Cypress Point (CP) is “hallowed” turf in every sense of the word. I can only think of a few golf courses that I have experienced where I suggest it’s almost a religious experience in just being there. Just as Michelangelo is lauded for his masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel surely Mackenzie can get similar dues for his masterpiece at CP ?
Like TOC – Cypress Point has “a soul” and if your senses and emotions aren’t stirred standing on the first tee – you are a hard person to please. Some say the “experience” is as important as the golf itself and I could think of fewer places in the golfing world where I’d rather be right now than back at CP taking in the sights and sounds of the Monterey Peninsula jewel.
If you get an opportunity to visit CP - I suggest you prepare yourself for an education and what better teacher is there in Dr Alister Mackenzie ? The routing is superb: the way the course transitions from parkland, to woodland to duneland to ocean coastline golf is brilliant in itself. Some have suggested that the only blight on the course is the finishing hole but they forget that you have to get back to where you started and what a better place to finish than to overlook this….
I will forever be indebted to the gentlemen who helped me to fulfil a lifelong dream and I think it’s only fair to present an 18 hole exploration of my thoughts on my one and surely only visit to such a Mecca.
Holes:
1st = (P4: 420yds) A drive over a small hedge downhill to a wide fairway with bunkers left that then narrows uphill to a green that similar to the first at NGLA in that it’s design is a study in itself. Is there a better walk than this ?
2nd = (P5: 548yds) is a pretty tough hole across a ridge and the #1 Index. The right hand side is flanked by an OOB fence line and the left protected by a deep gully and bunker. The hole again narrows to a green site that is quite long and has some small internal movement in it.
3rd = (P3: 162yds) is a slight downhill P3 to a well protected green. I enjoyed the other P3’s more so than this hole.
4th = (P4: 384yds) is the hole that transitions you into the woodland area of the property and requires an accurate drive and approach shot. Mackenzie is famous for his army camouflage roots and one couldn’t help but notice as you look from the hole back down the property that the bunkers appear to disappear.
The bunkering is extensive:
Then the bunkers appear to then disappear:
5th = (P5: 493yds) is an uphill dogleg left P5 that requires an accurate drive through a chute of trees with a large bunker protecting the inside of the dogleg. The hole then progressively climbs uphill to a green that is protected by bunkers left and right as well as a central cross bunker.
The bunkers on the approach
Are large but again..
Are well camouflaged
6th = (P5: 518yds) is the second of the famous B2B P’5’s and is downhill with a significant right to left cant in the fairway. The approach shot looks simple enough but hitting off a side/downhill lie is not. The large dune in the background is a sign of the transition to come
7th = (P3: 168yds) is uphill to a small offset green. A large wasteland area of a dune protects the left hand side and three bunkers punish anything short.
8th = (P4: 363yds) is a semi-blind drive across a dune to a fairway that moves sharply uphill and to the right. The green has multiple tiers in it and leaves a quick putt from above the hole.
The drive:
The hole from behind the green:
