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Scott_Burroughs

  • Karma: +0/-0
Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« on: July 09, 2002, 07:03:40 AM »
Holy housing course, Batman!  This ain't the same course I
remember from 15 years ago.  Worse than Troon North, in
that regards.

Can you escape from The Rock!

« Last Edit: May 12, 2005, 01:45:19 PM by Scott_Burroughs »
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GeoffreyC

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2002, 07:08:59 AM »
Perhaps the most intimidating course on earth.  

It will give you the yips and you will not want a steady diet of play here but it is a lot of fun.  

There is a bit of genius to this design and it shows you can manufacture a good golf course on featureless property.

I believe there is a photo of our fearless/beloved administrator trying to "escape the rock".  Someone please post.  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:07 PM by -1 »
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Mike_Cirba

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2002, 07:17:37 AM »
My knuckles are still white from playing here.  ;)

As far as Ran's adventures, the pic in question actually has him trying to escape from a "faulty" predicament, where he vastly overestimated his regular tee shot length and came to a woeful end.  ;D

Does someone have hosting capabilities for pics that would be willing to put it up here for the group's cautionary education?

I could email it to you tonight, with an appropriate caption.  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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John Foley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2002, 07:21:58 AM »
Great pick Scott. Many should know this.

Alcatraz definetly should be avoided, but I think the pit behind #14 is an even worse place to end up.

Loved the course and while the housing seems ovewhelming from this photo, it didn't seem as obntrusive as Troon North to me.

Really wished the PGA Tour were'nt so chicken!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Integrity in the moment of choice

GeoffreyC

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2002, 07:29:04 AM »
Mike - I will gladly post it.  I have a similar shot but from a distance.

I believe the tour wanabes will be forced to play the course later this year.  I predict some unfortunate soul who was 20 shots up on the cut and then came to his unfortunate demise will kill himself  :'(
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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THuckaby2

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2002, 07:31:44 AM »
I'm with JF - housing just didn't SEEM so obtrusive at this one as it did at many, many others, including Troon North...

The houses give it away, actually.  Outside of those, this is sorta similar from the air to its famous FL cousin...

TH
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Mike_Cirba

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2002, 07:35:33 AM »
Geoffrey;

I'll send it when I get home this evening.  Thanks!!

Why does it seem so fitting that you'll be the one to post it??  ;D

I remember your premonition about suicide in the desert, consistent with the course's theme.    
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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GeoffreyC

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2002, 07:47:34 AM »
Shivas-  There was a famous ace on the island green.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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THuckaby2

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #8 on: July 09, 2002, 07:49:05 AM »
Interesting, shivas.  For me, this is among the 4-5 most recognizable courses from the air I could possibly see... kinda how many Chicago courses would be for you, which I likely wouldn't get right away either....

Let's just say you have the Dye part correct, just the wrong state.

TH

« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Scott_Burroughs

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #9 on: July 09, 2002, 07:50:30 AM »
OK, Shivas.

When I last saw this place 15 years ago, it wasn't in person,
but on TV, eating leftover turkey, without the skins.

And if you played there today, in July, the price probably
ain't too outrageous, as summer deals abound (it's off-
season).
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:07 PM by -1 »
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Matt Kardash

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #10 on: July 09, 2002, 07:52:49 AM »
geez, even from thousands of feet in the air i can sense the depth of the world's most feared bunker on #16..eep thats scary
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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the interviewer asked beck how he felt "being the bob dylan of the 90's" and beck quitely responded "i actually feel more like the bon jovi of the 60's"

THuckaby2

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #11 on: July 09, 2002, 08:29:05 AM »
Sorry for the confusion, shivas.  You do NOW know what I mean by its Florida cousin, correct?

And yeah, horror stories do abound re this course... but only from the humorless.  Playing this course you just need to chuck score expectations at the door and enjoy it for what it is supposed to be:  a brutally hard mind-f*ck.  In that sense it's really fun!

TH
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Allan Long

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #12 on: July 09, 2002, 08:41:59 AM »
If you hit it left of the green on 16, bring a lunch and some
sunscreen, you may be there a while.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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I don't know how I would ever have been able to look into the past with any degree of pleasure or enjoy the present with any degree of contentment if it had not been for the extraordinary influence the game of golf has had upon my welfare.
--C.B. Macdonald

Doug Wright

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #13 on: July 09, 2002, 09:00:59 AM »
Even from way up in the air this looks brutal, brutal, brutal! I've not played either this or it's Fla cousin. It sure looks tougher than the Fla course. Is it?

Also, it's funny how one has a mental picture of something like this course that's totally wrong. I pictured this course as being out in the wind blown wide open desert spaces. Guess it was when it opened.

All The Best,
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Twitter: @Deneuchre

GeoffreyC

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #14 on: July 09, 2002, 09:04:02 AM »
The left greenside bunker on #8 at Yale is to my eye every bit as deep as Alcatraz.

Doug-  I actually think the Florida version might be tougher in many respects.  The greens are certainly much more severe.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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THuckaby2

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #15 on: July 09, 2002, 09:06:24 AM »
You have this correct, Doug - when this course opened it was indeed in the desert wilds.  The houses sure have grown up around it!

As for which is tougher, this or the FL cousin... well... I haven't played the one in FL.  From the tips I can't imagine a more difficult golf course that this one, though. It's 75.9/150.  The Fl cousin is 73.3/138 from waybacks.

TH
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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SPDB

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #16 on: July 09, 2002, 09:06:31 AM »
Although I got it right away (Dye's bunkers are pretty unmistakable), I had no idea how much the last 3 holes resemble its FL cousin, and not just the 5-3-4 arrangement, but also in strategy as well (although the hazard is flip flopped on 16).
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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THuckaby2

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #17 on: July 09, 2002, 09:08:42 AM »

Quote
I actually think the Florida version might be tougher in many respects.  The greens are certainly much more severe.

The numbers would disagree with you, Doctor... see my post above.  But I trust your assessment.  My only quibble is it's so damn tough GETTING TO the greens at this pictured course, the greens in FL would have to be filled with landmines to make the overall "test" tougher.  Many say they are, to some extent!

TH
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Scott_Burroughs

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #18 on: July 09, 2002, 09:08:48 AM »
Did a hotel chain start in this town?

This course is part of a 6(!)-course complex, one of which a
then-pudgy David Duval (had his own man-boobs then)
blitzed on a Sunday, revealing emotion from him.  Hasn't
been seen since (the emotion, as well as the man-boobs).

Now if only Floppy would shape up, then maybe the
major would follow, a la Duval.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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GeoffreyC

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #19 on: July 09, 2002, 09:24:33 AM »
Tom- I played in Florida 3 weeks before the big tournament.  You could lose a small child in the rough and it was HARD. Short game interest and difficulty was better in Florida as well.

There appeared to be much more room to play in the CA version.  

Thats just my limited experience with these courses.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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THuckaby2

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #20 on: July 09, 2002, 09:29:35 AM »
Fair enough, GC.  The difference in rating and slope is just so large, it gives me pause, as they say...  Any guesses as to why those are as such?

TH
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Don_Mahaffey

Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #21 on: July 09, 2002, 09:35:09 AM »
Ahhh...the old home town...
you know they plowed up a
perfectly good pheasant club
to build this monster....
wasn't a walker cup played here once?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:07 PM by -1 »
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Matt_Cohn

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #22 on: July 09, 2002, 09:40:14 AM »
One of my favorites! This is a great golf course, and I'm happy that the comments here have been positive. The extreme nature of some of the hazards helps make this a great strategic course - the hazards are really hazardous, and must be avoided! This course makes you think, and execute, on every shot. A few notes:

The housing is not obtrusive at all, in fact they are nice houses, and it's much better than having desert all around!

There wasn't a Walker Cup here, the 1991 Ryder Cup was going to be here, but got moved to Kiawah for a reason that I don't know.

This picture was taken at an unfortunate time of year. The course is generally in terrific condition, especially December-April. The contrast of dormant bermuda and winter rye is turned into an art form.

There are some good summer deals here - $55 weekdays, and $45 after 1PM.

I think this is a brilliant golf course and I will defend that view if people want to disagree!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:07 PM by -1 »
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Ben Cowan-Dewar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #23 on: July 09, 2002, 10:06:06 AM »
Great one, lots of discussion.

Glad to see you like this one Matt, most good players hate.  I guess it does an excellent job of exposing their games.

I would say this course when set up for a tournament is much harder than Sawgrass set up for a tournament.  They do not grow the rough here anymore, as the pace of play would be atrocious.  

The reason they didn't get the Ryder Cup was because it was on the west coast and therefore too late for the other markets, and Kiawah was born.

There are lots of great holes on this course, many of which are underrated, three, five, etc...

Of course..
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Matt Kardash

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Aerial of the Day #140 - 9 Jul 2002
« Reply #24 on: July 09, 2002, 10:20:46 AM »
great picture Ben...i think it would be cool if someone took a picture from down at the bottom of the bunker looking straight into the imposing 20 foot wall
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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the interviewer asked beck how he felt "being the bob dylan of the 90's" and beck quitely responded "i actually feel more like the bon jovi of the 60's"
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