Cabin fever cure? Sunday, Feb 20 at Seaview Bay

[Doug Braunsdorf]

Good to see everyone yesterday.  Safe to say a good time was had by all.  Thanks to Brian/Tiger, Malcom, and Mayday for a good game! 
I do hope we can do this again, at least once, before the winter's end. 

[Kyle Harris]

Good to see everyone yesterday.  Safe to say a good time was had by all.  Thanks to Brian/Tiger, Malcom, and Mayday for a good game! 
I do hope we can do this again, at least once, before the winter's end. 

You mean it's not over?!

[Joe Bausch]

Next February for the 2nd annual version of this event, myself, as chairman of the rules committee, might have to institute some changes.

I played in the first of the four groups yesterday and was able to observe the play of many during down times in the round.  Based upon some of the distances I saw drives travel, in the 2012 version of the event, we will have:

1.  Mandatory steroid testing.  And I know how to detect the designer versions.

2.  Mandatory checking of driver face thickness on the first tee.  Based upon the sounds I was hearing, I believe the maximum COR ("cheats opponents regularly") was being exceeded.

If these two changes above do not reign in making this wonderful Donald Ross Hugh Wilson course obselete, we'll institute HGH (huge, gigantic hits) testing in 2013.

[Kyle Harris]

Next February for the 2nd annual version of this event, myself, as chairman of the rules committee, might have to institute some changes.

I played in the first of the four groups yesterday and was able to observe the play of many during down times in the round.  Based upon some of the distances I saw drives travel, in the 2012 version of the event, we will have:

1.  Mandatory steroid testing.  And I know how to detect the designer versions.

2.  Mandatory checking of driver face thickness on the first tee.  Based upon the sounds I was hearing, I believe the maximum COR ("cheats opponents regularly") was being exceeded.

If these two changes above do not reign in making this wonderful Donald Ross Hugh Wilson course obselete, we'll institute HGH (huge, gigantic hits) testing in 2013.

Joe,

While I may have been about 50 yards short of the first green off the tee, you'll of course note that the fall-away nature of said green confounded my approach putt, leading to an un-seemly bogey that placed Rory and I in a hole from which we never could recover.

I do think we need to see JNC's ID before we head to the bar, next time, though.

[Mark McKeever]

Glad to hear you guys had a good time.  I will be on the lookout for the next outing.

Mark

[mike_malone]

 Thanks to JNC for gathering us together. Why no love for Seaview Bay? I thought the greens were splendid and varied and the routing went all over the place.

[Tim Martin]

Thanks to JNC for gathering us together. Why no love for Seaview Bay? I thought the greens were splendid and varied and the routing went all over the place.

Mayday- I agree 100%. The routing is great with some really cool features like the cross bunkers on #9. Did you see the amount of balls that were there for the taking if you hit it right off of 8 tee?

[Jaeger Kovich]

I'd just like to echo the good time had by my group from NY and thanks those who organized it. Our highlight of the day was an Eagle 2 on par-4 #12, a low punch under the trees from #13 climbed up the steep bank and dropped like a perfectly judged putt!

My bullet point review:
- The green complexes are worth a study for any student of design
- Excellent par 3's, although the unbalanced routing puts 3 on the back side (doesn't bother me) but gives significant disadvantage to a higher handicap playing a match down the stretch
- Some odd tree plantings that cramp you on a few tees and cover up some views of the h20
- Most of the low-lying holes by the water (that make this course attractive to most) could not have been built today because of wetland restrictions
- Some great examples of holes that have evolved into great short par-4s... thanks proV1! ... and visa versa
- Windy!

[Joe Bausch]

Some action photos:

[Rory Connaughton]

Seaview Bay exceed my expectations.  There is a lot to like about the course much of which has already been touched on.  I would really like to see it in fall conditions.  Thanks John for making the arrangements.

Kyle, as for our match, you were a beast in keeping things close for a while but you would have had to be Secretariat to win with me yesterday!

[Kyle Harris]

Seaview Bay exceed my expectations.  There is a lot to like about the course much of which has already been touched on.  I would really like to see it in fall conditions.  Thanks John for making the arrangements.

Kyle, as for our match, you were a beast in keeping things close for a while but you would have had to be Secretariat to win with me yesterday!

You were hardly the dead-weight you are implying you were. I was in JNC's head on the back nine when I said "When I was your age, I was shooting 68s on the Blue Course," but then Trenham showed up with his crafty veteransmanship. That putter just buried us.

[JNC Lyon]

Seaview Bay exceed my expectations.  There is a lot to like about the course much of which has already been touched on.  I would really like to see it in fall conditions.  Thanks John for making the arrangements.

Kyle, as for our match, you were a beast in keeping things close for a while but you would have had to be Secretariat to win with me yesterday!

You were hardly the dead-weight you are implying you were. I was in JNC's head on the back nine when I said "When I was your age, I was shooting 68s on the Blue Course," but then Trenham showed up with his crafty veteransmanship. That putter just buried us.

Kyle,

That comment threw me for a loop, no doubt.  Like I said many times, though, I had a good partner who picked up the slack during my back nine slump.

Also, I think it was Rory who pointed out that I needed ID not for the pints, but for the man-sized meatloaf stacker at McGillicutty's.  Seriously, if you play at Seaview and don't stop there afterwards, you're crazy.

Joe,

I'm not sure who you're referring to, but I weigh in at 140 pounds (soaking wet), and my driver is a Ladies GBBII that is one step above persimmon.  It shouldn't be a problem.  The fact that several holes played 50 mph downwind helped a bit.  Big fan of the action shots too, especially Grind in the snake bunker on 16.

The golf course at Seaview Bay is very solid.  Every hole had something good going for it, mostly because the greens are so interesting.  There were several front-to-back slope greens, which is unusual for an American course, and the internal movement was fascinating.  9, 10, and 12 were all favorite holes of mine.  I loved the bunkering on 9 and 10 in combination with great greens, and the green complex at 12 was phenomenal.  Jaeger is correct, the short par fours at 5, 8, 10, and 12 are all a ton of fun and within range for the modern player.  Yet I think I played these holes in four over par.  The greens defend par well against modern equipment.

The course could do without a few trees, but the routing, greens , and bunkering were all first-rate.  I'd recommend the course to anyone who is a fan of classic architecture.

[Carl Nichols]

JNC: 
I take it from the thread that you don't live in the Mid Atlantic; how far did you drive to play yesterday?

[JNC Lyon]

Carl, I drove down Friday from Hamilton, which is 5.5 hours.  It was totally worth it--it's 20F at Colgate right now.

[Doug Braunsdorf]

We're expecting an inch or so of snow down here in South Jersey tonight into tomorrow.  Notwithstanding, I wanted to gain interest from the group in doing another one of these sometime in early-mid March.  Stephen Kay's Blue Heron Pines would be a good venue for us to see next.

[Mike_Trenham]

With JNC as a partner I simply relaxed and the ball found the hole.  It was not until we finished that I realized he was making bogies on the back nine.  Yeah they always blame the long putter not my chipping for their losses.

The course really surprised me.  The reports on Seaview I had gotten for years from the typical trophy hunter were less than ringing.  I had assumed that meant all of the original features had been removed.  Compared to the old arial photos the course is largely in keeping with its "origins".  Probably a perfect time to play the bay course, with the temperatures down and our games rusty the lack of distance was less of an issue, also there was a nice breeze left over from Saturday.

Good to see everyone and nice that it does not take a top 100 private, new course or industry leader to bring people out.  Great cure for cabin feaver, my most productive Monday in months.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Hi Guys,

Greetings from the Valley of the Sun.


Sorry I couldn't make it. I'll be back in town in mid April. Looked like a fun day.

[JNC Lyon]

We're expecting an inch or so of snow down here in South Jersey tonight into tomorrow.  Notwithstanding, I wanted to gain interest from the group in doing another one of these sometime in early-mid March.  Stephen Kay's Blue Heron Pines would be a good venue for us to see next.

Doug,

Blue Heron Pines sounds awesome.  Being the classic course fanatic that I am, I'd also like to see Atlantic City CC (if the price is reasonable) or Brigantine.  If it's early March, I will definitely join for another outing.  It is bitterly cold here right now, so nothing sounds better than more golf in the sun.

[Doug Braunsdorf]

2-3" of new snow on the ground down here last night into this morning.  Looks like any golf will be played in early March.  Send indications of interest over--

[Tim Martin]

We're expecting an inch or so of snow down here in South Jersey tonight into tomorrow.  Notwithstanding, I wanted to gain interest from the group in doing another one of these sometime in early-mid March.  Stephen Kay's Blue Heron Pines would be a good venue for us to see next.

Doug,

Blue Heron Pines sounds awesome.  Being the classic course fanatic that I am, I'd also like to see Atlantic City CC (if the price is reasonable) or Brigantine.  If it's early March, I will definitely join for another outing.  It is bitterly cold here right now, so nothing sounds better than more golf in the sun.

Doug-Count me in as a participant for the early March get together if there are available slots. Hoping I can avoid the recommended steroid testing as Joe B. knows how far I can hit it.

[Rick Sides]

How many guys turned out for the event?

[Mike Cirba]

Rick,

We had 15 golfers and one caddie in attendance.

[Mark McKeever]

Doug,

Count me in depending on what date you end up chosing.  I'm always up for a game. 
JNC, you have to see ACCC.

Mark

[Michael Blake]

I vote for an outing at Lederach on a day that KBM can hopefully attend.

[JNC Lyon]

Blue Heron Pines, ACCC, Lederach--they all sound like great options if the weather and price are right.  I feel like choosing a golf course in the Philly area is like shooting fish in a barrel.  If we had played Twisted Dune or Atlantic City this weekend, it would have been just as enjoyable as Seaview.  Like I said, if the weather holds out in early March, it should be a great time.