Inspired by Rich at Eatgolf, I finally decided to get off my butt (or on it, actually) to put together this 3:48 video of the back nine at Punta Espada, my happy place.
Music credit: I want to be Charo, by The Mudhens.
The Golfchick
That chick blabbing about anything golf related.
Tag: robbie biershenk (page 19 of 32)
Or another not-so-clever use of Wie in a sentence?
Awhile back, I put in my two cents on how Michelle Wie should gauge her success (or failure). Other than that, I have avoided commenting on all the hype and hoopla surrounding her.
My blogger friend Tony over at the Hooked on Golf blog is calling for a boycott on all “Wie articles” until she wins something. How does he do it? With an article on Wie, of course. For this post, he asked me for a quote. Since he’s so special, I broke my own unspoken boycott to comment for him. I figure I should go ahead and post my own words here as well and leave it at that. At least for now.
If you’ve ever read my blog, you know that this is actually a short quote for me. Of course I have more to say on the issue, I just can’t be bothered. Here is the quote I gave Tony:
Michelle’s failures in the PGA tour events aren’t so much about her being female as they are about her lacking experience. However, her performance to date definitely indicates that her presence there in the first place has everything to do with that “novelty” aspect which is gender related. It’s becoming embarassing. Maybe they should start a “teen phenom” tour and have all the best boys and girls compete against one another. Then she could gain the experience she needs without having to accept all the sponsors’ exemptions and the boys would have a shot as well since they’re not getting those now. She does need to play more than the LPGA is currently allowing before she can get her card, I just don’t think it should be with proven players on the PGA when many mini-tour players could kick her ass. I think her ambitions are terrific and she should stick to them, but she needs a better path and better representation in order to get there instead of being a cash cow.
This is it: my local favorite!
Hidden in plain sight, Moorpark Country Club is a sweet, sweet, tasty treat. I am tempted to keep this treasure to myself but I just have to sing its praises. A 27-hole course with each nine returning to the swanky clubhouse and five sets of tees, Moorpark will keep you interested and challenged with its Peter Jacobsen design. Avoiding commitment is easy around here with all the choices in golf courses, but this is my local favorite and if I had to pick a steady date, this would be my home course.
Note: If you’re not going to read the entire post, skip to the bottom to read about the discount offer!
Yes, it is a country club and memberships are available, however they are also open to the public which is great news for riff-raff like me. I don’t get to play too many private courses, so I really enjoy playing on the rare public course that is kept up to private course standards. They do that at Moorpark.
Steve Vigiano, the Director of Golf, bragged about the exquisite greens before my round. “That’s what they all say,” I thought. Can I trust a man who takes better care of his skin than I do? I certainly can. Golf course pros often have a snooty, slightly less than gruntled aroma about them. Not Steve. He puts the fessional back in golf pro. Someone so polished has no business being so accessible and genuine, but he is. Kind of like the golf course itself. I don’t know how long he’s been there, but maybe they’re rubbing off on each other. He’s genuinely proud of his course, he has good reason to be, and he represents it well.
Again I indulge my tangential thoughts. Dog bless blogs. Back to the course.
I think I mentioned the greens. When I close my eyes and picture one of the greens, my eyebrows raise, my mouth opens and I hold my fingers out like I could pet it. I might drool a little bit. They’re that nice.
Smooth, beautiful, polished and pure. These are the nicest greens around. We would all be better putters if we played on greens like this all the time.
Oh, I just want to get back out there and play it again!
The MaintenanceThey really stay on top of things and keep every hole looking and playing its best. For example, the fairways were recently attacked by a fairly new disease to these parts, called Gray Leaf Spot. They completely overhauled the course, putting in a new Bermuda base (Bermuda resists it) and will be overseeding with Rye to get that beautiful green color back. This only affected the fairways. The greens and tees are perfect. I just took these photos and you can see it’s already looking pretty good. Right now, it’s cart path only because they’re sensitive, but it’s still a beautiful course and completely playable. Soon it will be back to how it looks on their website. Comprehensive website, by the way. They’ve got descriptions and photos of every hole, scorecards for each nine and much more. Check it out at www.moorparkgolf.com.
Hole #1 on the Ridgeline nine.
The NinesOf the three nines, Canyon Crest, Ridgeline and Creekside, it’s difficult to pick a favorite. Each one has its own personality and style.
Creekside requires serious strategy and shot making capabilities with its doglegs and carries. Ridgeline will also test your skills with its long, narrow, undulating design. Canyon Crest is probably the friendliest nine with wider landing areas and more approachable greens. If I had to play this course only once (thankfully I don’t!), I think I’d prefer to play Creekside and Ridgeline. I feel like I’d be getting the most golf there somehow. If I had to compete there, I think I’d pick Canyon Crest and Creekside. Not that Creekside is easier – in fact, the course and slope ratings are higher; perhaps it’s just more suited to my game than Ridgeline. Not that my score showed it, but I can feel it. I guess since I picked Creekside in both scenarios I could say that’s my favorite. For now.
Creekside #4 – La Bruja Verde (The green witch). This is the first forced carry on this dogleg left par 4.
Looking back on the “green witch” from beyond the green. You can see the creek that cuts across it – the second forced carry. The fairway beyond that was the first landing area. Or you can try to cross both on your tee shot if you’re brave.
Ridgeline #3: Don’t mistake whimsy for sarcasm. This sprinkler head means business as does this golf hole! At 266 yards out (as measured by the GPS), this is all the yardage you need to know from here. Unless you can hit the ball like Tiger Woods, lay up from here or even 100 yards closer. (Look for other fun sayings on sprinkler heads around the course! Uncle Jim discovered this baby.)
Same hole as above, looking at the green from about 150 yards closer than the “Eat Your Wheaties” marker.
I had to throw in this photo from the MPCC website to illustrate the importance of eating your Wheaties if you’re not going to lay up. Same hole as above. Short is obviously trouble, but long is no picnic either. It’s nothing but wildlife and rattlesnakes on this hill behind the green. In my opinion, this is the toughest hole of the 27.
Note: none of the nines are walking courses. It’s just too spread out and hilly. Even for you die hard walkers, I wouldn’t try it even if they’d let you. Don’t worry, though, the carts are primo with coolers and illustrated GPS devices.
Ratings and Tee selections
As I mentioned, they have five sets of tees, which offer a nice selection for men and women alike. Female golfers often find that to be a welcoming sign. Two of the sets of tees are considered “lady’s” as evidenced by their position on the bottom of the scorecard and that they only have one set of ratings. I played the white (middle) tees – which are rated for both men and women – in order to get a better vantage point for my assessment, but I’m sure I’ll be trying out both the reds and the golds. I’ll be playing the whites again, too – I know I can do much better than my 146 (that’s 27 holes, not 18).
As for which sets of 18 are considered more or less difficult, that really depends on which tees you choose. For example, if a woman plays the white tees, the Canyon Crest/Creekside combo is rated the highest for difficulty. If she plays the red tees, the Ridgeline/Creekside combo has the honors. Since the ratings aren’t on the versions of the scorecards they have on their website, here they are for your convenience:
The Facilities
The public range and practice facilities are first rate to complement the rest of the course. The restaurant rates four stars and there is lovely patio seating outside the restaurant and bar with a nice view of some of the golf holes you just played.
There is also a members-only range at the top of the hill hitting down it.
The Service
They really take care of people at Moorpark. Members and riff-raff alike are treated like they’re at a resort. The greens fees, while high compared to some other local courses, are nowhere near the fees of resorts with similar course conditions and amenities. They have special packages, ladies’ days, and are doing all the right things to make your experience not just excellent but an excellent value. Plus, you are special so you can get the Golfchick discount! Hey, instead of just killing time with this extra long post, there’s actually a reward with this one.
Get there
If you live within 60 miles of this golf course, you really shouldn’t miss it. Hell, I’ve been known to drive a lot farther than that to play courses that aren’t this nice. So there’s my not so secret secret. Anyway, with three nines they keep the flow organized and moving along for a nice pace of play, so go ahead and fill ’em up.
I told Steve I was going to write about the course and asked if they could give my readers some kind of deal. He was generous enough to agree! So, when you reserve your tee-time, tell them the Golfchick sent you and enjoy a 30% discount off their regular rack rates! And please, please, please, repair your ball marks. I don’t want the velvety greens I pet in my daydreams to morph into the pock-marked face of Tommy Lee Jones. Bglylehlchh!
Update 12/20/06: The Golfchick discount period has expired. For discounted teetimes, book them online at the Moorpark CC website.
Bonus shots. It just wouldn’t be a complete Golfchick review without restroom photos.
Update: As was pointed out to me by an astute reader, I neglected to mention WHERE this terrific golf course is in the world. (I did link their website, which has that information, but still – what a faux pas on my part!) The answer is Moorpark, California, which is about 45 minutes from Los Angeles. Here is the address and phone number:
Moorpark Country Club
11800 Championship Drive
Moorpark, California 93021
Ph:(805) 532-2834
www.moorparkgolf.com (you can get directions on the website)
Martians must be huge. Look at the size of this golf hole!
The Victoria Crater on Mars On its way to Victoria, Nasa’s rover, “Opportunity” better watch its back lest it get smushed by a giant golf ball heading into the cup. Oh wait. Maybe that’s just the ball mark on a giant green. Holy crap – imagine the size of the actual hole if that’s the case.
Are you a die hard Ryder Cup fan (either team?) Here’s a site to watch: Ryder Cup Diary.
It’s a blog style site, not affiliated with the PGA or Ryder Cup. But it’s all Ryder Cup, all the time. It’s got posts about players & teams, the course, history, news, and more.
Here’s a snippet from a post about Ryder Cup odds:
So what are the betting odds at this stage? Who do the betting public favour? We had a quick look at PaddyPower.com
Europe to win 8/11
USA to win 5/4
Tie 10/1
This means that at this stage the Europeans are favourites which is amazing when you look at the depth of the US Team.
Lets revisit this after the European Team is finalised and see if there is any change in sentiment…
It seems like a pretty comprehensive and organized Ryder Cup resource to me. Check it out.
No human being can play golf that well so consistently. The kind of domination Tiger Woods wields over everyone in the world who plays golf requires a mental consistency of which no human being is capable. Therefore, Tiger Woods is not human. So what is he? Well, I have a few theories and stay with me because they kind of blend into each other. They are:
A. Tiger Woods is a robot
B. Tiger Woods is an alien
C. Tiger Woods is a changeling
First, you know we common folk aren’t aware of the truly cutting edge technology that exists and prototype testing that goes on in secret. Tiger could be the product of the uber-private robotics industry. This could either be done in the private sector or by a major government power. Given that he is an American, probably the United States government. I don’t see another country’s government just handing us a winner like that even if it meant a better cover.
Second, you know we are not alone. Not only in the universe, but here on Earth. Exhibit A: The praying mantis. 
A friend recently pointed out to me that they are, of course, actually aliens and I completely agree. Look at their cool demeanor and the way they observe the world and indeed, you. Look at the way they control their numbers on Earth in order to remain inconspicuous until they decide to take over: the females bite the heads off of the males after mating. I think they know that the human form has the greatest advantage over other species on the planet and they will take the form of humans once we have killed ourselves off with our stupidity. Tiger might just be their prototype. That’s where the third theory comes in and the blending begins.
Perhaps the aliens are capable of a changeling type of metamorphosis.
Is this what Tiger looked like before the change?
“Achieving trust is always the final step with a change.” – Tiger Woods
Maybe deep down, he wasn’t talking about his swing.
More than likely, their evolution is so far beyond our own that we couldn’t even comprehend the kind of mental discipline, intelligence and physical power they possess. Maybe they didn’t want to “waste” one of their own by experimenting with the form of a human. Instead, they developed a robotic simulation of themselves for the test. I guess the simplistic human equivalent would be like sending a monkey into space before a human.
How about when he doesn’t win?
If Tiger ever has a bad hole, four in a row, comes in second in a tournament or even misses a cut, you can bet it’s by design. They don’t want to blow their cover. It’s just that their little experiment has his own highly involved intelligence center (way beyond our simple brains). He’s fully capable of winning every tournament every time and they let him dominate the sport but he’s gotta make it look good. Lately, I think he disobeyed some of his orders and is drawing too much attention to himself. I wonder if they’ll rein him in a bit.
But he’s so emotional!
Oh, and what about that emotional display at the British Open? Was that some kind of flaw in the dominant mental system? Not at all. He became attached to his earthly father and probably has some true feelings there, but I think he never would have expressed them. The superiors were looking for a way to make him appear more human, so after his “father” died, they had him miss a cut and then activated his emotion chip on the 18th hole at the Open. I wonder if his earth family and Steve Williams are the biggest victims of the deception or if the aliens are using some kind of mind control in order to let them in on it.
Why Tiger?
Okay, so why would they choose to do this with a golfer? Easy. They wanted it to be an athletic figure so they could test the physical capabilities of the human body. They wanted him to be a public figure because it’s just fun to bamboozle so many people. Of the sports, golf is the most mentally challenging. But most importantly, it’s the sport with the most nature around so the mantis can observe unobtrusively. I’d like to see some of that nose-hair zoom camera work at the next PGA event focusing on the mantis leader.
So, there you have it. Tiger Woods is a robotic changeling alien. You heard it here first.
Photos courtesy Erich Mangl.
Happy two years to me!
Not to be confused with a golf blog-i-versary. Exactly two years ago today, I took up golf.
When I passed the one year mark, I officially declared that I was no longer a beginner. Now? I’m just another mediocre golfer. Yay, me!
Just thought I’d throw in this random photo of a golf dog I spotted at Mountain View awhile back. Check out the cool convertible rides. Two of my favorite things – golf and dogs!
A few weeks ago, I posted a teaser about my new “happy place.” Since then, I’ve had cause to visit it in my head many times.
Update: 10/04/06 – I have posted a short video of the back nine here. (If you’re following along in the “golfchick chronicles” links, be aware this skips ahead.)
I have been reluctant to post about it here because I’d love to get a story about it sold to an actual printed golf publication, and I know how they are about exclusivity rights. But I realize I’ve been leaving you hanging for too long now and besides, I’m not going to write here what I’d sell to them anyway.
¿Cómo se dice “distracting”?
A few weeks ago, I was very fortunate to have been invited to be among the first to play the brand new Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, Punta Espada. It is on the very eastern tip of the Dominican Republic in a development called Cap Cana. It is the first of three planned Jack Nicklaus courses that will be built there.When I went, only the back nine were open but I got a “backstage tour” from the pro there, Mark Clouse. He played the back nine with me a couple times and took me on a tour of the front nine and the clubhouse inner workings during its construction. It was an experience I will never forget.
I got soaked on this hole while standing over by the side of the green waiting for my playing partner, Mike (the time I played without Mark) to hit up from just off the green. Another foot and he’d have been in the water. A wave came up and soaked me, Mike and our caddie, Armando. It felt great!
Hands down, this is the nicest course I’ve ever played and possibly ever will play. Many of the holes on the back nine are played right on or over the Caribbean Sea and the rest of them have amazing views of it. Not just a sliver viewed from atop the very back tees.
Happy opening!
Yesterday, the front nine opened. I’m dying to go back and play the rest of the course. The front nine has some holes I’d love to get my clubs on with equally as stunning views and strategies required as the back nine. The grand opening with Jack Nicklaus is scheduled for November 7.
Word of caution: if you want to play this golf course (and anyone reading this site should), do it soon. When they open the next golf course (end of 2007), Punta Espada will be entirely private. And no, you can’t just go buy a membership there. You must purchase some of the amazing property there to even be eligible for a membership and they only have about 100 memberships left to sell. They are going to keep the membership number LOW.
For more information, see their website at www.capcana.com.
If you’re from a golf publication and would like a story on this golf course (and I have many, many more photographs), contact me at thegolfchick@gmail.com.
Which do you want first?
Okay, the bad news:
I went to the range Friday night before the tournament to see if I could swing a golf club. I could, but I was being so cautious with my back that I was swinging with all arms which caused disastrous results with the golf ball. I took about 20 swings and had to call it quits. I almost cried on the way home, but there’s no crying in golf. My pain increased throughout the night, possibly due to the exertion and I had a difficult time sleeping. I woke up on Saturday thinking there was no way I could possibly play golf.
The good news:
I went to the chiropractor as scheduled Saturday morning before the tournament. Even though I had to report a flare-up and backwards progress, I received my treatment which felt good. He followed that up with an amazingly positive attitude and when I told him I didn’t think I could play, he actually prescribed golf for therapy. He said “if you go home and lie around feeling lousy, that becomes your new condition.” He told me I need to get out there and continue to do what I do and that golf is good exercise for my back right now. He didn’t know the stakes of the round, but suggested that I just go out and try and get through as many holes as I could.
The bad news:
I revealed my condition to the board and asked if I could get consideration to reschedule my match. My competitor is on the board, so the cat was out of the bag.
The good news:
They granted me the continuance. I went out to play as much of the round anyway as my doctor “prescribed.” I didn’t waste any swings warming up since I wasn’t competing. I teed off first and hooked my first shot left into the trees but was in bounds and kind of playable. It hurt but I survived it. I was deep in thought as the rest of the foursome teed off. My would-be opponent hit a great tee shot well beyond mine and in the fairway. It occurred to me that it was lame and weak to be out there playing the round but pussying out of the match. After all, a lot of these guys are older men who play hurt nearly every time. After watching his great tee shot, I said “let’s play it.” He said “Are you sure? You don’t have to, but if we start, we finish.” I said “if I don’t finish, you win.” Game on.
The bad news:
I lost.
The good news:
I finished. I powered through it, and played pretty well considering. Actually, it would have been a pretty good round for a healthy me, and I was proud of that because of the pain I endured. But pretty good was not good enough. My opponent played a great round and earned the win. Under normal circumstances, it’s hard to say if the result would have been the same. I tend to think not, since I am a fierce competitor, but we’ll never know. What felt worse than swinging the club was teeing up and retrieving the ball from the cup, and the WORST was riding in the golf cart. I stood and walked as much as possible. Hitting out of the sand was the hardest of the swings and was usually followed with ginger swings which produced terrible results. I gave away a lot of strokes by taking swings trying to baby my back.
The rundown
I really battled on the front nine. I got three strokes on that side and used them well. After losing the 1st hole, we halved the 2nd (where I got a stroke) when I bogey’d and he par’d. One down. 3rd hole, we both bogey’d. Still one down. 4th hole, we both bogey’d but I got a stroke. All square. 5th hole, he bogeys, I double. Back to one down. 6th hole, I par, he doubles. All square. 7th hole, we both bogey but I get a stroke. One up. 8th hole, I bogey, he pars. All square. 9th hole, we both bogey. All square after nine.
At the turn, I used the privacy of the restroom to let out some of the winces and pained facial expressions I’d been suppressing. The soreness and fatigue were really wearing on me and I was amazed I was even giving this guy a run for his money. That was my downfall. Under normal competitive circumstances, such weakness in attitude doesn’t exist.
I got two strokes on the back nine and knew I had to start making some solid pars but instead of feeling the exhilaration of the challenge, I felt like it was an uphill battle at this point. 10th hole, he bogeys and I triple! One down. 11th hole, he pars and I double. I got a stroke on this hole and gave it away in the middle of the fairway. I still could have halved it on the green but missed a make-able 2nd putt. Doubt and lack of confidence had crept in. Two down. 12th hole, we both bogey, still two down. 13th hole, we both bogey, still two down. 14th hole, he pars, I bogey. Three down, four to go. 15th hole, I got a stroke but the exact same thing happened as on the 11th. I gave one away on the fairway and one on the green. He pars and I double. Match over. I finished the round with double, par, par. I was disappointed in the loss (my first match loss) and the mental weakness that caused it. But I was proud of my physical effort and courage to do battle.
The bad news:
I’m feeling the repercussions of all the strain I put on my back yesterday.
The good news:
Underneath the tenderness, I feel like it’s getting better and when the soreness from overuse subsides I’ll be well on my way back to normal. I’m continuing my stretches and have more follow up visits to the chiropractor scheduled.
More good news:
Greg won his match and advanced to the A-flight championship next month. (Incidentally, he played a worse round than I did, relatively speaking – he shot a net 76 and I shot a net 71.)
The bad news:
It won’t be me he faces. (Don’t think for a second I won’t be secretly keeping track at the next tournament to see who would win if we were playing each other.)
The mixed feelings news:
After the round, the board invited me to join them as Secretary. It took them about a half hour of persuading me before I caved in and accepted. I know they just want some sucker to fulfill those duties (mainly writing to keep members informed and promoting to recruit new members). I also know I’m pretty busy right now and don’t need more unpaid responsibility. However, as the only female member of the club, I was impressed they were willing to have a female on the board with voting power.
I think they were impressed with the way I handled the match situation. In fact, at the 19th hole, I noticed a marked difference in attitudes toward me from the members as well. It could just be that they were happy I got beat, but it also felt like an increase in respect. Too bad my decision to play came on the first tee, though. I bet that thwarted a lot of wagering that would have taken place had they known the match was on.
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It’s finally time for the Ryder Cup!
Finally, the golf event with the most build up is upon us!
In my opinion, this event is worthy of all the recognition it receives. Yes, even more than the Masters. It’s about the best golfers in the world competing for honor, not money. Not that there’s anything wrong with money, but golf is a game of honor, with rules largely enforced by its own players. I can’t think of another sporting event that compares. Sure, you have the olympics (where the athletes used to be amateurs) but those sports are either judged or ruled over by officials at every play.
Now that I’m a golfer, I’m a golf fan. Now that I’m a golf fan, I have chosen my favorite golf event. It is the Ryder Cup. Others have their advantages and I like them for different reasons, but I hereby make my choice official.
There is SO much television coverage with this one! Still, the only day that conflicts with my Angel’s attempt to rally against the A’s in their pursuit of the playoffs is Saturday. I’m sure my TiVo(s) and I will figure something out!
(photo: Getty images from www.rydercup.com)
Next post.