Monterey In A Mazda Part 2

Filed in archive Golf Travel on September 18, 2007

The 11th at Carmel Valley Ranch

It's day two of Monterey in a Mazda. And the morning dawns bright and clear - another perfect day in Carmel Valley, it seems.

We're up early, itching to get the day going for two reasons: golf at the Pete Dye-designed Carmel Valley Ranch and the first crack at the Mazda MX-5s that the generous gang from Mazda USA have laid on for each of us.

Joining me and Wendy for golf were Ed Lee (The Golf Blog) and his sister and Tony Korologos from Hooked On Golf Blog. Rounding out the numbers was Tim Gilman, one of the Mazda guys and the brainchild for the weekend. We didn't give him any strokes.

Our golf convoy headed out with the clubs in the back of a CX-7 for the all-too-short ride to Carmel Valley Ranch. It was my first time behind the wheel of the MX-5 and what a sports car it is! Six gears to row through via a short-throw gearbox, power-top that stores in mere seconds at the push of a button and handling that is as legendary as the car itself.

Carmel Valley's website says the course underwent a restoration (in fact, it's only been open a month or so since work was completed) but, according to Rob Turner, the Director of Golf, it was a renovation rather than a restoration.

Gene Bates, a busy architect out of Florida, did the work.

Most of it was to renovate the irrigation and drainage of the course. But while doing that, all tees were leveled, extensive bunker work was done and creeping bentgrass was sewn on tees, fairways and greens.

The routing of the holes was essentially left the way Pete Dye created it.

Carmel Valley Ranch is a course with a distinct Jekyll and Hyde nature

Tony and I played from the back tees; the yardage was just over 6100 yards, a length that would prove deceptively short.

The first three or four holes seem to lull the golfer into a false sense of security: straightforward tee shots and approaches. The greens seemed to run a little slower than the practice green, however.

But then the course starts to pull back its lips and bare its teeth. The first thing I noted was that carries off the tee were longer to clear rough and water. Landing areas started to tighten up with strategic bunker placements. Grip pressure began to tighten up, too.

The front nine is played largely in the valley; the back nine is where Dr. Jekyll dwells.

The tenth tee is a long ascent up past the first tee; the cart path winds higher and higher up the side of the Santa Lucia mountains. The views begin to take your breath away.

And the winds begin to grow stronger at higher elevations.

Number 11 is a heart-stopper. From the blue tees, you gaze out over the Carmel Valley for about 40 miles. Almost 500 feet below is the fairway. Tee shots have enough hang time to enjoy a beer and watch the flight of the ball.

Truly spectacular.

But then Jekyll returns several holes later. A blind approach is needed to a narrow, horizontal green thirty feet below the fairway. Club choice is critical. Bunkers cover the front side; trees, scrub and golf hell cover the back of the finger-like green.

By now, the descent to the finish has begun. Standing on the 18th tee, you are faced with the longest carry on the course. At least 220 over water and gnarly rough into a stiff wind. I chose to lay up to the forward tees which were about 160 yards ahead (sorry, D2 lovers), play my second another 170 and then hit my approach into the green.

Carmel Valley is a magnificent facility, second to none with a condominium hotel for guests and fairway homes for members. See the website for more on that.

As for the course itself, here are some other observations: the range holds a well-conceived water station: plastic cups, icy cold water. Nowhere else on the course can you grab a drink. During our entire and rather long round (just over 5 hours), we never saw a drink cart. Perhaps they don't have one at Carmel Valley. I don't know.

At the 8th tee is a phone to call ahead to the halfway house and order lunch. Great idea. But there's no menu by the phone which means they have to read it to you before you order and, on a busy day, that could really slow down play.

The day we stopped there, they didn't have any Gatorade or other sports drinks!

Beware of the rough. In some places, it's fine; in others, it seems to have been ordered up by the USGA.

Having said that, landing areas are generous and the course is fair. Carmel Valley Ranch is a wonderful golf resort. They've got all the big things right and most of the little things, as well. A few tweaks and it's perfect.