Pinehurst Number 2

There are reason golf courses become US Open venues.  Pinehurst number 2 is brilliant.  It was coming out of a poor winter, so the fairways were still a little patchy, but the greens were hard and fast.

Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw "renovated" the course in 2011 and have done a brilliant job.  The lush thick bermuda grass roughs are gone, and the sandy soil is now able to shine through.

Over 650 sprinkler heads have been removed, with sprinklers now only down the centre of the fairways, watering only the fairways and not roughs.  This enables the native wire grass and sandy waste areas to be the prominent hazard off the now wider fairways.

Pinehurst 2 has the feel of a sandbelt course, with the addition of the pine tree and pines straw rather than ti tree. Flowering Dogwood trees create a nice contrast.

The key here is the ability to control the golf ball.  The greens are not small, but they drop away at all edges meaning that many great shots finish 20 feet off the green.  The usable area on the green is quite small.  They would have been running at about 10 today, and they were difficult.  I can't wait to see what they play like at US Open speed in 2014.  They will be impossible.

More generous fairways, and less penal rough gives the confidence to go for more off the tee.  The downside is that if you do miss the fairway, the control you have from the waste areas, or the pine straw is limited, causing challenges at the putting surface.

I loved Pinehurst 2.  I would have loved to play it in 6 weeks time when the grasses have come out of dormancy and it is really shining, but it was brilliant nonetheless.  What a great way to finish an amazing tour.



Tour participants next to the famous "putting boy" sundial at Pinehurst.
From L to R: Peter Lucas, Alan Mance, Joe Dason, Pam MacKenzie, Jenny Lucas, Anne Ryan, John MacKenzie, Lorraine Mance, Jeff Faure, Nola Faure, Laurie Ryan, Coralie Cazaly, Katryna Economou & myself Justin Burrage.
Absent Janice & Dick Kirby, Mark Lucas.

 Tonight we had our farewell dinner.  The final tour presentations were made, and memories of the past fortnight were revisited.


Participants enjoying pre dinner drinks at our final dinner.

 Congratulations to Pam MacKenzie for proving that consistency is the key, winning the overall prize.  Joe Dason was runner up, with Jeff Faure third. 


Participants enjoying the farewell dinner.

What an amazing fortnight.  It was very special to be at the Masters where Adam Scott became the first Australian winner.  It was also amazing the feel the atmosphere in the Ryder Cup bar at Pinehurst as the Aussies took over the place.  Cheers of excitement, roars of joy, bitten nails, closed eyes, and eventually arms raised and high fives everywhere.  A very very special day.  Thanks to all who participated, and to you all for following.

Masters Round 4 & Pinehurst 8

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!!!

Congratulations to Adam Scott on winning the 2013 US Masters, and adding a green jacket to the yellow jacket he collected at the Heath in November.  We were all in the Ryder Cup bar at Pinehurst watching the afternoon unfold.  The first Australian Masters champion, and we were there to be a part of it.

Seems like fingernails were on the menu foe Peter Lucas in the Ryder Cup Bar.

We will get to our round at Pinehurst 8 later, but the big talking point is Adam Scott and his win at Augusta.  Along with the group from Victoria we had dominated the Ryder Cup bar at Pinehurst.  Every great shot from Adam, Jason and Marc was cheered enthusiatically, and the tension in the air could be cut with a knife.



Pam MacKenzie also watching nervously.

 

The reaction as Adam's putt on 18 lips in.  As Adam himself said "come on Aussie!!!!!!"



What a great effort by Angel Cabrera, a brilliant birdie on 16, and another awesome pressure birdie to get into the playoff on 18.  Everyone was on the edge of their seat as his chip on 18 in the playoff snuck by, and as his putt on 10 in the playoff somehow stayed out. 



High fives all around as Adam holes his birdie on the 10th hole in extra time.



The bar erupted as the putt on 10 rolled in.  And I must admit to leading a rousing rendition of Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi.



Peter Lucas pointing to the greatest thing we have seen on US TV.



The entire group standing proud after cheering home our man Adam Scott.



A brilliant effort by Jason Day as well.  For a long while we thought that he would get it done.  Marc Leishman also showed the golfing world that he has heart.  A brilliant thing to see 3 Aussies in the top 4.

I guarantee that there will be many positive vibes as we play Pinehurst number 2 tomorrow.

Our golf today, prior to the excitement of this afternoon, was at Pinehurst 8.

Some of the staff we have talked to, believe number 8 to be the best course at the facility.  Not as many elevevated greens as on number 7, and also was in a lot better condition.



John MacKenzie extracting himself from the sandy waste.

Number 8 is another very good golf course, a great variety of challenging holes, the Tom Fazio design is not punishing for the sake of being punishing.  It rewards good shots, unlike some of the Pete Dye courses we have played.



Number 8 is not a residential course, so we only saw a few houses around the perimeter, and in the distance.



Mark Lucas teeing off the 14th hole in the distance.

 

Sharna, my wife, will be pleased that the wildlife here is a little less intimidating than what we have had at Hilton Head, and Kiawah Island.



Our champion today Alan Mance, ripping a drive on his way to 41 points.

We had some good scoring again today, Katryna Economou notched up 42 points but could not win due to her previous win yesterday.  Anne Ryan and Pam MacKenzie shot 39, whilst Joe Dason and Alan Mance had 41.  It was Alan who claimed today's prize on a countback.  Those 4 pars to finish Alan were valuable.  Well done.

Pinehurst Number 7

We left Augusta this morning after a wonderful few days at the Masters.


Looks like Janice enjoyed watching the golf at the hotel!

After a 3 1/2 hour coach ride, we arrived at the Carolina Inn at Pinehurst resort.  This grand hotel was built in 1901.  Upon arrival we were shuttled over to the Rees Jones design number 7 course ready for battle.


Our hotel the Carolina Inn at Pinehurst Resort.

As expected, Pinehurst Number 7 is a quality layout.  Undulating fairways, elevated greens and plenty of pine trees.



Looking down the first fairway

 A very cold winter has caused some problems with the grass here.  You can see that the course looks like our courses do in the peak of summer, burnt off and discoloured.  It is winter that does this here, the cold frosts burn the grass, and it is slowly coming back.  In about 4 weeks this course will look amazing.



Lorraine Mance monotonously splitting the middle of another fairway.

Pinehurst 7 is a very playable layout, and is quite picturesque as it meanders through the pines.

Everybody, even though they had walked up and down Augusta National for three days, had a spring in their step and was ready to attack the course.


Mark Lucas working a faded driver around the corner perfectly



Looking across the massive bunker from tee to green at the par 3 16th

  Of course hearing on the bus ride to the course, that Tiger had been slapped with an additional 2 shot penalty didn't hurt the mood either.


The stunning view down hole 17

I have found the key to breaking the slow play curse at golf clubs.  All you need to do is schedule a game of golf at the same time as 4 Australians being in contention to win a Masters title.  Simple.  Needless to say the bar after the round was the place to be watching our boys finish their third round.

Off to Pinehurst number 8 tomorrow.  This time we are out early and will be back in plenty of time to watch an Aussie claim victory at the Masters.

Masters Round Two

What a great Day to be at the Masters. 

At one point late in the afternoon we had all 4 Aussies in the field placed within the top 8.  At the end of the day we have Jason Day leading the way at 6 under, with Marc Leishman in a tie for second at 5 under.  Adam Scott is in a tie for seventh at 3 under, and John Senden is in a tie for fourteenth at 2 under.  Great job boys.

The cut was made at 4 over.  This means that the 14 year old from China, Tianlang Guan, gets through to the weekend, even with a penalty for slow play.  That is a phenomenal effort from the young man.



14 year old phenomenon, Tianlang Guan, preparing on the range with his father.

We also saw the mandatory Tiger charge early in the afternoon, until the "rub of the green" went against him on 15.  Having laid up for his second, he hit a magnificent hard spinning wedge straight at the hole.  Instead of taking it's first hop, then grabbing the green and sitting a few inches away from the hole, the ball caught the bottom of the flagstick.  The resultant ricochet into the water changed the dynamic of the hole completely.



Tiger practicing his pitch shots on 15 on Wednesday

Now I want to talk about a few things Augusta National.  As I mentioned yesterday I was priveleged to be giving a guided tour of the clubhouse and other facilities that are off limits during the masters.




The clubhouse, with all the media crews in front.

Firstly the clubhouse.  The clubhouse is impressive, yet very understated.  Nothing gawdy or over the top. In the hallway there are pictures of all Masters winners.  As you go upstairs to the lounge area, there are glass display cabinets full of memorabilia.  Bobby Jones' clubs, the original program from the 1934 Masters, selections of various Patrons badges from over the years.  You walk out the lounge doors onto the balcony seen in the picture above.  On this level is a room that had a security guard posted on the door.  It is called the champions room.  You can only get in there if you are a Masters Champion.

The lounge also had the Masters trophy.  Yes there is a trophy, not just the green jacket.  The trophy is a sterling silver replica of the clubhouse that stands some 3 feet by 3 feet and 2 feet high.  Around the base all Masters champions names are engraved.

The room sitting on top is called the crows nest.  Tianlang Guan is staying in there this week.  What a great experience for him.

The driving range has only been located in it's current position for 4 years.  This area was previously a car park.  Completely flat, no trees and covered in gravel.  The club recognised the need to change the driving range approximately 10 years ago.  They began purchasing properties across the road.  These houses were demolished, and the area over the road is now the car park.  Car parking is free.

The new driving range

The course closes between June and October as it is too hot to play, and it is in this time that a lot of works take place.  Tony the pro said that he would come back after summer and there would be 4 massive pine trees in the middle of the car park, next year there would be 6 more.

The range has been designed to help recreate conditions on the course.  You can stand there with driver and choose to hit your shot up one of the two fairways created.  One sweeps right and the other left.  This gives you the ability to practice hitting draws and fades, with instant feedback on the success.

One of the chipping greens is the exact replica of the green on hole two.

The entire range has a heating and cooling system installed underneath it.  All greens on course have this system, but the range has it everywhere.  This enables the range to be open and unaffected if there is frost or other conditions that prevent play on the course.

The entire range was sodded when built.  Yes sodded, not seeded.

The tee markers on the range sweep across in a slight arc, this arc is designed to allows the distance to be correct at all points of the range.  This is measured by GPS and is accurate to within 1 centimetre.

The building on the right of this picture is the caddyshack.  The caddies have a full time chef, and very impressive lounge facilities.  The area that stores the players clubs is made with fireproof bricks, so in the case of a tragedy and equipment is safe.

We say goodbye to Augusta tomorrow, and make our way North to Pinehurst in North Carolina.  Lets hope one of our boys can break the Augusta curse.

I will end with a few more photos of the course.



The view into 15



The pond in front of 15 where Tiger ended up today

The first of two tough Par 3's hole 4.  This is 215 metres and the wind is really swirly.  This hole contributed greatly to the slow play dramas, there were 3 groups here for the majority of the day. 



The 6th, 160 metres downhill, but there is an elephant buried under the green.

Staring down the chute on 18.  Very very tight driving hole.

Masters Round One

As mentioned yesterday, we are not permitted to take cameras in on tournament days.  All photos here are from Wednesday practice day.


Marc Leishman pondering his second shot into 10

 A great start from Marc Leishman today has an aussie sitting on top of the leaderboard alongside Sergio Garcia.



Sergio Garcia hitting into 16

The evergreen Fred Couples seems to thrive on the Augusta air.  A great opening round 68 sees Freddy sitting in fourth alongside Rickie Fowler.



Freddy on 16



Looking over the water on 16 to the 15th green



The view back up the 10th fairway.  Note the massive elevation change.




The tee shot at 11.



The approach shot to 11.




The shot into 12.

 

The view back to the tee from the corner on 13.



The view to the 13th green from the corner.



A close up of 13 green

As I mentioned, todays update will be more about photos than information.  I will provide some more pictures tomorrow.



Me at the end of Magnolia Lane with the clubhouse behind me.

 I was fortunate enough today to get a special access all areas tour of the pro shop, clubhouse, and caddyshack facilities today.  Wow.  I will provide more details on this tomorrow.  Go Aussies!!!