--Ocean Course Wins, 8&7
From Gary Slatter of Canouan, AL: Matty G, I'm sorry your game can't handle the Ocean Course. It is truly one of the greatest courses in the USA!
Gary,
No one is more sorry my game can't handle the Ocean Course than I am.
Although, if my game could handle that course, in those conditions, I'd
be on tour. Thank you for the note.
--Eeni Meeni...
From Adam Scott of Fort Frances, ON:
Matt, My wife and I are taking a trip down to Central Georgia, North
Florida and Southern South Carolina in the next six weeks. Due to other
committments on the trip, I will only get to play one course. I've been
trying to knock off as many top 100 courses in the USA, and wonder
which one you would recommend: Harbour Town, Ocean Course at Kiawah or
the Stadium Course at Sawgrass? I'm leaning towards Sawgrass just so I
can say I played the island green. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely, Adam Scott. (No, not that Adam Scott.)
Adam, Simply
because your name is Adam Scott, and I think the '04 Players was the
last time we heard from the young Aussie with such promise, I'd say you
should follow your gut-go to Sawgrass. Besides, you'll need both your
gut and some glory for all three of those finishing holes. Have fun
and let me know how it goes.
--My Hero
From Joseph Urban of Philadelphia: Matt, I am currently in the US
Army and will be returning from my deployment in Iraq in July or
August. I am looking for a nice vacation destination to take me and my wife for our
long needed reunion. All I want to do when I return is play golf; but
there's one problem--SHE DOESN'T PLAY! I really need your help finding
a place to go that I might skip off for a few hours a day to play, and
she wont be stuck watching morning infomercials on TV. Remember the
economy isn't too good right now so be gentle. I'm also willing to
travel just about anywhere. Much Thanks. Joe
Joe, First of all, thank you for your service to our country (not
to mention some
perspective). While I scout golf courses and resorts from state to
state, flirting with beverage cart girls and missing three-foot birdie
putts, you risk your life to defend our freedom. I offer you my prayers
for a safe trip home, my sincere appreciation for what you do, a firm
digital handshake, and some suggestions of places that might work with
you and your domestic dilemma.
Pinehurst isn't
exactly cheap, but it's a special place and it's a resort that has
specific military discounts. You'd enjoy a standard 10 percent discount
off any discounted rates, 20 percent off year-round standard packages,
and 30 percent off of spa treatments, Sunday-Thursday, year round.
Might
I suggest the "Pinehurst Romance Package"? The standard rate is $399
per couple and it includes a night of lodging, breakfast, champagne and
either flowers or chocolate covered strawberries in your room. With the
military discount, you'd pay $359. (I'd be happy to help cover some of
your golf.)
Another good option is "Fairway Furloughs" at Doral Golf Resort
in Miami. Active, reserve component, and retired service members get
green fees, including carts, for $69 after 3 p.m., seven days a week.
(Regular price is $95 to $175.)
If you stay overnight, service
members get the government per diem rate (currently $152, but changes
seasonally), which includes breakfast, complimentary Internet, and
discounts at restaurants, retail outlets, and the spa — plus a
20-percent discount on green fees at the resort’s five championship
courses.
A few more suggestions: Ross Bridge on the RTJ Trail has a great spa for your wife and plenty of good golf to keep you busy. Barton Creek in Austin might be hot in August, but I like that place. I also loved Madden's on Gull Lake in Minnesota, Hotel Hershey in Pennsylvania or Sun River
in Oregon. San Diego is very military friendly. It's also my favorite
city, other than New York, and there are several options for you out
there. The Lodge at Torrey Pines might be a good fit for your
needs. My guess is they all have some form of discounts for military;
and if they don't, they should.
If you're ever in New York, please let me know. I'd be honored to treat you to a round and a beer at Bethpage Black.
--Matty G.
Do you have a question you'd like answered on this blog or in the magazine? Send it to: www.golfdigest.com/contact/mattyg
Results for March 2010
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Coffee With The King
I was old enough to remember the day but young enough that my specific age is hazy. I know it was at Silverado in Napa, the senior tour was in town and my Dad brought me to the golf course to see some of his idols. If I had to guess, I’d say I was 12. It was my first brush with golf royalty—this is my first memory of The King.After Arnold Palmer finished up at the 18th green he started walking to his car. The older crowd closed in and formed a tight circle around him. I was swept up in the wash of a celebrity. I recall getting squished by bad hips, soft stomachs and droopy derrieres. (“Those aren’t pillows!”)
I remember Mr. Palmer, who was wearing a hearing aid, asked that he be allowed a path to his car. He promised the eager autograph seekers that he would walk slowly and that he’d sign the whole way there. The people parted like a full head of hair and Palmer kept his promise. He took less than baby steps all the way to his car and he never stopped signing. He also never stopped smiling. If the distance to his car was 50 yards, it took him over an hour to get there. That was my first golf tournament; I came back with my first autograph and my first favorite player.
Who knew, that as I got older, I would go on to set up photo shoots with Mr. Palmer on several occasions, first for Sports Illustrated and then for Golf World and Golf Digest.
After one photo shoot I made up some prints and with unseasonably low expectations, sent them down to his office in Orlando and asked that he sign one for my Dad. I sent the package on a Monday, it came back on a Thursday. I thought something was up—that was too fast. It had to be a case of a bad address. I flipped the box several times in search of the stamp: RETURN TO SENDER.
No stamp, no mixup. The box was back with an autographed print: “Dear John, Happy Birthday. Arnold Palmer.” I just shook my head. That was at least one of the reasons a guy gets such status. Did you know Palmer spends an hour a day and close to $50,000 a year signing and sending back memorabilia to adoring fans all over the world?
I’ve never actually played golf with Palmer, but I came close. At a semi-private press outing at Winged Foot a decade ago, I hit balls on the range a few stalls from him and then I played in the group directly behind him. Several times throughout the round I enjoyed the silhouette across the fairway of the iconic whippy finish.
I also remember watching him top a shot. It was as though the oxygen was sucked out of the earth’s atmosphere, birds dropped from the trees like they had been shot and mothers scooped up their children as though they were pulling them from oncoming cars. The gallery looked away or looked down at their shoes, not wanting to be called to any witness stand of humble court. Palmer calmly walked to his cart and moved on. He was royalty, but it was a good reminder, he was also human.
Flash forward to December of last year; I was in Orlando to write a story about the course changes at Bay Hill and report why you might want to stay and play at Palmer’s winter wonderland. I spoke to Erik Larsen, the Executive Vice President of the Arnold Palmer Design Company, and his staff about the course changes. But I also put in a request to get some time with Palmer, the proprietor. I was told to meet him in the restaurant at 8:30 a.m. the next day. He showed up at 8:15, and I proceeded to have coffee with The King.
I always refer to it as an interview if I ask all the questions. As soon as the subject asks a question of me I consider it a conversation. Let’s just say I haven’t had too many conversations with tour pros in my 15 years of covering golf. During my 15 minutes with him, Mr. Palmer found time to ask me about my job, where I had been traveling recently, where I was going next and he made the correct assumption, that with my life on the road, I wasn’t married.
When I was in Orlando it was shortly after Tiger’s tree troubles and you could see helicopters hovering over the gated community of Isleworth, just down the street from Bay Hill. I offered Mr. Palmer an off-the-record response to all that was unfolding in the modern-day life of a sports superstar. “On the record, off the record,” he said, “it’s a bad deal.” And then he shook his head.
Here’s an audio clip of my conversation with Arnold Palmer, discussing the essence of his resort:
Here’s a link to my story about Bay Hill in the current issue of Golf Digest.
--Matty G.
(Photograph by Cy Cyr.)
My March Madness III
I was in Vegas for the first week of March Madness, a third annual buddies trip that is etched into my calendar for years to come (or, forever). The group was made up of a friend from high school; from college; from summer softball league; the affable Josh Elliott of ESPN (we worked together at Sports Illustrated, prior to his meteorite ascent at the Four-Letter—we’re on the plane home and he’s sitting right there-->); and Josh’s best friend from high school. I had my clubs with me, but the flat-stick was passed up for a wall of flatscreens and a college-campus atmosphere at the Mandalay Bay sportsbook…not to mention the saucy smell of marinated undershirts and too many bad bets. I physically survived. But my soul is in shambles.
As a Saint Mary’s grad ('95), you’d think this would’ve been a perfect four days. The Gaels rolled over Richmond on Thursday and embarrassed Villanova on Saturday, thus exposing the dubious dominance of East Coast basketball. (Syracuse and West Virginia served as notable exceptions.) And leaving me to text friends: “Did that just happen? Gaels coasted into the Sweet 16? Surreal.”Embedded in Vegas for four grueling days of ups and downs, ups again and downs again, but for the most part, good clean debauchery—truth be told—I bet the hedge. Gaels were getting a few points against Richmond, I figured if I bet the Spiders then I’d win regardless of the outcome. I’m sure I referred to it as a “win-win.” Not so. Gaels won, I lost. But then I was pot-committed (gambling term referring to being invested somehow on the money in the middle), and so I kept everything the same for Saturday. I wore that aforementioned undershirt (smelled like socks) and I bet on ‘Nova, giving a few points. Gaels win again, I lose again.
On my way out of Sin City I bet Baylor, giving 3.5, guaranteeing a Gaels victory and a trip to the Elite Eight.
As for a summary of what we’ve learned on our annual trip to Vegas:
We’ve stayed at the MGM, the Mirage and Mandalay Bay. By far the best overall combination of accommodations, sportsbook, restaurant options (and topless pools) are at the Mandalay Bay (for four nights, double occupancy, we paid $300 per guy). It’s down the Strip a bit, but we only left the property for lunch at In-N-Out, which is close and delicious. The Mirage is second, the MGM, a little dark and tired, is third.
Our eateries of choice, besides In-N-Out: Mizuya, the sushi spot in the middle of the main Mandalay Bay casino. I suggest eating early, thus avoiding a loud 80’s cover band covered in leather and Bon Jovi hairdos singing, well, Bon Jovi songs. (It was as if we were eating in the middle of a Vegas casino, but the food was good.)
We also like Lupa (Wolfgang Puck Italian), Border Grill (excellent Mexican) and although we didn’t hit Stripsteak this time through, it’s very good as well. Again, all are on property, but you pay for the convenience, none I’d consider cheap.
Overall customer service at Mandalay Bay is less than perfect. So much so it was worth a mention. Times are tough in Vegas right now and I was sensing a chip on almost everyone’s delivery.
If you want to be close to all that is the Mandalay Bay, but have a place of privacy and quiet at night, TheHotel, a boutique hotel catering to business travelers and is connected to the Mandalay Bay, is a great option as well.
And as for golf, if you have the will power to unplug from the energy of manufactured oxygen and fantastic finishes every fifteen minutes, a little over an hour away is Wolf Creek in Mesquite. It’s No. 21 on Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Public, but the brand of golf, straight from a Bud Chapman painting, is too over the top for me. I prefer all three Pete Dye courses at Paiute (45 minutes from the Strip), both Tom Fazio’s at Primm Valley (an hour from the Strip), and Royal Links. Based on a cheesy concept (18 holes from 11 of the British Open rota courses), Royal Links is close (10 minutes), it’s not bad, and that’s the course that offers Par Mates, the sexy female caddies in little kiltish skirts with an emphasis on keeping your equipment clean—they don’t actually carry your clubs, but they will wash your irons, balls, hold the flag and flirt throughout the round.Just what is a Gael, you ask? In short, it’s an Irish Knight. And what’s even more surreal than “our” trip to the Sweet 16: Elliott is on record breaking down why the Gaels might be able to clip Duke en route to the Final Four.
Trapped next to Mr. Meteorite in this iron bird, I point out that I have a reason not to wash my shirt soaked in me, my silly financial sacrifices and mid-major victories. But what’s his excuse for his stench? (His Alma Mater, UCSB, lost to Ohio St.)
“We didn’t lose,” Elliott says. “We pushed.” And then he digs back in on his second crossword puzzle of the day.
Go Gaels. And next year, for the first week of March Madness, grab a few friends and go to Vegas.
--Matty G.
Brazilian Beverage Cart Girl: Marina Machado
Course: Maderas Golf Club in Poway, Calif. A Robert Muir Graves and Johnny Miller design (1999).Beverage Cart Girl: Marina Machado
Hometown: Florianopolis, Brazil
Age: 28 (on March 15, so a "Happy Birthday" is in order).
Short story: Machado says she came to the United States six years ago because she wanted to be a nurse. She's currently enrolled in nursing school at San Diego State. "This is a great job to have while I'm in school," says Machado. "I've had trouble getting classes, there are waiting lists, but I will get through it eventually."
Golf? I'm a beginner. This course is really hard for me.
Do you play any other sports? I've been surfing all of my life. I also do triathlons. I'm very active.
Do you see any celebrities out here at Maderas? LaDanian Tomlinson is a member. David Justice is here all the time. He's a very good tipper.
What's a good tip after an order of a round of drinks? $20.
What's the most you've made in a day? I made $1,000 one day. It was a corporate tournament.
What's your favorite restaurant in the area? Robbie's Roadhouse Grille in Leucadia. It's an American steak house and they're known for their burgers.
Status? I've been married for five years. My husband and I surf together all the time.
--Matty G.
36 in San Diego: Maderas And Coronado
Another day of reporting (and tweeting) on golf in San Diego. I started at Maderas, a Robert Muir Graves and a Johnny Miller design, that opened in 1999. Here's a shot of the 18th hole (580-yards) from the tee and the approach:
Maderas is $210 on weekends and $175 during the week. According to Joe Mendoza, the Head Pro, Maderas is the only $200-plus green fee in the area that's not affiliated with a hotel. Mendoza says business has been good. They pick up a lot of group outings from downtown hotels who don't want to send customers to play at a course associated with a competing property. And Mendoza says they've stayed flexible with marketing strategies such as a regular "burger night" on the back deck to get customers and members patronizing their food and beverage services.
After the round I had a brief conversation with the Director of Golf at Maderas, Mike Lissebeck, about the fact that they didn't overseed this year. He told me management got together and decided it wasn't the right thing to do from a business or environmental perspective. He says they felt pressure to keep the course green to impress vacationers from the Northeast. In a down economy, with fewer people coming across country, combined with a desire to conserve water and money, Lissebeck predicts Maderas will never overseed again.
Times, they are a-changing.
After Maderas I raced to Coronado, about 35 minutes down the freeway. A few weeks ago I blogged Coronado is the best value course in the country. For $30 during the week you get fair and fun conditions at the base of the Coronado Bridge and alongside the San Diego Bay. Last year Coronado, which opened in 1959, did 102,000 rounds. The most they've done in a year is 112,000 rounds. As you might imagine getting a tee time can be difficult and pace of play can be an issue. I paid an extra $15 for an advanced tee time and I finished in five hours on a warm and windy Wednesday afternoon. Here's a shot of the 18th hole (493-yards), which borders the bay and gives a distracting view of the big blue bridge, especially at sunset.
For more on my 36-hole day in San Diego, what I thought of Maderas and Coronado and bumping into Maderas member LaDanian Tomlinson, check out my tweets at WheresMattyG.
Look for the full story about my stay in San Diego in an upcoming issue of Golf Digest.
--Matty G.
Maderas is $210 on weekends and $175 during the week. According to Joe Mendoza, the Head Pro, Maderas is the only $200-plus green fee in the area that's not affiliated with a hotel. Mendoza says business has been good. They pick up a lot of group outings from downtown hotels who don't want to send customers to play at a course associated with a competing property. And Mendoza says they've stayed flexible with marketing strategies such as a regular "burger night" on the back deck to get customers and members patronizing their food and beverage services. After the round I had a brief conversation with the Director of Golf at Maderas, Mike Lissebeck, about the fact that they didn't overseed this year. He told me management got together and decided it wasn't the right thing to do from a business or environmental perspective. He says they felt pressure to keep the course green to impress vacationers from the Northeast. In a down economy, with fewer people coming across country, combined with a desire to conserve water and money, Lissebeck predicts Maderas will never overseed again.
Times, they are a-changing.
After Maderas I raced to Coronado, about 35 minutes down the freeway. A few weeks ago I blogged Coronado is the best value course in the country. For $30 during the week you get fair and fun conditions at the base of the Coronado Bridge and alongside the San Diego Bay. Last year Coronado, which opened in 1959, did 102,000 rounds. The most they've done in a year is 112,000 rounds. As you might imagine getting a tee time can be difficult and pace of play can be an issue. I paid an extra $15 for an advanced tee time and I finished in five hours on a warm and windy Wednesday afternoon. Here's a shot of the 18th hole (493-yards), which borders the bay and gives a distracting view of the big blue bridge, especially at sunset.
For more on my 36-hole day in San Diego, what I thought of Maderas and Coronado and bumping into Maderas member LaDanian Tomlinson, check out my tweets at WheresMattyG.Look for the full story about my stay in San Diego in an upcoming issue of Golf Digest.
--Matty G.
Tuesday Tweets From Torrey
Yesterday I tweeted throughout my round at Torrey Pines South in San Diego. I look at social networking like cooking pasta in college -- I throw it on the wall to see if it sticks.
When I’m reporting an Away Game, like I am this week in San Diego, and especially when I’m playing a recognizable venue, I tweet about the playing conditions, various costs and the beverage cart girl. Some of the information is edible, and some just falls into the digital garbage can.
Here are a few tweets from Tuesday (it’s in sequential order if you read from the bottom):
Per a promise, here’s a quick Q&A with Karlee Norman, 26, the beverage cart girl at Torrey Pines South:
How long have you worked at Torrey Pines? Four years.
Do you play golf? I played in high school, but I haven’t kept up with it. I still play on occasion, but it's not good.
Do you get proposed to on the course by complete strangers? Only after birdies or a lot of beer.
Do you drive up on any celebrities out here? Phil Mickelson is out here a lot.
What kind of tipper is he? He’s an excellent tipper.
What’s the most you’ve made in one day of tips? $400.
As I tweeted above, I played Torrey South less than two years ago -- the fog was so dense it was dangerous. After a group left the green they had to yell back that it was clear to play away. The round was riddled with random shouts and constant confusion.
The conditions I had today, on the third tee for example (pictured above), it was a much different deal. Without a fog or any wind, Torrey was there for the taking.
As for the old sophomoric pasta art: Sometimes my roommates and I would leave the sticky strands of spaghetti on the wall, let it dry, and then crack it off days later with a dull knife. One batch left the outline of a cowboy hat. And at the end of the school year, according to the owner of the condo, it was worth exactly the price of our deposit.
At Torrey on Tuesday locals paid $58, I paid $131. Both prices were discounted 25 percent because the 11th hole was closed for some minor repairs. Regardless, the round was worth it. It was 78 degrees and I shot a 75 (I gave myself a par on the closed hole). Then I went on a four-hour private tour of breweries throughout the county by way of a company called Brew Hop (www.brewhop.com).
Golf and an obscene supply of beer, it was like I was back in college. But I've evolved. Now the only subjective line art was my scorecard.
You'll be able to read more about my trip to San Diego, brewery tours, my rounds at four courses, my stay at Grand Del Mar and a visit to The Kingdom at TaylorMade in an upcoming issue of Golf Digest.
If you care to follow me on Twitter, click here. Today I'm playing Maderas and Coronado.
--Matty G.
When I’m reporting an Away Game, like I am this week in San Diego, and especially when I’m playing a recognizable venue, I tweet about the playing conditions, various costs and the beverage cart girl. Some of the information is edible, and some just falls into the digital garbage can.
Here are a few tweets from Tuesday (it’s in sequential order if you read from the bottom):
Per a promise, here’s a quick Q&A with Karlee Norman, 26, the beverage cart girl at Torrey Pines South:How long have you worked at Torrey Pines? Four years.
Do you play golf? I played in high school, but I haven’t kept up with it. I still play on occasion, but it's not good.
Do you get proposed to on the course by complete strangers? Only after birdies or a lot of beer.
Do you drive up on any celebrities out here? Phil Mickelson is out here a lot.
What kind of tipper is he? He’s an excellent tipper.
What’s the most you’ve made in one day of tips? $400.
As I tweeted above, I played Torrey South less than two years ago -- the fog was so dense it was dangerous. After a group left the green they had to yell back that it was clear to play away. The round was riddled with random shouts and constant confusion.The conditions I had today, on the third tee for example (pictured above), it was a much different deal. Without a fog or any wind, Torrey was there for the taking.
As for the old sophomoric pasta art: Sometimes my roommates and I would leave the sticky strands of spaghetti on the wall, let it dry, and then crack it off days later with a dull knife. One batch left the outline of a cowboy hat. And at the end of the school year, according to the owner of the condo, it was worth exactly the price of our deposit.
At Torrey on Tuesday locals paid $58, I paid $131. Both prices were discounted 25 percent because the 11th hole was closed for some minor repairs. Regardless, the round was worth it. It was 78 degrees and I shot a 75 (I gave myself a par on the closed hole). Then I went on a four-hour private tour of breweries throughout the county by way of a company called Brew Hop (www.brewhop.com).
Golf and an obscene supply of beer, it was like I was back in college. But I've evolved. Now the only subjective line art was my scorecard.
You'll be able to read more about my trip to San Diego, brewery tours, my rounds at four courses, my stay at Grand Del Mar and a visit to The Kingdom at TaylorMade in an upcoming issue of Golf Digest.
If you care to follow me on Twitter, click here. Today I'm playing Maderas and Coronado.
--Matty G.
Ambush No. 21: Are You Next?
As I made my way to San Diego for a story about golf in one of my favorite cities in the country, I went through 94 Ambush entries—summaries of buddies trips taking place in the second half of March through the first week of April. The winning group will be Ambush No. 21. In addition to being featured in an upcoming issue of Golf Digest, the lucky posse of chops will be buried in free stuff, including: TaylorMade golf bags and hats, Srixon balls, Sundog eyewear, Hoyo de Monterrey cigars and some free drinks. The first few Ambushes got mini kegs of Heineken and a dinner. I guess you could say there has been an evolution of generosity and support for a concept that connects to you, the reader, and your passion for camaraderie through golf.Some of the trips I’m considering this month: Russell Sleight of Horseheads, NY will be joined by 11 friends who drive almost seven hours to Ocean City, MD. Ages 25 to 72 play 126 holes in four days. “The first year there was only four of us,” says Sleight. “But each year the group keeps getting bigger.”
Tim Bellury of Fayetteville, GA is on his way back to Mesquite. They also started as four guys, now they are up to a group of 80. “We go to the same place each year,” says Bellury, “and we are rewarded with outstanding service for our loyalty.” Bellury says his friend Mike Brown started this annual excursion. “He and his wife work hard to make this a fun and rewarding trip each year.”
And then there’s the 12th annual “Other Senior Tour” taking place an hour north of Tampa. It all started back in 1998 when Mike Hendren’s wife surprised him for his 40th birthday. Hendren, of Brentwood, TN says, “As the tour commissioner, benevolent dictator (think Cliff Roberts, C.B. Macdonald or George Crump) and life-long golf course architecture student, I select the venue. This year and we will play Bobby Weed's renovated Brooksville CC, Tom Fazio's 36-holes at World Woods and Arthur Hills' renovated Dunes at Seville.”
Mighty benevolent of you, Mike. Making sage decisions like those, your dictatorship is safe.
Speaking of safe, Kerry McHugh of Braintree, MA writes: “Our trip is made up of active and retired police officers and firefighters from the Boston area. We have been traveling together for 28 years. Ten years to Myrtle Beach and now the Tucson/Phoenix area for 18 years.” They've never had less than 12, no more than 36. They go to Tucson in March so they can play golf in the morning, catch a spring training game in the afternoon. “The trip is put together by our trip leader, Jerry Kenny, a retired fire chief,” says McHugh.
Not many of the thousands of itineraries I've received are as impressive as the one from Jon Kaull of Fitchburg, WI. It’s a 37-page “Player’s Guide” to the 2010 Kaull Invitational. They started in 2006 and go every two years. I see in the section labeled, “Past Tournament Information,” Kaul and seven friends have been to Hilton Head and Grand National on the RTJ Trail in Alabama. This year their staging ground for six rounds of a loose interpretation of a Ryder Cup format will be Barton Creek in Austin. Unfortunately I just Ambushed in Austin a few months ago. Obviously part of each Ambush story is a travel element, to be shared with the masses. That’s why I try to keep moving around the country to various buddies trip destinations. In other words: not this year, Jon. But maybe I meet up with you and your crew in 2012. Please keep me posted and thank you for your interest in the Ambush.
If you want to read about Ambush No. 20, another group of guys (pictured above) just back from their first buddies trip to Ross Bridge and Grand National on the RTJ Trail, click here. And here’s their Ambush video:
Do you want your buddies trip featured in Golf Digest? If so, click here, and fill out an Ambush entry. You never know, you might be next.
--Matty G.
A Reader's Trip Report: Orlando
Tom Hoyt of Lebanon, NH, is a reader of the blog and an avid golfer. He says he is a 15 handicap and his wife, Kim, is a 25. “We've averaged 75 rounds at 45 different courses over the last five years,” says Hoyt, who filed this trip report after a recent trip to Orlando.
Matt,
My wife and I (pictured above) just returned from the prototypical “winter getaway” golf trip to Orlando and I thought I’d share a few thoughts with you and your readers.
Hunter’s Creek: Whenever the question is asked about courses near Orlando International Airport, Hunter’s Creek is often in the discussion. It’s not in the same league as Eagle Creek, Falcon’s Fire, or Shingle Creek, but I was also able to find a $40 green fee vs. $100(ish) at the other courses. It’s pretty typical Florida, lots of water and palm trees as it winds through homes with backyard pools and screen enclosures. Hunter's Creek Golf Club has been decorated with awards and accolades, including being honored by Golf Digest as one of the "Top 75 Public Courses to Play" in the country in 1990s. I always find it surprising when a course includes something like this on their website. If the last award you want to tell me about occurred 20 years ago, I’m going to assume things haven’t been great since then.
Disney: You know the drill—Palm, Magnolia, Osprey and Lake Buena Vista. It’s resort golf and while you will find lots of golf groups escaping the cold, you will also have to deal with vacationers who have decided to play golf rather than spend a day in the parks. The courses are just hard enough to bring pace of play to a grinding halt when a said group happens to be in front of you. Courses were in great condition. What I did find interesting was Palm and Magnolia, that co-host the Children’s Miracle Network Classic, are directly across the street from the Magic Kingdom and you can hear things at the park while you are playing. Conversely, Osprey Ridge winds you through remote forest and it’s easy to forget that you are so close to the madness.
A couple of other notes: Palm and Magnolia have “Kodak Moment” signage at every tee box that tells you some historical event that happened at that hole during the history of the PGA tour stop. Palm has a stretch of holes, 13 through 16, that needs a name—short par 4, a risk/reward par 5, wide-open par 4, and a picturesque par 3. Honda has The Bear Trap, Augusta has Amen Corner, TPC with the Gauntlet. I don’t know, maybe something like, “The Mouse Trap?”
Disney offers a “golf membership” with details available on their go website. It’s worth investigating. Not only does the membership reduce green fees by up to 40%, it is good for a full year.
Orange County National: The PGA Tour holds Qualifying School here. From the back tees it’s an absolute bear with a slope near 140. Long story short: admit that you aren’t that good, play from the right tees, and both of the 18s are very playable. This was not the case with the group in front of us. A threesome played from the tips, hit six shots off the first tee and didn’t get one of them in play. We played Crooked Cat on this trip and I’m always intrigued by No. 12, a par 4. I’ve played it before and I know it shouldn’t be that hard, but it’s a design gem in that as you stand over your 140-yard approach shot, you convince yourself how hard it's going to be, and as a result, top an 8-iron into the scrub. You can easily spend the day at OCN. It has two courses, a 9-hole short course that gets a lot of play from people who can play, the biggest 360-degree driving range I’ve ever seen, on-site lodging and food—they’ve got it all.
Be sure to sign up to be part of OCN’s e-mail list. I was able to secure a “winter getaway” green fee that was nearly 50% off their listed rate. If this is your choice for the first or last round of the trip, you should know you're looking at a good 45-minute drive to the airport, and that’s without traffic. Simply put, there are better choices for the first or last day because you want to take the time to enjoy this place.
Reunion Resort: The final day of our trip was rained and winded out so what better to do than drive around and look at other courses? Reunion Resort, just south of Disney on I-4, is a microcosm of what went wrong with Florida real estate. I played there five years ago, as things were getting built, and remember thinking, “Do that many people really need $500,000 second homes?” The three courses at Reunion all appear to be in good shape, but everywhere you look you see houses that are half finished, numerous empty lots, and perhaps saddest of all, the new Nicklaus course, across the interstate, has a temporary clubhouse in a tent. During the height of the real estate boom I drove to the front gate at Reunion and was turned away because I didn’t have an appointment. This trip I said to the guard on duty, “I’m interested in looking at some houses,” and was given a map and directions!
Thank you, Tom. Be sure to pick up the April issue of Golf Digest. I'm also recently back from Orlando and I filed a report about the renovations at Bay Hill.
--Matty G.
Matt, My wife and I (pictured above) just returned from the prototypical “winter getaway” golf trip to Orlando and I thought I’d share a few thoughts with you and your readers.
Hunter’s Creek: Whenever the question is asked about courses near Orlando International Airport, Hunter’s Creek is often in the discussion. It’s not in the same league as Eagle Creek, Falcon’s Fire, or Shingle Creek, but I was also able to find a $40 green fee vs. $100(ish) at the other courses. It’s pretty typical Florida, lots of water and palm trees as it winds through homes with backyard pools and screen enclosures. Hunter's Creek Golf Club has been decorated with awards and accolades, including being honored by Golf Digest as one of the "Top 75 Public Courses to Play" in the country in 1990s. I always find it surprising when a course includes something like this on their website. If the last award you want to tell me about occurred 20 years ago, I’m going to assume things haven’t been great since then.
Disney: You know the drill—Palm, Magnolia, Osprey and Lake Buena Vista. It’s resort golf and while you will find lots of golf groups escaping the cold, you will also have to deal with vacationers who have decided to play golf rather than spend a day in the parks. The courses are just hard enough to bring pace of play to a grinding halt when a said group happens to be in front of you. Courses were in great condition. What I did find interesting was Palm and Magnolia, that co-host the Children’s Miracle Network Classic, are directly across the street from the Magic Kingdom and you can hear things at the park while you are playing. Conversely, Osprey Ridge winds you through remote forest and it’s easy to forget that you are so close to the madness.
A couple of other notes: Palm and Magnolia have “Kodak Moment” signage at every tee box that tells you some historical event that happened at that hole during the history of the PGA tour stop. Palm has a stretch of holes, 13 through 16, that needs a name—short par 4, a risk/reward par 5, wide-open par 4, and a picturesque par 3. Honda has The Bear Trap, Augusta has Amen Corner, TPC with the Gauntlet. I don’t know, maybe something like, “The Mouse Trap?”
Disney offers a “golf membership” with details available on their go website. It’s worth investigating. Not only does the membership reduce green fees by up to 40%, it is good for a full year.
Orange County National: The PGA Tour holds Qualifying School here. From the back tees it’s an absolute bear with a slope near 140. Long story short: admit that you aren’t that good, play from the right tees, and both of the 18s are very playable. This was not the case with the group in front of us. A threesome played from the tips, hit six shots off the first tee and didn’t get one of them in play. We played Crooked Cat on this trip and I’m always intrigued by No. 12, a par 4. I’ve played it before and I know it shouldn’t be that hard, but it’s a design gem in that as you stand over your 140-yard approach shot, you convince yourself how hard it's going to be, and as a result, top an 8-iron into the scrub. You can easily spend the day at OCN. It has two courses, a 9-hole short course that gets a lot of play from people who can play, the biggest 360-degree driving range I’ve ever seen, on-site lodging and food—they’ve got it all.
Be sure to sign up to be part of OCN’s e-mail list. I was able to secure a “winter getaway” green fee that was nearly 50% off their listed rate. If this is your choice for the first or last round of the trip, you should know you're looking at a good 45-minute drive to the airport, and that’s without traffic. Simply put, there are better choices for the first or last day because you want to take the time to enjoy this place.
Reunion Resort: The final day of our trip was rained and winded out so what better to do than drive around and look at other courses? Reunion Resort, just south of Disney on I-4, is a microcosm of what went wrong with Florida real estate. I played there five years ago, as things were getting built, and remember thinking, “Do that many people really need $500,000 second homes?” The three courses at Reunion all appear to be in good shape, but everywhere you look you see houses that are half finished, numerous empty lots, and perhaps saddest of all, the new Nicklaus course, across the interstate, has a temporary clubhouse in a tent. During the height of the real estate boom I drove to the front gate at Reunion and was turned away because I didn’t have an appointment. This trip I said to the guard on duty, “I’m interested in looking at some houses,” and was given a map and directions!
Thank you, Tom. Be sure to pick up the April issue of Golf Digest. I'm also recently back from Orlando and I filed a report about the renovations at Bay Hill.
--Matty G.
A New Concept At Old Mac
I’ve recently been hammering Pebble Beach for a $500 green fee and I’ve been getting pounded for being critical of the Ocean Course's degree of difficulty. (Sorry, I’m sticking to both barrels.) And then I stumbled upon an example of an owner of one of the best resorts in the world listening to the Little people. A couple of New Hampshirites, Arthur Little and his wife, Jann Leeming, went to Bandon Dunes a few years ago to play golf. They enjoyed their stay but they had some suggestions for Bandon brass, so they wrote a letter to the owner, Mike Keiser. The title of the message: “Your golf course is way too long.”
Little says he heard back from Keiser, “Almost immediately.”
The end result is something some might consider radical-Old Mac is adding a set of forward tees that will play from roughly 4,400 yards. To others, such as Arthur and Jann, it makes sense.
The first two paragraphs of Arthur and Jann's letter to Mike Keiser, postmarked in the spring of 2007, got right to their point:
Because golf has been stagnant since 2001, the golf industry, as a matter of economic necessity, talks endlessly about “growing the game.” However, it will never be successful in reinvigorating the game until it stops making ignorant decisions about golf course design and starts building or retrofitting golf courses that really fit the customers it needs to attract or retain.
Courses as traditionally and currently designed are much too long, too difficult and take too long to play. Golf course owners and designers are fixated on lengthening courses to “fit” the very best players and get on “Best Courses” lists. As a result, they are not providing an enjoyable experience for average, beginning and aging golfers. These are the people that the industry must attract and retain in order to be successful financially. The golf industry must realize that the competition for the leisure time of these players is much greater than ever before and that it must meet their needs.
Little and Leeming, who are in their mid-60s, love to play golf, love to walk but don’t hit the ball very far, had the attention of one of golf’s last great visionaries and someone who could endorse their ground swell of change. “I was skeptical but respectful at first,” says Keiser. “Then I came to realize they speak for some larger number of us, getting older, getting weaker, and they made their case, which I’m fulfilling at Old Macdonald, for a 4,400-yard golf course.”
Keiser is opening Old Macdonald in June, a fourth course at Bandon Dunes, which is widely considered the best golf resort in the country. Located on the Southwest Coast of Oregon, Bandon Dunes already has three courses in the top 14 on Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Public, multiple restaurants, watering holes and five lodging options, all within three minutes of each other. And Old Macdonald might be the most popular attraction of the bunch because the style of golf, like that of the Old Course at St. Andrews, will be fun and fast with big greens and it will be almost impossible to lose a ball.
Up to now, the knock on playing golf at Bandon is that it’s too hard to get to, and by being walking-only with the potential of tough playing conditions (it’s on the coast so wind is usually a factor) it’s also considered too hard for the average or aging golfer. And maybe this is why Keiser had such a sensitive ear to Little and Leeming and their play to make a difference.
After repeated e-mail exchanges between Keiser and this pro-active couple, spanning more than four years, they spoke on the phone for the first time last week. Keiser told Little that he asked Jim Urbina, who along with Tom Doak designed Old Macdonald, to go back to Oregon last December and add the additional set of tees. Regardless of the condensed field of play, the par will still be listed as 71. The shortest par 3 (No. 2) will play from roughly 82 yards. The longest par 5 (No. 6) will play from roughly 410 yards.
“Every one of the teeing grounds that are for the Littles are in the fairways and are not distinguishable from anywhere else on the golf course,” says Urbina. “At Old Macdonald I blended them in the fairway so when the Littles walk up there, they’ll see a little disk, they’ll plop their tee in the ground and they’ll whack away.”
Keiser said he was willing to print a separate scorecard and that he’d call the forward tees the “Friendly Tees.” Little says he hated that name—too condescending—and they didn’t want their own scorecard. As of last week Keiser says he’s going with the “Royal Blue” tees and they will be included on the main scorecard at Old Macdonald, which is an homage to Charles Blair Macdonald, one of the original architects of golf courses in the United States. The tees at Old Mac will range from 4,400 yards to 7,200 yards. Keiser approached his staff about adding a forward set of tees at the other three courses at his resort, but they’ve elected to see the results of the Old Mac experiment first.
Little and Leeming have a good sense of the test. They were golf course owners in Maine for 10 seasons (1996-’05). They didn’t have the room to add more sets of tees beyond 6,300 yards, so instead they added tees in the other direction, making the shortest route 4,169 yards. The concept has a track record of success. They included some data in their original letter to Keiser:
Our experience at Province Lake Golf in Parsonsfield, Maine was remarkable. In 1996, we bought a course out of bankruptcy. It was in terrible shape, located far from population centers and we needed to do something innovative to make it economically viable. We took a radical approach and built a tee system that differed from any we’d encountered.
--We increased rounds from 8,000 to 18,000
--Women represented over a third of our play
--Junior play increased from 1.5% to 7.5%
--Our seniors moved up a set of tees and increased their play
--Speed of play increased by 15-30 minutes a round even on busy days
--We tripled our tournament and outing business
--We received recognition by Golf For Women magazine as the No. 1 course for women in New England and No. 39 in the U.S. and by Golf Inc. magazine for our family and junior programs
--Most importantly, over time, we improved our annual financial results by $200,000
So there you have it—a match made in Bandon. Give credit to Keiser for his vision, but also for a willingness to listen.
Here's an audio clip of Mike Keiser telling me how the concept of the forward tees came across his desk. He refers to the tees in this clip as the "Purple Tees," but as of last week, they're the "Royal Blue Tees."
My Away Game about Old Macdonald will appear in the May issue of Golf Digest, which comes out the first week in April.
Golf World published an issue this week with a dedicated section on the status of golf course architecture in the Unites States. Be sure to read the article by Chris Millard.
--Matty G.
(Photograph of Old Macdonald's 14th green by Stephen Szurlej.)
My Top 5 "Affordable" Golf Hotels In The Country
What is affordable? That's a sliding scale, obviously. But based on what I've seen and where I've been in the past two years, these places give good lodging, service, golf and great value.
No. 5--Legends Golf & Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC. There are three good courses on site and Legends is affiliated with two more, including the Heritage Club, which is one of the best on The Grand Strand. The Legends features a massive driving range and a buddies trip fits nicely with the villas (they sleep at least four). Best deal: March 18-June 9, get three nights, three rounds of golf, a buffet breakfast, cart fees, range balls and they throw in a drink ticket for $477 per person. (That’s a total, not per night.) Look for the May issue of Golf Digest featuring a complete breakdown of golf, lodging and a lot more about all Myrtle Beach has to offer the avid golfer.
No. 4--Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City, MI. Ranked No. 48 on Golf Digest’s list of the Top 75 Golf Resorts in North America, Grand Traverse Resort (pictured above) features three courses, one by Jack Nicklaus and one by Gary Player, and a Jim McLean Golf School. If I had to pick one course, the Nicklaus is my favorite. Best Deal (based on double occupancy): From April 16--June 3 they offer the “Championship Golf Package-Weekend,” which is two nights, two rounds of golf, two breakfasts, range balls and a replay rate of $35. Here’s a link to my story about Northern Michigan.
No. 3--Madden’s on Gull Lake in Brainerd, MN. I love this place, not only because of the Classic course, but I had a townhouse right on the lake and listening to the accents of the natives never gets old. Look up Walleye Dan when you’re in town, he helped me catch a largemouth bass. Best deal (based on double occupancy): “Play It All Golf Package” from April 19-June 26 is one night, two rounds on any of Madden’s three and a half courses for $215 per person. Here’s a link to my story about Minnesota.
No. 2--Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, TX. I Ambushed there a few months ago and I couldn’t believe the deal those guys were getting. The resort is so nice it hardly looks or feels “affordable.” There are two Fazio courses that get a lot of publicity, but they also have a Crenshaw and a Palmer, which aren’t bad either. And be sure to take advantage of the shuttle service to downtown Austin for a slab of beef and some live music. Best deal (based on double occupancy): “Guys Golf Getaway” is $351 per person on weekends for the month of April and the first two weeks of June (prices go down for the month of May). The package includes lodging, breakfast, unlimited golf on any of the four courses, cart fee, range balls and day of arrival golf at twilight rate ($84-$135 on weekends, prices vary depending on the course). Here’s a link to my Ambush in Austin.
No. 1--Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa in Birmingham, AL. It’s arguably the best resort (pictured above) and the best course on the Robert Trent Jones Trail, which is saying a lot. Ross Bridge hosts a PGA Champions Tour event in May. Just down the street you have two and a half courses at Oxmoor Valley. Best deal (based on double occupancy): Through May 10, get three nights of lodging, two rounds at Ross Bridge and two rounds at Oxmoor Valley for $672 per person, price includes carts, range balls and sales tax. Here’s a link to the Away Game about my trip to Birmingham.
--Matty G.
No. 5--Legends Golf & Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC. There are three good courses on site and Legends is affiliated with two more, including the Heritage Club, which is one of the best on The Grand Strand. The Legends features a massive driving range and a buddies trip fits nicely with the villas (they sleep at least four). Best deal: March 18-June 9, get three nights, three rounds of golf, a buffet breakfast, cart fees, range balls and they throw in a drink ticket for $477 per person. (That’s a total, not per night.) Look for the May issue of Golf Digest featuring a complete breakdown of golf, lodging and a lot more about all Myrtle Beach has to offer the avid golfer.
No. 4--Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City, MI. Ranked No. 48 on Golf Digest’s list of the Top 75 Golf Resorts in North America, Grand Traverse Resort (pictured above) features three courses, one by Jack Nicklaus and one by Gary Player, and a Jim McLean Golf School. If I had to pick one course, the Nicklaus is my favorite. Best Deal (based on double occupancy): From April 16--June 3 they offer the “Championship Golf Package-Weekend,” which is two nights, two rounds of golf, two breakfasts, range balls and a replay rate of $35. Here’s a link to my story about Northern Michigan.No. 3--Madden’s on Gull Lake in Brainerd, MN. I love this place, not only because of the Classic course, but I had a townhouse right on the lake and listening to the accents of the natives never gets old. Look up Walleye Dan when you’re in town, he helped me catch a largemouth bass. Best deal (based on double occupancy): “Play It All Golf Package” from April 19-June 26 is one night, two rounds on any of Madden’s three and a half courses for $215 per person. Here’s a link to my story about Minnesota.
No. 2--Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, TX. I Ambushed there a few months ago and I couldn’t believe the deal those guys were getting. The resort is so nice it hardly looks or feels “affordable.” There are two Fazio courses that get a lot of publicity, but they also have a Crenshaw and a Palmer, which aren’t bad either. And be sure to take advantage of the shuttle service to downtown Austin for a slab of beef and some live music. Best deal (based on double occupancy): “Guys Golf Getaway” is $351 per person on weekends for the month of April and the first two weeks of June (prices go down for the month of May). The package includes lodging, breakfast, unlimited golf on any of the four courses, cart fee, range balls and day of arrival golf at twilight rate ($84-$135 on weekends, prices vary depending on the course). Here’s a link to my Ambush in Austin.
No. 1--Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa in Birmingham, AL. It’s arguably the best resort (pictured above) and the best course on the Robert Trent Jones Trail, which is saying a lot. Ross Bridge hosts a PGA Champions Tour event in May. Just down the street you have two and a half courses at Oxmoor Valley. Best deal (based on double occupancy): Through May 10, get three nights of lodging, two rounds at Ross Bridge and two rounds at Oxmoor Valley for $672 per person, price includes carts, range balls and sales tax. Here’s a link to the Away Game about my trip to Birmingham.--Matty G.
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