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Marty Bonnar

  • Total Karma: 6
Cypress Infatuation
« on: January 08, 2004, 10:09:40 AM »
The best thing I did in Florida this Xmas was to 'allow' the Nance to buy me a copy of Geoff S's most excellent book, 'Alister MacKenzie's Cypress Point Club'. For those of you who don't YET have a copy, I can only feel pity.
The lovely old B&W images, the highly descriptive prose and the sheer quality of the printing and binding will ensure that it takes pride of place on my bookshelves.
I am now even MORE envious of Huckaby, Sweeney, Childs et al who have ventured forth over this piece of perfectly-designed landscape. You are indeed - and this time, no holding back - lucky BASTARDS to have been there!
Even the cover photo of a pensive looking Mack sitting, gazing over the ocean, gives me chills!
One day I shall be there!

FBD.
The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

THuckaby2

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2004, 10:14:59 AM »
FBD - it is now high among my life goals to see this course WITH YOU.  Damn, I can't imagine anything more fun... you'd be more of a kid in a candy store than I have been there, and believe me, that's saying something.

Geoff's book is VERY VERY VERY cool also - this reminds me to get it out tonight and drool again.  Love the black and white.

TH

Marty Bonnar

  • Total Karma: 6
Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2004, 10:20:19 AM »
Cheers Tom!
I look forward to the day with great anticipation!
Do you think they'll allow us to drive around the place in a vintage DeSoto like MacK's and just park it where we will???
Question to all...Is Robert Hunter Jr still alive???

FBD.
The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

THuckaby2

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2004, 10:22:16 AM »
Martin, you get the DeSoto and we shall find a way.  How could they deny such devotion?   ;D ;D ;D

Yo no se (slipping into my limited espanol) re Hunter Jr.....

TH

David Wigler

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2004, 11:22:26 AM »
CPC is one of the very few places on this planet that your mind builds up as perfect before you ever get there and then amazingly it is even better than you believed it would be.  It is truly magical and my day at Cypress rates right up there with my marraige and my childrens birth as the coolest days I have spent on this earth.
And I took full blame then, and retain such now.  My utter ignorance in not trumpeting a course I have never seen remains inexcusable.
Tom Huckaby 2/24/04

GeoffreyC

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2004, 11:30:24 AM »
FBD

I grew up playing munis and Bethpage was the start of my realization that great courses are truly different experiences.

I lived in the SF Bay area for almost 5 years and I was very lucky to have the Stanford U course as my home venue and Pebble Beach was 90 minutes away and only $25 to play! Yet, I would still sit on the fence by 17 mile drive and the 18th tee at Cypress Point literally for hours and look upon the most beautiful golf course I'd ever seen. I KNEW it was but a dream to hope someday to play there.  23 years later that dream did come true and my time spent there with Huckaby, Cirba, Duran and Mike Hendron tagging along until he played 15 and 16 with us was worth the wait.

I hope you make it someday and I hope I'm there to join you as a new dream of mine is to return.

Marty Bonnar

  • Total Karma: 6
Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #6 on: January 08, 2004, 11:39:25 AM »
David and 'The Other Good Doctor',
Tom and I were just discussing whether CPC is SO special that when you finally do arrive at the first tee you might be so wound up that your golf game might be - shall we say - 'not at it's best'. I'm sure that certainly goes for other places too - e.g. the first time on TOC I was a quivering wreck for about 4 holes.
In any case, I'm sure that the whole experience must be so mind-bogglingly exciting that even a good old Scottish 'Sclaff' off the first tee wouldn't matter a jot!

FBD.
The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

THuckaby2

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #7 on: January 08, 2004, 11:44:37 AM »
The difference between CPC and other places eliciting expectations is that for the most part, not many people are watching you on #1 tee.  Oh, if you get in the unaccompanied guest group hour, like most of us here have, then there will be other blokes milling about the first tee... But they're just as much in awe as you are, so it doesn't matter much.  Contrast that to Pebble Beach and The Old Course, where you generally tee off in front of the envious, judgemental eyes of hundreds of tourists... I just find the butt-puckering at those two more than at CPC.

Besides, at CPC the first tee is pretty raised, above the road and fairway, such that it takes one hell of a bad sclaff not to have the ball at least go SOMEWHERE decent.

On top of that, most people's thoughts are on 15 and 16 as they play 1, so that helps also.

Another great thing about the course is the entirety of it is so darn fun, it's pretty easy to concentrate on the task at hand and not get too over-awed.

So in general, while most people not named Goodale and Duran do play less than their best there, well... at least the awe factor is not SO BAD that it's impossible to play.  I speak from experience of having at least one good round there myself...

TH

A_Clay_Man

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #8 on: January 08, 2004, 11:48:26 AM »
FBD- One of the unique aspects of CPC is the first tee shot. Nothing but some cypress trees to guide you, it has to be the most blind first shot first hole anywhere.? So, your edge is even edgier. But, the palpable transformation as you walk past the hedgerow and cross the road is breathtaking. At this point only the most subjective would give a hoot about their game.

THuckaby2

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #9 on: January 08, 2004, 11:52:12 AM »
FBD- One of the unique aspects of CPC is the first tee shot. Nothing but some cypress trees to guide you, it has to be the most blind first shot first hole anywhere.?

Adam - for shame - you of all people.  Do you forget Black Mesa so soon?

 ;D

TH

THuckaby2

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #10 on: January 08, 2004, 12:02:22 PM »
Tom, you do realize that Goodale and Duran couldn't play a lick there if I wasn't there to show off to, don'tcha?  ;)

Of course, that goes without saying.   ;D

You do realize that the dream group now has a fourth... obviously the world needs to see you, me and Dave Moriarty play the course, just for the battle of macho studs v. exhilirating layup to take place on 16 tee.  I believe we now have the perfect fourth in FBD here, although we might have to bid that out.  Lots of charities would want the millions we'd get.   ;D

TH

David Wigler

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #11 on: January 08, 2004, 12:12:57 PM »
Tom,

I suspect that if you were in a group where someone laid up on 16, the golf G-D's might just punish you as well for not ripping the 7-Iron out of their hands and threatening their manhood for such cowardice.  Your best off only playing with the macho.
And I took full blame then, and retain such now.  My utter ignorance in not trumpeting a course I have never seen remains inexcusable.
Tom Huckaby 2/24/04

THuckaby2

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #12 on: January 08, 2004, 12:34:58 PM »
Dave W - that is a scary thought.  The golf gods would expect punishment to be meted out, and I'm just not sure I'm the best guy to do it.  Dave M. is much bigger than me!

But shivas is a match for him... he shall be the executioner.

Of course it also wouldn't surprise me one lick if shivas himself laid up - doing the unexpected jazzes him far more than any macho shot!

TH

Mike_Cirba

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #13 on: January 08, 2004, 12:41:15 PM »
Yes, I was unbelievably fortunate to play Cypress Point last year with a cadre of GCA-types, courtesy of a real gentleman.  

What can one say about CP that would add to it's lustre and attraction?

I can say I've never seen Huckaby so visibly excited, and I believe Geoffrey Childs has the pictures to prove it.  ;)
« Last Edit: January 08, 2004, 12:41:35 PM by Mike_Cirba »

Lou_Duran

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #14 on: January 08, 2004, 01:02:40 PM »
Hey, don't exile me from the group.  I have a score to settle with a certain hole, and I don't want to have to do it under the cover of night.

CPC is one of the few things in life that despite all the fanfare and notoriety, the actual experience far surpasses the highest expectations.  It is probably one of the very few courses where playing badly and in less than ideal conditions didn't detract from the experience that much.  Having the guys I was paired with, Shivas included, certainly added to the fun.

As for Moriarty, he gets punished enough for laying-up on 16, but I suspect that unless conditions are ideal the next time, he'll do it again.  It is just in his make-up.  

THuckaby2

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #15 on: January 08, 2004, 01:08:13 PM »
Lou, a certain hole on which you have a score to settle nothwithstanding, you remain the paragon of "shutting out the awe" for your play up to that point.  And here's hoping that score gets to be settled, and soon.   ;D

Interesting thoughts re David M's exhilirating layup, though.  I wonder what he would do absent wind... Man he hits the ball considerably farther than I do... I'd have to give him the benefit of the doubt that absent wind, it becomes a higher percentage play to make the carry, and he attempts such.  

And Mike Cirba, said picture just shows me in my natural state.  I am quite a legend also, for other reasons.   ;D ;D ;D

TH

Marion

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #16 on: January 08, 2004, 01:10:54 PM »
As for Moriarty, he gets punished enough for laying-up on 16, but I suspect that unless conditions are ideal the next time, he'll do it again.  It is just in his make-up.  

There will be no next time for guest that lay up on # 16 :-[

Marion Hollis

A_Clay_Man

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #17 on: January 08, 2004, 01:21:28 PM »
TomH- I forgot nothing! In a blind world, the one eyed man is king. The blindness at BM is but one eye. While CP is both. But since you've been more fortunate than I, perhaps I remember CP wrong?

HamiltonBHearst

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #18 on: January 08, 2004, 01:21:50 PM »


We have a member of Cypress on this website?  Wow, what great access.  This site gets better everyday. :)

THuckaby2

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #19 on: January 08, 2004, 01:24:50 PM »
Adam - methinks the blindness is more at Black Mesa.  At CPC, one can most definitely see fairway, as well as the trees on the right... one just can't see the first part of the fairway, nor the road.  At BM, no fairway can be seen other than just the part right in front of the green, correct?  Also at CPC, you are not hitting up and over anything - the hedge is below you.  The tee shot at BM is most definitely up and over a pretty substantial hill....

That is unless I am dreaming re BM!

TH

Craig Van Egmond

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #20 on: January 08, 2004, 01:27:12 PM »

FBD,

       I was fortunate enough to play Cypress Point and I agree with the others who say that it is one course that far exceeds the expectations and I had high expectations. A magical place indeed.  I also have a score to settle with #16, after a birdie on 15, I hit what I thought was a beautiful 3 wood only to see the wind slap it down like a Shaq reject.  No way this guy is laying up, I will just hit a driver next time. :-)




Tiger_Bernhardt

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #21 on: January 08, 2004, 01:37:21 PM »
I think the prior posts give one a sense of how Cypress has impacted the lives of those who have walked it. I was playing 2 sundays ago with an old friend who I have played in Scotland and Ireland with but not Cypress. He asked me when the last ime I had been to Mecca. I said thanksgiving without even giving a thought to the fact he could have meant St. Andrews. I put both in a special place as there are moments at Cypress that belong with your child's birth, your first kiss, first LSU game and of course the first time you see TOC, 2nd shot on 8 at Pebble. I have one of each of those but many of Cypress. I am so thankful to my client(s) for allowing me to spend so many special days alone, with friends and family at this most special place on earth. The first tee, the balcony overlooking 16, chipping to 18 green like I own it at dawn and dusk, watching the sun set from 17 tee or 15 tee or green, playing 15, hitting and making a birdie on 16,drive on 6, 8 green chips and puts,  9 tee view, 9 green wow, chips to 7 green, second shot to 4,10 tee view, 11 wow, 12, 13 wow, the trees along 14 fairway and it goes on and on. Playing alone with just me and a caddie on a perfect day and being the only people on the course, seeing the joy in my friends eyes as they play there the first time, watching my daughter chip in on 17. Playing 4 balls to 15 late in the day and making 4 birdies, drinking a beer and talking with the sea lions who also call it home..
« Last Edit: January 08, 2004, 01:56:18 PM by Tiger_Bernhardt »

Lou_Duran

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #22 on: January 08, 2004, 01:46:24 PM »
Life is unfair.  Please, Tiger, adopt me.  I'll even change party and football, ahm, I mean, college affiliations.  

Don_Mahaffey

Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #23 on: January 08, 2004, 01:47:42 PM »
Adam, Tom,
#1 blind? I thought you just blew it over the trees on the right and wedged it close. What did I miss? ;D

David Wigler

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:Cypress Infatuation
« Reply #24 on: January 08, 2004, 02:09:08 PM »
Don,

Not to out you but if I remember right, you hit it directly under the trees and then hit a fantastic second shot to get to the putting surface.  I do not think it was a wedge though.   ;)

Hope you had a very Merry Christmas and all is well.  Maybe we can hook up again this year.
And I took full blame then, and retain such now.  My utter ignorance in not trumpeting a course I have never seen remains inexcusable.
Tom Huckaby 2/24/04