A fair test of golf that plays far shorter than the 7025 yards listed, the Upper Course at the Peak is a sight to behold.
Peek’n Peak has long been known to northwestern PA and New York as a great place to ski. With over 25 trails, “the Peak” entertains skiiers and snowboarders in those wintry months when golf can’t be played.
When golf can be played, the Peak offers two courses – the Lower and the Upper. The Upper course, some may remember, plays host to a Nationwide Tour event – the Lake Erie Charity Classic, won this past July 3 by Esteban Toledo.
Augusta National is being lengthened yet again. Yawwwwwwn. When will these people ever learn that it ain’t distance that’s dropping scoring averages?
According to various reports, Augusta National is going to be lengthened from 7,290 yards to 7,445 yards for the 2006 Masters, making it the second longest course in major championship history. Tees at holes 1, 4, 7, 11, 15, and 17 (pars 4, 3, 4, 4, 5, and 4) will be moved back.
The longest course in major history was Whistling Straits, which measured 7,514 when it hosted last year’s PGA Championship. Said Augusta National Chairman Hootie Johnson of the changes:
Since the first Masters in 1934, this golf course has evolved and that process continues. Our objective is to maintain the integrity and shot values of the golf course as envisioned by Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie. Players’ scores are not a factor. We will keep the golf course current with the times.
Hootie Johnson has also floated the idea – on several occasions – of having a special “Masters ball” that travelled shorter distances in an effort to reign in the obscene distances today’s pros are hitting the ball.
Vistoso Golf Club has a great golf school. Book through tucsongolf.com for a great golf package.
Forum member Rafcin recently visited the Vistoso Golf Club for a three-day golf school. Here is his report.
Booked Through: www.tucsongolf.com
Location: Tucson, AZ
Course: The Vistoso Golf Club
Dates: April 1st through 3rd (Fri-Sat-Sun)
Daily Schedule:
8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast, Meet the Pro 9:00 - 12:00 Lessons 12:00 - 1:00 Lunch 1:00pm - dusk Unlimited Golf
Amen corner explained by the Atari 2600 Guy
The best major of them all, The Masters® is upon us, and the Atari 2600 guy explains how to properly play Amen Corner (#11 White Dogwood, #12 Golden Bell and #13 Azalea) at Augusta National.
Tom Fazio has gained notariety for his golf course designs, just how good are they?
The golfing public seems quite divided over course architect Tom Fazio. Some adore his layouts while others despise his designs. There is no doubt Fazio has tremendous exposure from some high profile clients. Fazio “Tiger Proofed” Augusta National in 2002, he redesigned Riviera Country Club, and he has built several acclaimed courses throughout the country. So why the controversy over Fazio’s projects? Let’s look at Augusta National and Riviera’s redesigns to find out.
Is the new standard of well manicured golf courses in America killing American golf?
It all began quite innocently in 1956 with the televising of The Masters tournament held at Augusta National. Just one look at the pristine fairways and perfectly manicured rough and Americans across the country demanded the same attention to detail from their local municipals. This day marked the end of American dominance in the sport of golf. Recent history proves how dead American golf is. Look at the World Golf Rankings, 13 of the top 25 come from countries other than the United States. The European teams have held The Ryder Cup six of the past nine years. College golf teams are recruiting players from all over the world because of their abilities. Why the shift in power? It’s not due to a lack of effort: go to any course and you’ll see tons of youngsters trying to emulate Tiger woods. If fingers should point, then blame should lie squarely on American golf courses.
Random quotes by some of the more famous golf course architects.
As beautiful as trees are, and as fond as you and I are of them, we still must not lose sight of the fact there is a limited place for them in golf. We must not allow our sentiments to crowd out the real intent of a golf course, that of providing fair playing conditions. If it in any way interferes with a properly played stroke, I think the tree is an unfair hazard and should not be allowed to stand. – Donald Ross, from “Golf Has Never Failed Me”
Every hole should be a demanding par and a comfortable bogey. – Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
Weequahic Park Golf Course, contender for worst golf course in the US.
For years, golf publications have inundated us with lists of the best courses that can be found in America as well as the rest of the world. These numeric lists are always accompanied by a few choice quotes and some carefully manufactured PR photos, usually taken at the break of dawn, to accentuate the landscape.
Rarely do we find out which courses are the worst of the worst. A possible contender for the title may be Weequahic Park Golf Course. This public muni located in Newark, New Jersey was listed as the #4 hell hole by Maxim. Not because of the ripped up tee boxes or the unkept greens but because of the three bodies found there over a six–month period between then end of 2002 and April 2003.
Rescued from disrepair, the Donald Ross-designed Biltmore Hotel Golf Course in Coral Gables, FL is being restored.
The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, FL is being restored. Operating under the City of Coral Gables for several years, the course has suffered from lack of funds and management apathy. The Ross gem, located in old Miami, was far from polished.
About one year ago, the Biltmore Hotel took over the management and operation of the course. Pumping $1.5 million in refurbishing costs into the course has resulted in a swift polishing for the Biltmore Hotel Golf Course, which first opened in 1930.
