Course Pulse: What's On the Norcal Horizon
The Fazio Forest? — Will the Pebble Beach Company’s fifth course, tentatively named The Forest, every come to be? Absolutely, but no one is really sure when. At FG central we’re hoping Tom Fazio’s second course in the region (the first is the sublime private Preserve perched high above Carmel Valley) slides in under the 10-year wire and opens before 2017. Nearly a decade of planning, waiting and jumping through the Monterey Peninsula’s myriad, necessary environmental hoops have the power Pebblers, including Clint Eastwood and Peter Ueberroth, in a holding pattern. Once they get the green light, Pebble Beach visitors will see a lot of activity just to the west of the famous links, where the equestrian center used to be. Fazio’s course will more closely resemble Spyglass Hill, however, routed mostly through the Del Monte Forest with a couple of holes coming in whiffing distance of the Carmel Bay surf. We can’t wait, but until then we’ll have to make due with Pebble, Spy and Spanish Bay. Too bad. www.pebblebeach.com Meanwhile, Down Seaside Way — The first segment of a golf course transformation unlike any other on the Monterey Peninsula was unveiled in early May, with the debut of eight renovated holes and a completely new hole at the legendary Bayonet Golf Course. Under the guidance of award-winning architect Gene Bates (perhaps now best known for the sublime Circling Raven outside Coeur d’Alene, Idaho), both Bayonet and its companion course, Black Horse, are being sculpted into the golf centerpiece of a multi-million dollar project by the Seaside Resort Development. What began its life in the 1950s as a Ford Ord military track laid out by a big-slicing left-handed general will become a luxury destination hotel and spa overlooking Monterey Bay, to be operated by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. It’s all scheduled for completion in late 2009 or early 2010. “This is not merely the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the golf courses, it is an entirely new book,” says Joe Priddy, director of golf at Bayonet and Black Horse, which opened in 1954 and 1964, respectively. Both layouts, especially Bayonet, have tested many of the greatest players over the years, from Ken Venturi to Johnny Miller. Now they’re destined to become distinctly different, yet compatible and equally challenging courses. While Bayonet will retain most of its classic, tree-lined character, Black Horse will have a more open, flowing personality. The front nine holes of Bayonet are the first to be completed, with work on the back nine of Black Horse now underway and scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2008, when work on the resort hotel is to begin on what currently is the driving range. At that time, the remaining holes (the back nine of Bayonet and the front nine of Black Horse) also will be under reconstruction. Concurrently, the new double-ended practice facility — 58,000 square feet of grass hitting space already completed — will be open daily. Look for all 36 holes to be completed before summer ’09. www.bayonetblackhorse.com Trinitas Rising — A big story of perseverance and iconoclastic course design continues to unfold in the Sacramento Valley burg of Valley Springs northeast of Stockton, where Trinitas Golf Club, a semi-private course designed by owner-entrepreneur Mike Nemee, is finished and ready to open pending legal and environmental approval. Nemee built his fortune growing, processing and selling olives on this remote, rolling, fertile slice of foothill real estate, but instead of playing it safe, Nemee and his wife decided to roll the dice and self-build a full-length course that has already attracted a lot of media attention, even though the public can’t yet play it and planned memberships can’t yet be sold. “The interest in playing the course has been overwhelming,” the go-getting, high-energy Nemee told Fairways + Greens. “Golf insiders who have seen it or played it are talking about recognition on a national level — not bad for a guy who everyone thought was crazy.” Nemee, a devout Catholic who designed many “Trinity” features into his course (three bunkers around three-tiered greens, three tee boxes, etc.), has completed Trinitas’ Environmental Impact Report and is awaiting approval for a rezoning and issuance of a use permit to open to the public. “We expect to be ready in September,” he says. “Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be only days for public access, Monday-Thursday for founding members and private events only. Our immediate target market is the immediate Northern California area until our overnight lodging is open.” www.trinitasgolf.com Indian Gambles — It’s about time the Native American casino-meets-golf craze that came to Southern California (Barona Creek), Las Vegas (Paiute) and Arizona (We-Ko-Pa) years ago is finally getting a foothold in NorCal. First on the bandwagon is Cache Creek Casino Resort off Highway 16 in Brooks, not far from Clear Lake. The popular Bay Area getaway spot will become a golf destination overnight as its new Yocha-De-He championship course opens for a sneak preview this fall. Designed by Brad Bell of Coyote Moon fame, the course winds through a stellar landscape of low-lying hills, valleys and old oaks, capping out at 7,303 yards from the tips. It’ll be operated to a well-oiled “tee” by Troon Golf, which knows course conditioning. www.cachecreek.com Word is Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Lincoln, northeast of Sacramento, is also set to break ground on a new course in the next year or so, finally throwing its hat in the ring in a very competitive market after sending customers to the likes of Turkey Creek and The Ridge. reader comments
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The Birdie BunchJuly-Aug 2007
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