Cypress Infatuation

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Lou, we all have our blessings in life. Cypress just happens to be one of mine. Did you say switch political parties? lol

[Don_Mahaffey]

David,
Actually, I did hit my first drive into the trees (I was so nervous I thought I needed to run around back and hurl), and then after my caddie insisted, and my playing partners did so, I hit a "mulligan" which seemed to be the thing to do as every player I saw tee off that morning hit 2. That second shot did indeed clear the trees and that is the one I hit close. The first was deader then dead.
Remember that day? Fog on the 8th and 9th so thick you could hardly play and then the fog vanished and left us with the most beautiful day imaginable.  

[A_Clay_Man]

I still don't recall seeing a blade of fairway grass from the tee. I was in competition, so I had no op for a mullie. I was also injured, so I was thrilled to find the ball on the short grass. I layed up with a five iron from about 185, then wedge to the back of the green and two putts, bogie, thank you. ;

My absolute favorite shot that day, was cutting a 5 wood on 18 from about 150, way out to the left over towards the clubhouse. The wind carried the cut all the way back to centerline, 6 inches off the back of the green, where I wasn't going to leave my shot above the hole again, and rattled the flag infront of about 100 people watching.

Thanks for letting me remember, why this infatuation is justified.

[Dan King]

It's a nice little members course. Now let's talk about Lincoln Park.

Dan King

"It's like replacing Bo Derek with Roseanne Barr."
 --Johnny Miller (on Poppy Hills replacing Cypress Point as part of the home for the AT&T Pro-Am)

[Lou_Duran]

Tiger,

You draw the papers and I'll convert.  Hell, we can celebrate on the 16th hole when I finally get one acrossed.  Bring Carville along and I'll prove to you that it is real.  Now maybe you understand how I really feel about CPC.

[Mike Benham]

In search through some old papers, I found an old photo (1993) of Cypress' 16th from the 17th tee, which shows the width of the fairway ... quite an interesting view ...

[Dan Grossman]

My hard drive strikes again!  

Here is a view from the fairway showing what
the chip would look like from the layup zone on #16.

[ForkaB]

Interesting angle, Dan.  From the tee, the bunkering is pretty awkward, but from "position M" it looks almost too symmetrical and beautiful.  Can't wait until I'm 85 to be able to actually play from there (or "position P", which is right at the throat with a surgically placed 3-wood leaving a simple chip and putt for a par)!  Until then, I'll flirt with positions "S" and "D", whilst hoping to keep my 100% record of position "B" (straight and long) intact........

[Mike Benham]

The thing that struck me about this angle would be the challenge of the hole if it was played in reverse, say from the 18th tee to the 16th green ...

Mike

[James Edwards]

I thought I would chime in, as I was there last week with.  A great place along with the hospitality of Jim the head pro and greg the assistant greens keeper....

For me, I thought the 17th hole was the best hole on the course, and the best place to stand in golf aswell.  The plaque, describes the fortunate position which all golfers are in to play the game, especially on this hallowed turf, and to take a minute to observe the landscape, was a fitting way to end the round of golf on Cypress.

The sensory overload when you walk off the course, is overwhelming, and I'm sure those who have been there will agree.

And Geoff, produced as FBD described... a great book!

[Marty Bonnar]

In these dark days of 11 page belly-button fluff examinations, how charming it is to see this old, vaguely architectural, AND MERCIFULLY SHORT!, thread re-appear.

"Ah, CPC" (he says, gazing longingly into the distant sky) "as Stevie Wonder once said - 'Isn't she lovely'"

I'm off to deepest darkest Bavaria in the morning so: Auf wiedersehen, and be good while I'm gone, my lovelies.

Luv'n'kisses,
The FattestBaldiestDrummer.

[Jfaspen]

Someday  

I guess this just gives me something to work for while in Law School.

I am willing to bet you can't get to much of the course without trespassing.. However, are there spots along 17-mile drive where you can see some of the course?  I may be out in that area in a year or so and would like to get a view for myself of the perfection of this course.

Jeff

[THuckaby2]

Jeff:

Setting one little toe on any part of the course is trespassing, and there are LARGE signs posted reminding you of this fact.

That being said, 17 Mile Drive goes right past the first tee, then down in between 14 green and 15 tee, then all the way down the length of 14, such that if one stops by the side of the road, one can legally see all of 14, most of 1, 13 green, some of 2.. well, a big expanse of that part of the course.

One can also get a glimpse of 15 green through the trees.

Anything beyond this requires trespassing the likes of which I sure have never done. Or at least not since I was a kid.  

TH

[Jfaspen]

Thank you Tom...  I will wait until I earn the chance to view 16 and 17 with my own eyes, but surely, I will stop upon 17 mile drive and take in what I can

Jeff

[THuckaby2]

Thank you Tom...  I will wait until I earn the chance to view 16 and 17 with my own eyes, but surely, I will stop upon 17 mile drive and take in what I can

Jeff

Jeff:  it is well worth doing so.  Hell I've lived 50 miles away for 22 years, I go to that area pretty damn often, I've been extremely fortunate to play the course a few times, and I STILL get a kick out of stopping and gawking along 17 Mile Drive, much to the chagrin of my family....

It's really cool to see.  Then you notice there are NO golfers on it, and that adds to the amazement.

TH

[John Foley]

I'll pile on w/ Huckster on this one. Of all the top courses in the world, shrouded in secrecy, hidden behind impassible gates & sentries, Cypress stands there w/ a public road running right through it. Stop by one of the turn outs and you can actaully see it being played. How great is that.

[Jfaspen]

Yes... And it sounds like while I am in San-Fran, I will have to go find Olympic Club and look up at it too (from a thread on page 3 or 4).  

I am also looking into getting that book about Cypress and perhaps one about Allister Mackenzie.  I started playing golf 10 years ago because I thought Augusta National looked amazing on tv.  Now, as I start to look at other courses, I find myself continually drawn to Mackenzie's work.  

If anyone has played Augusta National (or been in attendance at the Masters), how does it stack up to Cypress?

Jeff

[Mike_Cirba]

john foley;

Merion is very similar in that regard.

I can still remember my first drive through there 20 years ago like yesterday.  I was enthralled then, and remain so.  

[Scott_Burroughs]

Mike,

I did the same thing at Merion once about 11 years ago.  Even drove into the parking lot and walked up to the clubhouse and grabbed a scorecard (also did that at Cypress back in 1998 right after playing Pebble).

[THuckaby2]

Jeff:

Haven't been to Augusta, but one can get a fine dose of MacKenzie out here in CA...Pasatiempo is open to the public - it's expensive but well worth it, make sure and check it out.  Most others are private or no longer exist, but his stamp is all over our area.

And oh yes, lots of Olympic Clubs' Lake and Ocean courses can be seen from a road as well....

TH

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

There are very few places on the course that are critisized. The 18th hole being the primary one. I think the layup shot on 16 could be another. The second shot is from a downhill lie unless you go way back. The runup is not as viable as the photo might suggest it is. Unless the pin is middle to far right a par is very hard to come by. I never have thought this was a real issue for the layup is to avoid a double if you miss the green off the tee. But is is very tough to keep the ball in the front left 1/2 the green with the lie and the prevailing left to right cross wind one finds. Ok one could say the tee shot on 17, while drop dead beautiful has lost some of its original design by coastal erosion and taller bigger trees taking the hugging the coast approach to a very small area. I am not sure I can find another thing to point out other than how Board of Cypress Point Club seems to not find my membership application to send to me each year.

[Jfaspen]

Mike,

I did the same thing at Merion once about 11 years ago.  Even drove into the parking lot and walked up to the clubhouse and grabbed a scorecard (also did that at Cypress back in 1998 right after playing Pebble).

Scott, these clubs are not gated ala Augusta National?  

[THuckaby2]

Jeff:

There is no gate per se at Cypress.  Just a separate, very well-watched entrance drive, going off from the main road.  It has one of the world's coolest signs at it's start... "CYPRESS POINT CLUB  members only"... that's it...

I wouldn't advise driving up it and asking for a scorecard these days.  1988 was a simpler time!  But then again maybe I have just turned too wussily conservative in my old age.  

TH

[Scott_Burroughs]

1998, Tom, not 1988.  The day we played, 14 months ago, there wasn't anyone 'watching' the entrance.  I could just have easily not been invited to play and still driven in.  I'm also not saying I condone that type of behavior....

Compared to those guys who said they've played #15 and/or #16 'illegally', what I did is small potatoes.  

[Jfaspen]

Jeff:

There is no gate per se at Cypress.  Just a separate, very well-watched entrance drive, going off from the main road.  It has one of the world's coolest signs at it's start... "CYPRESS POINT CLUB  members only"... that's it...

I wouldn't advise driving up it and asking for a scorecard these days.  1988 was a simpler time!  But then again maybe I have just turned too wussily conservative in my old age.  

TH

I will defer to your judgment on that one.  I would imagine my chances of playing there someday would decrease if the club filed a police report against me.  Perhaps a picture next to the sign will have to surfice for now

Jeff