11 with its central hazard is a challenging yet fun long par 4 into the prevailing wind. The round takes you across multiple landscapes - from cypress groves to Monterey pines to dunes to rugged cliffside ocean. It they dont have the game for it, they can play to the left. Recently I was fortunate to receive the invite to play Cypress. And 13-17 simply amazing. We feel his points are valid and worthy of sharing: While most of your course intros seem ok, this one is really off. Bunkers are tougher than they look. The design variety is like no other course and the breaks in the greens are so subtle that a caddie with experience is the only way you would make it around the course. No experience can top walking the grounds of CPC. This was intended to be preserved by Mackenzie, but was changed when Marian Hollins disproved his worry of the holes difficulty by knocking a drive onto the future greensite. Peter Wood is the founder of The Travelling Golfer click the link to read his full review. 5 is a beautiful three shot hole with layered bunkering. ", I have played most big name courses and this is my favorite. The seventh is a reverse redan placed perfectly on the side of a sand ridge. Certainly one way to play Cypress is the full-bore, take-dead-aim, grip-it-and-rip-it, bomb-and-gouge approach. Cypress Point Club is set at the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains on the very tip of the Monterey Peninsula and the cliff top terrain is varied and thrilling. MacKenzie relished the idea that Cypress Point would offer all sorts of ways to play every hole. I've been fortunate to have played Cypress Point a few times back in the early nineties. After the intensity of the course, the wind, and other weather elements, those trees surround and shelter a player as he gathers himself and contemplates the challenge to follow. Nothing sum this up better than the quote from Jimmy Demarest about Cypress Point -- "was the best 17-hole course he had played." But why? You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. I wish I could be more articulate but Honestly the course left me speechless. We hardly noticed though, and our game continued on. ", Perfect. They blend naturally into the course. Does that sound at all like a weak hole? 15 requires a simple wedge to a boomerang green giving the player a great look at birdie. While the 3 oceanside holes rightly garner the publicity they deserve the magic of Cypress Point lies in the routing of the prior holes. Its considered the best golf hole in the world or the worst if you dump your third tee shot into the sea. Each of our spacious floor plans features: Visit our Amenities page to see all of our wonderful apartment features. The closing hole is nice, but is perhaps the weakest hole on the course- an uphill par 4 through the trees. I, along with others on this site and no doubt elsewhere -- have played the course on more than one occasion. As for the infamous par-3 16th, listed at 233 yards, its tee could be moved back up a hill to 260 yards, or even the 280-yard range. After walking past gnarled cypress trees on the unique fourteenth, a numbing thought crossed my mind. The nuts and bolts of the course have been accurately mentioned by earlier reviewers. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. CA There is also ample space to work from home. Multi-tiered, multi breakers and massive fun! I love the new dunes areas created by Coore and Crenshaw. The genius of MacKenzie hits an even higher note with what three of the final four holes provide. The last addition to that quote which makes Cypress one of if not the best course in the world is that nobody will ever have the design calibar of Marian Hollins, Alistair Mackenzie, and Seth Raynor ever again. Should we pack it in?" We cajoled them into continuing until 16, where they dropped our bags and headed in. The course is well known for a series of dramatic holes along the Pacific Ocean that have been named as some of the best in golf.[3][4][5][6]. The sound of the crashing waves becomes louder. On fifteen, our host says, "how's everyone doing? So much for the ultra rich treating the "help" poorly. Cypress Point shows that the "fun" dimension is what makes golf so grand a game. See other reviews from Peter Wood. Of course the safe line away from the sea requires less carry but leaves a longer approach over a pine tree, whereas a longer or more daring tee shot hugging the coastline will leave a shorter approach from a better angle. Was this review helpful? ", I have played 99 of the top 100 in GD from the 2012 list and this is still my favorite course. 8200 Kern Ave The ninth heads back downhill and begs the player to attempt to drive the green, but missing on the wrong side of the heavily sloped green can lead to carnage. Beyond your door, our vibrant community is an extension of your home, offering a variety of extras to help you get the most out of every day, including a large resort-style pool and spa, poolside deck with lounges, and fitness center with WiFi. While not all grand locations will yield an equally grand course, I do believe when you have great land and can intersect that with a riveting routing you have the formula for a tour de force result. There are moments where the bold play is invited but at no time is the course a one-way oriented venture. The best 17-hole course in the world is how Cypress Point has been described. Much has been rightly written on the merits of the 15th thru the 17th. - Turf - the turf is firm underfoot and plays firm and fast. After all, there are dozens of courses along the Pacific with oceanside holes, Pebble having three times as many holes along the ocean as Cypress, and yet CPC is a vastly superior golf course. Curiously, MacKenzie lamented that the 15th lacked, a sufficient number of alternative shots necessary to play it. But he forgot about the wind, which invariably is either directly into ones face, or blowing out to sea. Also the 16th is not properly described. Masa Nishijima, co-author of Tom Doaks Confidential Guide to Golf Courses, commented as follows: Seth Raynor was under contract to do the course, but Raynor passed away in 1926 before the start of construction, and Robert Hunter managed to convince the client to let Dr. MacKenzie have a look at the course when he made his first visit to California later that year.. And more importantly, it drives home the point that a course does not have to be super-hard to leave you with the feeling you could have done better. Definitely a Top 10. When you call Cypress Pointe Apartments home, you become a part of one of Gilroys most vibrant neighborhoods, and you never have to go out of your way to find something fun to do. It's such a privilege just be on the property, let alone play the course. I've got a couple of friends who are members there and they're both very generous characters who often brought guests there. It is a charming combination of exclusivity, the most spectacular of sites, and wonderful design. I've been quite fortunate to have played the course in different times of the year with varying degrees of weather -- from ample blue sky with light winds to more challenging with high winds and a spritzing of off and on rain showers. It was one guy, Jimmy Demaret that called Cypress Point the best 17-hole course he's ever played. Holes I most enjoyed are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17. My only wish is that more golfers could experience it to see just how good golf architecture can be. The land for these holes provides a range of different "looks." Overwhelmed you putt out on 15 and proceed around the point. BTW, it was still the best day of golf ever. The quote from Bobby Jones when assessing the character of Pebble Beach and Cypress Point is the most accurate and cryptic of them all. Images powered by. The layout possesses a wonderful array of different two-shot holes. If they go to the green, they will be credited. . The 10th and 18th let it down badly but there is no purer start on the planet than the first 6 holes. I am sure it was quite temporary and everything is back in order now. Set in coastal dunes, the course enters the Del Monte forest during the front nine and reemerges to the rocky coastline for the finishing holes. [13][14] Since then, Condoleezza Rice was admitted as a member of the club. There are clear choices -- strategies to be constantly weighed. - Routing - What a neat routing Cypress has. To give the course the maximum six stars is truly short-changing this work of art. In his original Confidential Guide book he sad the following : " even though the 18th hole is about as anti-climatic as the credit reel of a movie.". But its also a course where finesse still matters, where course management is still rewarded. You do call into question my referencing comments from Jimmy Demaret (three-time Masters champ I might add). Meander through the lush grounds and relax to the symphony of nature sounds and the fragrance of the gardens. Land it too deep above the hole and youre faced with a treacherous putt, miss right while shaping your shot and you are in one of the bunkers guarding the green. The tie-ins on 3 are really well done. See other reviews from Brent Carlson. Was this review helpful? I feel privileged to have played there. However, you cant allow this bias to interfere with a rational analysis of the hole. The facilities on site are miniscule, with the pro shop being no more than 300 or so square feet and the locker room containing a small number of wooden boxes, each carrying two or three names of business tycoons, celebrities or politicans. Our lovely homes offer a number of features designed to elevate your life. The Gordons weren't the greatest of archit Cypress Point Club is set at the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains on the very tip of the Monterey Peninsula and the cliff top terrain is varied and thrilling. After the first hole the course turns inland through pine forests, and the bunkering is sublime.. My memory of holes 4 & 5 is dominated by acres of sand- strategically placed, artfully designed and totally 'in synch' with the surroundings. Yes with several caveats. Please visit this link to contact us. Obviously, turning away from the ocean knowing that youve just completed a once-in-a-lifetime journey to a place you always dreamt of is disappointing. The second part of this magnificent routing can be seen in the finish of the outward nine. Finally you round the bend and see the beautiful 15th hole, with bunkering even better than you imagined. This article about a sports venue in California is a stub. I have always liked the nature of the short par-4's at the 8th and 9th respectively. MacKenzie uses the central dune magnificently. Could be the best course I have ever played. Pebble Beach Pro-Am, He always leaves a way for weaker golfers. Today, despite some tree clearing, its still the most confounding of holes at Cypress Point, where even a big hitter has no true advantage. The course gets better every time you play it. Ironically, the one hole Mackenzie wanted longer was the 343-yard 18th, where a conventional fairway later become forested by the encroachment of cypress trees. The pounding of the waves along the shore -- the yelping of the sea lions basking in the sun along the rocks and the green stationed on the other side with the Pacific Ocean standing in one's way in much the same manner as a sentinel on guard. There is no doubt in my mind that Cypress Point has to be in any conversation regarding the greatest course in the world, the routing offers a unique challenge, breathtaking views and a whole lot of fun. See other reviews from Brian Moran. For many score is way too important -- they can't understand that most people are out there to have fun, and that fun can be more about the beauty of Nature, than about your score. You need to adjust again to the sound of the pounding sea overpowered by the pounding of your heart as you approach the most famous par 3 in the world - the par 3 200metre 16th hole with ocean carry from tee to green. The Pacific is the ultimate water hazard on this 231-yard one-shot hole. The closing hole is considered by some to be little more than a route back to the clubhouse and perhaps the 16th hole is a weakness too, especially if you cant carry the ball more than 200 yards into the prevailing wind. See other reviews from M. James Ward. Yepboth times! We look forward to meeting you. The variety of the holes was also incredible making the player play almost every club in their bag from the short 15th par 3 at 135 yards to the spectacular 16th at 233 yards over the most beautiful rocky coast you will ever see. First, you have to acknowledge that you just played three of the undisputed greatest holes in the world. There are a number of all-world holes. The concluding hole at Cypress Point has been bandied about by many, many people with camps of supporters and detractors in equal measure. Would the downhill 289-yard par-4 ninth, with its narrow stairstepped green tucked between sand dunes, be any more challenging if it would be lengthened 50 or 75 yards? McKenzie is famous for his bunkering, and Cypress Point has sandy hazards at every turn- strategically positioned, with wonderful wild shaping, and at times providing a level of intimidation. When you can play badly and walk off and have had fun then that is a brilliant course. Jimmy Demarest, the famed golfer and holder of three Masters titles, said Cypress Point is the best 17-hole course in the world. Every hole is memorable each improving slightly from the previous and cumulating at the 17th. They are simply spellbinding for their innate beauty and they are also within the domain of most golfers. It was dropped from the rotation because it had no black members and refused to admit one to comply with the tour's anti-discrimination guidelines. 0 people found this review helpful I was surprised just how good the inland holes were and it definitely wasnt a waiting game to get to the 14th tee. I said, "what!? He was a great pro, but not an expert in golf course architecture by any means. Cypress has some of the most interesting green complexes I have ever played. Additionally, a par 3 along 17 mile drive would have been included between the current 13th and 14th, and the famous 16th would have been played as a cape style par four. I dont believe MacKenzie would have not designed such slopes for greens running 12 on the stimp. Was this review helpful? CPC has that perfect combination of great strategic design, wonderful variety of golfing terrain (through sand dunes, pine forest, and along the coast), and gorgeous ocean backdrops. Savor every minute of it !!". That's the reason it's such a good course, whether or not long hitters think it's too short. The long walk from 14 green to 15 is one of the best transitions in golf. Was this review helpful? 0 people found this review helpful Welcome to Gilroy living, adjacent to the foothills, where everything you need is always within reach. 1 person found this review helpful The nature of this tee shot combined with provides a great way to close matches on a great day, playing to a beautiful greensite framed by Mackenzie bunkers. It creates a tremendous sense of anticipation. 100 Lighting Way Secaucus, NJ 07094-3626 USA Telephone: (201) 902-2000, Cypress Pointe Resort Exterior. How about the comments of Tom Doak -- an active architect of the first order -- how would you assess his credentials? Although most golfers are thoroughly aware of the final few holes along the Pacific, it is the interior holes which are quite extraordinary. OK -- fair enough. 3 people found this review helpful Every true golfer would love to play Cypress Point, but the reality of the matter is that unless you are in the know, only a lucky few will ever get the chance to tee it up on the 1st. If I'm wrong -- then likely those who see it the same way as you -- can weigh in with their rationale. Alister MacKenzie's bunkering at Cypress is truly remarkable and constantly has the player thinking the best way to attack each hole. The two par threes in my sightline: the fifteenth and sixteenth, show the irrelevance of the term par, as they are alike only as they are labeled par threes on the scorecard. He said, Dammitall, the land side is too simple. 95020. The artistic bunkering on 13 has to be seen in person. While extremely private, high scores for ambience because if the place has attitude, it is not in your face. Yes, long bombers can go low at Cypress Point these days, but so can short-hitting, thoughtful players, who much like sailors in a storm tack their way around bunkers, trees, dunes and ocean coves. The first time we played there was the best, as I always welcome "weather" when playing on the peninsula. 0 people found this review helpful I was reminded that even though I had just played 14 of the best, most strategic holes in golf, on the other side of 17 mile drive. 16 is honestly not a hole anyone would make today, and if the Clambake were still played at Cypress, I would bet money that spoiled tour players would moan about it as being unfair. Originally MacKenzie had suggested the tee be positioned on a rock off the coast (which was to be reached by a swing bridge). CP must be one of the best places to be a Member on the planet. It's as close to perfection as you can get on a non-links course. Intimidated? I have always opined that land is no less than 60% of the equation when weighing the merits of any course. 3 people found this review helpful Those who think teeny old Cypress Point is defenseless miss the point of Alister MacKenzies marvelous design. Respond to above review MacKenzie always conceived the hole as a heroic one-shotter, alternatively as a drive-and-pitch-par 3. Our vibrant Cypress Pointe Apartments community offers unbeatable access to some of the citys best outdoor recreation, as well as celebrated schools, restaurants, and shopping. When you walk from 14 green to 15 tee along the coast you turn the bend and the sound hits you in the solar plexus- a cacophony of waves hitting the rocks, the calls of the wild- seals and sea birds and then you turn again and confront the most beautiful short par 3 possible. Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists, Perhaps the toughest get in golf, right alongside Augusta. ", My favorite course in the United States. [15], While no longer part of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, many of the players continue to visit the course in the week leading up the tournament.[16]. There's an escape route but anyone taking on the carry and exiting with a par can rightly say you've been "blessed by an even higher authority.". THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. 2022 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Pebble Beach Golf Links: The Hay Short Course. MacKenzie was a genius and Cypress is an extra level above the other excellent MacKenzie courses I've played. Everyone knows about the finishing four holes so no point in elaborating on them. 0 people found this review helpful Can advisors add a surcharge to cover credit card fees? Seriously? And for fitness, the large swimming pool, outdoor spin cycle patio, fitness center with the latest aerobics and strength equipment, and nearby hiking & biking trails give you more options than any community of its size in the greater Gilroy area. You must drive it over The famous "17 Mile Drive" to an elevated green on this challenging opening par 4. Bunkering at Cypress is incredible and the greens are subtle but hard. Frank "Sandy" Tatum, the former USGA president and long time member called Cypress Point "the Sistine Chapel in golf" and there really is no better correlation. Equal Opportunity HousingHandicap Friendly. I don't know of any person who would include the 18th at the same level as the three holes that precede it. Cypress Point is proof of how good golf can be. A blind tee shot over Cypress Trees to a narrow fairway the dog legs steep up a hill to a green sloping form back to front with a huge cypress tree blocking out the entire left side of the green requiring a perfect drive to have a chance at the green with a shaped approach from an uneven lie. but completely awesome! Its a first world argument though. Now that would have been a memorable finish! What's amazing about the hole is that the legendary Bing Crosby made a hole-in-one here -- one of only two ever to do so. The opening hole is often not mentioned but it's a fine starting hole. See other reviews from joe castro. From Golf Digest Architecture Editor emeritus Ron Whitten: Cypress Point, the sublime Monterey Peninsula work of sandbox sculpture, whittled Cypress and chiseled coastline, has become Exhibit A in the argument that classic architecture has been rendered ineffectual by modern technology. ", Nobody warned us about the cypress tunnel tunnel between holes #15 and #16. There is a bailout area to the left for those who cannot summon the guts to fire across and attempt to reach the holy grail of a putting surface. But its a firm test, 230 yards into the wind to a green guarded by cliffs on both sides, unlike any shot youll ever hit, and surely one youll remember for life. You bet. Amazing MacKenzie greens. Pack it in!? The Monterey Peninsula in California is home to many wonderful golf courses, including the renowned Pebble Beach almost next door on the rugged Monterey coastline. Everything is first class and goodness the set of holes along the water are as good as any in the world. See other reviews from Kurt Krause. Set over acres of award winning landscaping, you can walk through the lush grounds and relax to the symphony of nature sounds and fragrance of the gardens. The course is very well manicured but it still melds well with the rugged nature of the property. It would still be reachable from the tee for big hitters, but out of range for ordinary players, robbing the majority of the fun and consternation of trying to drive a par 4. The 16th is no different. You frankly admit you've never been to Cypress Point so therefore you have no way in personally knowing if the original statement about the final four holes being "the best in all of golf" is remotely accurate. I can remember vividly my first time and I was utterly mesmerized. A look at what went into Scenic Group's planning and execution of the sailings that include a visit to the Floriade flower show Summer reading assignment: Autobiographies by Chris Blackwell and J. Robert Harris reveal as much about the world as any travel Like the rest of Europe, Portugal is baking right now. In typical MacKenzie fashion this hole can be played many ways. The 17th provides visual stimuli in harmony with the 16th. You have arrived at this Iconic, Alister MacKenzie masterpiece. Brooks Cruise ship landed at 0700. IF YOU ARE A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT AND WOULD LIKE TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO OPT-OUT OF THIRD-PARTY DATA SHARING, YOU MAY DO SO HERE:DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION. Respond to above review Walking off 18 is truly disappointing, not because of the quality of hole just played, but just because of how close you are to the first tee, and knowing that the experience you have long dreamt of is behind you. Respond to above review If you can only play one round this is it!! All Rights Reserved. The juxtaposition with Pebble Beach so nearby makes for a dynamic duo of the highest order. Copyright 2022 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. But, anyone who comes to Cypress Point had best give it a try -- you can never be sure if your visit will permit and encore situation.
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