News:

This discussion group is best enjoyed using Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari.


Michael Dugger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Barona Creek images...
« on: December 23, 2009, 02:33:10 AM »
I had the great pleasure of playing Barona Creek recently.  

What an incredible achievement and fabulous golf course.  I recall numerous GCA members speaking to the merits of this design, and if I am not mistaken I believe an early GCA function was held there…Barona is the real deal; fast and firm conditions, fearsome hazards, challenging greens and incredible bunkering.  Barona possess the most Mackenzie-like hazards of any modern course I’ve seen, simply spectacular.  

I thought the golf course started warmly with the shortish par 5 1st hole. The one-shot holes played at different lengths, from the early brute 3rd to the “short” 16.   Doglegs bend left and right equally (4th & 8th LEFT)(12 & 13 RIGHT), the course showcases a variety of uphill and downhill holes….

drivable par 4? Check #14
reachable par 5s?  Check.  #1, 8, 13
stern two-shot holes?  Check. #18 awesome finisher
 
I could go on and on about what I liked about the course, fun not being the least of things…

…but I’m going to let the pictures do the speaking for me.  
« Last Edit: December 23, 2009, 10:10:06 PM by Michael Dugger »
What does it matter if the poor player can putt all the way from tee to green, provided that he has to zigzag so frequently that he takes six or seven putts to reach it?     --Alistair Mackenzie--

Michael Dugger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images...
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2009, 02:52:51 AM »
more
« Last Edit: December 23, 2009, 02:56:38 AM by Michael Dugger »
What does it matter if the poor player can putt all the way from tee to green, provided that he has to zigzag so frequently that he takes six or seven putts to reach it?     --Alistair Mackenzie--

Michael Dugger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images...
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2009, 03:00:06 AM »
more...
What does it matter if the poor player can putt all the way from tee to green, provided that he has to zigzag so frequently that he takes six or seven putts to reach it?     --Alistair Mackenzie--

Ryan Admussen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images...
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2009, 08:09:13 AM »
Thanks for the pictures! Playing rustic canyon on the 27th and here on the 28th can't wait! was the course busy?

Anthony_Nysse

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images...
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2009, 08:58:43 AM »
Its my understanding that they have taken out A LOT of rough in between tees and fairways and replaced those areas with sandy waste areas.  They are trying to be more environmentally sensative, along with their overseeding. Judging by the pictures, it looks like the tees are overseeded along with the roughs-makes the fairways play firm.

Tony Nysse
Pine Tree GC
Boynton Beach, FL
Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

Kalen Braley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images...
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2009, 10:09:06 AM »
Looks like a bunker sluts paradise!!   ;D

Seriously though it does look like it has some interesting holes and a fun track to play.

Steve Okula

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images...
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2009, 10:23:59 AM »
A special mention should go to the super, Sandy Clark, CGCS.

But why the photo of the big rock?
The small wheel turns by the fire and rod,
the big wheel turns by the grace of God.

Norbert P

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images...
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2009, 01:57:12 PM »
 Michael, I knew you'd love the course. As you say, the bunkering is very Mackenzian. And the strategery is very strategeric.  For anybody ever visiting San Diego, this is the course that must be played.   

  I am curious why the fine oak tree specimen in the 1st fairway is allowed to have its branches touch the ground.  Seems it would annoy the mower dudes and the golfers. 

 Here's a link for a course tour - hole by hole . . .       
                                                                http://www.barona.com/golf/tour-the-course/hole-17/

BTW Michael, did you drive the 14th?
"Golf is only meant to be a small part of one’s life, centering around health, relaxation and having fun with friends/family." R"C"M

Michael Dugger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images...
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2009, 10:14:52 PM »
back nine
What does it matter if the poor player can putt all the way from tee to green, provided that he has to zigzag so frequently that he takes six or seven putts to reach it?     --Alistair Mackenzie--

Brad Fleischer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images...
« Reply #9 on: December 23, 2009, 11:00:56 PM »
Good track. Judging from the pics there does seem to be more sandy areas there than when I played it  three or four years ago. This course
wound up being the favorite of the week . Good bunkering and some interesting greens which rolled true.

The best part was winning in the casino which paid for the trip. If your in the area it's a play for me. I liked it better than Maderas and Aviara.


ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images...
« Reply #10 on: December 24, 2009, 12:03:32 AM »
Thanks for sharing the pix. We did indeed have the first Kings Putter there and it easily the best course in the San Diego area if you want to enjoy yourself. Torrey Pines if you enjoy getting your brains beat in. :)
Has Todd Eckenrode done any more courses down in SoCal since that anyone has checked out?
"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

Michael Dugger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images...
« Reply #11 on: December 24, 2009, 12:12:46 AM »
Ryan.  No, the course was not busy, wide open!

Slag. No, didn't drive 14.  Lost ball right.  Ugh

Ed. I thought I recently saw somewhere that Todd opened a nine holer on the coast.  Weird name.
What does it matter if the poor player can putt all the way from tee to green, provided that he has to zigzag so frequently that he takes six or seven putts to reach it?     --Alistair Mackenzie--

Robert_Ball

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images...
« Reply #12 on: December 24, 2009, 12:46:13 AM »
Has Todd Eckenrode done any more courses down in SoCal since that anyone has checked out?

Hi Ed,

I think Todd has been working mostly on overseas projects but he did recently complete the nine hole Links at Terranea in Palos Verdes.  http://www.terranea.com/california-golf-resorts.php
I've heard it's a blast to play.  Looks like the perfect side-trip for a future KP.

Robert

ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images...
« Reply #13 on: December 24, 2009, 02:30:38 AM »
Has Todd Eckenrode done any more courses down in SoCal since that anyone has checked out?

Hi Ed,

I think Todd has been working mostly on overseas projects but he did recently complete the nine hole Links at Terranea in Palos Verdes.  http://www.terranea.com/california-golf-resorts.php
I've heard it's a blast to play.  Looks like the perfect side-trip for a future KP.

Robert

Thanks for the feedback, I'll have to check it out the next time I make it out west.
"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

George Freeman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Barona Creek images... New
« Reply #14 on: January 23, 2010, 03:50:51 PM »
I played Barona Creek last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed my round.  

I few things I came away with:

- "Bunker Slut" paradise yes, and I must say myself, the bunkers are very attractive.  They are however, much more than just eye candy.

- Although the course is fairly wide off the tee, there are many holes that ask you to think on the tee box: how much do I chew off?  Driver or something else for better position?  This process is compounded by firm and fast conditions where the ball really bounces and rolls out.

- The greens and green complexes really make the course.  If this course had flat, boring greens, it would be a pushover.  Thankfully that is not the case.  They have a ton of movement, interior as well as "draining" in from the green surrounds, which dictates strategy on approaches, lay-ups and, as mentioned before, even drives.  

- Just getting on the green does NOT mean an easy two putt.  For the day I had four 3-putts and a 4-putt; and I think my 3-putt avoidance is pretty good!  There is a lot of subtle movement that is really confusing and confounding, as well as bigger, more severe humps and bumps.

- The aforementioned subtle, and not so subtle, movement on and around the greens makes for some really fun green side shots.  The fairways (especially close to the green) were so tight and firm that putting from them was often the best shot.  On 17, I hit a putt from about 10 yards off the green, which rolled true as if on a muni green, up and over a large mound, curled across the green and stopped at a couple feet.  Now that is just FUN!

- On top of all that, it is a beautiful setting with the course nestled in a valley.

I would highly recommend Barona Creek for someone visiting the otherwise not so great San Diego golf scene.  Here are a few more pics (sorry for any redundancy):

#3


#4  Cape style "bite off as much as you can"
Notice the green on the far left of the picture.  I really like the bunker on the far side of the fairway which forces the extra-long player to either REALLY cut the corner, or lay well back to the right of it.


The bunker I was referring to in the middle right of this photo


#7  Looks like it could have a little redan-ish playing style, however that is very incorrect due to a large fall-off long and right.  This hole is confusing off the tee:  long left looks dead and right looks like the safe miss.  It is actually just the opposite...


#8  Approach to this long par 4


#11  My favorite short hole on the course.  Large area of green exists behind the bunker on the right.  Really cool work incorporating the native rock and bunker complex long left.


#12  Neat blind drive up over a hill leaves this approach:


#14  Really cool short drivable (maybe) par 4

It's all green behind that bunker on the left:


#15  Nice view from the tee on this downhill par 4

Laying back and too the right (and challenging the fairway bunkers) gives you the best angle into the green.  Bombing long left leaves an uphill shot over a large bunker.


#16  No run-up option on this par 3.  Green has lots of movement


#18
Approach from the wrong angle:

« Last Edit: January 23, 2010, 03:53:46 PM by George Freeman »
Mayhugh is my hero!!

"I love creating great golf courses.  I love shaping earth...it's a canvas." - Donald J. Trump

Tags:
Tags:

An Error Has Occurred!

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()
Back