Hoping For A Consistent Fade

I’m headed off to play four rounds of golf over the next three days with a pack of 12 guys from work. We make at least one “tour” of a series of California courses each year. This year’s tour is headed to the Monterey Peninsula, where we’ll play the Pasatiempo, Bayonet, Black Horse, and Pacific Grove courses.

The first stop this afternoon is at Pasatiempo, the home course of the famous course architect, Alister MacKenzie, who also designed Augusta National, the famed home of the Masters tournament. Golf Digest has named it one of the three best courses to play in California, along with Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill.

On Friday, we’ll play Bayonet and Black Horse, located on the former Ft. Ord, where I went through Army basic infantry training in late 1969 and early 1970. Bayonet was designed by an Army general who was a left-handed golfer who hit a consistent fade – so he built the course around that shot in order to lower his handicap. I’m a left-handed golfer who hits a fade, so this could be my course. Of course, my fade is often pumped up on steroids and morphs into a slice. And, unlike the general, my fade isn’t consistent, so this might not be my course. As for Black Horse, inasmuch as it is the last 18 holes of a 36-hole day, I’m not sure anything will help or matter on that round. Finishing with dignity will be the objective.

On Saturday morning, we’ll play Pacific Grove, which is referred to as the “poor man’s Pebble Beach”. It deserves this title not only because it has several holes positioned beautifully along the ocean, but it was designed by Jack Neville, the same man who originally designed Pebble Beach.

The golf will be whatever the golf gods decree it to be with each passing shot. I plan to sacrifice a small farm animal at the stroke of midnight each night before each round in order to appease these capricious gods. No form of fowl will be placed on my altar, lest I offend the eagles and birdies that I hope will rain down on me. I must note, however, that no rain is in the forecast.

At least the scenery will be spectacular. A good time should be had by all – should be – it may not be; but it should be. Golf has a knack for getting in the way of a good time. After all, Mark Twain said, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” Well, I have a remedy for that assessment – don’t walk; ride in a cart. No one has ever said that golf is a good drive spoiled.