Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol - New 7th hole complete - New 6th getting there

[Greg Tallman]

Moving ahead with the plans to replace the back to back par threes on the ocean with completely new holes. Holes 6 and 7 will still be back to back par threes but the new holes will be infinitely more exciting than the current holes that are pretty darn good in ther own right.

A great golf course gets even better.

Final plans have been approved but they should mean little with most of the detail and sexy stuff coming in the field.

Project being overseen by Jim Lipe of Nicklaus Design who is a joy to work with and will create something truly special with these new holes.

Summary of changes:

Hole #6
-Tees shift 50 yards to the very edge of the sea
-Green moves back 40-50 yards onto massive rock outcropping just above the sea (tidal pool along left edge and crashing waves behind and right... the visual experience will be incredible)
-Similar playing characteristics as current hole

Hole #7
-hole moved back toward new #6 with tees a few paces off the back of 6 green
-tee complex is at the very edge of the sea with water/surf behind and left of the tee area
-green set into the dune on which the current tee box sits with granite rock formation along the front right of the hole creating a pretty cool right hand pin placement

It will be rather exciting watching these holes take shape. It has been a long time coming.

If I have time I will try to post some photos as work progresses.

[Tom_Doak]

Greg:

Why did they not build the holes that way to begin with?  Were they holding out some of the water frontage for the other hotel site?

[Greg Tallman]

Greg:

Why did they not build the holes that way to begin with?  Were they holding out some of the water frontage for the other hotel site?

Tom, I am not certain but I would guess that pushing the envelope this far in terms of building that close to the water and ease of construction may have been factors. It is nnot as though they were bad holes.

Nicklaus' comment was along the lines of "if you are willing to build it out there then why not" I suppose supporting what is stated above.

I am sure a path to the beach was a consideration but that could have been accomplished any number of ways in from either side of the parcel.

Suffice it to say this is a rather aggressive project but I believe it is nmore than worth it. 17 may not be the par 3 people talk about the most any longer.


I cannot believe I forgot the real answer to your question Tom... there was an old Japanese fishing vessel that crashed on the rocks in this area and later washed up on what will now be the 6th green and 7th tee area making this area off limites 20 years ago when the course was being layed out.

[Greg Tallman]

Looking at ocean directly behind tee area


Looking off the left side of the tee area

[Greg Tallman]

Looking from the tee area toward the dune that will serve as the backdrop and right hand and the granite outcropping along the right edge of the green. Hole will play about 140

[henrye]

When I saw the thread title, I thougt the tacos were actually going. 

[paul cowley]

Greg...I agree that Jim's great, and I'll bet he's glad to be back....wish I was!

It should be very interesting to see the final product.

[Mike Demetriou]

When I saw the thread title, I thougt the tacos were actually going. 

Greg, the tacos are at Diamante, no?

[Michael Huber]

If the tide gets high, will it threaten the teebox?  That last picture makes it look like a close call.

[JWL]

Paul
I can't wait to get back down for the tacos 
I also hope to get over to see Diamante....preferably with you and GT.
Thanks for the kind words.
GT has everything under control.
cheers

[Greg Tallman]

When I saw the thread title, I thougt the tacos were actually going. 

Now that you mention it, it could be the perfect time to ax the tacos! part of my new minimalist mentality. Tacos are the poster child of excess... GONE!

An old, old picture of the shipwreck. You can still see some pieces of iron here and there.

[Greg Tallman]

If the tide gets high, will it threaten the teebox?  That last picture makes it look like a close call.

Michael,

Tides will not threaten the tee box. We may have minor issues with spray but no issues with tides or even storm surge. Not that the water will be far off the tee just that the rock formations as they are form a natural protective barrier for what is being created.

[Greg Tallman]

Greg...I agree that Jim's great, and I'll bet he's glad to be back....wish I was!

It should be very interesting to see the final product.

Paul,

Quite frankly we would have been hesitant to do this project with anyone else and Jim had already done most of the work a few years back when this was conceived. We are delighted to work with Jim again, especially being that as the new 7th nears completion in late Spetember my Mountaineers will be handing Jim's beloved Bengal Tigers a good ole fashioned beatdown in Death Valley.

Erik Evans was out and played here yesterday and I showed him the changes at 6 and 7. He talked about a tee relocation for #8 at Diamante yesterday... my question was is it really that much better? I love #8 as it is!

[JWL]

You gotta love Tallman's enthusisam for his beloved Mountaineers....no matter how frenetic his optimism.
Sorry, but your bucket list checkoff isn't going to be a happy one for you.
GEAUX TIGERS!

[Greg Tallman]

When I saw the thread title, I thougt the tacos were actually going. 

Greg, the tacos are at Diamante, no?

No they have the gazpacho!

[Greg Tallman]

You gotta love Tallman's enthusisam for his beloved Mountaineers....no matter how frenetic his optimism.
Sorry, but your bucket list checkoff isn't going to be a happy one for you.
GEAUX TIGERS!

Frenetic will be the pace of our offense running circles around the Tiger defense but you are correct, night game in Death Valley #1 is on the bucket list, my Mountaineers being the opponent makes it that much better, notching voctory #4 of the season makes it so incredible that I may be on Bourbon Street for days beginning about 3 hours after the final gun!

Noel Devine, Jock Sanders and Tavon Austin... our version of the smurfs and the most lethal three headed monster in college football.

[paul cowley]

Greg...I agree that Jim's great, and I'll bet he's glad to be back....wish I was!

It should be very interesting to see the final product.

Paul,

Quite frankly we would have been hesitant to do this project with anyone else and Jim had already done most of the work a few years back when this was conceived. We are delighted to work with Jim again, especially being that as the new 7th nears completion in late Spetember my Mountaineers will be handing Jim's beloved Bengal Tigers a good ole fashioned beatdown in Death Valley.

Erik Evans was out and played here yesterday and I showed him the changes at 6 and 7. He talked about a tee relocation for #8 at Diamante yesterday... my question was is it really that much better? I love #8 as it is!

Don't think it will happen anytime soon....why do people want to mess with good short par fours?

[Greg Tallman]

Greg...I agree that Jim's great, and I'll bet he's glad to be back....wish I was!

It should be very interesting to see the final product.

Paul,

Quite frankly we would have been hesitant to do this project with anyone else and Jim had already done most of the work a few years back when this was conceived. We are delighted to work with Jim again, especially being that as the new 7th nears completion in late Spetember my Mountaineers will be handing Jim's beloved Bengal Tigers a good ole fashioned beatdown in Death Valley.

Erik Evans was out and played here yesterday and I showed him the changes at 6 and 7. He talked about a tee relocation for #8 at Diamante yesterday... my question was is it really that much better? I love #8 as it is!

Don't think it will happen anytime soon....why do people want to mess with good short par fours?

I agree. If anything sliding the blocks up on ocassion would make 8 even sexier in my mind.

Why do I like the hole?
1. It makes me choose from the tee where not only is carry distance important but what happens on the ground after touch down is also an important factor in chosing your line

2. The appraoch provides plenty of options that are dictated by placement from the tee

3. On the green... again fun / particularly when you have mistruck your approach and have to negotiate some pretty wicked contours

simply put - good stuff

well said regarding short par 4s... and to think you have 2 good ones back to back at 7 and 8!

[Greg Tallman]

Above is the current sixth hole and the land on which the new hole will reside. Anyone want to take a shot at where the tees and green might be located?

JWL - Just trying to get some new ideas that perhpas we can implement next week during your visit.   

[Link Walsh]

Based on the other pictures, would the green be directly to the left of of the 2nd tee box in the picture (down in that little hollow)? 

But that land behind the current 6th green looks similar to the pics you posted of the new tee area.  So I don't know.  That would make it quite the trek from 5th green to 6th tee.  So I'll go with my first guess then.   

[Greg Tallman]

Based on the other pictures, would the green be directly to the left of of the 2nd tee box in the picture (down in that little hollow)?  

But that land behind the current 6th green looks similar to the pics you posted of the new tee area.  So I don't know.  That would make it quite the trek from 5th green to 6th tee.  So I'll go with my first guess then.    

Link,

Tee area in other photos is for the 7th hole... but you have correctly indentified that is very similar to the area behind the current 6th green.

I actually just reread my opening post - kind of explains it... kind of.

The area you ointed out (hollow) is too low for anything other than sand castles. Thats siad that little cove has a similar appearance to the site that is becoming the 7th green as we speak.

[Anthony Gray]

Above is the current sixth hole and the land on which the new hole will reside. Anyone want to take a shot at where the tees and green might be located?

JWL - Just trying to get some new ideas that perhpas we can implement next week during your visit.   

  I think I birdied that.

  Anthony

[Greg Tallman]

Above is the current sixth hole and the land on which the new hole will reside. Anyone want to take a shot at where the tees and green might be located?

JWL - Just trying to get some new ideas that perhpas we can implement next week during your visit.   

  I think I birdied that.

  Anthony

Your memory is clouded by one too many brunettes. Or perhpas jarred by a thrilling ride on the carretera peninsular.

[Anthony Gray]

  Greg...clouded and jarred describe it well.Have you found my camera and white belt.They may be together.

  Gracious

 

[Greg Tallman]

Greg...I agree that Jim's great, and I'll bet he's glad to be back....wish I was!

It should be very interesting to see the final product.

Paul,

Quite frankly we would have been hesitant to do this project with anyone else and Jim had already done most of the work a few years back when this was conceived. We are delighted to work with Jim again, especially being that as the new 7th nears completion in late Spetember my Mountaineers will be handing Jim's beloved Bengal Tigers a good ole fashioned beatdown in Death Valley.

Erik Evans was out and played here yesterday and I showed him the changes at 6 and 7. He talked about a tee relocation for #8 at Diamante yesterday... my question was is it really that much better? I love #8 as it is!

Don't think it will happen anytime soon....why do people want to mess with good short par fours?

Paul,

I took Seņor Lipe out for a look see last week as he was down looking at the progress on our new holes. We plan on playing there next Sunday while he and the shaper do the initial shaping of the green complexes.

I looked again at the dune proposed for the 8th tee and I would vote a resounding no. Nothing really gained by incorporating the dune into one of the few "non dune" holes. 

The dune movement around 15 and 16 was incredible to see. What a battle that will be over the years!