“No Cup Is Safe” as Rory and Tiger kick off their new Nike relationship……well we kind of knew that about Tiger already…

January 2013

The Pelican Hill resort was designed in the grand 16th Century Palladiam architectural style of Northern Italy.  Grand is the operating phrase since everything is presented on a scale that dwarfs the imagination.

Tall Roman columns, long arched hallways, oversized urns with huge landscaping features, and airy cathedral ceilings everywhere.  It is big, bigger, and bigger still wherever you look.  The 70-inch flat screen TV in the Coliseum Sports Bar feels right at home.

This place has it all-superb accommodations, fine dining, full spa, and two seaside Tom Fazio creations with vistas that will blow your mind.  Shown below are images of the resort delights and the Ocean North Course.

In spite of the scale, the resort is run as a first class experience in a low key manner that makes your comfort a priority without any pomp and circumstance.   A  comfortable and delightful place to build massive amounts of points on your Amex Card.

First impression-front entrance creates an architectural statement.

Even the valet station at the informal restaurant is imposing.

Chill at tranquility basin, the endless pool that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

High end destination weddings use this Roman Chupah…quite charming.

Recreation includes all the European favorites….even Bocce.

The most expensive cart bridge in history traverses from the clubhouse to the first tee.

Split fairway….pick your poison on the hardest four par on the course.

A bit of Pine Valley on the approach to #9.

Dramatic uphill meets the horizon at the par 4 14th.

Postcard 17th has it all-strategic bunkering, imposing wetlands, and a promontory green setting overlooking a Pacific backdrop.

Approach looks like a blimp shot of the closing hole

(Click to read the full course review of Pelican Hill Ocean North)

(Click to read Postcard From Pelican Hill Ocean South)

January, 2013

Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach is a first class destination for the discriminating golfer. The hotel, dining, golf, spa, and other facilities will tax your Platinum Card to the fullest but it is well worth the fare. Routed on the steep hills of Newport Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean they have two Tom Fazio creations to wow your senses and challenge all your golfing skills.  The Ocean South is shown below.

The Mish, Long Ball, and The Birthday Girl in the prep area.

Built on abrupt elevation changes with sprawling ocean vistas you will may trouble concentrating on the task at hand.

These foothills have deep gorges that make for challenging carries and breathtaking views.

The environmental areas are off limits to golfers because of the critters and S’s.

Rock outcroppings provide unique accents and homes for the Titleist collecting trolls.

Tranquility defined traversing Walden Pond off the 8th tee.

Stunning look of par three #12 against the coastal horizon.

Followed by the par three #13-a canvas of sand, trees, sea, and sky to behold.

View of the rocky cliffs and surf a short stroll off the back of #13.

Dramatic sunset behind the 16th is a jaw dropping treat for the late twilight tee times.

(Click to read the full course review of Pelican Hill Ocean South)

(Click to read Postcard From Pelican Hill Ocean North)

December, 2012

Check out this Global Golf Post video of tag team putting at the Golf Academy of America in Apopka, Florida.

Note that 2 of 6 are left hand low and not a single belly putter or claw grip among them….is this significant?

(Click here to see the Six-Putt Global Golf Post video)

Global Golf Post

November, 2012

Every summer The Keepers, our men’s group from Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland, runs a mentoring outing at our place with the kids from the First Tee Program of Montgomery County.  The adults are flabbergasted every year by the golf maturity and enthusiasm of the kids, ages 8 to 15 years old, a testimony to the principles they learn through the First Tee Program.

The day entails some professional attention on the range, a short game competition, food, and seven holes of golf on our South Course.  At the end of the day The Keepers get as much out of this event as the kids-it is smiles and memories all around.

(photos courtesy of Rita Mhley)

It starts with organization.

And direction.

Some professional attention.

Mentor oversight.

Houston we have lift-off.

Maybe a bit of Marius Filmalter putting instruction.

Enthusiasm and support.

It is about the line.

And the stroke.

Kid’s got style.

Rapt attention.

Now that is a throwback look.

Some lemon refreshment.

Heading for home.

Lest we forget they are kids!

August, 2012

It has been and will be called everything, but Bandon Dunes is simply a perfect golfing atmosphere.  It is all golf, walking, and memories waiting to happen set on some of the most tranquil dunes you will find anywhere in the world.  If you just came, sat in the Lodge dining room, and stared at the seaside landscape of #10 in front of you it would be all the tonic you need to settle your urban soul.  Hats off to Mike Keiser for dreaming the dream and making it a reality for all of us to enjoy.

How to get to Bandon….circa 1915.

We came by rental car.

First check each day.

What to avoid.

Nothing is still out there.

In this wind you putt from everywhere.

Keen interest.

Enough happiness to go around.

Distraction.

Replenishing.

First at Bandon Trails has the look of Enniscrone in Ireland.

Intimidation…….on the Par 3 course at Bandon Preserve.

Pacific Dunes #2…Doak says it has all the links elements in one serving.

This Ghost Cedar haunts the early holes at Old Macdonald.

This green complex needs an escalator.

There are no exits forward.

McKees Pub….adult refreshment and more.

More……

Plenty to buy….including the Puffin.

Sheep says Good-Baaaaa to departing visitors outside Eugene Airport

Last look….into the setting sun at Bandon Dunes.

August, 2012

These days Pacific Dunes is the most talked about course in Bandon.  It packs the most dramatic dunes on the property many of which are smothered with gorse creating
hallway walls that ensconce the fairways defining the holes.  From the minimalist school of golf architecture, Tom Doak coaxed natural bunkers, used existing mounds and swales for contours, and accented it all with the sea grass and foliage that is native to the Oregon coast.  The ocean front vistas create memorable seaside holes which will take your breath away.

The course presents an amazing variety of holes in an intriguing sequence.  The back nine par 35 has only 2 par fours, 4 par threes, and 3 par fives.  If the wind is down the short holes give real scoring opportunities…if it is up, as it usually is, the shot factors required on the short holes increase geometrically…as can your score.

Pacific Dunes is a seaside links experience in the tradition of the Irish classics like Ballybunion, Waterville, and Royal County Down.  So pour yourself a Guinness when you are done.

All the links elements are evident on the opening hole.

Shoe Bunker was hand sculpted by Bob Gaspar one of Doak’s long time operatives.

Gorse covered dunes delineate many of the holes.

A “Hanging Chad”…..where is one more breath of wind when  you need it?

Sea grass accents the par 3 fifth hole.

Short par four sixth has a cavernous bunker protecting a three story green.

Everything but trolls and burning oil protecting this green setting.

Shore line views are downright distracting.

As were the colorful kite surfers.

One of four challenging three pars on the inward nine.

Two surprising close to that tight pin over the gnarly bunker.

The gorse covered dune towers over this shallow par four green.

The view of this finishing hole will cling to you long after you are done.

August, 2012

(Click to read Postscript From Bandon Dunes)

For more course detail click to see Pacific Dunes Course Review

Old Macdonald is “an homage to the vision and spirit of C.B. Macdonald” the grandfather of American golf architects.  Tom Doak provides us with a laboratory experience of the concepts and features of links golf on a sprawling piece of glorious links land.  It lacks the overwelming character of Bandon Dunes or Pacific Dunes but for those who pay attention it contains all the mysterious subtle quirks that make links golf so intriguing.

Get a sense of the ethereal expanse on which Old Mac sits.

Sprawling holes set against dramatic walls of gorse.

Holes wend through sand, scrub, and gorse.

The ghost Port Orford Cedar haunts a blind drive over the dune.

Hell Bunker….no Purgatory from there.

Nor much from the Road Hole bunker.

He sat, he refreshed, he plodded on.

Biarritz Par Three-that channel in the green is 3 feet deep.

Peek-a-boo approach.

Design features are oversized….even the sky.

Often difficult to discern where the fairway ends and green begins.

Commander Owl still trying to figure it out.

Now that is a bunker….a WW I bunker without the troops.

Doak Sand Game Improvement Center between holes.

August, 2012

(Click to read Postcard From Pacific Dunes-Day 4)

For more course detail click to see Old Macdonald Course Review