HI all
I have sucessfully navigated my way through LA freeways, a wrong turn on the way to the airport (stayed on 101 instead of 401, and saw the city centre plus the full length of sunset blvd-an interesting neighbourhood to stop in and to get some petrol!) and have safely arrived in 'the old dart'. I'M in London at Primrose Hill till Sunday evening when I go to Scotland. It is 'uncle time' now with myniece and her kids.
Well, what can I say about SoCal golf in a quick response. Sorry this is brief but time is limited and the keyboard foreign. No photos yet (they have to wait, sorry SoCal guys, the classic image has to wait!).
Firstly, Riviera. What a grand old lady. What history. Definitely the best kikuyu fairways and poa greens course that I have ever played. The rooms at the Club upstairs- the Bobby Jones Room,the Walt Disney Room. I was in room 232 which was called 'Barney's Room)! I was amazed. The outlook over 18 green and down 10, waking up in the earlylight and seeing 6 at the far end illuminated (it has shade problems and so receives artifical light). The most frustrating thing arriving on a Friday and playing on a Sunday was seeing this most beautiful,enticing creature for over 40 hours before you were allowed to see it and play it. It was like being on honeymoon but having to wait two days before the marriage could be consummated! It certainly heightened the level of expectation, which Riviera exceeded. More later.
However, one thing. Why have I never heard the 5th at Riviera discussed. Whilst it is wring to singleout a hole at Riviera - the 5th has characteristics I just didn't expect to see. Touches of Philadelphia (Merion East and West and nearby Pine Valley). Arealmemorable treat, despite the kikuyu.
I preceeded this with a day at Lakewood. The movement of the ground exceeded my expectations, and the greens were certainly small. They said they were about 2500 sq feet - I think they lied, they must have been 2400 sq feet- really. It is a testerone-filled club who enjoy what they have.
Yes Rustic was a delight, although a little wetter than I prefer (they had fertilised, so it was a low beam rather than a high beam course when I played. Next time I will remember when I am playing up-canyon and down-canyon.
LOST cANYONS-thanks for the opportunity to see it. It is unlike anything I have seen. I commented on other courses with elevation change in an earlier response - Abama in Tenerife and Morgan Hill near Philly. Well, they are both in a different league to the Lost Canyons courses. However, Tom Paul's comment anout the big world of architecture applies at Lost Canyons - their were people who had happily played there that day. If you possess an A-grade game and like a penal style course that demands shots on most of the round, then Lost Canyons has it.
Ojai- a course over difficult land (not as difficult aS LostCanyons,but difficult none the less). What a joy, despite the aerated greens (which with the rain slowed them down to soft and slow). Fairways were wonderful and firm (I saw a catch basin on one hole, but more later). One hole stood out as 'least-best' to me (1st, was 10th) but it did enable the other good holes on that nine to be routed, And the lost holes since recovered on the back nine (was front nine) - well they set the standard for severe ground and superlative holes. 15 thru 18 (were 6 thru 9) amd 2 thru 8 (11 through 17) were memorable to say the least. I think I was the only player on the course, although the rain wasn'ttoo bad. Definitely cart ball though at Ojai.
Soule Park - an interesting pubblic facility in Ojai. However, my experience was limited to a quick,late glance and a beer before sundown.
Lastly, the absolute unexpected delight of my SoCal experience, a tour of Valley Club of Montecito. I wasprivilged ( and I really mean that, as I was privilged at Riviera and a number of otherfine courses last year) to see what can only be described as the ultimate in memorable. Despite the rain and the lack of views of the ocean and mountains (visibility was 400 metresat best). There is somuch to say and write about Valley Club,but I don't have time today. If you get an opportunity to see it, make sure you take it. If you can play it, fine but just to see it and how they have set the course up and presented it - well it is a credit to the creators (the good doctor), the sustainers (the membership) and the restorers (Tom Doak). Please don't underestimate howimportant the membership element is to have allowed Valley Club to have its current glory, by courageously taking a path (in lie with the restoring architects philosophy) that is quite opposite to most mainstream clubs. Valley Club could be set up to play a lot harder, but it would not be the joy toplay that it appears to be today.
If I had two wishes for the clubs that I saw (and it is the members and owners concern, not mine),firstly I would suggest a little less water. And secondly, I would suggest that the decision-makers at Lakeside have a visit to see Valley Club of Montecito. Lakeside is a most interesting course, but of those that I played it also has the most potential to be better without spending a lot of money.
If you have got this far,my apogies for the typing- the keyboard is tricky. And I hope I haven't offended anyone with my comments.
Thanks Michael, Ed, Dave and Tommy for the advice. And it was a delight tomeet Joe, Aidan and Lou (and Ron the bookworm again).
If anyone is coming for a first-off experience of SoCalgolf at its best,may I encourage them to read George Thomas's Golf Architecture in America before you go. And if you can, read the histories of the Clubs you visit - Riviera and Valley Club werevery interesting, as was the snippets I saw of Ojai.
see someof you in Scotland
James B