Friday, April 20, 2007
Bunker to Bunker Trip to Rocky Point
Mr Science takes up the burden . . .
The trip was arranged by the local radio golf pro, Greg Ellis, and his co-host, Tiffany Nelson, who both accompanied us and played a few holes along with us on Saturday.
Ms Cactus has taken up golf just recently, mainly in preparation for this trip. She made a par on the 17th hole today. Mrs Science, The Queen of Golf, made a par on a par 5, her first in our collective memory. Notably, on that hole I had a total of 17 strokes in the two days.
The course was great. If you like the links-style golf at Highland Links in Truro, you'll love this. The signature hole is the 11th, a par 3 bordering the lake, 172 from t
he men's tees, all downhill.
The green extends out onto those diamond-shaped peninsulas. For some pin placements, you could be on the green and have to chip over the water in order to play toward the pin.
On 6 holes, there are large sandy or grassy mounds in the middle of the fairway, often more than one.
Most of the greens were huge, and some very severely sloped. On one par 3, the pin was in the middle, and my ball was in the left-center, and I had a 90-foot birdie putt. Some are not just multi-tiered, they resemble a three-dimensional representation of arcane mathematical functions.
Saturday afternoon was relatively mild, but Sunday morning we had steady 25-30 mph winds. I've been hitting an 8 iron lately for 150 yards, but on the 9th today I hit a 3 iron from the 150 yard marker to the center of the green. A GOOD 3-iron.
Ms Cactus has taken up golf just recently, mainly in preparation for this trip. She made a par on the 17th hole today. Mrs Science, The Queen of Golf, made a par on a par 5, her first in our collective memory. Notably, on that hole I had a total of 17 strokes in the two days.
The course was great. If you like the links-style golf at Highland Links in Truro, you'll love this. The signature hole is the 11th, a par 3 bordering the lake, 172 from t
he men's tees, all downhill.The green extends out onto those diamond-shaped peninsulas. For some pin placements, you could be on the green and have to chip over the water in order to play toward the pin.
On 6 holes, there are large sandy or grassy mounds in the middle of the fairway, often more than one.
Most of the greens were huge, and some very severely sloped. On one par 3, the pin was in the middle, and my ball was in the left-center, and I had a 90-foot birdie putt. Some are not just multi-tiered, they resemble a three-dimensional representation of arcane mathematical functions.
Saturday afternoon was relatively mild, but Sunday morning we had steady 25-30 mph winds. I've been hitting an 8 iron lately for 150 yards, but on the 9th today I hit a 3 iron from the 150 yard marker to the center of the green. A GOOD 3-iron.
It was my second try . . . Cactus Dave interrupts here, cuz Mr Science idn't telling it right . . . it was s-o-o-o-o-o windy this day that the seagulls had come inland to the lagoons in the centre of the course, just for some peace and quiet I reckon. There must have been a million of 'em wheeling and soaring, squawking and calling, on the fairway where our layup shots wound up. When we rode up in the carts, they mostly took flight, without going anywhere. Mr Science was away, and when he hit his first approach it inevitably hit one of the seagulls -- wait for it, dammit! -- all 4 of us jumped up and pointed at the same time and yelled "Birdie!" -- even tho' his ball fell into the water. It wasn't an Ancient Mariner kind of deal, if you know what I mean, no wounded gull fell crumpled to the fairway or anything, no signs of displeasure from the heavens or anything . . . Still, it does seem like an unfair hazard, in addition to a 4 club wind, to have to thread the shot in between a flock of seagulls . . .
This is a harder golf course than the slope and rating would suggest. But it is fun to play, if you like links golf. Like they say in Scotland, "nae wind, is nae goff".
The only drawback was the condition of the course. It just opened this winter, some of the fairways were spotty where the grass hadn't grown in fully, and some of the greens were bumpy. It's a new kind of grass from South Africa that tolerates salty water. We'll see if it can grow successfully in Mexico.
The Queen of Golf Weighs in:
For a woman's perspective of the golf course....it is a woman friendly course. There are only 2 holes where it is a stretch for the average woman golfer. On the 7th you hit over a ravine and on the 9th you hit over water on the 3rd shot. Both are doable with solid hits though.
On 12, a par 5 where the men choose to hit over the water and the women choose to lay up, the women will have a significantly better score than the men, i.e., par vs. 9 or better :)
Putting is a bit challenging for all due to spotty conditions of the greens.
Weather can be a challenge since the beach area is prone to windy weather. Factor in at least one or two extra clubs to get to your destination if it's windy.
The only drawback was the condition of the course. It just opened this winter, some of the fairways were spotty where the grass hadn't grown in fully, and some of the greens were bumpy. It's a new kind of grass from South Africa that tolerates salty water. We'll see if it can grow successfully in Mexico.
The Queen of Golf Weighs in:
For a woman's perspective of the golf course....it is a woman friendly course. There are only 2 holes where it is a stretch for the average woman golfer. On the 7th you hit over a ravine and on the 9th you hit over water on the 3rd shot. Both are doable with solid hits though.
On 12, a par 5 where the men choose to hit over the water and the women choose to lay up, the women will have a significantly better score than the men, i.e., par vs. 9 or better :)
Putting is a bit challenging for all due to spotty conditions of the greens.
Weather can be a challenge since the beach area is prone to windy weather. Factor in at least one or two extra clubs to get to your destination if it's windy.
