly there were brief glimpses of
the Huckster in the crowd.  Don't remember if Mr. Benham
said he got any screen time.

I'm shown after Nicklaus' tee shot on the 3rd...they pan the gallery and I'm standing there over his left shoulder.  My dad is next to me.  Man, was JN impressive that day.  

[JohnV]

I was told that ice plant came up from South America.  It was put on ships that rounded Cape Horn both for use as ballast and because it is high in Vitamin C so it could be eaten to prevent scurvy.

[TEPaul]

"Miller's putting that day did indeed resemble his on-air comments.  I fell asleep watching."

Miller's putting that day was typical--it was atrocious. Miller was a great player but his putting went to hell in a hand-basket years before that. Miller's putting was ruined by none other than a new USGA rule directed specifially at Miller that stated "While making the stroke the player shall not allow his caddie, his partner or his partner's caddie to position himself behind the ball."

When the USGA effectively removed Martinez, Miller's caddie, from standing ridiculously close behind Miller while Miller made his putting stroke it created unremediatable feelings of anxiety and abondonment within Miller from which he never recovered his putting.  

[THuckaby2]

Yes, I was present that day... and this was before I knew Gib or Kevin... oh well!  I did get some air time also, or so I thought... one can briefly see me walking beside Jack after his 2nd shot on #1.  Fun day.

But yes, Miller's putting was abysmal, painful to watch.  Jack played great though, as you saw.

Now off to take my logohrrea medicine...  

TH

[A_Clay_Man]

Thanx Tommy, I never stated boo about origin more about the Plant on the dunes at the fort and how it became so prominent.

I have seen the results of the Round-up and while Ica Plant is pretty as it grows, the colors that come out as it dies are breath taking.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Tom, I think logorrhea is more common is LA and New Jersey. Hopefully it will not spread to the south. lol

[John Kirk]

A proper discussion of how to play out of ice plant seems appropriate here:

1.  Select a lofted club, such as a sand wedge.
2.  Take aim and place ball in the middle to back of stance.
3.  Swing with all your might.
4.  Take one step closer to the target and repeat steps 1-4.

[Kevin_Reilly]

Yes, I was present that day... and this was before I knew Gib or Kevin... oh well!  I did get some air time also, or so I thought... one can briefly see me walking beside Jack after his 2nd shot on #1.  Fun day.

Tom, I have the episode Tivo'd, so I can examine it like the Zapruder film, but I think they only showed the drives and third shots to #1 on the episode that is aired now.

To get this back to GCA...the tree pruning/elimination on #2 (both right and left) is nothing short of fantastic.  Standing on the 2nd tee you now have an unobscured vista down to the 4th green.  Watching the WWOG episode with the aerial views you could see how trees had really encroached on several holes.  Although, I must say that Sherwood appeared to have several holes where trees had encroached even more.  Curtis Strange noted that Jack Nicklaus had selected the trees.

There really was a lot of room to add length to #2, and I don't think it really falls into the category of technology-induced renovation like some other examples.  Good players have been using irons or 3 woods off that tee for many years.  After the welcoming opening hole, a mildly lengthened #2 is now a wake-up call.

[THuckaby2]

Kevin - hell I THINK I saw myself, and I know I was right near him... but who knows, maybe the camera didn't want to include such a handsome target, diluting the worth of showing Nicklaus!

TH

[TEPaul]

jmkirk said:

"A proper discussion of how to play out of ice plant seems appropriate here:

1.  Select a lofted club, such as a sand wedge.
2.  Take aim and place ball in the middle to back of stance.
3.  Swing with all your might.
4.  Take one step closer to the target and repeat steps 1-4."

I'd strongly disagree with that. I haven't tried to play more than a single shot out of iceplants but frankly once is about all one needs to play to understand the best way to proceed if your ball is in iceplants.

That would be to immediately apply Rule 28 and get on with it!!