Moffett Field GC - work being done?

[Tom Huckaby]

My daily walks out on the salt marshes past the glorious Yahoo! HQ take me within view of the bay side of Moffett Field GC, and it sure appears a LOT of work is being done on the course.  Lots of earth moving, primarily on the holes around those on the top right corner of this pic:

http://tinyurl.com/ytf59m

Does anyone know what's going on?

And can anyone report on the status of this course?  Any comments?  Is it worth trying to use NASA/military contacts to get on and play?  I haven't played it in many years... the holes I can see on my walks look pretty darn good....

TH

[Bill_McBride]

Could be the windiest course in North America!  Last time I played was in 1967 and I think it was just nine (very windy) holes.

[Tom Huckaby]

Hmm..... wind doesn't seem any worse than Shoreline or Palo Alto or others on the Bay... but they don't put Naval Air Stations in calm places...  

The course does look pretty neat, from the outside.  And I remember it being a darn fun layout from when I played it... that was at least 10 years ago though.

TH

[Bill_McBride]

I haven't played the others you mention but Moffett Field did seem to be a windier property than San Mateo Muni (now Poplar Creek?).  I remember being almost blown off my feet but it was probably just a really windy day.  Had to play as it was a Navy team match, Naval Supply Center Oakland vs. NAS Moffett Field.  Otherwise we'd have found a bar!

[Tom Huckaby]

Understood, Bill.  And hopefully you won the Navy match.

All of these courses right on the Bay are windy... hell if I had to bet on the windiest though, logic would dictate Moffett.

TH

[Kalen Braley]

Huck,

I played it several years ago as a guest of my brother who at the time was in the Marine Corps.  While I don't remember much in terms of routing, it was 18 holes with returning 9's, and there was a lot of water fowl on the course.

I hate to report that the conditions were pretty bad.  The course was a muddly slog, the greens slow and bumpy, and there was bird-shit everywhere.  Needless to say I didn't leave with a good impression, but then again that was in my pre-GCA days and conditions were likely my number 1 concern.  On a side note, I must have got lucky because the wind was not even present that day.

This was also the site on the back 9, of my only fatality, that I know of on a golf course.  I was teeing off on a par 4 and there were literally hundreds of those black hen looking things directly in front of the tee.  I proceeded to tee off and hit a low laser that never got more than a foot of the ground. It struck one of the birds square in the noggin, and after it did a 1 minute flop dance it was on to bird heaven.  

[John Keenan]

Tom H

If you want to play it let me know. Seems I am told that my compnay has access rights to it. I have not tried but others have an  played it. No note of the wind I would add.

My office is just down the 237 from there

John

[Tom Huckaby]

I'm sure I'm not the first one to say:  nice birdie!

Thanks for the report though... I must say from the outside of the fence the holes I can see look pretty well-maintained... and I remain curious about the work going on... hopefully someone here can give some current info.

TH

[Steve Pieracci]

Mr. H,
Two guys that I work with are regulars there.  As far as the work, these guys don't have much info.  They said a lot of dirt has been brought in and is being used to create mounds (?).  Some mounds have been seeded, others have just been left alone and weeds are growing.  Some mounds in the fairways, some by the greens.  A portion of the bunkers have new sand , while others have been neglected.  They said it looks like there is no plan for any of the work that has been done, or what the future plans entail.  

The wind? Yes, it is Hella windy out there.  And yes there are mudhens (and poop), but not as bad as described above.  I was last there in the spring of 2005 playing in our business unit's scramble.  It is not that easy of a course.  Perhaps it was from the cart girl and the keg.  It is short, but the wind, firmness, and crappy conditions make it a challenge.  The greens ar fairly flat too.  I think it has potential, but I am guessing this is a typical government operation: Lack of planning and insufficient funds.

I have access via my LM badge and a valid California driver’s license.  I believe anyone in my car has access as well

[Tom Huckaby]

Oh great Rocket Scientist:

Thanks for the info, as depressing as it sounds.  Man maybe it's the "looking over the fence" syndrome, but the holes I can see do look pretty damn good.

So methinks we need to see for ourselves some time... Let's work it out.

TH