Here I was your humble correspondent on the practice grounds of the new Sebonack Golf club flanked by Golf's most beloved figure on the right, and the architect Tom Doak on the left. In a few minutes this titanic duo would face off in one of the greatest grudge matches ever conceived. I expected a spectacle the epitomy of a Matt Wardian-epic review, a pure tour de FORCE of action.
The gamesmanship started immediately. Morrissett innocuously said his game was not all that considering he recently went back to 21st century technology from hickories. How could he be expected not to get strokes given such a transformation? Then he added, he had whipped myself, Pat Mucci, Ben Dewar, Jeff Mingay, Tommy Naccarato and even Brad Faxon all in the last few years. The duality of this statement was not lost on Doak who quietly left the range to show his mastery of the putting green. While golf's most beloved's stroke was off, Doak was holing putt after putt. The tension was palpable, the animosity looming large when finally a two shot concession from Doak was forthcoming. A move akin to Tom's Sebonack partner
Jack Nicklaus in the Ryder Cup? It felt more like pity to this scribbler.
As we approached the first tee I wondered to myself who would be the winner of this bout. Little did I know it would be the course--Sebonack would break both of their respective egos. The approach to the first hole at Sebonack must be played from the right side of the fairway to a green set up with a horizon of the deep blue sea. A wonderful opening hole. I then witnessed an interesting Zen like moment. Golf's most beloved's eyes rolled back like a Great White Shark about to go into a feeding frenzy. I then thought I heard him utter:
In the light of day
A monster among monsters
The sky, sun, and course are evidence to my greatness
I'm not sure Tom Doak heard this homage to Ran's own greatness but Tom's opening salvo was a dead pull left that immediately put him out of place. Ran struck a fine 3 wood to the perfect position and the game was on. Early on we became witness to a premonition by Tom that Sebonack would challenge the shot which found the wrong portion of the greens. Regardless, Ran's opening par found him 1 up on Tom.
As we strolled to the second tee, the beginning of the end started for Tom. His tee shot duck hooked into a dune-- a harbinger of much to come. Ran again split the fairway-- I thought a rout was on. Despite coming up short on the approach to a wonderful green tucked between the sand dunes with a knob like protuberance forty yards short playing havoc with the approach, Ran soldiered on.
A veritable Super Bowl esque environment was evident with poor Mr. Doak nothing but the Buffalo Bills in this story, but even Ran's second par could not prepare me for what came next.
On the third after another Doak hook, Ran had a wedge to what he thought was a Redan like green but he overcooked it. Could Doak scratch and claw back-- it was not to be. Ran's detachment continued as he somehow got up and down--3 up.
We strolled to the downhill par 3 4th which was playing 225 yards into the wind. Ran was about to melt and Mr. Doak was about to show his claws, I could feel it. And I was right. Ran flushed a 3 wood 40 yards left into a deep forest. Tom did not take advantage though hooking his shot 20 yards left. Regardless, the atmosphere had changed. Tom was riding high on the hog and Ran started to complain about how hickories ruined his game, how his mastery was only one shot away. The litany of excuses littered the playing field, a sad comment on how deluded golf's most beloved had fallen. I recalled Ran shooting a 73 at Cuscowilla but that man was a figment of my imaginiation. Who had replaced that giant with Dr. Seuss, I don't know.
On the long 7th hole which bends to the left and needs an approach that hugs the left side Mr. Doak showed his mettle. On his approach he wielded a Scotland special. A shot that was no higher than 15 feet traveled approximated 180 yards through a bunker to 8 feet. Two putts later and Ran was only 1 up after having led the whole way.
On our way to the 8th hole Tom explained the irrigation pond we were to play over on this short hole and how it was somewhat inspired by the 12th at Augusta. It was here as Morrisett took his practice swings that I saw his flaw. In an attempt so psych out Tom he had lengthened his swing to John Daly proportions and was way over the line and pointed left. With this swing flaw he started to hook everything along with Tom. At the 8th, however, Doak struck with a blow heard even at NGLA! A tight bullet approach to 5 feet! Feeling weak and feeble, Ran came up short and we were now All square. We played the wonderful uphill par 5 in which yours truly carded the only par while the dynamic duo halved in a number I cannot recall except to say I think I can say it in Spanish--ocho has a nice ring although it was probably siete.
#9 to #10 is a few minutes walk at Sebonack. Curiously the enemy combatants didnt talk to each other. And here I was expecting Ali-Frazier I but I got Ali -Frazier II. At the halfway point there were few uppercuts and haymakers, only subtle jabbing and what seemed to be a lot of headbutting. Would things change on the back 9?