Had a 2:30 reciprocal time On the Ocean course which I had never played before.
Doubted I would finish but they charged me the twilight rate, so I figured maybe 13 or so holes. I have never seen a p... Continue »

Had a 2:30 reciprocal time On the Ocean course which I had never played before.
Doubted I would finish but they charged me the twilight rate, so I figured maybe 13 or so holes. I have never seen a private golf course so busy. I don't know how many members they have but this place is an absolute golf factory. Full tee sheets on both courses and every stall on the range in use. The nine-hole course wasn't very busy, but I think that was only because it might have been closed earlier in the day for maintenance.

As expected, the course was in perfect shape, wasn't in any bunkers but I threw a few in on the short course and they had nice fluffy sand, so I assume the same conditions on all courses.

Just a solid old school layout that was really fun to play. Fairways short of the greens were a little thin (perhaps on purpose) and damp (probably always) so chipping was a real challenge for me. I was too afraid, so I used a lot of Texas wedges or bump and runs but the guys I played with seemed to be able to pull em off and spin some wedges.

Like the Lake course I think it was designed in the twenties by Willie Watson and has been redone many times due to storm damage. I believe originally it was on the cliffs by the ocean and the holes got washed away in a storm. Tom Weiskopf did a redesign, and you can see his handywork all over the course. Good mix of holes including a few drivable par 4'S for big hitters and some bunkers right in the middle of the fairways to be avoided.

Wasn't in any of the bunkers but they looked like no bargain, same with the rough.
Fairways are all treelined by huge cypresses but not overly claustrophobic. No water hazards and I was able to play with one ball. The guys I played with sprayed a bunch of tee shots that I thought were deadsville and we found them all. So, a fair test of golf. White tees were 6221 But 71.1/128 for a par 71. Didn't seem to play that tough but there was no wind. I will say not a lot of flat lies.

Been a long time since I played the Lake course, but this one seems to have much more elevation change. Lots of members walking but I would consider it a tough walk even though the tee boxes are close to the greens. We got in 13 holes as it was getting dark, and the guys I played with bailed so that's where the fun began. I had to wait for the foursome on 14 to clear the green and then everyone started bailing. I played 15 and 16 two long par fours with my phone flashlight and hitting the ball down the middle. 17 is what seems a really pretty par three that I played in the pitch black. Couldn't even find the tee box for 18 and was afraid of driving into a tree. So, I packed it in.

Obviously not the star that the Lake Course is, but a very good golf course on its own. Probably gets lost in the shuffle in the radius of so many spectacular courses, but like Del Monte not to be overlooked and a real pleasure to play.