-Joe Lee
(This is the view from the clubhouse of the island green eighteenth hole.)
Boca hosted the final round of our South Florida Ryder Cup. Twelve singles matches were played over this watery Joe Lee course. As the above quote states, there is only one way to play it, and that is through the air. Joe Lee went out of his way to emphasize that, and between the bunkers and water, the player best be able to get it airborne.
(The 385/362 yard par four fourth doglegs around the water. There’s plenty of fairway to play conservatively but that benefit is not given on the approach. Note the option to play short left and pitch on in three is there for weaker players.)
Boca is a flat course with water in play on fourteen holes including nine approach shots. Pin position and wind strength are deciding factors when hitting into the greens. The putting surfaces have a lot of internal contour in them with different levels separated by a large slope. Bailing out leaves testy chips and putts over these contours and will test your short game ability.
(The 184/160 yard par three fifth is hit to a peninsula type green jutting into the water. While a right pin placement catches a lot of glares, it’s the rear left that might prove to be the more difficult.)
(The 561/523 yard par five sixth is reachable with a good drive, but the second is all carry over water. Most players will keep right and let a mid to short iron third shot secure their birdie.)
We have a variety of skill levels playing in the SFRC and it’s no surprise that many of the A players handled Boca reasonably well. [The one gentleman playing off scratch had seven birdies for a 68.] The higher handicaps had a much more difficult time. The water scares them into playing to safer positions and those areas are not easy up n downs.
(This is the 388/364 yard par four fifteenth. Today’s pin is staring directly at the player, but does he have the nerve to shape his ball into the front right pin?)
If I had to pick a spot where one had to be careful, the ninth and tenth are the make or break holes in the round. Nine is set hard against the boundary, making a ninety degree left turn with water hawking the drive and approach. In my foursome, I was the only one to avoid the water. It was the same thing at the tenth. The tenth has water all along the right and the green is set hard against the water. Bailing away from the hazard leaves a very difficult pitch over the bunker. It was a shot my opponent had, and his pitch skipped hard off the shoulder and into the drink.
(The 394/375 yard par four tenth offers little respite on the approach shot. Note the mounding that contains the left bunker. One must be aware of the ball repelling off it.)
The one hole that everyone remembers is the finisher and it’s island green. For the longer player, it’s a reachable par five. For those laying up, it’s not that intimidating since the green is surrounded by fairway and is actually a very expansive target. I thought the tee shot was the key as two gnarly trees on the right needed to be carried.
(The 516/502 yard par five ending hole is more receptive than one thinks. Anything can happen here as eagle to double bogey is in play. The ginormous clubhouse is beautiful sight.)
Boca Country Club is owned by the Waldorf Astoria resort. For whatever reason, starting next fall, Boca Country Club will become a municipal golf course. The resort deeded the property to the city. It’s going to be a big win for local golfers. I must admit I didn’t like it as much as Deer Creek, but it’s a solid track. I give Boca a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play).
Abacoa review
No comments:
Post a Comment