Tampa Part Deux Report

[Eracer]

VTDivot and I played a round at Dunedin CC, a 1926 Donald Ross design, and former home of the PGA. The course has seen better days, but it's a nice, mature layout, and they recently spent some $$$$ replacing the greens. More about the greens later. VT was striking the ball quite well for someone who was just coming out of a Vermont hibernation, and although his short game wasn't really up to his standards, he did card a decent 42 on the back nine. Both of us drove the ball well all day. I hit 10 of 14 fairways, including 6 of 10 with my new Renegade. This was the first round I've played with it, and I think I like it.

I had to take a picture of our first tee shot, since I outdrove VT by a couple yards, and wanted to preserve the moment (since it won't happen again for a long, long time...)



Of course, VT made me take a picture of the scorecard immediately after he putted out for birdie...



Now, the greens...these suckers were small, elevated, fairly fast, and above all else, as firm as any I've ever played on. Pure Donald Ross treachery. Let's just say that I didn't find a pitch mark on a single green all day - from anyone. We each hit 60 yard sand wedges that hit 10 feet in front of the hole and rolled another 30 feet uphill and off the back of the green. There was simply no way to stop a shot on the green. I saw VT hit a towering 100 yard shot just over a front bunker that released and ended up over the green. It was unfair, but fun. Add to that the fact that the wind was blowing 15-25 all day and it made for some interesting golf. We ended up trying to leave our approach shots 10 yards short so that we would have an uphill chip from the front of the green, instead of a downhill flop shot from the back. Again, vintage Donald Ross (although I think it was a bit overdone - the greens were simply too firm.)

Anyway, we had a good time, and plan on making this an annual event. Here's a few more pictures for you.

A bit across the line, but not bad...




A bit laid off, but not bad...




Where's that flag?




One big ass tree!




My ball's in here somewhere!




No snow in this picture!




Oh yeah, we went to a brew pub afterwards and enjoyed some tasty beverages, and some solid chow.

[MCDavis]

Hey E, are those legs or pencils?? You must weigh, what, 110 pounds??

Great pics...wish I'd been there!

[Eracer]

Hey E, are those legs or pencils?? You must weigh, what, 110 pounds??

Great pics...wish I'd been there!

Each one of my fat legs weighs 100 lbs. VT is the supermodel. Hope to play a round with you someday.

[MCDavis]

You and I need to teach VT how to eat then.

When we play, bring me a hat...I like that one!

[MCDavis]

My home course is a 1934 Donald Ross...5870 from the whites, 6230 from the blues, par 71. Short and tight with little greens, but still a lot of fun.

[Eracer]

You and I need to teach VT how to eat then.

When we play, bring me a hat...I like that one!

You got it. I love this hat. I wear it all summer long. Your hat size would be....XXL?

My home course is a 1934 Donald Ross...5870 from the whites, 6230 from the blues, par 71. Short and tight with little greens, but still a lot of fun.

I like the tricked up target-style courses as much as anyone, but I like the Donald Ross philosophy of position golf off the tee, and precision golf to the greens. Courses like Dunedin and your home course look simple enough, but are deceptively challenging. I find them to have better replay value than courses that make you hit to the same spots each time you play them.

[ezra76]

Nice pics. Sounds like a great time. I love to get down there someday.

Triggs is also a Donald Ross course, 6300/6550 from the whites/blues. Short par 5's and long par 3's. I like that you can really see how the course was meant to be played with equipment from the era. There is always an opening between bunkers to run a long iron or wood shot onto the green. Also a very distinct designation on the par 5's as where the "go for it" area is vs. laying up. A lot of holes also play very much to a shotshape throughout, some give an advantage to a fade player and others will reward a player that draws the ball off the tee.

[Eracer]

Nice pics. Sounds like a great time. I love to get down there someday.

Triggs is also a Donald Ross course, 6300/6550 from the whites/blues. Short par 5's and long par 3's. I like that you can really see how the course was meant to be played with equipment from the era. There is always an opening between bunkers to run a long iron or wood shot onto the green. Also a very distinct designation on the par 5's as where the "go for it" area is vs. laying up. A lot of holes also play very much to a shotshape throughout, some give an advantage to a fade player and others will reward a player that draws the ball off the tee.

Triggs sounds exactly like Dunedin (6245/6605). The par 3's aren't especially long, though (170/185, 141/157, 140/179, 176/185). But yeah, the par 5's are definitely reachable with a solid tee shot. One of the things I liked about it was the forgiveness off the tee box, as there are very few hazards or OB, and the trees are not thick. You can play a lot of the holes from an adjacent fairway, and it's sometimes better to be WAY right than just off the fairway with trees blocking your shot. I hit a beautiful "Ezra" shot on one of the par threes. It was 170, with a strong right to left wind. I grabbed my 4-hybrid, aimed right at the flag on the right side of the green, set up for a fade, and punched it. The ball went straight at the pin and held its line, fighting the wind all the way, finally dropping straight down, six feet left of the flag. Felt like one of the best shots I've ever hit.

I've got a 7:30 tee time that we decided to cancel. Some pretty wicked T-storms brewing over Florida this morning. If it was just a little rain I wouldn't worry about it, but this looks like a pretty ominous weather picture this AM. Oh well.

[ezra76]

That sucks about your tee time. I'm hoping to get out late this morning, looks very overcast but not supposed to rain. I thought an "ezra" shot was supposed to be a tee shot that's hit on a 87* launch angle off the crow and only goes 15ft. ? Sounds like it was a great shot.... I won't ask about the putt, lol. We call those a "twofast" around here, drive the green, make a bogey.

[mont86]

Each one of my fat legs weighs 100 lbs. VT is the supermodel. Hope to play a round with you someday.

Great pics..I was going to ask why you didn't wear shorts,
but you answered that. Looks like a nice course.

[Eracer]

Great pics..I was going to ask why you didn't wear shorts,
but you answered that. Looks like a nice course.

Can't find shorts that are long enough to cover up the end of my johnson...

[tn-golfnut-from-nj]

Fifth picture,"where is the flag?", I'm thinking an easy 9i over the trees?

[Rockford35]

Can't find shorts that are long enough to cover up the end of my johnson...

Well if you're wife hadn't cut it off and taped it to your knee, you wouldn't have this problem.

Great pics. VT, this has me salivating for the fall now. Can't wait to tee it up.

R35

[sssmokin]

Great pics, Eracer. Nice looking course.............and it's GREEN, too. Would love to someday tee it up with you guys. Especially if we stopped at the beer joint...........LOL. (it could happen).

[Eracer]

Great pics, Eracer. Nice looking course.............and it's GREEN, too. Would love to someday tee it up with you guys. Especially if we stopped at the beer joint...........LOL. (it could happen).

We'll make it happen one of these days. I thought about making the trip to Wisconsin for your outing, but I've been traveling a lot lately, and need to actually get some work done to pay for the trips...lol.