Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group => Topic started by: Garland Bayley on July 18, 2011, 01:32:37 PM
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Hole 1 465 par 4
Knowing this hole has a severe slope running down to the left as shown below
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1382.jpg?t=1257800690)
And with the trouble off the tee mostly on the right as seen below
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1380.jpg?t=1257800647)
I felt comfortable on the tee knowing that if I sliced, it would take me to an area on the left where I could hit back into the slope and leave a short pitch into the green as I don't anticipate being able to reach the green in two. I also felt the tee shot would make my righty opponent nervous on the tee.
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The first at Chambers is a good hole that sets the mood for the rest of the course. After a decent drive, I had a long iron into the green which ran for 20 yards after hitting short right of the green. I was actually surprised by how undulated the green was considering the length of the hole. There are a few tough pin positions on that green.
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No one in our group was on this green in regulation. It is indeed a very stern opener....that I also happened to very much like.
Keeping the approach shot to the right is crucial if you don't want to have a long blind chip shot for your 3rd.
Garland went left and I went right on the tee shot. After laying up to about the same distance in, I hit my 3rd on the green, but Garland went over. I two putted for a 5 and Garland took a 6.
I was 1 up thru 1.
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As Kalen shows, after following my strategy well except a short pitch and long putt from fringe miscue of sorts, I was down after thinking on the tee I was going to have one in hand after the first. This might not be as easy as I had imagined. ;)
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No one in our group was on this green in regulation. It is indeed a very stern opener....that I also happened to very much like.
Keeping the approach shot to the right is crucial if you don't want to have a long blind chip shot for your 3rd.
Garland went left and I went right on the tee shot. After laying up to about the same distance in, I hit my 3rd on the green, but Garland went over. I two putted for a 5 and Garland took a 6.
I was 1 up thru 1.
Yep, left of the 1st green is not the place to be. The right side of the fairway looks like a bad place to miss, but from what I saw most of the shots hit up there were bouncing and rolling down back left towards the fairway. That would depend on how high the rough was, however.
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#2 365 yds. par 4
The wide fairways at Chambers Bay allows the high handicapper to play from the short grass much of the time. Here I can aim a little right, and hope/expect the width to contain my slice. The hazard seen in the distance is unreachable from the tee.
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1384.jpg?t=1258057106)
The downside of slicing left means you have to be able to carry the hazard, but with a fairly short iron in hand, one should be able to get the ball up and carry to the green.
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1385.jpg?t=1258057206)
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Slicing Left?
You should've done what us smart lefties do, play righty. Supposedly it's good to have a strong lead hand, and at the very least you don't sound like an asshat when giving photo tours. ;D ;)
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I'm a right hander and hit my worst shot of the day here from the tee...a big slice to the right and was lucky to find my ball. (Actually a woman on the walking path spotted it for me!)
From there I chopped back to the fairway, and continued to make a mess of the hole. I ran my lengthy bogey putt about 5 feet past the hole and missed the come backer which would have resulted in a halved hole with Garland who also shot a sloppy 6...but my 7 was one worse.
Garland wins the hole - the match is AS thru 2 holes.
As for the hole itself, (and this really speaks volumes about how good the par 4s are out there), I thought this was the least interesting par 4 on the course, and it was still pretty darn good.
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We forgot to tell the course to put up the beware signs on the walking path, as Kalen and I were about to take the course. ;D
Having a walking path through the course for the public to exercise on is pretty neat, and also an indication of what a grand scale the course is built on.
The weather in the Pacific Northwest has be perfect this year for getting courses fast and firm. Since there have been no excessively hot days, the superintendents have not had to soak the poa ana to keep it alive. My home course is playing as fast and firm as I have ever seen it due to this weather. Why do I discuss this? Because I found the greens at Chambers Bay to be excessively slow. I have a very slow tempo putting stroke, which makes it hard for me to hit putts hard very consistently. So after two holes, I had already made six strokes with my putter. The course allows me to get around handily, but the greens hurt me considerably in this match.
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3 145 yds. par 3
This is the first time I have played the front pin here. In the past, I had been quite successful with my coming over the top, high pull hook (yet another bad swing in my repretoire) landing right of the pin and release downhill some towards the pin. With the front pin, I chose to try to hit at the hill/kick plate on the right to bounce it towards the hole. This hole may be the righty slicers heaven. ;)
There is a hollow in front of the green filled with sand. I'm thankful the people who built this course were smart enough not to fill it with water and make yet another boring water hazard par 3. If I hit it in the hollow, I still have a chance to get it on the green and tie a fellow high handicapper for the hole. If there is water there, I'm not very good at hitting shots while submerged in water.
(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac72/mwsander/Chambers%20Bay/100_0237.jpg)
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The 2nd is the first of a great set of short par-4's. It was only about a hybrid - PW for me, but there are many opportunities to make a big number there...heck, hit it on the walking path for starters ;)
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So on the 1st par 3...which from the tan tees plays as short hole, both Garland and I ended up right on that big knob.
I couldn't keep my chip on the upper tier, so Garland tried to get fancy by playing a shot that would land on top of the knob and just trickle down to the green...well it didn't trickle and he left it on top of the knob. His next shot he putted it down the knob and at this point I was liking that I was on the green in 2 and in position to win the hole.
However, I 3 jacked it to go with his two putt so the hole was halved.
Still AS after 3!
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I will take the over on whether you guys broke 100...
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I will take the over on whether you guys broke 100...
How much is that bet for? ;D
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...so Garland tried to get fancy by playing a shot that would land on top of the knob and just trickle down to the green...well it didn't trickle and he left it on top of the knob. His next shot he putted it down the knob ...
I don't call it getting fancy. It was a position like I was in that makes a course like this so much fun. If I had gone directly at the pin (I was at the highest point on the hill directly above the pin), I would have gone off the opposite side of the green. You have to think, recognize that and find another way. I played a chip perpendicular to the direct line to the pin. Had I chipped it a few inches farther, I would have had a very good result. For my third I nudged it with my putter to get it going (less hill to go down here) and it finished within makeable distance from the hole. Unfortunately I missed the bogey put.
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I will take the over on whether you guys broke 100...
Way over! :)
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I will take the over on whether you guys broke 100...
Way over! :)
I'll take the under...I did have one birdie on the round!! ;)
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4 480 yds par 5 (uphill)
As the picture shows this hole constantly turns right around the acres in size hazard on the right. That means my slice keeps me safe and away from the hazard. For better players that can control the movement of the ball, a righty fade/slice is often what is desired for a hole turning right. Kalen will let you know how it works out for him.
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1397.jpg?t=1258734492)
After slicing to the left half of the fairway, I continued safely up the left side with my 3 hybrid.
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1400.jpg?t=1258734594)
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Did you play the ball down?
Anthony
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#4 - The 1st par 5 and more uphill than it looks!! ;D
After hitting a decent tee shot, by my standards, I was on the far right side of the fairway next to the massive waste bunker. I hit what I thought was a decent 3w layup to leave myself a short wedge approach, but it just barely caught the far left finger of the waste bunker. Ball ended up in a massive footprint and it was downhill from there. After two mighty blows I couldn't get the ball out and every time its just ended up in another big footprint making extraction almost impossible for a player of my skill. At this point the hole was basically over and so we played the local rule of "take two mighty blows and then use the hand wedge".
From there I hit it up on the green and proceeded to finish the hole. Its on the card as an 8, but in reality its an X. With ESC, a 8 is as high as I go anyways for reporting purposes.
Garland took a stress free bogey to go 1 Up thru 4.
Overall I really like this hole and am guessing that massive bunker along with the other ones will be raked come US Open time. Its just such a severe penalty to go in there and have basically unplayable lies.
The new green appears to be growing in well, even though it was a bit slower than the other ones.
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5 441 yds. par 4
Originally a much wider fairway, it still gives the high handicapper something he can usually hit, although there is less room on the right than shown in this picture.
(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac72/mwsander/Chambers%20Bay/100_0242.jpg)
Hitting it left as I do, I was able to play a second shot up the left side also to close to the green. The center bunker makes you decide if you are a leftist or a rightist. I guess I am a leftist. ;)
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Did you play the ball down?
Anthony
Yes,
I have trouble hitting it while it is in the air.
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So Garland was 8-over after four holes, but one up? I'll take the over too! ;D
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... I hit what I thought was a decent 3w layup to leave myself a short wedge approach, but it just barely caught the far left finger of the waste bunker. ...
CBM just loved guys like this. ;D
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5 441 yds. par 4
Originally a much wider fairway, it still gives the high handicapper something he can usually hit, although there is less room on the right than shown in this picture.
(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac72/mwsander/Chambers%20Bay/100_0242.jpg)
Hitting it left as I do, I was able to play a second shot up the left side also to close to the green. The center bunker makes you decide if you are a leftist or a rightist. I guess I am a leftist. ;)
It should be noted that this picture was taken beforethe fifth hole was changed. Now the right quarter of the fairway is rough. I think the original was much better, allowing a player to drive well right when faced with a right pin.
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... I hit what I thought was a decent 3w layup to leave myself a short wedge approach, but it just barely caught the far left finger of the waste bunker. ...
CBM just loved guys like this. ;D
BTW, so do I. :o
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The Cookie Monster must be out munching again. Since I have hole six ready, I will post.
6 369 yds. Par 4
The shape of this hole does not fit a lefty who hits a slice with his driver
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1410.jpg?t=1260212085)
Therefore, a 4 wood from the tee was the choice, with its added loft helping to straighten out the ball flight. Successfully having hit the fairway, and looking at the approach
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1412.jpg?t=1260212148)
I remembered what that over the top pull hook can do to one on this hole
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1169.jpg?t=1260213534)
Therefore, this time I hit a low flying shortened swing knockdown.
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So,
Par 4 5th downhill. I hit my best shot of the day up to that point with a nice drive right down the middle. My second shot was a bit lackluster and i'm about 30 yards short of the green out to the right. I chip on the green and make a ho hum bogey 5.
Garland drains a 5-6 footer to save his bogey and half the hole.
Garland still 1 up thru 5!!
I thought this hole was one of the lesser par 4s on the course. The tee shot is cool, but even with the new rough the fairway is still plenty wide....50-60 yards. That bunker just short of the green really gets ur attention though and forces you to decide how you are going to hit the approach.
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Hole #6
A really neat short hole with lots of trouble to the right. All the other guys bail out to the left, but I challenge the right hand side with success and leave myself the shortest line into the green. ;)
Garland hits a low running shot, which he says he hit on purpose..(whatever ::)) and the ball almost goes in the back right hand bunker. I hit a soaring 9 iron but tug it left into the bunker.
After hitting a nice shot out of the bunker, I've got 5-6 feet left to save par. Garland steps up, knocks the 1st putt to gimmee range so pressure on me to make. I get the benefit of Brent attempting his par putt 1st and showing me the line, which he makes. But alas I miss the putt so garland wins the hole with a par to my bogey.
Garland wins the hole and is now 2 up thru 6 at this point!
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7 415 yds. Par 4
Once again, we are doglegging right uphill, this time with a par 4. Being up in the match and not feeling any need to shorten the hole by taking a route over the bunkers, I drove to the left side of the fairway taking the long way around
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1419.jpg?t=1260464333)
If you know the hole well and want a better angle to get a backstop to the flag on your approach, you might try to position yourself to the right by playing over the mounds. I chose to hit my 3 hybrid past the mounds on the left side, as I was not knowledgeable enough about the green to give myself a position where misses work out better.
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1420.jpg?t=1260464394)
I did succeed well enough that any photographer along would not have caught me in this pose (Mounding resemblesGarland laying on his back) for my third.
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1179.jpg?t=1260464964)
My half wedge third easily found the green.
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7 is an awesome hole...a true risk/ reward on both the tee ball and the approach.
After picking a conservative line off the tee, I pushed my tee ball into the massive bunker, but was out in 1. From there I hit halfway up that false front only to have it roll back down into the collection area. 1 hit my 4th safely to the rear of the green and safely two putt from there for double.
While Garland got to the green in only 3, unfortunatly things went downhill from there. His 1st putt didn't make it over a critical ridge and the next putt was still 6 feet short of the hole. After a miss there, Garland was left with a 4 putt for a triple.
Kalen makes a double bogey 6 and wins the hole with it...only in a hackers match is that usually possible!! :)
Garland back to 1 up thru 7 holes!!
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I had remembered the back stop on 7 from my previous round a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, I didn't remember it well enough, as I hit my aggressive wedge from the wrong angle and gave myself one of the hardest putts I had ever seen. :'( >:( That's a four put folks.
I may well be taking more strokes with my putter than all the rest of my clubs combined.
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8 523 par 5
If you are into penal golf this is your hole. My advice for any high handicapper is swing easy, and keep it between the steep bank going up on the left and the steep bank going down on the right. The below is from the green looking back.
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1440.jpg?t=1261509106)
I managed to keep it in play with one duff along the way and a 6 iron onto the green for my fourth.
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Garland,
I agree with you that Chambers's width is a great strength -- and so don't you think 8 is completely out of character with the rest of the course?
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I hope this doesn't come off as too rude but reading the shot-by-shot recap of this battle royale is akin to reading a restaurant review written by Jeffrey Dahmner.
Wow,
Thats harsh man!! ;D
We thought it would be interesting to put into words the struggles that a mid to high capper has going around a course like this. But by all means if it isn't up to your standards, you can forgoe leaving a tip after the "meal"! ;)
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Hole #8
First off to answer the previous question, I think this hole is indeed very out of character with the rest of the course and it really is a shame. Brent had a wonderful idea that it would have been cool to have #8 sort of trundle down the hill to a green somewhere near the driving range. And then have #9 be an uphill par 3, as the rest of the par 3s are already drop shot par 3s. They could then relocate the chipping greens and the driving range as there is plenty of space to accomodate all of this otherwise.
On to the hole action. This is indeed a tough hole for those who fail to keep it straight. The drive wasn't too bad as there was 40 or so yards of fairway to work with....but the area for an aggressive layup shot is indeed a smaller target. Garland and I both managed to get on this green in 4 with short chips after a couple of mediocre 3rd shots.
But alas, while he took another 3 jack to finish things off, I took a 2 putt for a bogey and won the hole 6 to 7.
So after 8, the match is back to all square!! Woot!!
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Garland,
I agree with you that Chambers's width is a great strength -- and so don't you think 8 is completely out of character with the rest of the course?
I think a course is better if it mixes in a little less width from time to time. Chamber's does it wonderfully well with 10 and 12.
Where 8 is out of character is the simplicity of the layout of the hole. If I remember correctly, it was Mark Saltzman during my second round yesterday that commented that they should have cut and filled more to make it half again as wide. As an alternative to that, perhaps they should have narrowed the fairway, and made a second fairway down the hill just a bit to facilitate high handicappers in getting around. It would be obvious which was the preferred route for the low score, which would also be more testing. But when Kalen slices over to the lower fairway he is not out of the hole. They could have put bunkers on the slope between the two, or maybe made up and down ramps with bunkers in them.
Another interesting point is that if you hang out on the walking trail and strike up a conversation with a golfer or two, you will find that having been raised in the dark ages of golf architecture, some of them think 8 is the best hole on the course.
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P.S. As it pertains to #8....if they were still hell bent on getting the front side to be a par 36, they could easily move the tees back on #7 by 60 yards or so and turn it into an excellent par 5. As it is now, 7 is a pretty tough hole as a 4.
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I hope this doesn't come off as too rude but reading the shot-by-shot recap of this battle royale is akin to reading a restaurant review written by Jeffrey Dahmner.
David Cronan,
725 post Jr. Full Member. Kneel Knave!
:D
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I think they were hell bent on getting the view from the tee shot on 9 and 8 was the way to get there...
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I think they were hell bent on getting the view from the tee shot on 9 and 8 was the way to get there...
Sean,
Perhaps, but for a course with so many good views already...its not like they "needed" it. Just about every hole out there has terrific views of the area/sound.
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(http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww237/weersings/DSC_7296a.jpg)
I thought you would all like this picture of 9 from Aidan Bradley Scott Weersing. The hole looks fairly penal until you realize even a duffer like Kalen can play one off the slope to the left of the green and get a good result. Unfortunately, I made very poor contact with the ball and ended up on a ridge short of the green on an extreme upslope with a horrible stance and little chance of making a good swing. At least I got it over that ridge, but still short of the green, but at least in the short grass, giving me little chance on this hole.
This hole is one of my favorite par 3 holes, as besides having a wonderful target as Scott's picture so clearly shows. It also has what I think is the greatest view on any tee of any course I have played, which is throughout the mountain and coastal west. Unfortunately, I don't know of a picture from the tee that shows what I am saying, if you go up the hill just a little, you see this from the club house.
(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac72/mwsander/Chambers%20Bay/100_0232.jpg)
Mark tells me that Richard neglected to point out the view of the Olympics when they were on the 9th tee about 10 minutes in front of us. The snow caps were visible when we were there, but it is possible that was a small break in the weather that wasn't available 10 minutes earlier. On the subject of Mark, on my second round with him, he teed it up from the 202 yard tees struck the ball, and said something to the effect of I hit that real good right after the ball left his club and long before it had a chance to travel 202 yards out and 80 feet down and sit 3 feet from the hole. He earned a "well played" from the two spectators outside the boundary on the rainy July day. His calling the shot immediately called to mind Jack's "it is" at the 16th at ANGC in 86. Real cool.
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I think they were hell bent on getting the view from the tee shot on 9 and 8 was the way to get there...
Sean,
Perhaps, but for a course with so many good views already...its not like they "needed" it. Just about every hole out there has terrific views of the area/sound.
9 is the money shot though.
I agree with Brent's idea about going down to the driving range and then up. He and I may have actually talked about it before because I have made the same comment.
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I think they were hell bent on getting the view from the tee shot on 9 and 8 was the way to get there...
Sean,
Perhaps, but for a course with so many good views already...its not like they "needed" it. Just about every hole out there has terrific views of the area/sound.
9 is the money shot though.
I agree with Brent's idea about going down to the driving range and then up. He and I may have actually talked about it before because I have made the same comment.
Sean - good call. When at the 8th tee I have visions of number 17 at Royal Dornoch, a split level par four. It would fit the land well as it is now. Nine would be a slightly uphill par 3 played over the waste area.
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I thought 9 was an interesting hole, but I wouldn't call it my favorite par 3 on the course...that distinction would go to #15.
So Garland already told you about how his first shot came up way short and didn't even reach the fairway, after a very very good chip out to the fairway from a poor lie, I was still thinking that this hole was all wrapped up because I was on the green in regulation and had about 25 feet left.
But its like Johnny Miller always says on TV, when playing match play, always expect your foe to make that next shot or putt. So Garland summoned the Gods of the Olympics, made a burnt offering with his extra scorecard, and chipped in his next shot from well off the green to save a very very unlikely par. I ensued to two putt for the halve.
After the front 9, the match is AS!
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Making a 3 on 9 was one of those instances where with no pressure, because you have nothing to lose, and no one expects you to make the putt, where I saw the line stood over the putt and made a very relaxed stroke the sent the putt on the line I had seen breaking hugely to the right and burying itself, dead center in the cup.
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Making a 3 on 9 was one of those instances where with no pressure, because you have nothing to lose, and no one expects you to make the putt, where I saw the line stood over the putt and made a very relaxed stroke the sent the putt on the line I had seen breaking hugely to the right and burying itself, dead center in the cup.
Merry Christmas Garland!!! ;D
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Number 10 is a very interesting change of pace from the width of the other holes on the course. I think it is really well done with the grasses growing so sparsely that you can find your ball in the rough (as you can on most of the course), but yet thick or tall enough to keep the ball from coming down off the slopes to give you an easy shot instead of the extreme lies and stances you are left with.
This is not a hole for the high handicapper to let his ball curve significantly off line, so I again chose the 4 wood off the tee and finished in the fairway, from where I hit a six iron to the front of the green.
(http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww237/weersings/CB_no10_03.jpg)
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Garland,
I agree with you that Chambers's width is a great strength -- and so don't you think 8 is completely out of character with the rest of the course?
It is out of character but a nice change. This hole can inspire fear.
Anthony
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10 freakin holes and not one action shot. What has this site become. I want to see some punches landing.
Anthony
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While there weren't any physical punches thrown....(Garland and I are both north of 40, so we're getting too old for that kinda stuff), there were plenty of verbal punches thrown though! ;D
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Ok,
On to the 10th hole. And let me start by saying, this was IMO the best hole on the course. I really love how the massive dunes on each side (of which the picture doesn't do justice), gently get closer and closer as they pinch in near the green. It really created an interesting effect and made for a butt puckering approach. There is also a bunker on the back left of the green that tucked in nicely and is hidden from view when ur back in the fairway.
I too hit 3w off the tee with a 6 iron approach. However I lost mine a touch to the right and ended up in that 1st green side bunker.
Long story short, I couldn't get it up and down to save par and match Garlands eventual par. Given the difficulty of the hole, even a 5 here is good by my standards, so Garlands 4 was pretty damn good.
Garland wins the hole and goes 1 up thru 10!
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I wish the 10th green had a backstop and more of a punchbowl feel. But its all open back there. Also that left greenside bunker may be the most penel on the course.
Anthony
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11 425 yds par 4
When you stand on the tee on 11 you see a dinosaur turd in Kalen parlance. You have to decide if you can carry it, or whether you need to go left or right. I concluded I could carry it without knowing the yardages (I play many shots on estimated distances, but will read a sprinkler head if one is nearby). Hit the straightest drive of the day with my driver straight at the and over the center of the mound and fading a little left at the end.
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1100.jpg?t=1264457549)
From the fairway with a 4 iron, I drove a stake through Kalen's heart by hitting it to the center of the green from over 180 yards ending my worries about the bunkers on the right.
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv110/BrandyNikole0107/dscn1462.jpg?t=1264457696)
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Just to explain a little further, when you're standing on 6 tee and you look over at the mound in the middle of 11 fairway, it kinda looks like a T-Rex backed up and let a load go. However, when you are on 11 tee, its looks "normal". ;D
I too hit a good drive here and cleared the dino dropping. It was my fubar 5 wood approach that did me in as I skanked one into that big bunker on the right. I still had a chance to nail a 20 foot putt from just off the back of the green to put some pressure on Garland, but alas it burned the edge of the cup.
Garland wins the hole with a 5 to my 6. Garland is now 2 up thru 11!
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12 262 yds par 4
My first two plays of this hole, I laid back on this hole with good results. However, two days before our match I was talking to a friend that encouraged me to go for the green with driver since my natural ball flight is right to left with driver. While knowing that 262 yards uphill is a stretch, I pulled driver, overswung, and heeled it off to the right. My second round, I also lost a ball right with driver, and will go back to laying up in future rounds. I failed to realize I shouldn’t be taking advice from a 2 to 3 handicap on how to play #12 at Chambers Bay. I took 3 more shots hacking back to the fairway and reached the green in 5.
(http://thewalkinggolfer.com/images/cb_12t.jpg)
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So I decided to hit 3 wood here and missed out to the right as well.
The difference was, I managed to hit my next shot back to the fairway, with my 3rd shot being well executed for a conceded par at the hole.
I really like this hole as well, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of options for the high capper as the distance to drive the green is just too prohibitive. No doubt this is a much more interesting hole for the low cappers who have the stuff to drive it 265 up the hill and maybe get an eagle or an easy birdie. To boot, the green is really super wild, easily the craziest green on the course. I think RTJ III was channeling a bit of Jim Engh on this one because there are some massive internal slopes on this one.
Kalen wins the hole. Garland is now back to 1 up thru 12!
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So I decided to hit 3 wood here and missed out to the right as well.
The difference was, I managed to hit my next shot back to the fairway, with my 3rd shot being well executed for a conceded par at the hole.
I really like this hole as well, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of options for the high capper as the distance to drive the green is just too prohibitive. No doubt this is a much more interesting hole for the low cappers who have the stuff to drive it 265 up the hill and maybe get an eagle or an easy birdie. To boot, the green is really super wild, easily the craziest green on the course. I think RTJ III was channeling a bit of Jim Engh on this one because there are some massive internal slopes on this one.
Kalen wins the hole. Garland is now back to 1 up thru 12!
When I played there last year there was a tailwind on 12. I hit driver and wound up on the green back left when the pin was front right. Forget the easy birdie, three putts from up top was no picnic.
Next time I'll hit hybrid and lay up. Above the hole is no place to be. It's a fun hole, though. Chambers Bay beat this high handicapper up pretty badly.
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...
The difference was, I managed to hit my next shot back to the fairway, with my 3rd shot being well executed for a conceded par at the hole.
...
Kalen can be forgiven as he never saw his ball on the green. He had 20 feet for par, and went on the scorecard as a bogey, as I conceded the hole and returned his ball to him before he reached the green walking. I conceded without playing out the putts as I was even further away and lying 5 to his 3.
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This should be made into a movie.
Anthony
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13 512 yds. par 5
The drive on this hole is blind. As high handicappers playing from tees beyond our typical abilities on a wet day there was little choice to make off the tee. Anything in the fairway would do. Playing the white tees at 486 yards would suggest trying to hit the far right side of the fairway with a chance to go at the green in two. After reaching the left side of the fairway with my typical drive that turns left, I had a longer shot to clear the bunker finger in the way to a lay up area. I flinched and ended up in the bunker. So getting the tee ball closer to the corner has some advantages as you have less to carry to a lay up area.
(http://thewalkinggolfer.com/images/cb_13_apr.jpg)
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This should be made into a movie.
Anthony
Entitled "Par Is Just A Number"?
Sorry,it was a layup and I couldn't resist.
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This should be made into a movie.
Anthony
Brent saw the movie live, and said he wanted to see next sequel live also.
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I didn't think the tees were beyond our abilities. I hit a good drive and only had 250 to the green. If I had gotten an extra little jalapeno on it I would have had a go at the green.
Instead I hit a perfect layup, was left with a little wedge approach, but laid sod over the ball. Garland got out of the bunker and hit his 4th over the green. My 4th was good and on the green about 30 feet away. With Garland in trouble i knew this was a god opportunity to win another hole...
..but alas I three jacked it when I missed the 5 foot bogey putt...he chipped on and two putted. I was really kicking myself that I was 80 yards away in two and it took me 5 more shots to get it down. We both carded a pair of 7s to halve the hole.
Garland still 1 up thru 13!
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...
Garland still 1 up thru 13!
And the best hole on the course, #14, sets up real well for a lefty like me. ;)
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14 415 yds. (that's what the card says, but the tees were set way back on Sunday) par 4
I have great success on this hole by aiming at the bunker in the center of the fairway and letting the natural movement of the ball take me to the same place I was all day, the left edge of the fairway, thereby cutting the max possible out of the hole. I schooled Anthony Gray that way, and I set about to do the same thing to Kalen.
(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac72/mwsander/Chambers%20Bay/100_0259.jpg)
Sure enough the ball flight went just as expected, but with the tees being as far back as they were, I still had 192 (I was by a sprinkler head) to the center of the green.
With bunkers guarding the left side, I aimed my three hybrid to the open area right of the green. Unfortunately, I drew the ball a little, and ended up in the rough to the right of the sandpoint that runs in from the right.
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This hole is another outstanding offering at Chambers. Like Garland said, the tees were pretty far back making it an intimidating carry to the fairway.
As such I aimed right of the trap and my fade left me in the rough. Garland hit on a much more aggressive line and looked to carry the massive bunker by just a yard or two. No doubt he was in much better shape than I was after the tee ball. As I had no chance to get home with my 2nd shot, I punched a 5 iron out of the rough, but mishit it so it only went about 120 yards. So I was left with another 5 iron approach that came up about 5 yards shorts of the green.
Meanwhile Garland hit a gawd-awful approach shot was way right in the gunch. I was thinking he'd struggle to get outta there, but not only did he not struggle he hit a pro-like recovery to 6 feet of the hole. So he put the pressure right back on me. I chipped my next shot but left it well short and had about a 12 footer to save a bogey.
I stepped up and knew it was do or die, and I drained the 12 footer...hands down my best putt of the day. Garland now had to make his par putt to win the hole and i'll be danged if the bugger didn't drain that sucker. A very clutch putt to make par on arguably the most difficult hole on the back 9.
Garland wins the hole with a 4 to my 5. Being highcappers I never thought I would see the day when a bogey lost ground to Garland on a tough hole like that.
Garland is now 2 up thru 14...not looking so hot for me!
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...
Garland wins the hole with a 4 to my 5. Being highcappers I never thought I would see the day when a bogey lost ground to Garland on a tough hole like that.
...
If you had asked Anthony about playing me on that hole you would have know better.
I actually hit a good 2nd. It just drew a little away from its intended line. With all that sand to carry, I was not even going for the green. I got all the carry I intended. I took the time to walk around and survey where to land my 3rd, and hit it pretty much like I planned. Sometimes high handicappers do that. ;)
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...
Garland wins the hole with a 4 to my 5. Being highcappers I never thought I would see the day when a bogey lost ground to Garland on a tough hole like that.
...
If you had asked Anthony about playing me on that hole you would have know better.
I actually hit a good 2nd. It just drew a little away from its intended line. With all that sand to carry, I was not even going for the green. I got all the carry I intended. I took the time to walk around and survey where to land my 3rd, and hit it pretty much like I planned. Sometimes high handicappers do that. ;)
Oh please, u were dead in the mid calf high rough after ur 2nd shot. I could put 100 balls down there and I doubt you get another one of those within 10 feet of the hole. Hacker!!! :P
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15 120 yds. par 3
With no wind, this is a simple wedge shot. I stepped up and put my ball on the back of the green. Pressure is on Kalen now.
(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac72/mwsander/Chambers%20Bay/100_0261.jpg)
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Standing on the tee, I was very much enjoying the view. It was my favorite par 3 on the course and the tree behind really works for added effect. I knew I was 2 down with 4 to play so it was time to make something happen.
Got up there and hit a shot that looked perfect...but it just barely cleared the left side bunker, (being a fade) and it stuck just in the fringe. Garland was away so he putted 1st. He left his 1st putt 6 feet short so I was feeling good. Being in the fringe, i used putter too and was fooled by the slope of the hole. Needless to say I got the speed right, but was still 5 feet away after my 1st putt.
Garland burns the lip with his 2nd putt for a conceded bogey. I'm left with the 5 footer and thinking its now or never. I'm also thinking no f'ing way I miss another 5 footer. Well fook me if I didn't miss that 5 footer, yet again. On a putt I had to have, I yanked it left. By now I was half thinking I had the yips.
So everyone piled on the abuse, Garland, Brent, his brother...and deservedly so. It was my 4th missed putt of the round that was right in the 5 foot range.
Going to 16 I was now 2 down with 3 to play. I needed something good to happen and quick!!!
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...
Going to 16 I was now 2 down with 3 to play. I needed something good to happen and quick!!!
I hit my worst drive of the round on 16. Was that quick enough for you?
;)
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16 359 yds. par 4
With the big hazard on the right, I hit driver here figuring to keep away from it with my slice. I hit it so far left it is in a bunker that can't even be seen in this picture from the green looking back. Fortunately, when you are that far afield, the ball was in a good lie in the sand. I chose PW to just get myself back in play. I got it back to the fairway 50 yards short of the green.
(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac72/mwsander/Chambers%20Bay/100_0264.jpg)
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Garland is correct I did get another chance at new life.
He went left in the bunker and I hit a 3w safely to the right half of the fairway. I tried to play a low running 6 iron into the green using the humps and bumps just short of the green to feed it in. I thought it was good when I hit it, but ultimately it was too much peyote on the ball and it ran across the green and down into the deep bunker right of the green.
Garland pitched safely on to the green from about 80 yards out and I got my ball out of the bunker...but neither one of us could make the par putt. So we both took a 5.
So Garland goes Dormie at 2 up with 2 to play!!
P.S. The train tracks being just to the right of the holes on 16 and 17 are a nice added effect. It really can be distracting when you have to pay attention on two shortish holes that require precision shots to make par. ;)
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...
Garland pitched safely on to the green from about 80 yards out and I got my ball out of the bunker...but neither one of us could make the par putt. So we both took a 5.
...
I actually read the ground and bumped a 7 iron into the hill on the left, which turned the ball and let it run to 8 ft. from the hole.
Every one watching thought I made the putt until it rolled to the side at the last moment.
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"I tried to play a low running 6 iron into the green using the humps and bumps just short of the green to feed it in. I thought it was good when I hit it, but ultimately it was too much peyote on the ball and it ran across the green and down into the deep bunker right of the green."
I HATE when that happens! Screw it - I aint playing any more stinking low running 6 irons. From now on, it's bomb and gauge for me...
Good show, gents!
Peter
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Peter,
You would be glad to know that I was playing my new blades that I put into play this season. To quote Richard Choi before the match when he learned I was playing the blades, "you're crazy"!
I hit no squirrelly shot with them. My misses were my usual over the top pull hook that I hit with cavity backs too.
I hit bad shots with my 3 hybrid, but the shots with my 4 and 5 iron blades were things of beauty.
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Excellent, Garland!
I know few believe us, but 3-PW I'm actually better than I've ever been, and when 3 times a round or so I swing those blades as well as I possibly can, I can now hit real honest to goodness golf shots - I mean, they are GOLF SHOTS!
Best
Peter
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17 172 yds. par 3
When we finished #1, Brent announced to the group that the 17th had the back right sucker pin. So finally we have reached the tee looking at that sucker pin. You can see the back right shelf in the picture below. You can also see Scott Weersing on the left. He is the person responsible for that absolutely gorgeous picture of the #9 green.
(http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww237/weersings/golfers01.jpg)
You may have noticed that I have been playing David Toms with the safe shots in this match to Kalen's Phil Mickelson. I am going for the center of the green all the way with this tee shot. Unfortunately, I lapsed into my over the top pull hook, which for a while looked like I had hit the shot to set up a birdie, but finished just over the right edge of the green in the deep bunker to the right.
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
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Garland indeed hit a woeful shot into the green....
...but mine was even worse. Karma is indeed a bitch as she bit hard after I was trash talking Garland on the tee that he would hit one in the junk. Well I hit an even worse one into the junk. From there my second shot came up short and was in the bunker. My 3rd shot went over the green and my 4th was finally on.
I two putted from there for a 6, and that was all she wrote. Garland had gotten out of the bunker and managed to 4 putt once more...but I needed to win the hole to keep the match going.
Garland wins 2 and 1!!!
P.S. But wait, its not over yet...I had my best hole of the day on the next hole...damn I hate it when that happens!
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The only thing more enjoyable than witnessing this match in person is reliving it again on this thread.
Great theater gents! ;)
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Garland and Kalen,
That was wonderful drama gentlemen.
I wish I could have been there in person though your writing gives the tale a certain elan. I so enjoy these hard-fought battles, between mere mortals, where the proponents skill can, all of a sudden, desert them and in the next moment an audacious shot of pure magic turns the tables. These shots, in my experience, can be just as surprising to the executor as to the "executed". The agonising that one goes through as a triple bogey is carded. Of course this can give way to such sweet relief, tinged I am sure in your case with a dab of "the milk of human kindness", when the opponent stumbles in with a quadruple bogey and actually allows you to win the hole. I suspect these moments of unbridled joy are rarely endured by your scratch and low-handicap man!
Tragic as this may sound I have spent more time reading and visualising this exciting match that you have had than I spent on the recent Open. But then I think I have my priorities correct. Sounds very much like my kind of golf .... great fun on a great course delivering near-mortal blows to the opponent though the coup de grace, Kalen, is a bitter pill to swallow.
Many thanks for the entertainment,
Cheers Colin
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IIRC, Garland leads the Grudge Match series 2-0. What's next? Kalen needs to dig out of this hole!
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Colin,
Thanks for the kind words. Even though I really wanted to win this one, as I lost Grudge match I, I still had a blast. I have to be honest and say this one "stings" a bit more than the 1st one because I had so many chances to take control of the match and I just didn't get it done.
Bill,
I'm thinking there won't be another 2 years pass by before Grudge Match III takes place and I get myself back on track. ;)
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Sounds like you both need to take 2 weeks off and then quit. ;)
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Sounds like you both need to take 2 weeks off and then quit. ;)
Sean,
The funny/ironic thing to it all is...I've been trash talking Garland offline about all the scores I've recently shot in the mid 80s...which is entirely true.
But then I get out there in Grudge match II and shoot a smooth 97. Garland must be my Kryptonite!!! ;D
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One question:
Did either of you play any differently in this match than you would in a casual round?
One wish:
I wish all architects would play a round with guys like you, or read through this thread and really think about it. So many don't really understand how a 90s shooter plays, it's all "Play the right tees!".
Nice going, guys, hope I make it to a grudge match someday.
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George,
I can only speak for myself...but I found my mindset was no different than playing just normal stroke play. I only took on additional risk for maybe 2 or 3 shots...and that was only because I was so far behind in the hole.
The one part of my game that deserted me unexpectedly was my putting. I missed 5 putts that were all in the 5-6 foot range. I would normally make at least 3 if not 4 of those. Of course the reason why i had so many of those is because I was having trouble on the 1st putt in getting it into gimmee range.
I also thought the tees we played from were appropriate. There was only one hole where I was fretting making the carry to the fairway (on 14).
The biggest thing that was different though....was I didn't mind so much if I made a double bogey, just as long as Garland was at least one worse than me!! ;D
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Thanks Garland - very fun to watch the journey!
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Thanks for this guys, it was fun to watch.
I'm looking forward to golfing at CB with Richard Choi in early August.
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Thanks, very fun!
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Wait!!!
Its not over yet, we haven't yet posted the results of 18. It was my best hole of the round!!! ;D
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You want the results of 18? I hit my second best drive of the day. Then, with my head in the clouds and no longer in the round having won the match, I proceeded to hit my next two from the fairway with my driver. Can you tell I don't have a 460cc driver? I can't even recognize it from a fairway wood. I was close enough to wedge on and two putt for a bogey six.
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I'll post details, only cause your asking Garland. ;)
I hit a mediocre drive out left of the bunkers. Then a solid 3 wood, which left me about 170 in to an elevated green.
I then hit a 4 IRON, effect for Garland, to 4 feet and made the birdie putt. Too little too late though!! :'(
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Sounds like you both need to take 2 weeks off and then quit. ;)
As keeper of the card I have me shooting a 97 and Kalen a 98 with the birdie on 18 helping keep him under 100.
I have myself stroking the ball with putter 44 times. When I get my putting under control, I'm coming after you Leary!
;)
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One question:
Did either of you play any differently in this match than you would in a casual round?
One wish:
I wish all architects would play a round with guys like you, or read through this thread and really think about it. So many don't really understand how a 90s shooter plays, it's all "Play the right tees!".
Nice going, guys, hope I make it to a grudge match someday.
You may have surmised from the report that I played more conservatively than I would in a casual round. Going for birdies and eagles is fun. Trying to limit damage is not as fun.
Since the USGA has me currently as a 21.3 I believe, and Kalen played essentially at that level, we did not play handicap appropriate tees, but played further back. If you have a course like Chambers Bay and its width, playing from handicap appropriate tees does not seem to be much of an interesting idea, let alone the latest Play it Forward nonsense. The entire foursome played the whole round on 1 ball each. What we need is more great courses like Chambers Bay and not the nonsense from the dark ages.
There is a course near Portland that is par 71 6015 yards, rated 70.1/133 from what I assume is the handicap appropriate tees, because it is rated for the ladies at that length also. It is all ponds, trees, and tall ball losing thick rough. In four plays, I have not broken 100. Actually, I don't believe I have broken 105, with 107 there being my last round before Chambers Bay with less than 36 putts.
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... which left me about 170 in to an elevated green.
I then hit a 4 IRON, effect for Garland, to 4 feet and made the birdie putt. Too little too late though!! :'(
What was that? A short swing knock down bunt 4 iron? ;)
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IIRC, Garland leads the Grudge Match series 2-0. What's next? Kalen needs to dig out of this hole!
My schedule has this at the 2013 KP organized by Dan King in the SLO area. ;)
2009, 2011, 2013, etc.
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For those that did not see the original before The Sequel, here is a link to the thread put up by Anthony Gray who was kind enough to fly out from Tennessee to photograph the event.
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,40942.0.html
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One of the great threads. As a highcapper, who has never played matches, I am a convert! As a fan of chaos, the demo derby quality of this slugfest is very appealing.
Well done gents!
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...
The one part of my game that deserted me unexpectedly was my putting. I missed 5 putts that were all in the 5-6 foot range. I would normally make at least 3 if not 4 of those. Of course the reason why i had so many of those is because I was having trouble on the 1st putt in getting it into gimmee range.
...
Kalen,
Now you know why you have been reporting such good scores from Palouse Ridge where the greens are so flat you might as well be putting on a billiard table. My nongolfing wife could make 5 footers there.
:P
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Garland and Kalen,
That was wonderful drama gentlemen.
I wish I could have been there in person though your writing gives the tale a certain elan. I so enjoy these hard-fought battles, between mere mortals, where the proponents skill can, all of a sudden, desert them and in the next moment an audacious shot of pure magic turns the tables. These shots, in my experience, can be just as surprising to the executor as to the "executed". The agonising that one goes through as a triple bogey is carded. Of course this can give way to such sweet relief, tinged I am sure in your case with a dab of "the milk of human kindness", when the opponent stumbles in with a quadruple bogey and actually allows you to win the hole. I suspect these moments of unbridled joy are rarely endured by your scratch and low-handicap man!
Tragic as this may sound I have spent more time reading and visualising this exciting match that you have had than I spent on the recent Open. But then I think I have my priorities correct. Sounds very much like my kind of golf .... great fun on a great course delivering near-mortal blows to the opponent though the coup de grace, Kalen, is a bitter pill to swallow.
Many thanks for the entertainment,
Cheers Colin
I'm known for at least a couple of high handicapper/high frustration quotes at my home course.
"No good drive goes unpunished."
"The beloved triple bogey save."
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Garland,
You would be a freaking genius if you were right, but alas you are not. I've also put up a couple of great scores at Indian Canyon where they have very undulating and bumpy greens.
Chambers Bay was easily my worst putting performance in years!! Normally I'm good for one 3 jack per round..on a mediocre day 2 three jacks. To have 5 in one round was just humiliating!! :-[
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Well "The War to Settle the Score" did not turn out well for Kalen but what a great read and a great course. There is always the next time and there is always Pebble Beach. Good going guys. Hope to make GM3.
Anthony
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George,
No need to read this thread. I have lived it!
But, in general, you are correct. Most gca's think so much in terms of designing for the better player, that they never really look at the routes taken by the class B, C, D, and F players. The problem is, that if you did, you would end up with ANGC (original version) where you could play putter from tee to green. You wouldn't build courses like CB that fit the site well, but are hell on average players.
Of course, there are room for all kinds of courses, with the ANGC model being about 80% of courses, and the CB mold 10% or less, and the true freeway golf, beginners courses another 10%.
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And just to clarify, us high cappers don't mind facing a few ball buster holes here and there. Its just when you get deluged with them that it becomes un-fun.
In that respect Chambers Bay was terrific, because while there were a few really tough holes like 7, 8, and 14....there were plenty of par opportunities to be found on the par 3s and the shorter par 4s.
Additionally what makes Chambers good too is there are a lot of "bite off as much as you dare" shots with diagonal angles.....which works for everyone!!
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What's next?
Anthony
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I'm thinking I want another crack at it...before I have to wait 2 more years.
Hopefully we can get something setup next summer sometime. Maybe even a return trip to Chambers Bay!
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... You wouldn't build courses like CB that fit the site well, but are hell on average players.
...
How is CB hell on average players? My 97 with 44 putts ended up in the low 10 scores of my handicapped posts. Had I putted 36 times, it would have been the lowest score I posted in the last 20. When CB opened, I couldn't miss a fairway from the tee. Now that they have narrowed it some for USGA events, I miss some.
CB is very easy on the average player compared to the last course I played before going there where I shot 107 on 6000 yards, because it was full of ponds, trees, and ball losing rough.
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As another data point....My 98 ended up as the highest in my last 20 rounds played.
However, I didn't think the course was too difficult. I just hit far too many bad shots and missed way more putt that normal.
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Kalen and Garland, what a pair to draw to... ::) ;D 8)
Thanks for sharing the fun you guys had on a great course and your spirited rivalry of high cappers.
The great widespread hacker nation salutes you! ;D
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Kalen and Garland, what a pair to draw to... ::) ;D 8)
Thanks for sharing the fun you guys had on a great course and your spirited rivalry of high cappers.
The great widespread hacker nation salutes you! ;D
Dick, reminds me of our classic singles match at Longshadow and the 18th hole. IIRC I was one up through 17 until your 7 won the 18th. Damn that runoff behind the green! ;D
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David,
I'm pretty sure Garland knows this, as I too explained it to him.
As I recall, he had 0 putts on 9, even thought he did use his putter to chip in for par.
And on 10, he was just short of the green with his approach and used his putter as well.
So that was 1 putt total on those two holes!
But I think a lot of high handicappers prefer the texas wedge. Its usually a lot more forgiving that trying to chip where a whole multitude of things can go wrong like hitting it fat, thin, off the hozzle, too hard, etc!!
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... You wouldn't build courses like CB that fit the site well, but are hell on average players.
...
How is CB hell on average players? My 97 with 44 putts ended up in the low 10 scores of my handicapped posts. Had I putted 36 times, it would have been the lowest score I posted in the last 20. When CB opened, I couldn't miss a fairway from the tee. Now that they have narrowed it some for USGA events, I miss some.
CB is very easy on the average player compared to the last course I played before going there where I shot 107 on 6000 yards, because it was full of ponds, trees, and ball losing rough.
Garland,
Not to be a world class D-Bag, but were all 44 putts from the putting surface? Technically, a putt is only counted as a put when one's stroke is from the putting surface. I read a good deal of the thread and it did not seem as though you hit 9 or 10 GIR.
You don't have to hit a GIR to take a double bogey or worse with a 3 or 4 putt.
I had two 4 putts both starting from on the green leading to triple bogeys. My home course has been quite fast and firm. I did not adjust to slow fescue greens very quickly. If you want to be technical, I believe I had 42 putts. If you read my first quote of that statistic, I wrote I struck the ball with my putter 44 times. I may have gotten sloppy after that first statement and called it 44 putts.
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Now Bill, at our age, in our flight, one has to expect the occasional surprising upsetting of the old applecart........ ;D 8) You did win 17 in spectacular fashion compared to my botched attempt from that cavern in front of an acre or so of green... So, technically, I guess I must have been up one going into that monster par 3 and you evened it up with the easy win, right? I did feel the choke collar at that point of messing up on 17, and it is really both fortunate and testament to my great matchplay skills that I "pulled it all together" to score that impressive 7 on the last. Well, maybe fortunate more than skill.... ::) ;D And, they say one never wishes for ones opponent to play poorly.... so I'm glad you gave it all you had on that last! ;D
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Enjoyed the pics and match. Thanks guys. Love the width of the holes with some tighter holes, between the dunes, sprinkled in. Looking forward to 2015.
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Since Kalen is hanging out here at least in the Open aftermath, and because Chambers Bay is a hot topic right now, I thought I would bump this.
If you read this you will find that Kalen and I putted horribly that day, which was due to our own stress, not the conditions of the course. If Kalen says otherwise, don't believe him. ;D
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Garland,
Interesting bump. Putting has traditionally been the best part of my game. That being said, there are two plausible reasons why my putting sucked that day.
1a) I was playing a new course, and not just any new course. The greens are tough to read on the 1st play and I got a handful of reads wrong, no doubt.
1b) Some of the greens really were in poor condition. I vividly recall putting thru bare patches on several occasions as well as seeing my ball bump all over the place.
Other than the conditions of the greens, I absolutely loved the course!!
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Garland,
Interesting bump. Putting has traditionally been the best part of my game. That being said, there are two plausible reasons why my putting sucked that day.
1a) I was playing a new course, and not just any new course. The greens are tough to read on the 1st play and I got a handful of reads wrong, no doubt.
1b) Some of the greens really were in poor condition. I vividly recall putting thru bare patches on several occasions as well as seeing my ball bump all over the place.
Other than the conditions of the greens, I absolutely loved the course!!
Apologist! ;D Your stroke was bad a Chambers Bay, not the greens.
Your stroke was excellent at Sagebrush.
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Garland,
Interesting bump. Putting has traditionally been the best part of my game. That being said, there are two plausible reasons why my putting sucked that day.
1a) I was playing a new course, and not just any new course. The greens are tough to read on the 1st play and I got a handful of reads wrong, no doubt.
1b) Some of the greens really were in poor condition. I vividly recall putting thru bare patches on several occasions as well as seeing my ball bump all over the place.
Other than the conditions of the greens, I absolutely loved the course!!
Apologist! ;D Your stroke was bad a Chambers Bay, not the greens.
Your stroke was excellent at Sagebrush.
And that's two data points....if you played with me all the time, you'd find that my putting is usually good 80% of the time, and 20% bad. I re-read thru this entire post, and had forgotten all those 4-5 footers I missed. If I had converted those at my usual rate of 80%....I would have likely won the event!! ;)
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Garland,
Interesting bump. Putting has traditionally been the best part of my game. That being said, there are two plausible reasons why my putting sucked that day.
1a) I was playing a new course, and not just any new course. The greens are tough to read on the 1st play and I got a handful of reads wrong, no doubt.
1b) Some of the greens really were in poor condition. I vividly recall putting thru bare patches on several occasions as well as seeing my ball bump all over the place.
Other than the conditions of the greens, I absolutely loved the course!!
Apologist! ;D Your stroke was bad a Chambers Bay, not the greens.
Your stroke was excellent at Sagebrush.
And that's two data points....if you played with me all the time, you'd find that my putting is usually good 80% of the time, and 20% bad. I re-read thru this entire post, and had forgotten all those 4-5 footers I missed. If I had converted those at my usual rate of 80%....I would have likely won the event!! ;)
Sorry, but if I had putted as well as I normally do, I would have buried you. ;)
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Was there ever a grudge match 3? It would be like the Ali-Frazier bouts.
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Was there ever a grudge match 3? It would be like the Ali-Frazier bouts.
There was a grudge match 3 at the Kings Putter at Sagebrush. I had developed severe arthritis in my hands that winter, and was not on my game and Kalen creamed me.
I have since stopped practicing golf in the winter.
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Was there ever a grudge match 3? It would be like the Ali-Frazier bouts.
There was a grudge match 3 at the Kings Putter at Sagebrush. I had developed severe arthritis in my hands that winter, and was not on my game and Kalen creamed me.
I have since stopped practicing golf in the winter.
[/Beware the injured golfer?color]
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Gentlemen,
One must grudgingly concede, judging by the banter of Kalen and Garland over the last 24 hours, that another match is surely in the offing!.
I remember, as a novitiate to GCA, reading this battle of the Titans on this forum and being highly amused and entertained. I'd be happy to experience a re-run!
Cheers Colin