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mark chalfant

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What are  some  of the highlights on  this  scenic layout in  California  ?   I believe  Todd  Eckenrode has  done some respectful  restoration   here

Thanks
« Last Edit: May 26, 2016, 06:00:49 PM by mark chalfant »

Alex Miller

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Re: Palos Verdes (Bell)w
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2016, 01:39:54 AM »
Hi Mark,


I hope your keyboard is recovering  ;) . I've played PV many times over the last 20 years and it's currently in its finest form. The layout has some extreme elevation change for a Golden Age course with tees situated next to previous greens (for the most part).


The highs:
A very solid routing on an interesting and varied site
Smallish demanding greens that do not feel out of place and make this 6,300 yard course hold up well against very good players
Many unique holes that do not feel repetitive and provide thrilling moments/shots. Specifically...


The par 3 2nd- tree clearing behind the green has made no description necessary for this 210 yard hole that plays into the prevailing wind



The 226 yard dropshot par 3 4th plays about 50 yards shorter than its counterpart two holes prior



There are also a few reachable and well defended par 5's. Here's a look off the tee of one of them- hole 5 as it shoots up the hill through the eucalyptus trees.





Hole 12 is an unhittable (well, nearly) 283 yard par 4 you won't find anywhere else. The tee shot features a 170 yard carry uphil over a barranca. From there it doglegs sharply to the right to a green surrounded by bunkers. Fun!



The 13th (below, and less tree-lined now than when this picture was taken) and 14th play around an entirely different barranca and offer tremendous coastline vistas when clear.





I have a personal bias (this was the first place I ever hit a golf ball thanks to my best friend living across the street), but I'd say it's a course that deserves to be mentioned more often. Todd Eckenrode has done a great job restoring/renovating and it's really worth checking out if you're in the area.

Pat Burke

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Re: Palos Verdes (Bell)w
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2016, 01:51:08 AM »
Todd's on a nice run.
Palos Verdes, Brentwood, and (Virginia?)
have been well received

Mark Kiely

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Re: Palos Verdes (Bell)w
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2016, 12:46:33 PM »
Nice pictures, Alex. Thanks. The last time I played Eckenrode's course at Terranea a few months ago, I swung by PVGC to take a look and was very much won over by the few glimpses I saw. Looked like incredible topography. From what I understand non-members can play on weekday afternoons?
My golf course photo albums on Flickr: https://goo.gl/dWPF9z

Alex Miller

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Re: Palos Verdes (Bell)w
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2016, 01:07:55 PM »
Nice pictures, Alex. Thanks. The last time I played Eckenrode's course at Terranea a few months ago, I swung by PVGC to take a look and was very much won over by the few glimpses I saw. Looked like incredible topography. From what I understand non-members can play on weekday afternoons?


That sounds right... I think the guest fee is around $200 though (but no caddies). Apparently 30+ years ago residents of Palos Verdes Estates could play for a remarkably cheap rate. Then for a long time only residents of PVE could join and about 5 years ago they opened up membership to all.




Wayne Wiggins, Jr.

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Re: Palos Verdes (Bell)w
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2016, 02:42:52 PM »
Todd's on a nice run.
Palos Verdes, Brentwood, and (Virginia?)
have been well received


If I'm not mistaken, Eckenrode also did the recent resto/reno work at Orinda CC in NorCal, which I've heard positive things about.

Todd Eckenrode

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Re: Palos Verdes (Bell)
« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2016, 01:41:51 AM »
We've certainly had a fun last few years at Palos Verdes Golf Club, Brentwood CC (Los Angeles), Quail Lodge, and last summer Virginia CC (Long Beach), San Gabriel CC and Orinda CC.  All classics from the 20's/30/s in their latest form besides Quail.  My hope is that all are much improved and more true to themselves in their own ways.  That is always one of our goals, to take what makes them unique and push it forward as much as possible. 


Specific to PV, though, it's really a neat old course.  As Alex mentioned, a very interesting and varied site, unlike any other.  A bit extreme, but that helps its identity.  Short yardage, but just doesn't play so due to the uneven terrain and coastal climate.  Some very distinct holes.  #2,#4, and #5 as pictured, and #10-#14 are really fun. 


We are working on holes #15/16 now actually and I think they are going to be a big improvement. Stay tuned.

Greg Tallman

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Re: Palos Verdes (Bell)
« Reply #7 on: May 25, 2016, 09:11:40 AM »
We've certainly had a fun last few years at Palos Verdes Golf Club, Brentwood CC (Los Angeles), Quail Lodge, and last summer Virginia CC (Long Beach), San Gabriel CC and Orinda CC.  All classics from the 20's/30/s in their latest form besides Quail.  My hope is that all are much improved and more true to themselves in their own ways.  That is always one of our goals, to take what makes them unique and push it forward as much as possible. 


Specific to PV, though, it's really a neat old course.  As Alex mentioned, a very interesting and varied site, unlike any other.  A bit extreme, but that helps its identity.  Short yardage, but just doesn't play so due to the uneven terrain and coastal climate.  Some very distinct holes.  #2,#4, and #5 as pictured, and #10-#14 are really fun. 


We are working on holes #15/16 now actually and I think they are going to be a big improvement. Stay tuned.

Looks like some great stuff Todd. Perhaps you'll have the time to pop over next door at Cabo del Sol during your work at MaraVilla. Happy to host you for a quick tour, round of golf or just a margarita and a chat. Look forward to swing your work added to the Landscape of golf in Cabo.

Bill_Yates

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Re: Palos Verdes (Bell)
« Reply #8 on: May 26, 2016, 12:55:19 AM »
Todd,
Tell me if I'm remembering this right. I really thought 14 and 16 were very good holes. The fall-away greens, while certainly not as subtle, large or fast, reminded me of several Oakmont greens where I've played quite a bit of golf. I'd love to know what you did with those holes.
Bill Yates
www.pacemanager.com 
"When you manage the pace of play, you manage the quality of golf."

Todd Eckenrode

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Re: Palos Verdes (Billy Bell ) recent restoration: Todd Eckenrode
« Reply #9 on: May 27, 2016, 01:15:52 AM »
Hi Bill.  You are probably thinking of #13 and #14.  Both are downhill holes, and both greens run front to back, or downhill, as well.  #13 was a very interesting green.  I don't think it was original, but front half was just going with the slope, then a big swale fed off the left and back portion was a plateau above this.  We essentially softened that a few years back, keeping the concept, but making it work. with more hole locations.  Anything in the back half is still really interesting, though. The other day, I dropped three balls just messing around to play a putt from the front half to a pin in the back, about a 40'er.  First putt, I played it how I would play it in a real game, it was about a 6' break, right to left and speed was very important.  Played next ball about 20' right, and it fed all the way in to the left, but had to hit it harder.  Lastly, played a soft putt off the left shoulder, and it fed about 15'-20' to the right.  All three putts ended up within 5 of the hole', so pretty cool.  A bit of Oakmont there, where I've had caddies tell me to play the exact opposite of what I was seeing, and multiple ways to go about it.


#14 is I believe an original green and one of my favorites of the old era if that's true. Front to back again, with big slinging slopes on the right, the whole green feeding off the back left, but a big mound right there that the swale works behind.  Very unusual, and works really well as a counterslope to the overall movement.


#15 and #16 greens were really nothing special.  Safety reasons led to the re-routing of these two holes (in same general area), and I think the new holes are much improved.  They offer a lot more variety and options I think, and certainly will be more fun holes than the previous.  Time will tell of course.










Mark Kiely

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Re: Palos Verdes (Billy Bell ) recent restoration: Todd Eckenrode
« Reply #10 on: January 17, 2022, 01:57:00 AM »
Am I the only one who just now realized the LPGA has scheduled back-to-back weeks in Greater Los Angeles, with a tournament scheduled to take place here the week after Wilshire this year?

https://www.lpga.com/tournaments/jtbc-championship-at-palos-verdes/course-info

Very exciting! As I mentioned above, I've always wanted to play here. Seems like they've pulled back on their SCGA outing which was typically in early August. At least the tournament might give a chance to walk it.
My golf course photo albums on Flickr: https://goo.gl/dWPF9z

David Ober

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Re: Palos Verdes (Billy Bell ) recent restoration: Todd Eckenrode
« Reply #11 on: January 17, 2022, 11:37:56 PM »
Hi Bill.  You are probably thinking of #13 and #14.  Both are downhill holes, and both greens run front to back, or downhill, as well.  #13 was a very interesting green.  I don't think it was original, but front half was just going with the slope, then a big swale fed off the left and back portion was a plateau above this.  We essentially softened that a few years back, keeping the concept, but making it work. with more hole locations.  Anything in the back half is still really interesting, though. The other day, I dropped three balls just messing around to play a putt from the front half to a pin in the back, about a 40'er.  First putt, I played it how I would play it in a real game, it was about a 6' break, right to left and speed was very important.  Played next ball about 20' right, and it fed all the way in to the left, but had to hit it harder.  Lastly, played a soft putt off the left shoulder, and it fed about 15'-20' to the right.  All three putts ended up within 5 of the hole', so pretty cool.  A bit of Oakmont there, where I've had caddies tell me to play the exact opposite of what I was seeing, and multiple ways to go about it.


#14 is I believe an original green and one of my favorites of the old era if that's true. Front to back again, with big slinging slopes on the right, the whole green feeding off the back left, but a big mound right there that the swale works behind.  Very unusual, and works really well as a counterslope to the overall movement.


#15 and #16 greens were really nothing special.  Safety reasons led to the re-routing of these two holes (in same general area), and I think the new holes are much improved.  They offer a lot more variety and options I think, and certainly will be more fun holes than the previous.  Time will tell of course.


Todd, your work at Lakeside is/was nothing short of amazing.


10, 8, 15 short, et al. A masterclass on what is possible with a 100 year-old course. Bravo.


My only quibble is 4 green complex. That hole was great precisely because it was so damn tough. Much easier to blunder into a par now, whereas bogey/double was previously always lurking from 80-130 for the unskilled.

Todd Eckenrode

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Re: Palos Verdes (Billy Bell ) recent restoration: Todd Eckenrode
« Reply #12 on: January 18, 2022, 10:41:46 AM »
I'll take that minor quibble David!  Lakeside is incredible and we were thrilled to be able to work there.  Fun to see this post revived about PVGC.  Quite a few minor improvements to Palos Verdes made since.  It is a really fun golf course, and I too am excited to see the LPGA event here this spring. 

Jeff Schley

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Re: Palos Verdes (Billy Bell ) recent restoration: Todd Eckenrode
« Reply #13 on: January 21, 2022, 04:03:56 AM »
Thanks for dropping in Todd, you did great work in So Cal and hope you can continue to do so at some public tracks in the future for all to enjoy. Los Verdes would be wonderful to complete.
"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice your gifts."
- Steve Prefontaine

David Ober

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Re: Palos Verdes (Billy Bell ) recent restoration: Todd Eckenrode
« Reply #14 on: January 21, 2022, 11:06:08 AM »
Thanks for dropping in Todd, you did great work in So Cal and hope you can continue to do so at some public tracks in the future for all to enjoy. Los Verdes would be wonderful to complete.


Yes indeed. Would love to see what Todd could do at our 100+ year old site.

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