JAS's Tour Blog

Greetings all, rather than clog up the "Tell us about your game today" thread I thought I'd have a separate one seeing as I'm going to have about 8 rounds in the next week or 2.

So...safely arrived in San Francisco on Wednesday evening. Never cease to be amazed at how few immigration officers the Yanks think they need to process a couple of full 747's. Drove down to Pasatiempo yesterday, checked in nice and early and had time for the range and a good 20 minutes on the practice putting green. They'd had quite a bit of overnight rain and hadn't cut the greens (bonus!!). Having taken 39 strokes with the short stick last year I was looking for any advantage I could get. Played with a couple of members again, one of whom I played with last year. Actually had not a bad start (bogey, bogey, bogey). That don't sound great but such is the toughness of the course 3 over on the 4th tee isn't a bad start...then it all started going wrong, just lost a bit of rhythm with the swing. It was actually the 8th before I got a par. Started striking the ball better again on the back 9...required as 10 and 11 are extremely difficult golf holes (the 11th was considered by Byron Nelson as the hardest hole he'd ever played - I can see where he was coming from - doubled it despite 2 great strikes to get to just off the left fringe). Played the rest of the back 9 really solid except for the tricky little 15th where I went for the sucker pin and tugged the ball into a creek. Bit of a shocking score (87) but the one pleasing aspect was that I never 3 putted and round Pasatiempo that is actually an achievement. Nice post round late lunch in the clubhouse then back in the car for the 50 minute drive down to PB. Arrived just after sunset or I would have posted a pic of the view from the room. They've done me proud this year, got one behind the 18th green, marvellous

A quick calculation will tell you I'm still on UK time as it's stupid o clock in the morning here and I'm wide awake. The thought of playing Spyglass in a few hours time is doing nothing to alleviate the insomnia. Report to follow later. I had quite a tidy round on Spyglass last year so looking forward to it today, forecast is for bright & sunny 18 degs and only light breezes.

Can we please lock this thread as it's going to make me very unhappy reading about the nice sun he's enjoying.

Seconded

This is the most disturbing thread ever. Has Jas no feelings ..... Its like Alaska outside and no way can I get my car out of here, unless it rains and melts the snow.

JAS

Very insensitive of you, on behalf of everyone on the forum I'd like to wish you a Merry Xmas and a dose of the yips

I'd like to just wish you a dose...

I hope you fall asleep and miss Spyglass

Feeling the love

If it's any consolation I seem to have lost the ability to sync photos from my iphone to my laptop. So you's are spared....for now!!

I've spoken to HMRC and mentioned a certain individual has left the country on a smuggling trip. They have assured me that the full rubber glove service will be provided upon his return.

I know JAS is on the receiving end of a ribbing here but this thread is actually a great idea maybe whenever posters to this board go away they could do just this to give us an insight into their trip

P.s JAS you bar steward enjoying such places as pasatiempo whilst I'm freezing my cojones of back here in blighty being once again dragged around the poxy shops!

JAS wrote:Feeling the love

If it's any consolation I seem to have lost the ability to sync photos from my iphone to my laptop. So you's are spared....for now!!

Have you found any good bars that do Open Mic JAS-meister

Noshankingtonite wrote:

JAS wrote:Feeling the love

If it's any consolation I seem to have lost the ability to sync photos from my iphone to my laptop. So you's are spared....for now!!

Have you found any good bars that do Open Mic JAS-meister

Not yet wingman...kind of saving that aspect for when I get to Cabo on Monday

Tour update...Spyglass is bloody difficult off the back tees Shot an 88 which included 3 reloads, not a birdie in sight either which is quite alarming. Started well enough but a silly 3 putt on the 4th started the unravelling. Had an incident on the 10th which even the best trick shot specialist would struggle to match. Pulled my drive left into the trees (I thought I'd sorted that!!), anyways....I had 180 to go, into the breeze which was about a one club breeze but I had a line of tall pine trees to go through/over. Caught my 24 deg rescue absolutely flush and watched it take off bullet straight and climbing...THWACK!! hit the trunk of a tall pine square on and the ball came straight back to me. I swear it ended up less than 6 inched from its original position. I scoped the tree in question at 85 yards so basically the ball had a 170 yard round trip to move 6 inches to the right!! Spyglass was in terrific nick though, absolutely gorgeous course to play, love the variety of the first few shore holes followed by the holes carving their way through the mature pine forest. I'd love to see the Spyglass rounds get some coverage at the AT&T in Feb,

Been drawn to play the Links at Spanish Bay today and Pebble tomorrow. Starting on the 17th today and the 10th at Pebble tomorrow (The tournament has a shotgun start). Got a new partner this year, a Canadian, so we are truly the international team

Got to go and get ready soon, late night drinking and talking b0ll0cks with a group of guys from New York. One of them's room is overlooking the 18th fairway (about 120 yard from the green with the big tree in the way though). There's about 10 of us counted in for a dawn shoot out (before the green staff get in the way). 5 bucks a ball 3 balls and nearest the pin scoops the pot.

Further update, now sitting in the departure lounge at San Francisco getting ready to board for Cabo. Disappointing performance in the comp (our bb scores were 4 over net at Spanish Bay and 3 over net at Pebble), I can't seem to get below mid 80's at the moment. Spanish Bay was a 3 putt fest offset a bit by a couple of birdies, driver started working well though. At Pebble the driver was on fire, booming down left middle hole after hole, putting was solid but unspectacular so like my Trilby tour round back in July, there was some dire stuff in between. To be fair it wasn't that dire, it was more a case of when I missed a green I really did miss in the wrong place...e.g. left bunker at 10, back left bunker on 8, behind the 13th green. Then there was 14...the cruelest, evilest green in the world. Hit an 8 iron in and I reckon I was a foot right of almost perfect. Stopping on the pitch mark would have given an 8 foot birdie putt but did it stop on the pitch mark?...NO it spun back and right a little. I thought it had stopped but as I was walking up I saw it roll off the front...result? a fricking 8...and that was dropping a 12 footer to avoid a 9!!! That hurt...badly as did the scoring on the shore holes. Doubled 8,9,10,17 & 18. Infact thats where ALL the shots went (bogeyed 2 & 6 but birdied 5, everything else was a par). The poor scoring was more than offset by the sheer pleasure of being there though.

Will I do it again?....hell yeah, it'll be an annual trip until I do myself justice there. Anyone fancy pairing up as my better ball partner next year?

Off to Cabo this morning to lick my wounds.

JAS-meister there's always the 'hotties' apres 19th hole to console yourself with mate. Dust off yer harmonica, you'll be fine

NST, from what I can see Cabo is like Newquay only much more upmarket and much more tropical and perhaps even more debaucherous....oooh lordy

Rest day yesterday and acclimatisation to Cabo, Took a drive up to Todos Santos to soak up a bit of culture and to get the obligatory photo outside the Hotel California.

It's Palmilla today and Cabo del Sol tomorrow. Got to say it's not quite as hot as I was expecting here (low - mid 70's) but that works, I can go for cheaper afternoon tee times and not worry about frying to death in the sun.

JAS wrote:Rest day yesterday and acclimatisation to Cabo, Took a drive up to Todos Santos to soak up a bit of culture and to get the obligatory photo outside the Hotel California.

It's Palmilla today and Cabo del Sol tomorrow. Got to say it's not quite as hot as I was expecting here (low - mid 70's) but that works, I can go for cheaper afternoon tee times and not worry about frying to death in the sun.

But if you do get scorched you have the perfect excuse to get a to apply after-sun

Tour Update, now well settled in and Cabo and have played 2 Courses (Palmilla -Ocean & Arroyo) Weds and Cabo Del Sol - Ocean yesterday.

These courses ain't cheap Palmilla was $144 dollars, lovely course though, well manicured, not excessively long but quite strategic with quite a few elevation changes. The big change from California though is the Bermuda greens. As if undulations, speed and Ocean pull wasn't enough there is grain to contend with as well!! (that can be taken as an excuse for not putting well). Played it off the backs and was happy to come off the Ocean 9 on handicap (6 pars 3 bogeys) but a bit frustrated to not have converted any of the 4 good birdie chances. The Arroyo (creek) 9 was a bit more testing. Hit a couple of stray ones here and found that once you get off track, yes you can struggle. Some great holes though and shot of the day was driver, into the wind at the 243 yard par 3 17th (8th on Arroyo) to about 20 feet. Topped off I might add by a rather gorgeous trolley dolly watching from the sidelines.
I thought the clubhouse was a bit basic with no proper shower/changing facilities but I suppose the set up is aimed at the resort guests not external visitors.

Yesterday was Cabo Del Sol...the number 1 rated course in Mexico (probably with the number 1 price tag as well (I paid $195 and that was the twilight rate with the hotel discount). Morning tee times are $275!! That is coming in at more expensive than any Open Rota course so I was expecting something pretty damned special.

I can crtainly give the clubhouse, reception & practice facilities 10/10. Absolutely loved the layout of the course as well, easily the best Nicklaus design I've played, very strategic, tricky elevation changes, good deep bunkering, good mix of long par 4's and a shorter risk/reward. Both the 5th & 16th holes go down to the ocean. On the front 9 they then have 2 absolutely cracking par threes a long one and a short one. The course then winds back up to the clubhouse where you get free tacos at the turn (I'll skip any mention of the detail of how I played the 8th - the worst hole of my trip so far). I started hitting a nice bit of form on the back 9 which was only blighted by pulling my 2nd at the par 5 15th into the rubbish on the left resulting in a double bogey. After 15 though comes the glorious finish. 16 is a shortish par 4 down to the edge of the Ocean, 17 is a par 3 across a bay and 18 is a mid/long par 4 where anything right is on the rocks. Many people do compare it with PB, I didn't feel it, like PB it's a great finish, spectacular setting but the Ocean is about the only thing they have in common they are both uniquely different.

Would I play it again? well yes probably in a couple of days time. Ii'd like to have another go at it unhungover, crawled in at 8.00am that morning and only had a couple of hours sleep before taking it on. I've got to be honest as well, it wasn't just me that wasn't in the best of condition, the greens were actually quite a bit slower than expected and there were a few bare patches on some fairways (not something you'd expect on a $275 a round course - even if you're only playing $195)

Holey moley...just got back to hotel in time to pick up clubs....I seriously need a wing man in this town to tell me when to stop!! Palmilla again today but on zero sleep...oh dear!!

JAS - I must admit, I though the the US was cheaper than that.

I know that on this board, we have a number of golfers a) from around the world, but also b) who have played around the world.

As our 'man about town', do you really believe the courses you play are worth that sort of money, or do you feel they are taking advantage.

This really is a serious question, because I am well aware that some people on this board are comfortable with paying £100 a round, but to be honest, I am not!

OS

Unfortunately, those sort of green fees seem quite common anywhere there are americans on holiday. I had to pay similar amounts when I played in the Bahamas. Seems that anywhere close to the US cashes in on the wealth of the holiday makers. The US has some of the most expensive golf in the world but also some of the best value as well.

Yep D4S basically hits the nail right on the head, Americans on vacation quite happily pay exhorbitant prices for most things. I'm actually timeshare exchanging this week so I'm effectively paying my own resorts maint fee plus an exchange fee (total about £480 for the week), whereas there are yanks paying the rack rate for the resort which this week as about $750 a NIGHT!! Cabo is well reknowned as a high end destination though and most of the hotels/resorts are full on 5 star. Luxury Avenue in town is almost on a par with Rodeo Drive.
From a golfing perspective, what doesn't help as well (and I've trotted this one out a few times in the past) is that generally most of the top American courses are private and out of reach of the average Joe. That in turn places a higher demand on the top end courses that are publicly available and within easy reach of the American populus (Cabo is about a 2 hour flight from LA & Dallas). So with high demand comes the possibility to charge stupid prices.

So in answer to the....are they worth it?? I suppose it depends, the equivalent of a £100 a round at Palmilla & £140 at CdS is really pushing it but....I'm on holiday, it's mid 70's and sunny and it's the middle of December.What sort of premium can be put on that (a glance back up the thread will tell you a few wished they were here). Given what I'm saving on accomodation the green fees are no great shakes to me (especially compared to PB last weekend) so I suppose it's all relative.

Regarding today's golf...I had my best round of the holiday today on NO sleep whatsoever. Shot 79 round the Arroyo/Mountain 9's of Palmilla. The mountain 9 has some absolutely cracking holes that will live long in the memory. Each 9 also has it's own trolley dolly, Mountain girl was nice but not as lovely as Gabriella from the Arroyo 9 Given the green fees I think I should be allowed to take her home.

JAS-meister; you always perform your best when completely battered on no sleep whatsoever.

How slack of me, didn't do an update yesterday. Played the final round on Xmas day and elected to play Cabo del Sole (Ocean) again. Not my most consistent round at 82 but managed a couple of very pleasing birdies a holed bunker shot on the 460 yard 9th and a 15 footer for a 2 on the memorable 17th. Just found out yesterday that there's a new course just outside Cabo called Diamante, It's on the dunes on the Pacific side, designed by Davis Love and it is a new entry at Number 58 in the top 100 courses of the world, can't believe I missed it, mind you my already coughing & spluttering wallet is quite happy that I did. It'll be tackled on my next visit.

So...about to head for the airport and eventually home, due to arrive at Heathrow Weds lunchtime. It's been a memorable trip. Hope you's found the blog entertaining and informative. If you felt that I was perhaps rubbing it in while you all froze back home.....Get to the travel agents, book something and get your own back, planet golf is all around you and you are only here but once...don't waste it...Adios Amigos

Thoroughly enjoyed it JAS. In Cabo, did you eat authentic Mexican cooking or were the meals westernized?

All joking aside JAS, thanks for taking the time out of your holiday to post this thread. Not a part of the world that I have golfed in as of yet, so I for one found your blog both entertaining and informative. Wish you a safe journey home

Already thinking about my golf trips for next year. Likely to be Myrtle Beach again in October although going earlier in the year is a possibility. Would also love to fit in another shorter trip away to somewhere a bit closer to home. Turkey is one option along with this place in Bulgaria

www.thraciancliffs.com

I would love to get back over to Ireland again, links is my favourite type of golf and there are a lot of courses on my radar. So it's either cold wet windy links or guaranteed sun in Turkey, sadly I can't afford both.