It's original routing for the course was designed by Willie Locke, a young Scotsman with a great eye as his routing for the back nine is still in place today. However due to creative differences, the club decided to choose a different designer for the hole by hole design by the name of A. Vernon Macan. His designs aren't well known, but locals do know his other Bay Area project, Lake Merced Golf Club, for holding Sectional Qualifying for the U.S. Open every other year.
While playing I noticed the bunker design looked familiar, and for good reason. The club hired (at the time) young Alister MacKenzie to work on his second golf course in America. His bunkers are well known for being cloud shaped and irregular which leads to many picturesque holes.
Finally after the new millenium, the club hired a new architect looking to make the front nine look like the back, and play like the back as well. Kyle Phillips redesigned much of the front nine, created three completely new holes (which are great holes that are long enough for new technology while keeping with a very classic feel), and managed to design sand traps that aren't far off from MacKenzie's.
Driving up to the club was a breeze. Just off the freeway the views and essence of the entire club take you back to a time where there weren't any freeways anywhere.
The Club's Driveway with cypress trees, preparing you for what you are going to be shooting through all day.
As you approach the clubhouse it almost looks reminiscent of an old colonial house you would see the south, or with it's columns... The White House?
The entire course is filled with adventure. I hit a lot of shots that weren't too bad. This is one course that doesn't accept shot's that aren't too bad. You hit good or great shots, or you pay the price. I realized this course is the true definition of a difficult course, 18 holes losing no balls that leaves you a possibility to shoot a high number. Playing from the "Venturi" (back) tees you will experience 7200 yards at a course rating of nearly 75, that is a monster course.
The approach to the Par 5 4th hole
Par 4 7th hole. It leaves the long hitters in good weather thinking whether to carry the 280 gap to the green complex or not.
The approach to the 7th hole taking the standard route. Bunkering on this hole is done very well.
Looking back at the clubhouse from the 10th green.
The shoot from the 13th tee box is not the widest, especially if you're a right hander and cut the ball. It's not the longest but still makes for an interesting hole.
A true standout among other Top 100 courses are The Cal Club's flag sticks. Double stitched so the number of the hole is on both sides of the flag is rare enough, but here they use wood flag sticks, something I've never seen before.
I took two pictures from the 15th tee boxes. This view is from the Black tee box, which is the second longest set of tees. You have a fairly open view at the fairway from here.
This view is from the Venturi tees, the longest set of tees on the course. The bunkers on the left squeeze together when you try to get close to the trees. It leaves the whole right side of the fairway wide open, however it makes your reachable Par 5 a three shot hole very quick.
The 16th hole from the tee box. It's supposed to be the easiest hole on the golf course as a short downhill Par 3. The bunkering surrounding the green does make it play slightly more difficult than the yardage would suggest.
The view from the right side of the 16th green.
The last Par 5's approach displaying classic MacKenzie bunkers.
The final approach shot which is slightly downhill but with a huge valley to cross. This is one of two greens that were redesigned by MacKenzie, coupled with his bunkering make the last hole a lasting memory.
I didn't notice it at the time, but the greens themselves are not the largest. Considering the original designer was rumored to be replaced because he wanted to make small greens, it makes me wonder just how small the original designer wanted them.
The Cal Club has one heck of a golf course. It is most definitely atop the few that I have played so far. The design has stayed true to its roots as the fairways often converge with holes that are next to each other rather than some clubs that have rough follow throughout the hole. Their cart paths are only by tee and greens so that they would not interfere with play, a feature most new courses and young architects today do not take advantage of. The maintenance crew puts out cart signs directing drivers towards the side of the fairway, which, since recent renovations, don't seem necessary on a day to day basis because they drain so well. The greens today slightly reminded me of the recent President's Cup at Royal Melbourne the way that they were firm, fast, and incredibly healthy while still showing some of the dirt underneath. Some of the best rolling greens I've seen without being a thick bent like Augusta. Overall, I can't wait to play the next course to see how much higher (Or lower depending on how you look at it) I would place The Cal Club... #97 seems pretty high for such a great course.
No comments:
Post a Comment