When Pacific Grove Trumps Cypress Point

[Jordan Wall]

Speaking to a friend the other day on the phone, I was reminded of the something very important.

Golf isn't about playing as many courses as you can, being able to say you played the top-10 or the top-100 courses on some list, or being a golf course snob.  It's not about being able to say you've played a course that nobody else has, or going through loops and wires to play a top course as a single just to say you did it.

It's about the company, the memories, and everything great that golf offers through friends and family.

I'm about to go out and play nine holes with my Mom and an old friend at a little muni, and couldn't be happier.

Would you take a round with great company at pacific Grove over a round by yourself at Cypress?

I remember my first round at Pacific Grove, being the first group out and playing h-o-r-s-e on every hole on the back nine with Robert Ball.  That was probably as much fun as I've ever had on a course.  Closely followed might be the two and a half hour putting match with Mayhugh until midnight at Pebble, or any round with Bob, John, Tim (especially with banana pants), and Dad.  Those are some of my best memories ever on a golf course.

As Spring begins to lighten up and the weather gets better, here is a cheers to some good memories for 2010, and remembering what golf is all about!

[J_ Crisham]

Jordan,  If I am reading your post properly you are suggesting that I bring you to The Jans,  Marovitz GC,etc,  this July versus some of Chicago's finest? Either can be arranged -your choice!
                                                                                         Jack

[Mark Arata]

I get what your saying....and I hope you and your friends have a great time at PG, I will be thinking of you in my solitude at Cypress.......

[Tom_Doak]

Jordan:

I agree with some of your post, and not with other parts.

All of the top-100 lists tend to obscure the fact that places like Pacific Grove are terrific courses and great fun.  I have some great memories from playing there.

I've only ever played Pacific Grove solo, so my experience wasn't about the company I was with, it was about the course.  For that matter, the company I've kept over the years at Cypress Point was pretty good, too.  So I think you are setting up a false comparison that you don't need to set up.

You need to stick to the original point, that loving good golf courses has nothing to do with counting up how many top-100 courses one has played.  Nothing makes me madder than hearing about guys who are determined to play all of the top 100 traveling 5,000 miles to cross two courses off their list, and not even bothering to go to the cool course next door to see what it's like, because it's not on the list.  After all, they only have so much time to get publicity for themselves by completing their goal!

We don't need more people to play all of the top 100.  We already KNOW about all of those courses.  We cherish people who go see the less likely candidates and help determine whether those should undermine the top 100 ... and make all the goofballs fly halfway around the world to see the course they skipped last time.    And they'll still miss Pacific Grove, or Askernish, or Pennard, or Belvedere, or hundreds of other courses they would have enjoyed immensely, if they could get their eyes off the prize.

P.S.  If you think it's more fun to just stay at home and play with your friends, then why are you making so many trips to see famous courses?

[Cory Lewis]

Would you take a round with great company at pacific Grove over a round by yourself at Cypress?

I would take Cypress alone over a round at PG with my father, my wife, my best friend, the pope, the president, Arnold Palmer, or Jack Nicklaus. Is that wrong?

[Adam Clayman]

Jordan, May I suggest Rick Reilly's book, "Missing Links". It's entire point is the same as your original point.

BTW, I did exactly this on my recent trip there. Except it was MPCC not CPC. Uncle Bob instantly thought playing PG would be a lot of fun, over him having to host another at his club.

[Tim Martin]

If its just one round I`ll take CP. If its everyday give me Pacific Grove with my pals, some friendly gambling and plenty of laughs.

[Cliff Hamm]

Seems to me the answer is simple...If it is my last day on Earth I'll play PG with family and friends, otherwise...

[Mac Plumart]

Golf means different things to different people.  It might be about having a good time with friends for one person, it might be about getting some peace and quiet from a stressful day for another and, therefore, playing as a single.  For some it is competition, gambling, or a challenge.  For others exercise.  Etc.

The bottom line is that many love it...the reason may not matter.

[Brett_Morrissy]

interesting post Jordan, it has me contemplating rounds on different courses of last year and which were higlights, becuase of the golf, the golf course, the match and the company -I am not trying to change the subject, but also offer a comparison to travelling, - often highlights of travelling/touring/backpacking around a new part of a country/region/world is memorable for many of the above categories, the people you meet, the food, the scenery, and the new experiences.
Further proof that golf can reflect life.

I would enjoy equally a round in solitude at CPC or TOC or Kingston Heath or Barnbougle, as I would with great friends, AND I would enjoy almost as much a round at nearby "non-famous/top ranked' course in solitude or with friends. But when you add the great golf course design to the mix, it becomes a greater experience, I think, for me personally anway, it heightens the experience to one of greatness and deeply etched in the memory.

Wishing all great experiences for 2010.
BM

[Bill Gayne]

There's plenty of opportunities to play with family and freinds. If the opportunity comes to play the great course solo, play it then keep reminding your friends that you've played Cypress and well they haven't.

[Ben Sims]

Jordan,

I like the idea.  But I like great courses too. 

Two memories pop into head.  1)  Playing golf with my entire crew--which the day before had been in Iraq--at an awful course in Spain with rented clubs and some sangria and 2) Playing Pac Dunes four days later with one other person

The memories do compare favorably in that they were both fun.  But Mr. Doak's architecture and the gold of the flowering gorse made it fun in Oregon.  The sangria-soaked-first time golfer-loadmaster's swiping with a 1963 Acushnet 1-iron made it fun in Spain.

As good as those memories are, I get the feeling that the most perfect day could be had at a few of the gems with the likes of great GCA friends though.  Post-imperial debate at Cypress, bunker distance scaling at Crystal, the Billy Bell supernumerary debate at Riviera, technology's effect on golf architecture at NGLA, and of course, proper turtle habitat in Holyoke.  These are just a few things that sound extraordinary. 

[Jordan Wall]

The whole Cypress thing was a metaphor...to enlighten the point.

[Bob_Huntley]

I cannot think of few people younger than Jordan Wall who have played so many top golf courses. His take and experiences make most of us look like Neanderthals. His experiences as a caddie at Cypress Point last year make him the poster boy for the kid who took the bit in his mouth and attempted the nigh impossible, getting on the roster of caddies at CPC.

We should all listen to him, from out of the mouth of babes comes great wisdom.

Jordan , you are one special kid and I admire you and your demeanor.... and your big drives.

Uncle Bob

[Peter Pallotta]

You're a good man, Bob, and a wise one -- wise enough to remember what kind words like that might mean to a young man like Jordan coming from a man of the world like you.
My hats off to you.
Best
Peter

[Scott Warren]

Having played a fair bit of golf by myself on pretty good courses during the past year as well as some unforgettable days with two or three mates on goat tracks, I can understand where Jordan is coming from.

In the end though, variety is the spice of life. I wouldn't want to live without either - unless you offered me a solid diet of great courses with great mates!

The older I get, the more I value just how essential the cameraderie and friendship are.

PS - with the capital T on "Trumps" in the title, I was half expecting to read that The Donald had bought Pacific Grove and immediately, true to form, declared it the best course in the state

[Jim Nugent]

There are some people I would choose over CPC -- if that was my last chance to see them. 

The list is pretty short!

[Sean_A]

Well, for the past 5 years I have been saying I ain't going to California unless Cypress Point is on the cards so in a one off instance I guess I must take CP over PG.  In general though I would rather play a course the quality of PG on a regular basis with mates over solo games at the CPs of the world.  I rarely play golf alone because it just doesn't suit my attitude toward the game.  The course must have some sort of special appeal and I happen to be in the area before I will pull a solo.  In the past great many years the only two course I played solo were Cavendish and Praia del Rey.  Cavendish was worth it - love at first sight.  I guess its like going to a movie or a restaurant in the evening - I rarely do those solo either because it doesn't usually interest me.

Ciao 

[Wyatt Halliday]

bunker distance scaling at Crystal  

THE single coolest GCA geek out moment I've had yet. More importantly, I would have missed it if not for the company I was keeping.

[Jerry Kluger]

Jordan: Your point is well taken but allow me to add a twist:  Could bad company ruin the experience of a great course.  Say you made your dream trip to Pebble Beach and spent a whole bunch of money only to be sent out with a group of jerks - could the course make up for the company?

[Gary Slatter]

If I understand correctly, I'm with you Jordan.  I don't mind walking a course by myself (I'd rather just walk the course in reverse if I didn't have someone to play with) but I dislike playing by myself.

However, playing alone may be better than playing with strangers who turn out to be jerks.  Course, not playing alone, I'm just guessing, but I have played with some strange people (and some strangers who became friends).  Gordon Murray from St Andrews is probably the ONLY resident of the town who always asks if anyone is looking for a game if he's in less than a four ball on the Old Course.  And he has certainly made a lot of friends that way.

I know Lorne and many others love playing alone, great, I don't.

I wish that I'd played more with my Mom and Dad, so enjoy it Jordan  Hope 2010 is a goodun for you!

[Adam Clayman]

Jerry, I've seen some amazing things at Pebble, but, I have never seen anyone's round ruined because of the company. I have heard of one that comes close though. A friend was playing there for his one and only time and was paired with three lawyers. They adopted the attitude that they had paid the green fee and were therefore entitled to do anything, and act any way, they wanted. As my friend tells the story these bozos didn't ruin the round just added significantly to it's duration.

On the other hand, I once caddied for a couple for two days in a row. The wife was clearly taking lessons from the husband and had adopted his lengthy pre-shot routine. It was excruciating long. Somewhere between 30-40 seconds on every shot. The two gentleman paired with them were Saints, by putting up with these unneeded antics. On the second day, on the first tee, here come the same two unlucky guys who had to play with this same couple again. I was in awe of their patience, and told them so.

I kept trying to encourage the woman to just walk up and hit her ball. She was a victim of paralyzation through analyzation. Finally, on the 14th at Spy she had 140 yards to the pin and just walked up and hit without the lengthy pre-ball routine. Needless to say, she hit the shot of the week to about 15 feet.

[Mark Smolens]

Played 36 by myself last Friday at Bear Slide in Cicero, IN.  Great day on the golf course, and I loved being able to drop balls around the greens and hit different shots -- it is the preseason after all.  Will certainly have an equally good time on Sunday at Cog Hill's spring scramble with three friends.  That said, given the opportunity to play Cypress instead of with my boys this weekend, I'm on the next plane. . .

[Tim Bert]

Jordan -

Did I see a request for banana yellow pants at Chambers Bay embedded in this thread?  

For me, golf used to be just about playing a bunch, wherever and with whomever.  More and more, the most important things about a round of golf to me are one of the following:
1) Who I'm playing with
2) Where I'm playing
3) A combination of the first two - the best of both worlds!

The "who" can be a good friend or golf buddy or meeting someone new from GCA that shares my interests.

The "where" could be an old favorite, a highly rated course, or a hidden gem - these days I try to avoid repeated plays at courses that hold little interest.  

The "where" factors in to my reduced local play - the "who" has become much more important locally.  There aren't enough courses in my home town where I want to get our regularly unless the company is going to be good. (Paging Mike Hendren - spring is here.)

[Scott Warren]

Say you made your dream trip to Pebble Beach and spent a whole bunch of money only to be sent out with a group of jerks

Or a guy with a rabbit!