More Confessions of a Weekend Golfer
The Shotmaker takes on Las Vegas and the Monterey Peninsula
By Marvin R. Shanken, posted Thursday, March 13, 2008
The 18th hole at Cascata where my opponent, Ed Brown (left), eagled the difficult par-5 with a 95-foot putt. (Photo by Mark Whitright)
|
I checked off another course on my wish list in 2007. I got to play Cypress Point in
mid-November. This round followed two days of golf at Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach. • With
December still in front of me at that point, I'd have to say those three days on the Monterey
Peninsula were a perfect conclusion to one of my greatest years in golf. I have calculated that I
played 91 rounds of golf in 2007. • But even more unexpected than approaching 100 rounds in a
calendar year were the letters and phone calls I received after my last story in the December
issue of Cigar Aficionado. In it, I listed my Top 25 golf courses that I have played, as well as
my Top 10 wish list—the courses that I would love to play. • The "unexpected" part was the
invitations from Cigar Aficionado readers wanting to play with me when I'm in their neighborhoods. Some of those invites came from people who are members of courses on my wish list. I've started a
file so when I do travel to some of those areas, I can take advantage of the kind invitations.
Here are excerpts from some of the letters:
I just read your article, "Confessions of a Weekend Golfer," good reading. Anyway, you mentioned that Baltusrol Golf Club was on your wish
list. I am a member at Baltusrol and would be honored to play with you. —JD
A bird's-eye view of the 18th hole at Cascata. (Photo by John Johnson)
|
It would be my privilege & pleasure to invite you down to Philadelphia to play the East course
at Merion Golf Club. —LC
I would like to invite you down to sunny Sarasota to play a round or two with me (and whoever
else you invite) on what we consider the finest course in Sarasota: The Founders Golf
Club. —IF
Please put Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, RI on your list. Wannamoisett is what Donald
Ross called "my best layout" and is consistently rated in the top 100 classic courses in the USA.
You are cordially invited to be my guest whenever you can make it. —TON
It all goes to show that we cigar guys (and golfers) really get what life is all about: having
fun and sharing.
My four rounds that week were among my most satisfying this year. Four rounds on really tough
courses, the three on the Monterrey Peninsula and one in Las Vegas, Cascata, one of my personal
Top 10 courses in America. Here were my scores:
COURSE |
DATE |
SCORE |
PARS |
BOGEYS |
BIRDIES |
Cascata |
Nov. 9 |
94 |
Two |
Nine |
None |
Pebble Beach |
Nov. 12 |
94 |
Four |
Eight |
None |
Spyglass Hill |
Nov. 13 |
92 |
Six |
Six |
None |
Cypress Point |
Nov. 14 |
93 |
Four |
Nine |
None |
The match at Cascata, just on the outskirts of Las Vegas, was beyond amazing. The "amateur" I
played with, Ed Brown, shot an unbelievable 3-under par—69—and he hadn't played in several months.
I counted; he had five birdies and an eagle. Needless to say, he cleaned my clock! The worst part
was I thought I had him on the very difficult par-5, 514-yard, 18th hole over water. I had a great
drive and second wood shot that put me 90 yards from the green. I chipped over the water with a
9-iron (playing it safe) and landed on the green in three, 15 feet from the pin. And I got a
stroke! My hole, right? Wrong.
The spectacular 218-yard par-3 at Cypress Point, and I made it over the water! (Photo by Larry Lambrecht)
|
Ed went for a long 300-yard drive over a mountain range to take a shortcut to the green. His
shot went well right of his line. In bad trouble—we thought. We walked off the tee, headed toward
the dogleg left and the part of the fairway we couldn't see from the green. And there is was his
ball dead center of the fairway, 250 yards from the green, with a final carry over an 80-yard-wide
pond. He drilled his 3-wood and the ball settled softly onto the far right edge of the green 95
feet from the pin. There in two!
I was asking myself, could he putt this one within 6–8 feet? The green was very fast. I told
him I would tend the flag as I wanted to watch this important putt. He lined up his putt and his
caddie told him the line was six inches left to right. He adjusted his line. He putted. The ball
traveled forever—and dropped dead center in the cup. I couldn't believe it. An eagle. I walked off
the distance of his putt, 32 paces. Roughly 95 feet. I was devastated. I went to putt my crappy
15-footer and missed slightly left. I was in pain. I parred the hole for a net four, and lost the
hole to an eagle off a bad tee shot. Where was the justice in this game? Not at Cascata, that was
for sure.
At the legendary Pebble Beach Golf Links with my good buddy Richard Cohen. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
|
At Spyglass Hill, I played with my good golf buddy Richard Cohen, who recently moved to the
Carmel area. There I accomplished a feat that I don't remember ever doing before. I parred all
four par 3s. None were very long, but they were all tricky and challenging.
As we were teeing off on the back nine at Spyglass, a short, elderly gentleman came up to me
and asked if he and his friend could join us. Reluctantly, I smiled and said, "Sure, why not." I
tend to get a little nervous when I have to play with strangers. And sometimes it can be very
intimidating. So this short, 66-year-old "senior" whacked the ball 240 yards down the center
followed by an iron shot that landed six feet from the flag, right side, pin high. He tapped it in
for a birdie, as did his friend, Steve. What was going on? I asked myself.
"Where are you from?" I asked. He mentioned a few different locations. "What are you doing
here? Vacation?" No, he replied, "I'm playing in the Callaway Tournament which begins tomorrow at
Pebble Beach." "What do you do for a living?" I asked next. "Play golf," he smiled back.
The Shotmaker was joined by Champions Tour pro Jim Colbert at Spyglass. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
|
"What is your name?" "Jim Colbert." "The Jim Colbert?" I asked. "Yep," he smiled back. Just
what I needed…playing with a legend at Spyglass. What a great guy! We laughed and trash-talked on
every hole. He was incredibly gracious…as well as a great golfer.
When we shook hands after the 18th green, I felt pretty stupid. I hardly welcomed him when he
asked to join. I apologized for my lack of class and asked his forgiveness. He smiled and told me
he had a great time. Me too!
Lastly, I was playing Cypress Point and it was a real thrill. I was told no names, no pictures.
But what a great course! I now understand why it is ranked No. 4 behind only Pine Valley, Augusta
National and Shinnecock. And the last four holes over water are to die for. I couldn't believe the
par-3 16th over this huge water canyon with a narrow landing apron. Breathtaking sight.
World-class course. I can't say much more. I'm not sure if I already said too much and won't get
asked back. But I REALLY loved it.
All in all, The Shotmaker's week of golf in Las Vegas and the Pebble Beach area in mid-November
was not so bad. Until next time…
Click here to read more Confessions of a Weekend Golfer.
|
Cigar Aficionado RSS Feed