Friday of last week I had the pleasure of competing in a 27-hole member/guest tournament with my dad at his great club Hidden Valley. I always jump at the chance to “hit the white spheroid” with my dad for a couple of reasons. First, he’s my dad and the time we spend together on the course is something I really enjoy. Second, his course is one of the best courses in the state, and was even ranked #1 at one time.
Hidden Valley Country Club Lakes Course – Par-3 6th – Aerial Photo by Tony Korologos
This 27-hole tournament over the years has been a tough one for us. It is a Ryder Cup-like format: 9-holes best ball, 9-holes scramble, 9-holes alternate shot. Historically we have done fine in all formats but the very pressure packed alternate shot. We’ve cracked into the money a few times but that’s about it.
Friday I brought a C- game. I shot my worst best ball in the history of our playing the event. Usually I’m good for even par or one-over. This time I flamed out with a 41. But my dad shined in that part, carrying my arse.
In the alternate shot he and I both had one terrible swing which cost the team badly. I hate doing that in alternate shot, leaving your partner in a bad situation.
In the scramble we only shot one-under…
Disgusted with our lame performance as a team, my dad and I didn’t even stick around to have a frosty beverage. We were the first to turn in our scores and laughed at being the “leader in the clubhouse.” When you are the first to turn in your card, you hold the lead!
Yesterday my dad called to inform me that while at the course to play, he was congratulated on the victory. As it turns out WE WON our flight! What a pleasant surprise which made my day.
Moral to the story: stick around and have a beer, just in case you won the tournament.
I had quite an enjoyable round yesterday at the Mountain Dell Canyon Course, between Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah in Emigration Canyon. The Canyon course is one of two courses on the property, and the one I prefer.
I had some spectacular shots yesterday. One was a punch 8-iron from under a tree in the right rough on the par-4 9th. The ball ended up 12 inches. Birdie. The next one was a punch 9-iron from 145 (lots of wind), from a severe side-hill lie. That 3rd shot on the par-5 14th astonishingly didn’t go in. It must have lipped out for eagle. The ball was TWO inches behind the hole. Birdie.
I had some other fantastic shots after the round, via my golf aerial photo/video hexacopter drone.
Mountain Dell Canyon Course – click to see more
They should get rid of the cart paths…
More aerial golf photos: Mountain Dell Canyon Course and Mountain Dell Lake Course.
At the end of last season my dad and I played the Mountain nine at Hidden Valley Country Club in Sandy, Utah for the last time the 9th hole would be in its old iteration. The club is in the process of putting in a swimming pool and the par-3 hole would have to be moved and altered. It was cool to play the hole the last time it was open.
Today was the debut of the new hole and we were there for that as well, which is kind of neat. The new version is much different. The elevation change is less and the angle different. The green almost seems to slant away from the tee although the shot is slightly uphill. I airmailed the green having kept the old elevation change in my mind, but did manage a solid up and down for par. I’m even on the new version in my career of one time playing it.
New Mountain Nine par-3 9th hole design, May 2015
There were a couple of other changes to the Mountain nine. The two front-left greenside bunkers on the par-3 4th where changed to one bigger bunker. Photo below.
Par-3 4th bunker change, Mountain nine May 2015
The bunkers short right of the par-4 5th were changed to one bigger bunker and made visible from the fairway below. Previously the old bunkers were not visible. Photo below:
New, bigger single bunker on the par-4 5th, Mountain Nine.
I’m not necessarily one who believes the player needs to see everything, but aesthetically that change looks “nice.” The new bunker is much flatter and less deep, with hardly any lip. The old ones were very deep and penal. Very tough.
Yesterday we had some extreme weather conditions with massive rain and hail that was bad enough that I had to pull my car over and park under a tree to keep my car from getting dented.
About a five minute drive from where I’m sitting right now is a 27 hole course designed by Johnny Miller called Stonebridge. The bad weather hit them too. A bolt of lightning hit a flagstick at the course, frying the flag and burning a crazy scorched pattern into the putting green. See photos below, courtesy of Stonebridge.
Lightning burned putting surface – click for more Stonebridge photos
Lightning burned golf flag… click to enlarge
Now think for just a second the next time you consider playing golf when you see lighting. That 5-iron is a lightning rod.
While on vacation hiking and exploring southern Utah’s beautiful red rock country I stopped by with my aerial photo copter and caught a couple of pics of Sunbrook Golf Course in St. George, Utah.
Sunbrook Golf Course in St. George, Utah – click for more photos
Sunbrook is a great 27-hole municipal course. Each nine has its own unique style, including a nine which goes through lava rock.
For more, click the photo above or the following link to the HOG Sunbrook Golf Club photo gallery.
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