Wow. I have not been back there for 4 or 5 years, and have never seen it looking as good as in those pictures, brown around the edges like that. Ten years ago it was extremely over-watered -- the swale on 14 was best avoided because you had a terrible wet lie in the bottom of it.
My wife walked the course with me while I played. I told her about how the course was altered over the years, and how Tom and his team completed a significant renovation project.
While in the fairway on #10, I pointed out the group of bunkers short of the green that Tom brought back after they were previously removed. (For others’ benefit:
http://www.pasatiempo.com/page.php?page_id=5936)
I then promptly hit my approach shot into one of the said bunkers. As if on cue, she replied: “You should have played the course before Doak restored it.”
Howard,
Thanks for the terrific pictures.
I last played Pasa in September 2013 and I must say that I like the look of the "restricted watering version" much better.
Where did you leave your approach on 16? My favorite green complex anywhere and it looks like you were treated to a really interesting pin position.
Thanks. I didn’t play 16 too well. I thought there was more room to the right side of the fairway. My tee shot ended up running through the fairway and near one of the trees, where I was blocked out from going for the green . Instead, I had to lay up just short of the cart path. From there, I hit a low, runner that almost climbed to the top of the ridge and then slowly came back to the front of the green. From there, it was an easy two putt – ramming the first past the pin so it would funnel back and then a tap in.
Added later to separate the sixth, seventh and eighth fairways. The story is someone on the eighth tee was struck and killed by a tee shot from the seventh tee.
That corridor is really the only uncomfortable spot on the course.
I would also add the tee shot on six. The tree line on the right, housing left and to a blind fairway.