Many thanks to Tom and all the others who helped organize the KP IV.  Lots of fun and great to see everyone again.

I can attest to John flat out playing some golf on the back 9 Saturday morning, just calmly ripping 4 woods and long irons at the flags ...

I need the name of that Pinot....Vander Borght looks wasted..

All I can say to the above accusations is that they are all...TRUE!!!  

I played like dog-poop for much of the weekend, but hit the shot of the century when it counted most. Actually, it was about the luckiest shot of all time (and just a warm-up for the shot Tiger hit later on that day! Ha!) and I'm sure I'll never hear the end of it.

Jeff G. had his chances to close me out on the few previous holes, but left the door slightly open on 18. We both grinded that hole out...Jeff hit three GREAT shots to get on the green in regulation, and when I short-sided my 7-iron approach shot I really thought I was dead. As I hit my sand-wedge flop shot, I was thinking back to the little chipping competition that Jeff Fortson and I had the previous night by our party room and just swung easy but firm. The ball sailed up onto the green and rolled a few feet straight into the hole for a birdie.  What a way to finish!!! I was kind of in shock that it actually happened, and more or less just stood there in dis-belief. It was then that Sir Huckaby walked up and informed the group that my point had retained the cup for the SoCal/ROW team...truly unbelieveable.

As for the course itself, truly a neat place to play. The bunker work is very good, both fairway and greenside, but as others have said there are some areas of extremely thick grass that MUST but either shaved or cut back significantly becuase they are causing double penalties by having to take drops out of it...and around bunker fringes that balls are simply not making it down to the sandy surfaces. Playing cooridors are very generous, but again the rough lines need a bit of work. Wind is definitely a factor, especially on the back-nine. A few too many forced carries for the "average" golfer may make this course a bit much for some and will certainly slow down play. Green surfaces had a reasonable amount of internal contours and movement and putted very nicely. The course has a neat Alps hole that was pretty short and fun, there were a couple of risk/reward split fairway holes, and the par-5s were a very nice collection of golf holes. All in all a pretty solid place to play golf...Gib made an excellent choice as a venue for the KPIV!

Golf at MPCC and Pasatiempo made for a great 5-day golf trip, and I'm hoping to be able to attend future versions of the King's Putter.  Thanks to everyone for setting this up, their generosity, and their friendship during a fantastic weekend.

Evan

Change that license plate to "IFLOPITIN", please.

I'm on it!!!  

Thanks to those who put up with my inabilities on Saturday, and to the valiant efforts of Southern California and ROW for honoring K.P.'s wishes and returning him to his true home.  Had I not made the trip, we'd have won by at least 1 1/2.

Apache sounds terrific for a future event, but unlike Northern California, I am not so sure that Southern California is out of worthy locales just yet.   Gib, this year you hold the KP in the middle of nowhere despite the strong objections of we stalwarts down here, and now you have already planned our next event?   Hmmmm, did Dan make you King?  

Dan, those that know Southern California know that Santa Ynez has long had very good wine, they just dont have a tourist train or the audacity to charge the tasters, so not many knew.  

What about a "King's Mashie" at Wild Horse??

That would be great but who is going to promise Lou that he gets to play Sand Hills...

Shivas:  if you organize it, they will come.

 

Scott:  sounds good to me.  Hell there really are no frugal NorCal locations.  But we shall see what we shall see....

Why was Stevinson Ranch lost in the weekend John?  I personally don't think so, especially since we all got to go around it three times.

There was a fairly good amount of discussion regarding the course in it's current state and what should probably happen to tweak it for future play...it just hasn't been discussed much here online yet, and partially because many of the participants are still out there playing golf these past few days.

Barney,

After spending a weekend defending your sorry ass, is this what I get?

As to Sand Hills, I am assuming that you'll take me out there.  If not, I ain't coming.  Do make sure that when the KPV is scheduled at Wild Horse, the snow is off the ground and Sand Hills is already open.  Also, please secure my comp round at Sutton Bay.

You know Barney, we all play golf for a variety of reasons.  Some of us have not had the fine direction and support from our ancestors which enable us to travel for one or two day excursions to places like NGLA and Shinny.  I am not seeking approval, but perhaps just a bit of understanding.  It is just that us lesser folk have to leverage our money and time more prudently.

As much as I like Stevinson and Wild Horse, I could not justify making the trip just to play one course, even if it is just to rub shoulders with people like you.  Ditto for Cypress Point.  If I was coming out to the Peninsula, I would schedule whatever else around it I could.  Personally, I fail to understand what high principle you are relying upon.  But there is quite a bit about you that I fail to grasp.  Maybe it has something to do with the passing of age on my part, or the dark books you immerse yourself in late at night.

Anyways, I am still waiting for my invitation to play Victoria National on the club's dime.  But in order to do that, please be sure to procure promises from at least three other "Top 100" courses on either of the GW lists.  Also, can I stay at your 5,000 s.f. "country cottage" for free?  I understand that your family does things the "right" way.  Is it but for the grace of God go I?  Or maybe it has more to do with life's lottery or the lucky sperm theory.  Life can be harsh for some of us.      

Barney,

For better or worse, you are one of the stars on this site.  Fortunately, those of us who have played a bit of golf with you "know" the real Barney and we watch your back.

There really was not that much discussed about you or access to other courses.  As far as I know, nearly all of us played three rounds at Stevinson, and several other courses in the SF/Monterey area.

We all got along famously, though Huckaby and I did have a few choice words after he whacked me 4 - 2 on one match, and won two bets on another.  The man remains the amiable "oh shucks" assasin that he's always been.

As to his hand injury, give me a break.  Personally, I suspect that he had a couple of bones fused by top specialist in golf medicine to better support the club at the top of his swing.  If he is on a restricted schedule, it certainly didn't show.

And while Bob Huntley is famous for his endearing, and seemingly condoling word to his wounded opponent (Pitty!), he takes a back seat to Hucks' lamentations about his competitors' bad luck and poor putting despite making a fine stroke (as if we were playing horse shoes).  Personally, I wish he would have been less polite and told me that I was decelarating in a major way as it was evident to everybody but me.  

Barney, thanks for your kind, though prodded invitation to play "The National" (that's how the members at Dallas National refer to their course).  It is on my "wish list", but due to circumstances beyond my control, it is doubtful that this will be the year.

However, if July is the month when your extended clan gets together at the camp, that's when I want to come.  It would be most interesting to meet all the other Barnies.  And I'll wave my mandatory three promises rule.  You know, I just aspire to be one of the "right people".

Lou:

I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam.

 

Decelerating on putts?  I guess that might have been it... hell putting is all mysticism to me.  Some days the gods let them in, others they don't.  The gods were definitely on my side in our match.

That being said, I must admit I was pleased with my play during the event... my injury seems to be healed...I was pain free the whole time.  Well I had plenty of pain from being hungover, but the wrist didn't hurt.  But then maybe that had to do with the evening's imbibing also.  Oh never mind.

 

However many labors were performed by Hercules of legend, they were surpassed Saturday afternoon by Thomas of Huckaby. He carried my pathetic butt all the way to the 17th hole. Tom looked like the Iron Byron he has always been, and I suspect Lou may be right about those fused bones to help with positioning at the top.
   Stevinson seemed to be enjoyed by most (with the exception of Moriarty), and doesn't pale in comparison to many courses.

Ed,

I enjoyed the company but I did not enjoy my inability to hit the ball in the air.  

As for the course, I liked it a bit more this time around, but I am still surprised that some around here like it as much as they do.  While I hope that this time we get plenty of honest and forthright discussion, I dont think I am the right person to start things off.