Pictures from my day at NGLA

[SteveOgulukian]

Hey guys,

Since many consider NGLA the Holy Grail I wanted to share some of my pictures from my round there.  You've all seen pictures of this beauty numerous times but I assume you'll gladly take a look at some new ones.

I don't have pictures of every hole and unfortunately, I did not get many of the greens.  Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy what I have posted.


Driving through the gates:







Looking at the 18th green from the first tee box:



#1 from the tee:



From 50 yards short of the first green:

The flagstick is tough to see here as it blends in with the trees but it's right in the middle of the picture.  This is a wild green.  Unfortunately I do not have pictures as I was too busy 4-putting from 15 feet.  I wish this was a joke!



Here is a view of the 1st green from right (taken from the 17th tee box)



#3 - Alps:






#4 - Redan



My ball ended up just short and right, on the fringe.  I had a 30 footer that I barely tapped.  The ball looked like it would stop 5 feet short but never did.  About 20 seconds after hitting the ball in dropped in for my first birdie of the day.

#7 - Road Hole

You can make out the top of the pot bunker short and left



If you miss right....



and if you're short....



# 10 from tee -



A look next door through the trees from #11:



11th Green:



13th - Eden:



14 - Cape:



14th approach:





looking up at 15 and 16



15:



View up the 16th from the 15th green:



16 - Punchbowl:









17





18 - Home















Looking back down towards the tee











Random Shots:







Sebonack's clubhouse right next door:









What a fantastic experience it was.  I felt right at home as a guest as all members and workers I met were nothing but gracious.

[John Kavanaugh]

Steve,

Threads like this are what makes this site great, thanks!!!

Tell me, did you request a cart without a lid or did you just get lucky?  I love those on a perfect day.

[SteveOgulukian]

John,

I guess we were lucky to get that cart.  I really didn't pay attention to what carts were available.  I wanted to walk the course but our host wanted to take carts.  I wisely kept my mouth shut, loaded my bag on the cart, and began an epic journey!

[Mac Plumart]

Very cool!  Thanks!

[Emile Bonfiglio]

Thanks for posting Steve. Most people try and ease their way in over time into having their greatest post ever. A slow progressive body of  work, but you just came in and hit a walk off homer. Awesome

[Tim Martin]

Steve-I`m with Emile-Going,Going,Gone! Further you have won the approval of Kavanaugh so you have that going for you, which is nice.

[Brett_Morrissy]

Steve,
Great pics, on what looks like a cracker of a day.
Q: did you need/want/require much explanation on each hole, where to hit, etc? Did your host let you encounter the course as is, or did he say things like 'on 7, don't be short!'?
Q: does the 18th play into the setting sun?

[Anthony Gray]

  Looked like a great day.

  Anthony

[Steve_ Shaffer]

This reminds me: When is the annual GCA Outing/Event at NGLA this year?

I've been away and may have missed the posting?

[Mac Plumart]

Steve...same day as it is every year...April 1st.

Just pull up to the clubhouse and tell them you are with the GCA.com group.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Darn!!! I'll still be in AZ then. 

[Mac Plumart]

 

[SteveOgulukian]

Steve,
Great pics, on what looks like a cracker of a day.
Q: did you need/want/require much explanation on each hole, where to hit, etc? Did your host let you encounter the course as is, or did he say things like 'on 7, don't be short!'?
Q: does the 18th play into the setting sun?

It was a great day in late October.  At that time of year, 18 does play into the setting sun.  In terms of explanation on certain holes and shots, we got a few pointers.  There are no yardages posted, which probably helped me on the 4th.  Host told me to hit my 150 club even though the hole measured close to 170 I believe.  The reason being that most shots would feed to the hole.  I did come up short but that's because I didn't catch it pure.  However, had my ball carried an extra yard, I probably would've been past the hole.

He also showed us the desired line on some blind shots like the tee shot on 2 and the approach at 3 to name a few.  But mostly we were just playing it how we saw it.

[Anthony Gray]

  Was the third overrated?

  Anthony

[Grant Saunders]

Steve

Look like you had an amazing day. Thanks for sharing (and making me insanely jealous).

I really enjoy these kind of threads where the pictures are less focused on conveying the architecture and consist of random shots and people playing. Somehow, for me, they are less sterile and put across the feel of a place much better.

A couple of years ago, someone linked a photo tour from a guy who played Augusta with a friend who had qualified as a mid amateur champion. He was like a kid in the candy shop and just took photos of everything. That tour blew me away and created an intimacy that none of the other tours or pictures of Augusta have come close to.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Excellent tour. I look forward to many more.

[SteveOgulukian]

Excellent tour. I look forward to many more.

I can put one together of Pebble and Spyglass too. I figured I would start with this though!

[John McCarthy]

This is fantastic! 

[Chris Johnston]

Terrific pics!  Loks like a terrific day!

Thanks for sharing!

[SteveOgulukian]

  Was the third overrated?

  Anthony

Anthony - the 3rd is a great hole and a type of hole that is not something you see every day.  I hit a great drive and a real solid 2nd shot into the wind.  Being that it was the first time I played the hole, I had no clue where my ball would end up.  I was just off the green and had about a 100 foot putt.  The green is huge and extremely contoured.  I four-putted (yes, again) if you count my putt from off the green as a putt. 

I can only imagine this hole getting better and better the more you play it.  There’s a difference between hitting a shot and thinking “ooh, that felt good.  Hope it’s good” and hitting a shot and saying “ooh, that’s gonna be good.”

[Joe Stansell]

That you included a picture of the drive into the gate did it for me. It conveyed the excitement that I know I'd feel if I ever had the chance to play NGLA. Thanks for sharing!

[Bill_McBride]

Random shot number  1 is beautiful. I've never seen the windmill from that angle before - very cool. You could commission a painting out of it.

I'm guessing that's looking back up toward the 17th tee from close to the green.   I didn't realize that tee was quite so elevated!

[Patrick_Mucci]

  Was the third overrated?

Anthony,

What leads you to ask that question ?

Why would you think the 3rd hole is overrated ?

[

[John Mayhugh]

Very nice.  I think it's hard for that place to take a bad picture!

[Anthony Gray]

  Was the third overrated?

Anthony,

What leads you to ask that question ?

Why would you think the 3rd hole is overrated ?

[

  I don't think it's a good example of an Alps.

  Anthony