Augusta National Golf Club

Augusta National Golf Club is one of the most celebrated golf sites in the United States. Established in 1933 by the great Bobby Jones and designed by Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones, Augusta National sits on a beautiful and hilly tract of land in Augusta, Georgia formerly a tree nursery. Hints of the nursery can be found in the display of beautiful magnolia and dogwood trees that are scattered throughout the course in both out of play and in play locations. As many in the golfing community know, Bobby Jones is considered by many to be one of the greatest golfers to ever grace the game and by far the most successful amateur golfer to ever live. He is still the only person to hold the Grand Slam of golf (winning all four major titles in year) in 1930 and three years later continued his legacy with the creation of one of the most prestigious golf courses ever created.

Although Augusta National is one of the most popular golf courses in America, known for its annual tournament, the Masters, it is still one of the most private courses in the world. Unlike other courses a person couldn't walk in and pay the right price to be a member. To be a member at Augusta National you either have to know someone or be someone and oh yea, you got to have money, and lots of it. If you were to look at the member list you'd probably be hard pressed to find too many individuals from the Augusta, Georgia area. A majority of the members involved in Augusta National are from out of town; some from way out of town. And considering the course is only open for roughly eight months out of the year that leaves very little time for these out of town members to fly their private jets in to play a round or two. Another barrier to membership has been a hot topic in recent years brought to light by the feminist activist Martha Burk. You guessed right, no women allowed! In the age of equal rights Augusta National has continued to maintain its status as a "gentleman only" club.

If there is one thing that anyone knows about Augusta National it is that it is host to the major championship the Masters, every April while the Magnolias are in full bloom. annualBeing the only major championship to be hosted at the same site every year the Masters is considered one of the most storied of all the majors. The prize for the winner of the Masters each year is the "Green Jacket," a green sport coat with the course logo embroidered over the left breast. Along with the green jacket comes a lifetime invitation to the tournament and, of course, a hefty pay check. It's the dream of many of today's amateurs to play in this most prestigious tournament.

The course is very unique among its peers. With very little rough and lightning fast, undulating greens it brings difficult to a whole new dimension. During the tournament the grounds crew's goal is to make the course as hard and fast as possible without making it unfair. To do this an underground suction drainage system was installed that literally "sucks" the water out of the ground. Along with this is an under-green heating an cooling system. This is simply a system of water lines in which either hot or cold water is run through depending upon the weather and the needs of the greens to keep them perfect. During closure months the course's greens and other areas are covered to protect them from the elements. So as you can see, Augusta National pulls out all the stops for its crown jewel.

I've had the opportunity to visit the course once in my life during a practice round of the Masters many years ago. The things that stick out most to me is the element of perfection that has always been Augusta National's center point. As you look out onto the immaculately mowed fairways, the glassy, undulating greens and the impeccable yet intimidating bunkers you can really get a sense of the vision that Bobby Jones had when he probably first combed the grounds over 70 years ago. With tributes such as "Hogan's Bridge," the "Eisenhower Tree," and "Rae's Creek" you can have a greater understanding of history involved in this great venue. If you ever get the immense opportunity to play August National and you make you way around "Amen Corner" (holes 11, 12, and 13) and into the home stretch just remember what this course got to where it is today and what it means for the game of golf today. Augusta National, The American Classic.


Information regarding Augusta National derived from wikipedia.org.

Harbour Town Golf Links

Harbour Town Golf Links is located on Hilton Head Island, SC and year in and year out is considered one of the best courses in the nation. It was designed by one of the all time great American architects Pete Dye with the help of the very prolific designer Jack Nicklaus in 1967. The course itself is a relatively short layout at 6,973 yards par 71 and consists of many narrow tree lined holes. Along with the narrow and demanding tree lined tee shots other characteristics that describe Harbour Town are its small greens and distinct mounding that surround the landing areas of both the fairways and greens. A common characteristic of Pete Dye courses are his large and relatively long bunkers that flank the landing areas and Harbour Town is no exception. Many of the holes are flanked by just such bunkers and even some of the greens surrounded entirely by these gargantuan hazards.

Just like any great course Harbour Town has very distinctive holes that help to define the course and set it apart from many others. The par threes at Harbour Town, for example, are some of the more demanding par threes around with all of them incorporating some type of hazard whether it be a heavily mounded bunker or a dangerously close pond or lake. Although none of them demand great length to conquer they all demand sufficient length and dead on accuracy with a longer iron for any scratch golfer. Although these holes all stick out in my mind as both beautiful and difficult, nothing compares to the courses finishing hole. The 18th hole at Harbour Town is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque and yet one of the most difficult holes in American golf. With two forced carries over the famed Calibogue Sound into one of the smallest finishing greens on the PGA Tour the 18th hole at Harbour Town is one-in-a-million. And who can forget the sight of the famed light house flanking the green across the marina. It will forever be ingrained in golfers hearts as one of the greatest holes in golf.

One of the reasons that this place is so special is because of its very popular PGA Tour event the Verizon Heritage. Each year some of the world's best professional golfers come to Hilton Head for this event. Considered one of the favorites by many of pros the tournament has seen winners like: Nick Faldo, Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, and the late Payne Stewart just to name a few. Each year these pros fight for the famed plaid jacket. Similar to the Masters' green jacket but safe to say with much less prestige this prize is sought by many and is cherished by those who've won it.

My experience with Harbour Town extends to my childhood on a family vacation to the Hilton Head area. During my trip there I was fortunate enough to be able to play Pete Dye's masterpiece and can say from experience that what the course lacks in length it makes up for ten fold in character. The golf course is one of the hardest I have played in my lifetime and although I was very discouraged with the way my day had gone I couldn't help but walk up the 18th fairway and feel an unmeasurable amount of joy. The course is a gem and provides a better golf experience altogether than just about any course I have played before. It truly is an American classic!

Information derived from Wikipedia.org, the www.verizonheritage.com, and www.hhigolfvacations.com.

Lincoln Hills Golf Club: Home Sweet Home

Up to this point I've given you examples of many different golf courses and designers that have helped to shape the way golf course design evolved over the last century and a half or so. I now want to share with you a course that hasn't won any big awards, hasn't hosted any events of substance, and, believe it or not, only has nine holes. The course I'm talking about is Lincoln Hills Golf Club, my home course, and pretty much my home.

Lincoln Hills was originally established by a group of local businessmen in the town of Upper Sandusky, OH (no, not Sandusky...totally different) in 1927. My grandfather, David J. Bastel was one of the original developers and was the first generation in this family heirloom that has been owned and operated entirely by my family since the 1940s. The course was originally a dairy farm and consisted of rolling hills and meandering creeks that scarcely characterized the surrounding flat farmland. When the course was originally constructed there were very few trees and what few their were were located in a woods at one corner of the course. Since the course was first constructed many trees have been added in a grove like fashion that help to define the holes and provide many threats to golfers of all skill levels. Creeks have also been rerouted due to erosion and difficulty concerns but for the most part the course has remained largely unchanged.

During World War 2 the course was closed as my grandfather and many other Upper Sandusky citizens went off to war. Because of this the course was allowed to grow wild and upon completion of the war the course was simply an open pasture of waist high grass. Much work would be done to bring the course back to its original luster. A new clubhouse, that which stands today, would be built to replace the original clubhouse a small one room facility in the 1960s as well as a practice green and new driving range. Along with this clubhouse were 6-8 small one room cabins known as the tourist court for golfers to stay at while they were in town and playing golf. Only one of these cabins remains as the pump house located on the 7th hole. Another unique feature of the golf course is the house located on the property. Originally the farmhouse during the course's dairy farm days, this house is where my grandparents raised my father and where I will be moving back into with my parents as soon as renovations are complete.

The course itself is very reminiscent of the Golden Age of golf course design during the later part of the 1920s and into the 1930s. The exact designer is unknown but the design is somewhat similar to a modified Donald Ross course. With minimal bunkering and back-to-front sloping greens Lincoln Hills treks over and around the many hills providing many options for working the ball off the tee and into the greens. The greens are very small with the deepest being just 26 paces deep but accept a well played shot fairly. The course is maintained based on the conditions of the seasons with minimal extra water used giving the course a very natural appeal.

The course has many picturesque holes but the two that stick out as signature holes are the first and second holes. Pictured below, these holes are a demanding and beautiful beginning to a great day of golf.

Hole #1 Par 4

Hole #2 Par 3

Although I do have a biased opinion because of my upbringing at Lincoln Hills, I believe that I can safely say that its fun, family atmosphere and challenging yet fair layout compliment its colorful family history and ensure that the future is bright for golf in Upper Sandusky. With plans to add a back nine in the works we hope that we can give the town of Upper Sandusky a new sense of championship golf while still making it fun for all skill levels.

Jack Nicklaus: One Man, Two Legacies

Jack Nicklaus, or the "Golden Bear" as he is called, was born in 1940 in Columbus, Ohio. His life and career has been acclaimed as on of the most successful golfing careers in the history of the game. Not many people could match Jack for the accomplishments he had on the golf course. Jack's golfing career started in the Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington and Upper Arlington High School. After this Jack earned the privilege of competing on the golf team at Ohio State University however he did not stay for his entire term of eligibility and turned pro in 1961 at the age of 21. Upon turning pro Jack's career really took off. After seventy-three wins on the PGA tour including 18 major championship titles (still the current record being chased by Tiger Woods) and forty other wins on different tours, Jack retired leaving behind his golf career but excelling in another one of his passions, golf course design.

Jack first got into the design business by working with famed golf course designer Pete Dye. Through Jack's keen eye and with the help of people like Mr. Dye, Jack was able to design the cornerstone of his design career, Muirfield Village Golf Club, in 1973. Muirfield Village Golf Club is considered one of the crowning achievements in golf course design in the 1970s and still hosts the Jack's own tournament, The Memorial Tournament, every year.

In Jack's early design career he did works with both Pete Dye and Desmond Muirhead including: Harbour Town Golf Links, Grand Geneva Resort, Mayacoo Lakes Country Club, and Muirfield Village Golf Club just to name a few. Since these early days Jack has at least contributed to over 240 courses all over the fifty United States as well as Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, South Africa, and elsewhere. Because of this Jack is considered one of the most prolific course designers of late 20th and early 21st centuries. In fact, this year alone, Jack has contributed to 10 courses that just recently opened in 2007.

Jack's legacy has changed over the years in the game of golf. Starting in a simple suburb of Columbus, OH, stretching to great success at the top level of golf performance, and stemming finally to form and art in nature through the design of golf courses. As Jack ages, now 67 years old, he's passing on the torch to another generation of Nicklaus blood. His sons are now finding themselves deeply entrenched in the business of the family and ready and willing to continue their father's great legacy well into the future.


Information in this post derived from Wikipedia.org and www.nicklaus.com

The Olympic Club

The Olympic Club has a rich history not only in golf but in all sports. It is in fact the oldest athletic club in the United States started in 1860 and has produced many great athletes and Olympians. Headquartered in San Fransisco, CA, the Olympic Club has a three golf courses on the property with nearly as much history as the club itself. The three courses include the Lake course, the Ocean course, and the Cliffs course which is a par three course located along the Pacific Ocean cliffs. The course that I will be talking about in today is the Lake course.

The course today is not the original course on the property. The original course, Lakeside Golf Course designed by Wilfrid Reid, was built in 1917 but because of some financial struggles was bought by the Olympic Club in 1918. After acquiring the course the club purchased additional property and built two courses, the Ocean and Lake courses, through the help of designers Willie Watson and Sam Whiting. The courses were finally finished in 1924. They have remained basically unchanged except for simple modifications that were made by Robert Trent Jones.

Although all the Olympic Club courses are highly reputable, the Lake course has a competitive history unmatched by many built in its time. The course has hosted many national championships including the 2004 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, three U.S. Amateur Championships (including the 2007 U.S. Am), and four U.S. Open Championships the next of which will be in the year 2012.

The Lake course is a very unique layout and design. Although its length is slightly under 6900 yards from the championship tees, it packs a punch. The course itself sits mostly on a hill with many of the holes running along the hill not up and down it. This makes driving the golf ball very difficult by forcing you to hit shots that work into the hill to keep the ball from rolling through the fairways. The greens are relatively small and very undulating. The course is probably most know for its 18th hole. Being fairly shot, it doesn't pose to much of a threat but come tournament time the atmosphere created by the amphitheater-like hill and the blind second shot into a green guarded by the famed "IOU" bunkers is second to none.

I had the great opportunity to play the Lake course in that 2004 U.S. Amateur Championship and can say from experience that the golfing experience found at the Olympic Club is one of the best. As you walk out to the course in the morning a blanket of San Fransisco Bay fog often covers the lower reaches of the golf course. Couple the fog with the winding Cyprus trees and you really feel as though you are in another world. The Olympic Club is bathed in a history of championships and Olympians and the Lake course is no exception.

Information used to write this article was found at Wikipedia.org

Pebble Beach Golf Links...enough said!

Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the most recognizable golf courses in the Western world if not the world. Designed in 1919 by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant on the Monterey Peninsula in Pebble Beach, California. The course itself sits on the coastline of the what is known as Stillwater Bay directly connected to the Pacific Ocean. In designing Pebble Beach, Neville's goal was to utilize the beautiful vistas along the Pacific coast as much as he possibly could. In fact the ocean is visible from nearly every hole on the golf course and for that reason is regarded by many critiques as the one of the most beautiful courses in the United States. Because of that it consistently ranked as one of the top golf courses in the nation and has been ranked first many times by the voters of the Golfweek golf course rankings. What makes Neville's design even more incredible is that it was his first and only golf course design. Since the original design only a few major redesigns have been done. The most recent and probably most prominent was that done by Jack Nicklaus in 1990 in preparation for the 1992 U.S. Open.

For a complete historical time-line of golf at Pebble Beach you can visit their website at http://www.pebblebeach.com/page.asp?id=924

It only seems prudent to next talk about the signature holes. The only issue with this is that there are so many that words alone cannot provide justification. Because of this I think that these holes would be best described through pictures.

This is the 6th hole, a par 5 measuring roughly 500 yards for member play.

This is the 7th hole, a short par three that is pictured in many golf photos.

This is the the par 4, 8th hole. A long and tricky hole that sits directly on some of the tallest cliffs on the course.

This is the famed par 5, 18th hole, site of many big time tournament finishes.

As you can see the beauty of Pebble Beach is almost unprecedented in any other golf course in the U.S. if not the world. Although a beauty it can be a beast as well. It's difficulty is defined by the many championships that have been hosted here of its beautiful history. Some of these tournaments include the very popular Pebble Beach National Pro-Am held every year bringing some of the biggest celebrities and the best professionals. Other Championships held here include multiple U.S. Opens and U.S. Amateurs.

I have had the great privilege of seeing the golf course and resort twice. I must say that seeing is believing. Pictures do no justification for this world renowned course. Being there gives one a feeling of excellence and greatness. Affluence prevails at this resort including for golf. In fact, to play golf for someone not staying at the resort is a minimal (sarcasm) $500 dollars riding but for those who've played it...it was worth it. You enter an gawking tourist and you leave an experienced, accomplished player. For the few who have played the course it is a privilege that they would never pass up and never forget. If you were given the chance at least to see it, take advantage of the opportunity because you will not be let down.

Information used to compile this post was drawn from Wikipedia.com and Pebble Beach's Official website www.pebblebeach.com (this is a great resource to receive more in depth information about the course and its partners).

Muirfield Village Golf Club: Jack's Place

Muirfield Village Golf Club was originally designed in 1973 by the one and only Jack Nicklaus. Inspired by the rolling hills and nearly pristine perfection of Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, Nicklaus wanted to design a course that would challenge the world's best players as well as provide spectators an ideal way of watching golf live. Muirfeild Village is located in the affluent Dublin, OH just north of Columbus, OH and has been host to many amateur and professional events over the years. Most notable is the Memorial Tournament hosted by Nicklaus every every year during Memorial Day week. Other events that have been hosted there include the 1986 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, the 1992 U.S. Amateur Championship, the 1987 Ryder Cup, and the 1998 Solheim Cup.

The golf course itself is one of the hardest in Ohio. With a total yardage of 7343 yards and a rating of 76.6/150. To play the course effectively you not only need tremendous distance and accuracy but you also need to be able to think. With many split fairways and diagonal greens a player is required to manage his or her game on every shot.

The condition of the golf course, especially during the Memorial Tournament is impeccable. The fairways are nearly perfect, the rough long and thick the greens true and fast, and the bunkers consistent. In fact, during last year's Memorial Tournament Paul Latshaw, the current course superintendent, was interviewed multiple times and constantly complimented on the work of both himself and his crew. As a spectator of the Memorial Tournament numerous times I can say form experience that the course rarely looks anything less than perfect. Nothing seems to be out of place.

As I have already mentioned, the Memorial Tournament is played there every year. Known as "Jack's Tournament" it is one that is populated each year by the world's best players. The field, which normally includes players like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Vijay Singh, is one of the strongest all year. One aspect of the tournament that makes it unique is that each year it honors a member of the golfing community and provides them a place on the tournaments "Wall of Fame" located just to the right of the first hole. The Memorial Tournament truly is Ohio's tournament and to be hosted by Ohio's own Jack Nicklaus it is a very special experience.

I have gotten the privilege of playing Muirfield Village roughly ten times in tournament rounds and can say from experience that it is quite an experience. Just to walk the fairways that the greatest pros play year in and year out gives you chills running down your back. You really do have to play intelligent to get yourself around the golf course but what really makes it difficult is that playing smart won't always get you the lowest score. Some holes and hole locations simply do not allow you to play anything but aggressive. Playing safe isn't always your best bet, in fact playing safe can get you in trouble. That being said, however, the golf experience created by Jack Nicklaus is unlike many you'll receive anywhere in the world.

Information found at both Wikipedia.com and Ohiogolf.org