I thought I would update the list of players for Sunday afternoon at Santa Maria Country Club so people yet uncommitted are able to see this additional offering for the weekend. PM me if you would like to join us.
Bob McGhie (host)
Me
Tim Leahy
Pete Pittock
Dan King
Joe Tucholski
Patrick Kiser
Pete Lavallee
Rich Goodale
Tommy Naccarato
Alex S and Jeff F are maybes for the whole event, hoping to add them.
Also, I took some time to read the history section on the club's website. I excerpt two sections below to show what perhaps one could call the Augusta Nationalization of SMCC, something we know happened to Pinehurst #2 also.
What was
"The rough at the Santa Maria Country Club, in its natural state, consists mainly of blow sand. In essence, the rough was all one giant sand trap. It was very difficult to hit crisp, clean shot off of such sand. It was necessary to pick the ball off of the sand, which was a difficult shot. Quite often, shots hit from the rough would be fluffed only a few feet. Therefore, the strategy of the original course consisted almost entirely of keeping the ball out of the rough."
What is
"With the building of the back 9, the transformation of the Santa Maria golf course from a Scottish links type course to a parkland course began. The rough areas between the tees and landing areas of the fairways were planted in turf. The roughs were also planted in turf and an irrigation system was installed to irrigate the rough areas. Trees were also planted, which provided some relief from the ever-present wind. Therefore, the Santa Maria course was transformed from a links type course to a parkland type course in the 1950's and 1960's."
The good news is that there is a sand base under the course.