Well the McCord Tour will enter a by-week with Christmas coming up as I will be returning to meet up with the family in Minneapolis. However the twelve courses I've played out here in Nor Cal have been great and I cannot wait to start it up again in 2007. Today, I made the trek down to San Martin and had a beautiful day on the course, all by my lonesome.
I was very surprised at what I saw at CordeValle. I was expecting a more modern feeling course, but besides some of the mounding and such, the greens and some of the holes set up like classics. The course provides one redan and one reverse redan. NOW, they are not redans by strict definition, but fairly close by modern standards. (Pictures Below) The greens had some unique movements and the bunkering is on a scale I have rarely witnessed.
I would recommend this course to anyone in the Bay Area. It is a tough test from the back tees, but the greens and the bunkering certainly make this course unique. Please enjoy the pictures and descriptions!
Bunkering on the Downhill Par 4 17th - The 17th plays 450ish down the hill to a fairly tight driving area with three bunkers running at an angle to the green.
Short Par 3 16th - Awesome Par 3 due to dramatic bunkering
Short Uphill Par 5 15th - At only 480 yds. up the hill, this hole is one of the easier on the course if you play yourself into proper position.
Par 4 13th - Great Strategic Options, Challenge the right side, (Its a long carry) and you are awarded with a great angle into a deep green.
From the right side of the (Redan) 12th. Note slope from back to front. Even my putt moved towards the back of the green!
230 yd. Par 3 12th from the teebox (Redan)
Par 4 11th - Great Hole in which you must challenge the bunkers for a shorter approach or an approach from the proper angle.
425 yd. Downhill 9th - One of the best holes on the course. A great array of options from the tee. You can stay short of the creek and have a better angle to the green or hit over the creek and have a shorter club to the hole.
210 yd. Par 3 7th - (Reverse Redan) The features of this hole are not has true as the features of the 12th. Although a high handicapper is certainly encouraged to play left of the bunkers and let his ball bound right towards the green.
Uphill Par 5 6th - This hole also favors the player who challenges the right side, (longer carry) as the green opens up more from the right side of the fairway.
Long Par 4 5th - Great Green, note the horseshoe shape, which reminds any who play this hole of some classic courses.
From the fairway on the Par 4 5th.
Panoramic View from the back of the 16th Tee.