Conference 7.286::golf

Amen Brother!  Poppy Hills is a typical Robert Trent Jones course very long
(over 7K yards).  It is also very tight with many hazards, traps, & the like
to lead you astray.  However that isn't the worst part the greens are
severly sloped & mounded.  Add to that they are fast.  It is the first course
that I have ever seen with a caddy book containing contour maps to help you
read the breaks.  (Even with that putting wasn't much fun & I am a reasonably
good putter.)  Depending on where you put your ball on the green sometimes
3 putting is doing good.

I didn't have too much fun playing Poppy Hills earlier in the week I had
played Pebble Beach, Spyglass, & Spanish Bay.  Poppy Hills was a little let
down compared to those tracks.  The only thing I remeber was sinking a
coast to coast putt on the 18th green across two swales (or were those
buried whales).

Larry

PS.  Don't get the wrong opinion it's a good course.  Compared to the nearby
courses it is a bargain.

    I haven't played Poppy Hills yet but I have a tournament there on
    the fourth of July! Have heard it is really outrageous. If you have
    any tips for me I sure would appreciate it.
    
    THE MAD HACKER

    
    I played it 2 years ago when it first opened.  Bargain?  It was
    $100 to play it, right there with Spyglass.  Can't really judge
    it fairly since the grass was new (huge divots).  I read where
    the pros played it and thought it sucked.  
    
    In my humble opinion, I wouldn't suggest it to anyone.  Play
    Spyglass twice instead.  Don't get me wrong, it's a good track.
    It just pales next to the others.
    
    p.s.  how many elephants do you think are buried in those greens?
    

    RE> .3
    Currently, the greens fees at Poppy Hills are $55 if you are not
    a member of the NCGA and $40 if you are a member.
    
    COOP

Re: .2

>    I haven't played Poppy Hills yet but I have a tournament there on
>    the fourth of July! Have heard it is really outrageous. If you have
>    any tips for me I sure would appreciate it.
    
	It's easy.  Hit the ball long.  Keep it in the short grass.
	Hit every thing stiff to the pin and keep the ball below the
	hole.  ;-)

Re: .3  (How many elephant's are buried)

	They generally have 2-3 elephants buried on each green, except
	for some where they substitute camels (2 humps each). ;-)

	Actually there were quite a number of greens that were not
	tooo severly mounded.  Of course these had swales dividing the
	green into smaller sub-greens.  You really want to be on
	the proper section.


	Larry

    I'll give you two very specific tips on Poppy:
    
    1. If you play from the white tees, use about a four or five wood
    for your tee shot on the first hole. It is a dogleg right, and it
    is possible to hit it through the dogleg.  Even if you don't hit
    it through the dogleg, there is (invisible from the tee) a little
    swale just at the dogleg which cuts across the length of the fairway
    with some very thick grass.  So - keep it in the visible short grass
    if possible.  You will notice from the tee that going right is death.
    
    2. Trust the yardage on two, which is a par three.  It looks longer
    than it is, and everyone overclubs the first time around.  In fact,
    I played it with two low-handicap buddies, each of whom had played
    it before, and they both hit it over the green.  I can't explain
    it.  It looks like it is about 190-200 yards from the blues, but
    it's about 170.  Trust me, trust me.  Trust the yardage book.
    
    While we're at it, the advice about keeping it below the hole is
    right on.  Let me add that you would be well advised to keep it
    out of the greenside bunkers if possible.  Unless you are terrific
    out of deep, deep sandtraps, lay up.  Getting out (other than sideways)
    is not a sure thing.  I've seen fives turned into eights and nines
    by golfers with a stubborn streak.
    
    Also, watch out for difficult lies in the fairway.  On ten, (par
    five) you have to play your second shot to the left, because there
    is a large pond by the green.  But if you are very far left - still
    in the fairway - your ball will be about a foot and a half above
     your feet.  And  you still have to deal with sand and water.
    
    Finally, I think the course has matured since the one guy played
    it.  It is definitely a bargain compared to the other courses in
    Pebble Beach.  And I think it is a better course - definitely, a
    better value - than Spyglass Hill.  
    

    Forget about playing it left on ten!!!  It is a dogleg left, and
    going left on your second shot will likely put you in the water.
    What I meant was play it straight/right, but in the left side of
    the fairway.  Unfortunately, unless you really smack a killer drive,
    you can't even see the fairway, so steep is the hill.  If you have
    the time, walk up to the top of the hill and find some tiny little
    area that looks safe.
    
    Sorry about the mistake on note six.  I go on about this course
    because I think it is absolutely fabulous, and entirely challenging.
    Don't visit the beer cart, and concentrate on every stroke.  Good
    luck breaking 100 if you play from the blues.  Let me know how you
    did!

    Well, I finaly played POPPY HILLS. What an awesome course !!!!!
It is really unbeleivable. I shot a 115 and felt fortunate to get away
    with that. The fairways are much narrower than I am used to and
    also most of them are heavily bunkered. To be effective there, I
    had to start laying the ball up a lot off the tees with a 3 or 4
    iron. On th 12th hole I had to hit a 7 iron off the tee because
    of the bunkers that start at the dogleg and continue up the fairway
    for at least 75 yards! I lost a lot of balls just off the edges of
    the fairways because of the heavy underbrush (much like courses
    in New England). Guess if I could have kept the ball in play I would
    have scored better. The greens have been toned down a little as
    I did not find them too awfully fast. They were quick but managable.
    Only on the 9th hole did I have some real fun. Had a 52 after 8
    holes so when I stepped up to the tee on 9 I decide to go for it,
    hit driver to the top of the hill (approx 280yds) just right of
    the last bunker and then hit 5-wood to the back of the green and
    plugged the ball in the fringe (approx. 235yds). A chip and 2 putts
    later and I had my only par of the day !!! Should of had a bird
    but missed a four footer. My legs ache, my buns hurt, and I need
    to buy some new balls but can't wait to go back in a couple of weeks
    and get thrashed again!!!! If you get to Monterey give POPPY HILLS
    a try, I'm sure it will be cursed for years to come.
    
    THE MAD HACKER

    	Not that I'll ever get there, but how much did your agony
    at Poppy cost ya???

    Ah sweet agony !! How about $3.05 per hole. On a hole-by-hole
    basis though some where worth a lot more because I got to hit
    the ball so many more times !! I will play Poppy HIlls once
    more this year in our club tournament and then will probably
    make a pilgrimage about once a year as that is all I can afford
    to play at those rates. 
    
    THE MAD HACKER