The Other Fall Classic

Here we are, Masters week 2020 in the middle of November, just like everyone expected. When the Pandemic hit, sporting events begin to drop off the schedule like dominos. First NBA, then March Madness Men's basketball tournament, shortly there after baseball further along came baseball. The sporting word collectively held it's breath only to learn that The Master's would be postponed, not canceled. Several weeks, no several months,  in spring 2020, the sports world stood still, our country went into lockdown. 

 As I write, the Thursday round is in full swing and what a  welcome sight the pristine fairways and greens are of August National.  A fall Masters: A longer second cut, yellow and brown leaves falling, large spaces of green grass normally filled rows deep with patrons left void, the usual blossoming azaleas of Amen Corner  seemingly empty.  One constant, the course is in immaculate condition. Defending Champion Tiger Woods got off to a fast Thursday start as he looks to defend his 2019 green jacket. What a special tournament it was for Tiger last year capturing his 5th green jacket and 15th major in dramatic fashion putting him one green jacket behind Jack and three behind him for total majors. 

I never in my right mind thought I would have a chance to attend a Thursday round let alone a Sunday round. For years upon years, I have applied for the Master's ticket lottery every year. When I get a response email from the Masters, I usually do not even get any anticipation anymore given the seemingly next to nothing odds of wining the lottery.  To say I was blown away to win the lottery and receive 2 Sunday tickets would be an understatement. Finding out I won the Master's tottery and attending the 2019 Sunday Masters final round, looking back at it, both are very memorable in their own right. 

 With severe weather set to hit mid afternoon, it was an action packed morning with groups starting on both one and ten for the first time ever on a Sunday. After almost no sleep from excitement, we got to the grounds early only to find a long snaking line before the gates opened. The strategy of where to place our chairs (see previous post to further your Masters chair placement knowledge) led us to the pond on sixteen where we got front row seat on the ropes.  The only disappointment of the day came when we  learned there were no exceptions to early alcohol sales before 12PM on Sunday's at The Masters. We walked the course for several hours before settling back in our seats on the sixteenth hole to watch the last ten or twelve groups come through. As the day went on the leaderboard only got more and more crowded. As we settled in at sixteen we had to rely on whispering patrons around us, roars from other holes and a constantly changing scoreboard to know what was going on outside of 15 and 16. 

2019 Masters Sunday, what a Sunday it was. 

With our seats on sixteen, we had a great vantage point of the approach shot on the 15th hole in addition to the 16th hole. We watched Justin Thomas hit a hole and one on sixteen and wondered how it may get much better than that. Tiger was playing in the final group with Francisco Molinari who came into Sunday with a two shot lead. Coming into 15 Molinari had faded with a fatal tee shot on 13th in the water. Was it Tiger's time? Tiger's Sunday red broached the hill and came into view for his setup and approach shot on 15.  The drama at this point was oozing more than a bears honey pot going into hibernation. A beautiful approach shot left tiger with a sizeable but makeable eagle put. He put it close and tapped in his bride putting himself in soul possession of first place at thirteen under par.  Tiger moved onto 16 with a chance to further his stake at another green jacket. 

The other picture I have from 2019 Masters is a Saturday edition of The Augusta Chronicle, a foreshadowing of things to come Sunday. 

On a day of things I will never forget, Tiger's sixteenth tee shot may be the top of the list. I consider it the etching moment of his round and sealing moment of victory. Tiger's tee shot on the famous par 3 landed on the back slope of the green and made it's way down towards the hole, with the crowd on its feet, everyone was thinking the same thing, this could go in. The ball trickled by the hole leaving Tiger with a short birdie put that would win him The Masters. People say the gallery roar after his tee shot on sixteen was one of the loudest that has been heard before at Augusta. 

While I have never been a big Tiger Woods fan, this victory was an incredible one to watch. One where it looked like it could have gone to one of maybe six or seven different players at one  point late in the round with a crowded leaderboard on the final holes. Myself and many others were in belief that Tiger would never win another major, I was certainly wrong about that. With the level crowds on 18, we were not able to see Tiger's winning put, but we had a front row view of the shots that won him another major, The Masters.

Because of the epic proportion of the ending, the phrase 2019 Masters will be etched in golf and sports history forever as one of the great endings and moments for any kind of sporting event. What will The 2020 Masters bring, time will tell. Golf and sports fan are glad to have this event on as the leaves fall and the season begins to change to winter with the best news of all that we get to take it right back to Augusta for the very next major in April 2021. 

Historic golf at the Cape Arundel Golf Club

 Maine might not first jump off the page as a golf state, particularly due to it's cold winters which leads to a relatively short golf season. The days of warm but pleasantly crisp air in this state lead to perfect summer golf conditions. Prior to a recent visit, I would not be able to tell you one golf course in the state. This visit took us to Kennebunkport, Maine. Limited course research was needed for the area as there were really only two course options.  The obvious selection was the Cape Arundel Golf Club. 

Founded in 1896, Cape Arundel carries a rich history and unique course layout

Cape Arundel sits just outside the town of Kennebunkport. The course is filled with rich history. Founded in 1986, it is one of the oldest golf courses in Maine. When the courses was founded, it was only the 74th golf course in the United States and took up design from three time US Armature Champion Walter J. Travis. The list of names to play the course is quite distinguished and includes four Presidents; Nixon, Clinton, George H. and W. Bush. In 2011, the course dedicated it's clubhouse to longstanding honorary member George H. Bush, deemed the '41 House'. George W. Bush remains a member to this day.  

The clubhouse is dedicated to former honorary member George H. Bush

Take some time to stroll through the front room of the small clubhouse to get a deeper dive into the course history. Classic Pictures of Arnold Palmer and George H playing a round together, George. H taking a call on the course likely during his Presidency, and  Phil Mickelson smiling in a car during a round were a few standouts.  The course is semi private, so you may run into some regular members during your round, or maybe even a former President. 

George H. Bush and Arnold Palmer pictured during a round at The Cape Arundel Golf Club

Upon entry to the course, the road leading to the clubhouse takes you through  three different holes; yes you read that right. For a minute, it may feel like your passing through the 18th or 1st fairway at Saint Andrews Old Course. Keep your eyes peeled on the drive in for groups teeing up as you pass through the 11th and 18th fairway and also along a short par three. On our way out of the course, we had a drive sail right in front of us, thankfully missing the car. 

An errant tee shot to the left on number 6 may venture onto the road leading to the clubhouse 

 

The course has a driving range, but it is a members only facility. The driving range carries a similar theme to the main clubhouse in honoring the Bush's and is named '43'.  Warmup opportunities for non-members provides a small putting green just to the side of the clubhouse so you can at least get a feel for the greens before heading to the first tee. The putting green is quite peaceful with a boarding tidal pool and sizeable structured houses behind it.  The members only range is well regarded. This is a great course to walk and I would certainly recommend it over taking a cart. The course culture really was a pleasant experience. Everyone we ran into had a smile and fairly laid back attitude. If your playing golf in Kennebunkport in the summer there is probably not too many reasons not too smile.   The starter gave us great recommendations for how to approach shots on the course for a first time round and gave us some background on some of it's rich history. 

Limited chances to get loose or get the swing right prior to your tee time  if your not a member at Cape Arundel 

From the back tees, Cape Arundel plays a rather short 5,859 yards and is a par 69. There is only one par 5 on the course, a 476 dog leg left on 9 which brings you back towards the clubhouse.  All the par 4's from the back tees are less than 400 yards.  The course if filled with small rolling hills, tidal pools and ponds. Changing winds from the near by coast line and complex greens can throw havoc into even a low handicap golfers round.  The short yardage should not be overlooked or create the perception that this is an 'easy' golf course; in my experience, no golf course is easy. A great quote summarized  from the course ratchet Walter Travis speaks of the easy appearance of the course but the difficulty that lies ahead to Chace par.  A great quote summarized  from the course ratchet Walter Travis speaks of the easy appearance of the course but the difficulty that lies ahead to chase par.

Views from the first tee at Cape Arundel, anything too far left brings trouble into play

Keys to success at Cape Arundel follow similar stories to other courses and the game of golf in general; find the fairways and greens. You do not need to be a long hitter to find success on this course. Finding fairways and understanding the complexity of the greens will help you score.  The greens seemed to get more and more deceiving as our round went on. They were true in roll but had a number of false front's and small landing areas. I ran into big trouble on number 10, easily the most difficult green on the course in my option.  I left my approach shot in the front right bunker. I had an impossible bunker shot with a no error landing area that rolled off the back of the green.  What looked like a  salvage  bogey opportunity quickly turned into a triple and a rough start to the back nine. Even my chip back towards the hole is one that you lose sleep about at night. 

The 10th green pictured above has a small slightly elevated landing area anything short or long is big trouble. Shades of Pinehurt No. 2 here.  

The course character really comes out on the back nine. In addition to a higher level of green difficulty and complexity, you face four holes on the back with tee shots over hazards. Kennebunkport a the time had been in an extended drought, so many of our drives came over dried up body's of water. The winds for our round were relatively calm. The course is just a few miles from the coast, the next day their were gusts of 20 miles per hour at times from a day long of scattered storms. A tee shot turns into a different tail when your facing gusting winds throughout your round. 

One of the great tee shots on the course comes on the finishing hole

The 18th hole provides a very memorable tee shot over a large tidal pool with a slightly bending uphill fairway to the left.  It's a fitting end to this short, but strategically designed Walter Travis course.  If your in the state of Maine at a time of year when golf is an option, this is a course you should check out. Come walk the course of President's past while taking in a course that represents Maine's summer topography so well, all the while letting  and let your mind spin trying to walk away with two puts from these Walter Travis designed greens. 

Course Raiting/Slopes

Black Tees: 67.8/123
White Tees: 65,1/116
Green Tee (Women): 68.2/120