No.7
went out of their way that evening to welcome me to the property. The next morning was a bit foggy,
not from the weather, but from the collateral damage of my two Manhat- tans. The club lies just inland enough that the Monterey Bay fog layer burns off prior to reaching the property and it is typically 10 to 15 degrees warmer than on the coast in Pebble Beach. It was a glorious morning, and a brief workout in the gym, an early morning swim in the very private adult lap pool and a steam shower brought me back to life. The club also has an impres- sive family pool area and tennis court complex, but that will have to wait for my next visit.
The members the prior evening insisted that I join the Saturday 8 a.m.
pickup game that included players of all handicap levels. I was assured that I would fit in, as long as I kept pace. James Kellogg was on property that morning and immediately handed me a cup of coffee in the lounge and in- troduced me to more members. After a brief warm-up on the range, about 20 members met on the putting green to draw partners for a friendly four- ball competition. I was surprised to see even more old friends come out of the woodwork, a retired dairy farmer, a local well know business person, my daughter’s former teacher and the pro- prietor of my favorite clothing store in Carmel. Just before drawing partners, I noticed California Golf Hall-of- Famer and holder of the most NCGA Championship titles, Casey Boyns, arrive. Casey ended up playing in the group behind me, and it was a joy to watch him throw darts into the greens. I hear Casey is often seen practicing in the afternoons after his morning loops at Pebble Beach Golf Links. The golf course was outstand-
No.1
ing. I have played several Nicklaus courses, but this one stands out as one of his best in my mind. The layout is challenging, yet fair. The sweep- ing views of Monterey and Carmel Valley are spectacular and the course conditioning is second to none. In fact, I wondered if they must have just held their member-guest or club championship, but superintendent Steve Hoying keeps it in tournament condition virtually every week. A hole that must be experienced is the majestic 14th, a long par-3 requiring a forced carry to a shal- low green, which seemingly appears to float in mid-air. That is where my round turned for the worse, as my near perfect approach hit the flagstick and
bounced right of the green. Gary Player once said, “The more I practice, the luckier I get,” so I guess I deserved the bad break as practice has taken a back- seat to other diversions. I didn’t shoot my handicap that day, but the course yielded several birdies to our group (3 of which were mine) at the par-3 eighth over water, the downhill par-5, 17th and the challenging par-4 18th (Okay, that birdie-birdie finished maybe influenced my positive attitude a little bit too). After donating my entry fee for the
informal competition, which Casey won with his 17-handicap partner, I enjoyed a relaxed meal on the patio. Breakfast was still being served due to our 3 hour and 40 minute round, but I opted for a Nicklaus burger. For such a spectacular clubhouse, it was also refreshing to see it being used by all types of members. The club was set up for a family event complete with a bounce house, and several families were arriving as I left. Thank you to Nicklaus Club for making my extended trip to Mon- terey so special. I told Chuck and James that they need to get the word out about their new management and positive changes, and I offered to do my part to highlight this hidden gem on the Monterey Peninsula. Thanks to the great game of golf, I reconnected with some old friends, made several new ones, and reinforced my belief that there are no strangers on the golf course, especially at the new Nicklaus Club–Monterey.
Membership options
Nicklaus Club–Monterey is offering a special NCGA member incentive: Join NCM and your monthly dues will be waived until January 1, 2017. Initiation fees vary based upon the various golf membership classifications (not applicable for Social memberships and Military memberships).
t Golf Membership – Full access to golf course and all club facilities, amenities and social events.
t Associate Membership – Available to persons under the age of 40.
t Regional & National Membership – For those living more than 40 miles+ from the club
For more information and pricing , call Nicklaus Club–Monterey: (831) 647-2400 or visit
ncmonterey.com.
SUMMER 2016 /
NCGA.ORG / 25
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