Olympic's Ocean course

[mark chalfant]

Is the terrain here as hillly  as it is at the  Open(Lakeside) course. How are the green complexes ? is the current routing the work of Tom Weikopf , Sam Whiting, or  a bit   of both.  thanks

[David_Tepper]

Mark -

I played the OC Ocean 2 days ago.
 
The OC Ocean Course has had more alternations, reconfigurations and renovations over the past 25 years than Joan Rivers! There are perhaps 2 or 3 holes still intact and in play from 25 years ago.

There are several aerial photos of both courses taken over the last 60+ years on the wall in the men's locker room that show the "evolution" of the Ocean Course. Remember, less than 15 years ago, there were 4 holes for the Ocean Course built west of Skyline Boulevard. They lasted 2 or 3 years before a landslide took them out of play.  

The terrain on a handful of holes is quite hilly.

The most recent work on the course (a total renovation) was done by Weiskopf 8-10 years ago. He retained most of the routing of the holes on the front nine, but the back nine is pretty much brand new. One of the holes on the back nine was just altered.

The greens and bunkers on the Ocean are noticeably larger than on the Lake, although there are 2 holes on the Ocean that have no greenside bunkers at all.

I will be interested to see how the scores on the two courses compare in the US Am qualifier.

DT    

[Mike Benham]

Perhaps Joel or Gib will chime in as they may have more detailed comments on how the Ocean course got to its current state but there is the common thread that it could be better then it is, a lot better.

The old photographs that David mention show the Olympic property to be void of trees so one can vision a course with endless opportunities.  And don't forget the long lost holes on the West Side of Skyline.

The current design is a decent members course that arguably gets more play then the Lake.  There is no specific design philosophy other than rerouting of holes to insure balls don't end up in the parking lot.  One hole has Oakmont style church pew bunkers while another has a Pinehurst #2 table top bunkerless green.


David - is the rough on the Ocean longer then on the Lake a few weeks back?

[David_Tepper]

Mike -

I did not think the rough along the Ocean fairways was much different than what we saw along the Lake faiways a couple of weeks ago. The grass/rough on some of the bunker fingers is a bit nasty.

HOWEVER, there has clearly been a conscious decision to let the grasses in the "out of play" areas grow to a semi-wild state. A yanked or topped tee shot (or a bladed wedge thru a green) on the wrong hole could easily result in a lost ball or an impossible recovery shot.  

I don't know if this "look" is just for the US Am or for the duration. In some areas, it is quite attractive, with a number of wild flowers currently in bloom.

DT

[David_Tepper]

Mark -

For the little that it is worth, I think the most enjoyable incarnation of the OC Ocean Course that I have played was the pre-1983 landslide version. That was when there were 3 par-4's west of Skyline Blvd. on the land (what is left of it) where the 9-hole, par-3 Cliffs Course now sits.  

DT

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