Thursday, July 16, 2009

Don't just watch . . . get out and play

Third green at the Links at Bodega Harbour

There's nothing like the start of a major championship to get you motivated to hit the links yourself. And that's just what I did Thursday after watching Tom Watson, two months shy of his 60th birthday, turn back time by posting a 5-under-par 65 for the early lead in the British Open at Turnberry.
Watson was later eclipsed by Miguel Angel Jimenez for the first-round lead. Nonetheless, it was good to see one of golf's elder statesmen on his game, so I tried to do my best Tom Watson impression at one of my all-time favorite courses, the Links at Bodega Harbour on the beautiful Sonoma County coast.
I first played Bodega Harbour back when it was just a nine-hole track. It opened in 1978, added a second nine in 1987 and has been a favorite of mine ever since. I've never played my best golf there (too many beautiful distractions, maybe?), but I've always enjoyed the experience.
Today was no different. Great fun, not-so-great golf. Actually, it wasn't all bad. I played holes 2-10 in even par. It's just that the other nine holes included four double-bogeys en route to a 13-over 83.
A bit about the course. The first four holes go uphill and away from the ocean, and to be honest the view isn't spectacular - not yet, anyway. But it's four solid holes and they all make you work. The first is an uphill, dogleg-right par-4 that shouldn't be that difficult but for some reason always seems to perplex me. The second is a short, well-bunkered par-4 that can be easily handled if you leave the driver in the bag. The third is an uphill par-3 with a big green, sloping downhill quickly from the back.
The par-4 fourth, though, can be treacherous, requiring a well-placed drive to a split-level fairway, followed by a blind shot uphill to an undulating green. Toughest hole on the course.
Your reward for the first four is the par-5 5th, a Z-shaped, downhill hole that 30 years have taught me is best played with two 5-irons and a wedge. A drive too far and straight ends up in a cow pasture left of the fairway, too far right is lost or out of bounds. From the upper fairway, the view of the Pacific Ocean - on a clear day - is magnificent.
Back-to-back par-3s at Nos. 6-7 are not too difficult if you hit the green, but you could end up with longish putts. The par-5 eighth is relatively short but not as easy as it looks because the green is sloped dramatically downward from back to front, and good luck if you end up in one of the bunkers behind the green. The ninth is a benign par-4 that, much like the second hole, is best played without a driver.
There is more room to spray the ball around on the back nine, except for the final three holes. The 10th is like the first, an uphill, dogleg-right par-4, only much shorter, followed by the longer, straightaway, par-4 11th and uphill, par-3 12th. (A bit of advice on 12, whatever club you've got in your hand, take one club more. This hole always plays longer than it looks.)
Yet another dogleg-right par-4 at No. 13, but forget about trying to cut the corner. The hole's short enough that it doesn't matter which side of the fairway you're on. You better get the big lumber out for the par-4 No. 14, then have fun at 15, a fairly wide-open par-5.
The last three holes are tricky and come as close to the beach as you can get without putting your feet in the Pacific Ocean. The 16th, a ridiculously short par-4, requires a decent carry over a marsh, and the closer you aim toward the green, the more of the marsh you must clear. Don't get greedy. Same goes for the par-3 17th; just hit enough club to reach the green. At the par-4 18th, it's all about the drive, because if you're not in the fairway, the approach shot, straight downhill and toward the ocean, can be extra scary.
All in all, a marvelous piece of real estate. It's not Pebble Beach, but it doesn't set you back $300-$400, either.
If you'd like to check out more about the Links at Bodega Harbour, check out their Web site at www.bodegaharbourgolf.com.

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