Posted by Dexter Francois
| Posted in
Golf Courses,
Mike Southern
| Posted on Friday, August 26, 2011
Yes, The Doctor is at Pebble Beach and I am stuck at home. He and his brother have treated their father to a couple of rounds at two of the nations most famous golf courses, Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach. Now do you understand why I am so jealous.
Pebble Beach, I'm sure, is on every golfer's bucket list of courses to play before being called to the "great golf course in the sky." This is one of those trips that you start thinking about as soon as the reservations are made, and every second thereafter until you finally tee it up on the first hole.
Their plan, as The Doctor tells it, is to get in some practice at the Links at Spanish Bay today. Tomorrow they play Spyglass and then finish out with Pebble Beach on Sunday. I know that The Doctor has been scouting the courses online. We were actually supposed to visit one of the local indoor golf course simulators and play the courses so that he would have a feel for what he was getting into. We never got to it as our schedules were too conflicting.
I have never had a chance to play a course that is on the PGA Tour schedule. The closest I have come is Crandon Golf Course on Key Biscayne, FL which used to host a Champions Tour event up until 2005. I have attended the WGC-CA several times at Doral Country Club, but never played it. I've been to The Waste Management Phoenix Open(formerly the FBR Open) held at TPC Scottsdale, but still haven't given it a go. I snuck onto the 18th green at Hilton Head last summer just to take a picture, but that was the closest I have been to being inside the ropes on a tour quality course.
If you have been following the weather, Florida is feeling the affects of Hurricane Irene. The Doctor's dad lives in the Sunshine State and was scheduled to fly out today. As a precaution, he changed his flight and left a day early to ensure that he didn't get stuck at home. Can you blame him? I would have done the same thing.
Pebble Beach has cameras on the 1st tee and on the 18th green. They are supposed to tee off at 11AM PST on Sunday. I'm expecting a text right before the first shot, so I get to watch them and become even more jealous. One day I'll get there. It is a must. Until then, I guess I'll have to live vicariously through them.
Have you had a chance to play any of the courses on the Tour Circuit? If so, feel free to share your experience. Was it everything you expected? Was the course harder than you anticipated? This is your chance to make me even more jealouser(I know that's not a word, but, you know what I mean). Have a great round and always hit your target.
Photo found here.
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I've played only a couple of the courses the Tour visits. Torrey Pines, Kapalua and Shaughnessy are it. It's fun to see how you stack up against the games best but the courses look so much different without grand stands.
TV cameras don't pick up the undulation very well either so it's always a rude awakening when you see some of the slopes and tilts on the greens.
Here are my Bucket List of courses that the PGA Tour plays (non major venues)
Qual Hallow
Murfield Village
TPC Sawgrass
Plainfield
Sedgefield
Aronimink
Harbour Town
Those are all great courses Jordan. I have a travel bag for my golf clubs from Kapalua that my father-in-law gave me. That's the closest I've come to Hawaii.
My top 3 would be:
Pebble Beach
TPC Sawgrass
Riviera Country Club
How could I forget about Riviera! I want to try and make it over for some R & R during the Hyundai. Smaller crowds for the event and hopefully play it after the tournament.
Another one for me would be Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, S.C. where The Heritage is held. I got a chance to play a few of the course in that area. Very nice selection, and there are lots of other activities to do as well. If you haven't visited there yet, try to make it some time. You won't be disappointed.