If baseball heaven is in Iowa, golfing heaven is in California.
My father and I took a trip to Monterey and played Spyglass and Pebble Beach. Except for my two children and my wife, Pebble Beach is the most beautiful site these eyes have ever seen. Simply stunning.
Spyglass is by far the most difficult golf course I have ever played. The first 4 holes are just brutal. They beat you up early and then wear you down the rest of the way. I was physically and mentally exhausted when I came off that golf course. I am a good golfer shooting anywhere from 72-82 on the courses around my house. Spyglass ate my lunch and spit out a 93. The challenge was unbelievable.
Pebble Beach was a little different as there was more room for error off of the tee but the greens were tiny. I was 1 over after 5 and thought that it was going to be a cakewalk compared to Spyglass. Well, if you know Pebble, the easiest holes are early. For the next 5 holes, I was 11 over. Holes 6-10 are just amazingly tough, beautiful holes. I calmed down some and going to 14, I looked at the card and saw that it was the number 1 handicap hole on the course. I hit driver, 5 iron to about 185 yards short of the hole, hit another 5 iron to about 15 feet and made the uphiller for birdie. That was an incredible feeling.
Going to 18, knowing my round was almost over, I looked at the most beautiful hole I have ever seen. Absolutely perfect. We took our pictures next to the 18th hole sign with the ocean behind. Knowing I needed par for a particular score I had in mind before the round started, I crushed a driver next to the tree in the right center of the fairway, hit a nice 3 iron to about 100 yards out, took a wedge and flew it just over the flag and for the first time in my life, received a fairly nice ovation from the spectators on the verandas around the green. I was close to tipping my hat, but decided against it. I was left with a downhill 12 footer, but just missed it and settled for par. My 89 was secured.
Other than the golf, we stayed at The Spanish Bay Inn, took rides along 17 Mile Drive, hit Cannery Row and Carmel and just had a great time. My father just turned 69, so it was very special for us both.
A trip I will remember forever.
OT-Golfing heaven
Moderators: Bill_Abner, ScoopBrady
Second to attending INDY with my dad has always been golfing with him...Nothing better.
Of course it doesn't hurt that he hs never beat me at golf....or should say....score lower.
I remember one time when I was 19 or 20...I was in a bad slump and shanking everything. We were playing Los Robles in Thousand Oaks, Ca.
I was getting pissed off....wasn't patient as a youth.
On this one whole my Dad was 25 yards to the right of me setting up his shot.....
as he was addressing his ball, I hit one that went staright rigth and right at him....it took one bounce and hit him square in the ass.
I wasn't pissed anymore....I was on my back laughing my ass off as he turns around and has that look like hew wants to kick my ass.....but once he realized that this made me feel better about my game....he relented...and laughed as well.
Thanks for bringing back that memory Pete. I am happy you and your dad enjoyed yourselves.
Of course it doesn't hurt that he hs never beat me at golf....or should say....score lower.
I remember one time when I was 19 or 20...I was in a bad slump and shanking everything. We were playing Los Robles in Thousand Oaks, Ca.
I was getting pissed off....wasn't patient as a youth.
On this one whole my Dad was 25 yards to the right of me setting up his shot.....
as he was addressing his ball, I hit one that went staright rigth and right at him....it took one bounce and hit him square in the ass.
I wasn't pissed anymore....I was on my back laughing my ass off as he turns around and has that look like hew wants to kick my ass.....but once he realized that this made me feel better about my game....he relented...and laughed as well.
Thanks for bringing back that memory Pete. I am happy you and your dad enjoyed yourselves.
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dbdynsty25
- DSP-Funk All-Star
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- Joined: Mon Aug 19, 2002 3:00 am
- Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Piggy,
Ahh...good old Los Robles Golf Course...that's about 1/4 mile away from where I grew up. I played many a rounds at LRGC...that is a long course that is pretty brutal if you walk...a lot of up and down. Have you played there in the last three years Piggy? They redesigned a few holes and it's a lot prettier now. It's a really nice course for the money around these parts. I just played there a couple weeks ago.
Ahh...good old Los Robles Golf Course...that's about 1/4 mile away from where I grew up. I played many a rounds at LRGC...that is a long course that is pretty brutal if you walk...a lot of up and down. Have you played there in the last three years Piggy? They redesigned a few holes and it's a lot prettier now. It's a really nice course for the money around these parts. I just played there a couple weeks ago.
Pete, it's stories like that which make golf such a redeeming sport. I've just started getting really into it, so not great yet, but my goal is to eventually play Pebble, or one of the famous courses that has hosted a major. Keep enjoying it, it's that one good shot, or good hole, in a round that keeps you coming back for more
db, I haven't been to Robles in years.....my dad said they changed it. The oak trees would kick my ass.
From 89-91 I worked at Simi Hills while I attended CSUN. Worked 2 days a week and my Dad and I got all the free golf and range balls we wanted M-F.
We play once a year now....usually in October when he and his LA City Firemans golf club is at Singing Hills here in San Diego.
Besides Robles, we used to play at Elkins Ranch, Sunset Hills(my friend was a member) and Riverwalk in Camarillo.
We always talk about playing at Simi or Robles...I'm on vacation all of August....if we play this month....maybe you can join us.
From 89-91 I worked at Simi Hills while I attended CSUN. Worked 2 days a week and my Dad and I got all the free golf and range balls we wanted M-F.
We play once a year now....usually in October when he and his LA City Firemans golf club is at Singing Hills here in San Diego.
Besides Robles, we used to play at Elkins Ranch, Sunset Hills(my friend was a member) and Riverwalk in Camarillo.
We always talk about playing at Simi or Robles...I'm on vacation all of August....if we play this month....maybe you can join us.
Cost was $275 at Spyglass and $395 at Pebble Beach. Do not let that stop you if you have a chance to play Pebble Beach. It was 7 hours (5 hours to play) of pure bliss.
If you ever play Pebble Beach, my suggestion is to take a caddie as his input was invaluable, saved me at least 5-6 strokes. His reading of the greens was usually the opposite of what I initially saw. The reading of the grain at those courses was a must when putting as the speed and break was wholly determined by which way the grain laid.
And it is true, everything breaks toward the ocean. The speed of the greens when putting towards the ocean was 3-4 times faster than when putting away from it.
If you ever play Pebble Beach, my suggestion is to take a caddie as his input was invaluable, saved me at least 5-6 strokes. His reading of the greens was usually the opposite of what I initially saw. The reading of the grain at those courses was a must when putting as the speed and break was wholly determined by which way the grain laid.
And it is true, everything breaks toward the ocean. The speed of the greens when putting towards the ocean was 3-4 times faster than when putting away from it.
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DivotMaker
- DSP-Funk All-Star
- Posts: 4131
- Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2003 4:00 am
- Location: Texas, USA
Pete,
I had a similar experience last April. I was contracted by EA to go to Pebble Beach and capture all new digital data (photography and video) for a refresh of Pebble in TW 2005.
The best part of this trip is that I asked my Dad to join me and he could not wait to go. We met at the SJ airport (separate flights) then drove together down CA 1 towards Monterrey. My Dad was stationed in Ft. Ord, so he got to relive many of those memories as he had not been back to the base since he left about 45 years ago. We also did the 17 mile drive, etc.
We spent 3 full days at Pebble photographing and video taping everything you can imagine. Pebble is truly "heaven on earth".
I had a similar experience last April. I was contracted by EA to go to Pebble Beach and capture all new digital data (photography and video) for a refresh of Pebble in TW 2005.
The best part of this trip is that I asked my Dad to join me and he could not wait to go. We met at the SJ airport (separate flights) then drove together down CA 1 towards Monterrey. My Dad was stationed in Ft. Ord, so he got to relive many of those memories as he had not been back to the base since he left about 45 years ago. We also did the 17 mile drive, etc.
We spent 3 full days at Pebble photographing and video taping everything you can imagine. Pebble is truly "heaven on earth".