Aerial of the Day #26 - 19 Feb 2002

[Scott_Burroughs]

It's kinda scary how a certain feature keeps disappearing on this course.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Not pre-1960 and it is walkable.

p.s. I knew you were kidding, Bill  .  I was just giving a small clue.

[THuckaby2]

GOT IT!  But I won't ruin it.  I promise.  Will send you a message to confirm though, Scott.

TH

[mike nuzzo.]

the clue was a little easy.
I only know when I recognize the bunkers, which isn't often.
Still definately a highlight of the day.
It's hard to not scour the countryside using globe explorer myself.
thanks

[SPDB]

any more hints?

[Scott_Burroughs]

Ray Parker, Jr.

[Mike_Cirba]

Would one fly "Northwest" airlines to get there?

[SPDB]

OK. That's all I needed. I would never have gotten this one on my own.

I don't get what features disappear, but I guess that will become evident when you reveal.

[Scott_Burroughs]

If you have the name of the course, you have the feature.

[Keith Williams]

What great clues!  This was one was pretty fun.  

Hint:  this course has been mentioned on another recent thread.

[Scott_Burroughs]

The warranty on Cinderella's car expired.

[Scott_Burroughs]

O.K., the last of the clues:  JohnV(ander Borght)

[JohnV]

Gee, I just get logged in and there is my name.  Since it is not almost 2PM East Coast time, I'll say that anyone who hasn't gotten it by now doesn't have a Ghost of a chance and is up a Creek without a paddle.

For anyone trying to guess the routing, #1 is the lower of the two holes going West to East at the bottom of the page,  2, 3 and 4 go North to the far North East corner of the property.  5 is the par 3 at the top, then 6, 7 and 8 go south to the SouthEast corner.  9 is the monster par 4 going west from there.  10 is the other course going east, 11 is the par 3 going north, 12, 13 and 14 go back and forth then 15 is the par 5 going north and then across and back south for 16, 17 and 18.  17 is a really fun short par 4 that can be driven although the risks are very real.  The front 9 is one of the better 9 holes I've played on a modern inland course.  The back has some excellent holes, but isn't as good.  Overall, I put Ghost Creek just below Witch Hollow, but others take the opposing view.  Witch fits in the slot at the top and then to the west of Ghost for those who haven't been there.

[Scott_Burroughs]

John,
    I purposefully deleted the Witch Hollow holes in the top notch, to make the routing easier to follow (and not give it away a little more).
    
This is Pumpkin Ridge, Ghost Creek course (the public side), just west of Portland, OR, for those who may know nothing about it.  The sister (and private) course, the Witch Hollow, hosted the 96' Amateur (Tiger's 3rd) and the '97 Women's Open (and the 2004?).  I'll show that some time in the future.

The name of the course (Ghost Creek) comes from the creek that disappears and reappears at several points on the course.  Other than the "scary" reference, Ray Parker, Jr. is who sang the song "Ghostbusters", and of course, Cinderella's car expired into a pumpkin.  

[W.H. Cosgrove]

Never very good at puzzles, I looked the famous breast bunker and couldn't remember where I had seen it!  

Nice to have the aerial of the west coast.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Cos,
    I've done an aerial from the west each week so far (and plan to every week).  Only last week's was in a state not bordering the Pacific (Pinon Hills).  I did Pumpkin Ridge because I hadn't done anything in the Northwest so far, though my pickin's are slim since Mapquest doesn't cover several prominent courses up there.

[JohnV]

Ghost Creek hosted the first 2 Nike Tour Championships, one of which was one by David Duval.  It also was the site of the finals for the USGA Junior and Girls Junior Championships in 2000.  Rumor has it that it will be the site of the US Senior Open in 2006, while Witch will host the 2003 Women's Open.

Also, in 1995-1997 it was the course for final round of the Portland Invitational which was a mini-tour event that also attracted some PGA Tour Pros.  In 1995, Bob Gilder was in the clubhouse at -6 and an uknown pro came to the 18th tee tied with him.  After a good drive, the pro went for the back left hole location (see big lake in the left-middle of the picture) and dunked it into the water, making a 6 and finishing third.  When a reporter asked him why he didn't play it safe and get in a playoff, he said that he "wanted to win it right there."  This past weekend he said basically the same thing after he went at the hole on #18 at Riviera and made a bogey.  Yes, it was Scott McCarron.  Guess he hasn't learned yet.

By the way, if this picture had included the Witch Hollow parking lot (just above the driving range), I believe you would have been able to see my car.