Claremont Country Club - Oakland, CA (need some caddy tips for the course)

[El_Guapo]

Heya all,

I am going up over Thanksgiving to visit my brother in Piedmont.  We will be playing at his course, the Claremont Country Club in Oakland, CA .

I watch a flight video over the coarse and know it is a challenging course.  I wanted to show my brother how much I have improved... so I was wondering if anyone had any caddy tips for the course.  i.e suggestions on certain especially difficult holes, etc.  

Best regards and good golfing. 

[metaswinger]

It is indeed a challenging course.  One of the more difficult par 68's you'll play.  Some of the shorter par 4's lure you with opportunity but are ringed with sand traps that just wait for the inevitable miss.  Unless you're hitting well, play them conservatively.  Really is a fun course.

There is no driving range for warm up but they do have an excellent short game practice area.

Members there are known for their alcohol consumption and for the life of me, I can't figure our how some of them still hit it so straight during some events.  One beer for me and my game is off.

[El_Guapo]

Meta, thanks for the advice.   Hilarious.  

Yeah, i am looking forward to it.  As someone who has played since 10 years old (and probably played best then) and as an adult was a huge duffer (120+ per round), I am a bit scared.  

Didn't play for about 4 years, and even then as an adult... I only played like once every 6 months for 2 decade.  I have spent the last two months rebuilding my swing from the start.  Broke 100 a month ago... now about low 90s.   Just wanting any edge I can have so I don't embarrass myself around my brother, who is a member.  lol. 

[El_Guapo]

So... I got no input other than Meta.  

So here is the deal.  Great course; designed by Alister MacKenzie (famed for being Augusta's architect).  Short but challenging.  There is not flat lay on the course, even on the fairway.  Amazingly well maintained (they own the old quarry south of the course and pump all the water up from natural rain fall to maintain the course).  Fast greens even when wet.  Much faster downhill than uphill for some reason.  On a wet day the greens are slower... on a slightly wet day, the green are faster as the turf lays down.  

Putting area, chipping area, and driving down the 18th before 10 (before people who teed off early get there).  Amazing staff; true gentlemen's/gentlewoman's club.  

Always... always, play the conservative play on the fairway and the greens.  When the have club tournaments they place the hole especially difficult.  

Hard to fault anything there.  It's in the middle of Rockridge / Piedmont and they are looking for new member family.  Great attitude and great way to make your life more rounded if you live in the Bay Area.  It's never too urban to enjoy some green!

 

Edited November 28, 2018 by El_Guapo

[klineka]

3 hours ago, El_Guapo said:

Much faster downhill than uphill for some reason.  

I think that's called gravity