As someone who caddied year-round, full-time at Spyglass for 11 1/2 wonderful years, these pictures convey a lush, sadly altered version of what the course once was. It is a least 2-3 shots easier than it used to be and several outstanding features were eliminated from the routing with all the "changes" in the late 90's. An awesome, natural bunker that guarded the carry to the green on number two was totally multilated and the replacement is as bland as it gets. Rather than do the occasional grooming to keep it playable, they destroyed it to make it "fairer."
Hole number four's picture is an example of how far off... the current presentation has become! That hole is suppossed to have a tightly mown apron approach and the right bank generally was shortish cut as well to allow running shots and multiple options for the second shot. What is shown there is strictly "hit and sit" golf at its worst.
Mr. Woods didn't break par at Spyglass the first 5 times he played it in competition. That, also with the ball in his hand a couple of those rounds that AT&T wet weather had lift, clean and cheat conditions.
Spyglass Hill, properly presently with firmness and non-beastly rough, is a demanding, superb test. It is a course that is hard to get comfortable on, as danger lurks on every hole. Some seem to rave about the first five and then feel the rest of the course is less than. Well that opening five is pretty stout...it blows away any other opening on the Peninsula and with all repect to Cyp and PB, the players know that the Glass razored up, is all you can eat. Even on windy days, though somewhat more sheltered than Cyp or PB, it is still very difficult to control your ball flight around that track.
Bob,
When the wind is out of the Northwest(which is often), the stench from Bird Rock that wafts by that house on #5 is enough to drive one from that home to Seaside!
Cheers,
Kris
