[R_Paulis]

No. 6 pot bunker removed? I don't even think it was in play, at least from the back tees. I guess it was too hazardous from the senior tees.

The key to the hole is less about the drive but making sure your approach stays on the green as the drop off the back left is severe. Going for the hole with a back left pin placement takes guts.

Maybe I answered my own question - If one has to "lay up" for fear of the pot bunker, do you make the approach too difficult to hold? Doesn't look like it, but maybe I need to think like an Ojai senior.

[Bryan Izatt]

David,

Right about the last picture.  When we played SP it was a cold morning and there was an hour and a half frost delay.  As a consequence we missed holes 12 through 16 so that we could race off to make an afternoon time at Ojai.  I thought I took a picture of 12 at SP, but I guess the camera didn't come out again until the 11th at Ojai (which was our second).

Since we were delayed and it was a Sunday morning I think we saw the senior membership of SP tee off.  They didn't look like they needed that much relief from the course.

Your comparison pictures help clarify the changes.  Thanks.  The changes on 6 and 10 look nonsensical from the perspective of easing the course.  The big bunker and the green complex provide the challenge on the 6th hole.  The changes on 10 certainly didn't provide any run-up possibilities.

[David Stamm]

No. 6 pot bunker removed? I don't even think it was in play, at least from the back tees. I guess it was too hazardous from the senior tees.

The bunker was very much in play from the back. The purpose was two fold. First, if you chose to play safe that bunker really made the club selection critical. I hit 5 iron of the back tee. If I had hit 4, it would have been right in the middle of that bunker. Second, beacuse of this very feature, it may entice the long hitter to go for the green (which is reachable for a long hitter) because the lay up is no gurantee of safety.

The key to the hole is less about the drive but making sure your approach stays on the green as the drop off the back left is severe. Going for the hole with a back left pin placement takes guts.

I agree, that dropoff is severe. But the drive was very important so you had a short club to hold it

Maybe I answered my own question - If one has to "lay up" for fear of the pot bunker, do you make the approach too difficult to hold? Doesn't look like it, but maybe I need to think like an Ojai senior.

It's still only 130-140 yards short of that bunker to the middle of that green. To accomodate the bunker fearing seniors, I would have had them play from the old tee that was to the right of the 5th green. It's a much easier angle from there and that small bunker would've been a non issue from there.

[Patrick Kiser]

David,

Sounds good.  I'll keep you posted as we get into spring.

Looking forward to playing this little beaut ... before they change anything else.

A little late in responding to this.

What a real bummer.  I was actually making plans to come down for this in the spring along with rounds at Rustic and possibly Ojai.


David,

Question.  Still worth the trip?  Or are the changes just too much to appreciate the course any longer?

Patrick, it absolutely is worth it. In the grand scheme of the course, it doesn't ruin the overall, it's just frustrating to see changes happening so quickly to accomodate a small group of players who expect a course to lay down for them. Let me know when you're coming and we'll play it. Despite my rants, you won't regret it. In regards to Ojai, if you haven't played it, it's worth seeing if you play it at the twilight rate. Otherwise, it's not worth the fare.

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