Arg's Travel Log

[ZephyrS4]

If you do go into the city….I’d recommend Hog Island Oyster in the Ferry Building. Best clam chowder I’ve ever had. They also have some really good oysters…..raw or grilled.

Edited November 7, 2024 by ZephyrS4

[vallygolf]

On 11/1/2024 at 3:36 PM, Mullenboy said:

"Other than poorly designed holes, I don't think I ding a course because it's tough but fair."

 

Sorry I can't let this go. 

 

The Bridges has several poorly designed holes and is tough and unfair. You said it yourself in your review and posts thereafter.  Yet it gets 7 cows.

 

Come on just admit it wasn't the course.... you played well, and quickly, with a nice playing partner, in great weather, at a fair price.  Any course gets at least 6 cows under those conditions.  Add a great beer thereafter and it gets to 7.

 

Come back and play The Bridges in 90+ degree heat with slow play idiots in the groups all around you and have it take over 5 hours after you're paid $150.  Then tell me it's 7 cows.  One tends to notice the deficiencies more in that scenario.

 

It's all good.  But is the cow rating based on your experience or the golf course itself?  It's VERY VERY fine if it's the former.  Just admit it.  And if so you can only call yourself human.  Hell yes one's experience matters when assessing a golf course.

 

And I am writing this in very good humor.  Think of it as s***-giving amongst friends who have never met.  😉

Remember all of us readers are looking at this through the lens that you "the author" play 5 days a week at a weird quirky 9 hole course.  Just sayin 🙂

[ThinkingPlus]

Arg, have you played Baylands or Shoreline in that Sunnyvale/Palo Alto area? Spent many afternoons and weekends back in the early 2000s at the old Palo Alto Muni before it was re-born as Baylands. Enjoyed quite a few rounds at Shoreline as well. Neither was anything special, but were fun and affordable at that time. Actually lived in an apartment across 101 from the PA Muni. Interesting times.

[tw422]

17 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Something a little different again today. Paia Fish Market South Side. Nothing fancy, but food was delicious. Went with the blackened mahi mahi with Cajun rice. Light and very tasty. Rice needed a little more Cajun spice. 

 

 

Going to go for a final dip in the ocean and hotel pool, take a hot shower, and then head back down to the beach for a final sunset before flying back to Oakland early tomorrow. 

 

Glad you liked this place.  I found it to be great quality for the price and welcome diversion from the overpriced and overrated resort food.  Did they not have a porter/tripel on draught when you went?  From what I recall they had a few rotating taps?  More than likely an IPA and something else light.    

[Mullenboy]

1 hour ago, vallygolf said:

Remember all of us readers are looking at this through the lens that you "the author" play 5 days a week at a weird quirky 9 hole course.  Just sayin 🙂

Yeah, and that's the only course I've ever played in my 53 years in this game.  Uh huh.  Jeez.  

[Mullenboy]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

Back to the regular routine. Booked a round at the Tony Lema Course at Monarch Bay for tomorrow. 

 

Booked Bay View GC for Sunday after traveling to San Jose on Saturday. Looks like morning tee times are going to be hard to get on Monday and Tuesday. 

 

Been to San Francisco many times. Not sure if I want to make the drive over the Bay Bridge after the round tomorrow for a short visit. 

 

Lema course is good fun with some revetted bunkers and great views across the bay.  I've played there often.

 

OK I should be more careful about negative waves but.... if Arg comes back loving BayView... well.... there will be extenuating circumstances.  It's a very hilly course and as silly to try to walk as any I've seen.  No doubt Arg will say it's a simple walk though.  It's had several names over the years... Tularcitos way back when (and under that name they use to give you a t-shirt with a mountain climber on it if you successfully walked all 18)... then Summipointe.... now BayView.  There's little good to say about it.  It has one of the dumber holes on this planet... it's usually in poor condition... and it's quite overpriced.  Other than that it's a great course!  Now my prediction is Arg will love it and give 7 cows at least.

 

Did you consider Spring Valley?  it 's right next door to Bayview and is a short tricky course so not likely your cup of tea, but there are a couple risk reward par 5s and the price is right.  I've always enjoyed it.  It's likely too short and not challenging enough for you though.

 

Monday is a holiday for many people so no surprise everything is booked... Tuesday you should be good... what have you tried?

 

The invite remains open to my club but... I think you'd hate it.  No par 5s.  Very tight, very short.

 

It's closed on Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 7, 2024 by Mullenboy

[Mullenboy]

33 minutes ago, ThinkingPlus said:

Arg, have you played Baylands or Shoreline in that Sunnyvale/Palo Alto area? Spent many afternoons and weekends back in the early 2000s at the old Palo Alto Muni before it was re-born as Baylands. Enjoyed quite a few rounds at Shoreline as well. Neither was anything special, but were fun and affordable at that time. Actually lived in an apartment across 101 from the PA Muni. Interesting times.

In the early 200s Baylands was still Palo Alto Muni and it was basic but good fun at a good price.  Since then it was renovated to what is now Baylands and it's interesting but... app $115?  No thanks.

 

Shoreline is good fun.

 

I think Arg has already played both.

[Argonne69]

4 hours ago, ThinkingPlus said:

Arg, have you played Baylands or Shoreline in that Sunnyvale/Palo Alto area? Spent many afternoons and weekends back in the early 2000s at the old Palo Alto Muni before it was re-born as Baylands. Enjoyed quite a few rounds at Shoreline as well. Neither was anything special, but were fun and affordable at that time. Actually lived in an apartment across 101 from the PA Muni. Interesting times.

 

No, but both are on the short list. Can't get a decent tee time, though. 

 

[Argonne69]

4 hours ago, tw422 said:

Glad you liked this place.  I found it to be great quality for the price and welcome diversion from the overpriced and overrated resort food.  Did they not have a porter/tripel on draught when you went?  From what I recall they had a few rotating taps?  More than likely an IPA and something else light.    

 

No porter or tripel. Boo. 

 

[ThinkingPlus]

4 hours ago, Mullenboy said:

In the early 200s Baylands was still Palo Alto Muni and it was basic but good fun at a good price.  Since then it was renovated to what is now Baylands and it's interesting but... app $115?  No thanks.

 

Shoreline is good fun.

 

I think Arg has already played both.

Yes. I have never played Baylands. Just played PA Muni in 2002 - 2003. 

[Argonne69]

Standing at baggage claim waiting for my golf clubs. Long, but uneventful flight. Had an aisle seat, so not much in the way of photo ops. Did snag a few just after takeoff with the 10x lens. Heavy clouds over Hana. 

 

 

 

 

Had a great time. Golf was decent. Weather was nice. Sunsets were beautiful. Can't wait for my next trip to the islands. 

 

Edited November 8, 2024 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

4 hours ago, Mullenboy said:

Lema course is good fun with some revetted bunkers and great views across the bay.  I've played there often.

 

OK I should be more careful about negative waves but.... if Arg comes back loving BayView... well.... there will be extenuating circumstances.  It's a very hilly course and as silly to try to walk as any I've seen.  No doubt Arg will say it's a simple walk though.  It's had several names over the years... Tularcitos way back when (and under that name they use to give you a t-shirt with a mountain climber on it if you successfully walked all 18)... then Summipointe.... now BayView.  There's little good to say about it.  It has one of the dumber holes on this planet... it's usually in poor condition... and it's quite overpriced.  Other than that it's a great course!  Now my prediction is Arg will love it and give 7 cows at least.

 

Did you consider Spring Valley?  it 's right next door to Bayview and is a short tricky course so not likely your cup of tea, but there are a couple risk reward par 5s and the price is right.  I've always enjoyed it.  It's likely too short and not challenging enough for you though.

 

Monday is a holiday for many people so no surprise everything is booked... Tuesday you should be good... what have you tried?

 

The invite remains open to my club but... I think you'd hate it.  No par 5s.  Very tight, very short.

 

It's closed on Tuesday.

 

 

Yeah, Spring Valley is also on the list. Will check it out tonight. 

 

[tad950]

6 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Back to the regular routine. Booked a round at the Tony Lema Course at Monarch Bay for tomorrow. 

 

Booked Bay View GC for Sunday after traveling to San Jose on Saturday. Looks like morning tee times are going to be hard to get on Monday and Tuesday. 

 

Been to San Francisco many times. Not sure if I want to make the drive over the Bay Bridge after the round tomorrow for a short visit. 

 

If you make the drive into The City, either  make it a really short visit, or stay for a long leisurely dinner. Commuter traffic can start early in the Bay Area. But who knows, you might luck out.

[Mullenboy]

Good luck with everything around here, Arg.  We do have nice year-round weather but it's a relative wasteland for public golf.  I fought it for many many years.   And now with so many courses closing, and golf boom during and post-covid, the tee time issue seems to be the worst it has ever been.

 

Another one worth trying is Santa Teresa - won't be that far from where you're parking Bessie.  It's a muni and offers no great thrills, but it has very good greens... and the back 9 has a stretch of quite good holes.   It'll be just as tough as all the others to get a tee time though.

 

If you do go there.... check out the mens' club club championship trophy and report on the winner in 2015 and 2018.  🙂

 

 

[aloha b.]

Arg, have you ever been to Cinnabar Hills Golf Club in San Jose? If not you might consider it.
 

Edited November 8, 2024 by aloha b.

[Argonne69]

Just now, aloha b. said:

Arg, have you ever been to Cinnabar Hills Golf Club in San Jose? If not you might consider it.
 

 

Yeah, I played it back in early April when I was in the San Martin area. 'Gave it 7 cows.

 

 

[Mullenboy]

5 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Yeah, I played it back in early April when I was in the San Martin area. 'Gave it 7 cows.

 

 

Might be one place you can get a tee time, Arg.  It tends to not be as booked as the others due to high price.  If nothing else works, maybe go back and try to play the one nine you didn't before?  

[Argonne69]

Fun night. Sat in heavy traffic for nearly an hour traveling from the airport. Pulled into the RV park just as my neighbor was backing their large pickup truck into their spot. They missed hitting Bessie's driver's side slideout by 3 inches. Whew. 

 

Unpacked, had a light dinner, cracked open a Deth's Tar, and started looking for tee times for the San Jose area. Well, that wasn't so hard. I had Bay View booked for mid morning on Sunday, but I was able to move it to early Monday morning. Booked Shoreline for early Sunday. Assume Sunday traffic will be light at 6:30 am. 

 

Managed to snag an early tee time at Spring Valley on Tuesday, and Baylands on Wednesday. 

 

Definitely grown tired of having to create online accounts to book a round at a course that I'll likely never play again. Do appreciate the courses that use Chronogolf, as I have an existing account, and their dashboard makes it easy to view and modify reservations. 

 

I'm guessing that traffic heading to Tony Lema tomorrow is going to be nasty. Probably going to have to leave at 6 am. Ugh. 

 

Edited November 8, 2024 by Argonne69

[aloha b.]

42 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Fun night. Sat in heavy traffic for nearly an hour traveling from the airport. Pulled into the RV park just as my neighbor was backing their large pickup truck into their spot. They missed hitting Bessie's driver's side slideout by 3 inches. Whew. 

 

Unpacked, had a light dinner, cracked open a Deth's Tar, and started looking for tee times for the San Jose area. Well, that wasn't so hard. I had Bay View booked for mid morning on Sunday, but I was able to move it to early Monday morning. Booked Shoreline for early Sunday. Assume Sunday traffic will be light at 6:30 am. 

 

Managed to snag an early tee time at Spring Valley on Tuesday, and Baylands on Wednesday. 

 

Definitely grown tired of having to create online accounts to book a round at a course that I'll likely never play again. Do appr the courses that use Chronogolf, as I have an existing account, and their dashboard makes it easy to view and modify reservations. 

 

I'm guessing that traffic heading to Tony Lema tomorrow is going to be nasty. Probably going to have to leave at 6 am. Ugh. 

 

Glad that they didn't hit you! You won't hit any traffic on Sunday that early!

[imkirby34]

Friday commute traffic is usually lighter than the rest of the weekdays, though that's all relative of course.  Plus, Monday is Veteran's Day which is a holiday for some, so there may be taking today off.  Also, based on the location of your RV park, I believe slow down on NB 101 typically starts a bit south of you in the Morgan Hill / San Martin corridor.  In any case, fingers crossed for you.

 

In regards to Shoreline, I'm hoping someone can correct me, but I thought they still had a hole-or-two on which they were working.  I had an email about it, but it has since been auto-deleted from my trash folder.  It's possible that they've completed the work.  

[Mullenboy]

Cool you are all set.  You're gonna see four decent courses; doubtful any rise to 6 cows or more but also none are likely to be less than 4.   Bay View will test your walking devotion.  But you can handle it.  Traffic going up to Tony Lema won't be THAT bad as more flow will be going the other way.  I made that drive for 13 years.  Enjoy.  Though you will be all over my area, there's no way for me to meet you... conflicts with work and other things every day.    Are you playing Saturday?

 

 

[Mullenboy]

12 minutes ago, imkirby34 said:

Friday commute traffic is usually lighter than the rest of the weekdays, though that's all relative of course.  Plus, Monday is Veteran's Day which is a holiday for some, so there may be taking today off.  Also, based on the location of your RV park, I believe slow down on NB 101 typically starts a bit south of you in the Morgan Hill / San Martin corridor.  In any case, fingers crossed for you.

 

In regards to Shoreline, I'm hoping someone can correct me, but I thought they still had a hole-or-two on which they were working.  I had an email about it, but it has since been auto-deleted from my trash folder.  It's possible that they've completed the work.  

You're generally correct about all of this in my long experience living here.  He should be relatively OK up to Alameda and back today but... it doesn't take much for it to get awful.  His return trip could get brutal BECAUSE of the Monday semi-holiday... people trying to get out for a long weekend often make it terrible... awful backup starting right at 85/101 interchange... I've sure hit that a few times.  But we shall hope for the best!   Yes, fingers crossed.  But Arg sure is gonna see the downside of living here... he also is gonna see the upside though as the weather looks to be great for him.  Possible rain on Monday but that's it.

 

As for Shoreline I have no intel it's been several years since I've been there and I am on no email list.  They do somewhat constantly work on it though so it wouldn't surprise me if work is going on now.  There's nothing on their website.

 

 

Edited November 8, 2024 by Mullenboy

[Argonne69]

Just now, Mullenboy said:

Cool you are all set.  You're gonna see four decent courses; doubtful any rise to 6 cows or more but also none are likely to be less than 4.   Bay View will test your walking devotion.  But you can handle it.  Traffic going up to Tony Lema won't be THAT bad as more flow will be going the other way.  I made that drive for 13 years.  Enjoy.  Though you will be all over my area, there's no way for me to meet you... conflicts with work and other things every day.    Are you playing Saturday?

 

 

No, Saturday is a travel day. 'Probably head out for a beer in the mid-afternoon, and then dinner.

 

[Argonne69]

Just now, Mullenboy said:

You're generally correct about all of this in my long experience living here.  He should be relatively OK up to Alameda and back today but... it doesn't take much for it to get awful.  His return trip could get brutal BECAUSE of the Monday semi-holiday... people trying to get out for a long weekend often make it terrible... awful backup starting right at 85/101 interchange... I've sure hit that a few times.  But we shall hope for the best!   Yes, fingers crossed.  But Arg sure is gonna see the downside of living here... he also is gonna see the upside though as the weather looks to be great for him.  Possible rain on Monday but that's it.

 

As for Shoreline I have no intel it's been several years since I've been there and I am on no email list.  They do somewhat constantly work on it though so it wouldn't surprise me if work is going on now.  There's nothing on their website.

 

 

I'll probably head into San Francisco on Sunday instead of today. I expect traffic will be lighter on the weekend.

 

[Mullenboy]

Ok sorry I lost track of you.  I thought you were in south san jose last night.  Where are you going from (to Tony Lema) this morning?  If you're in Pleasanton... yeah no good way to get there you will hit traffic no matter what.   Saturday will be a crazy busy golf day no matter where you might try so it's a good off day anyway.  As for going to SF, the commute in can be awful any day (but it also can be light - it also depends on exactly where you want to go in the city.  It's all good though lots of things to see.  Strong chance to find a fine brew and great food.  🙂

 

 

[hlca]

I took a sabbatical year in 2017 and played all over the Bay Area.  My favorite course - The Ranch at San Jose - is now closed.  The Bridges in San Ramon is still open.  Monarch (Lema) is a decent choice though.  I'd play there pretty regularly, and the reverse commute traffic was manageable from the Peninsula.

[Mullenboy]

26 minutes ago, hlca said:

I took a sabbatical year in 2017 and played all over the Bay Area.  My favorite course - The Ranch at San Jose - is now closed.  The Bridges in San Ramon is still open.  Monarch (Lema) is a decent choice though.  I'd play there pretty regularly, and the reverse commute traffic was manageable from the Peninsula.

Wow.  I love it.  The Ranch was your favorite course.  I'n dying.  You must be a GREAT PLAYER or otherwise a masochist.  That is one of two courses I have ever played where one could lose a ball with a decently hit ball on every shot.  The other was Koolau in Hawaii.  Most people sincerely hated that course.  True story - I was on the NCGA team that rated the course initially and... the first time around the math for the slope came out to 195.  Not kidding.  The max is 155 so we had to jury-rig it.  Course rating from the longest tees (6300 although the put fictitious tees on a card that got it to 6700) was in the 74+ range for the par 72.

 

Very hard course.  Even Arg would have had a hard time walking that one.  I'd say it was unwalkable but there is no such thing for him.

 

In any case despite all of that... I always had fun there.  I just had a great sense of humor about the place.  Oh my did my friends hate it.

 

Bridges as already been discussed ad nauseam.  I hate that place.  Arg loved it.

 

In any case hlca you must like difficult courses.  🙂

 

 

[hlca]

10 minutes ago, Mullenboy said:

You must be a GREAT PLAYER or otherwise a masochist.

 

Haha I must be a masochist then 🙂

[Mullenboy]

5 minutes ago, hlca said:

Haha I must be a masochist then 🙂

LOL it's all good.  But see what I said about the ncga rating?  Good lord that was a hard course.  Some borderline impossible shots.  Great views up there though... good food... I miss it.

[hammergolf]

15 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Fun night. Sat in heavy traffic for nearly an hour traveling from the airport. Pulled into the RV park just as my neighbor was backing their large pickup truck into their spot. They missed hitting Bessie's driver's side slideout by 3 inches. Whew. 

 

Unpacked, had a light dinner, cracked open a Deth's Tar, and started looking for tee times for the San Jose area. Well, that wasn't so hard. I had Bay View booked for mid morning on Sunday, but I was able to move it to early Monday morning. Booked Shoreline for early Sunday. Assume Sunday traffic will be light at 6:30 am. 

 

Managed to snag an early tee time at Spring Valley on Tuesday, and Baylands on Wednesday. 

 

Definitely grown tired of having to create online accounts to book a round at a course that I'll likely never play again. Do appreciate the courses that use Chronogolf, as I have an existing account, and their dashboard makes it easy to view and modify reservations. 

 

I'm guessing that traffic heading to Tony Lema tomorrow is going to be nasty. Probably going to have to leave at 6 am. Ugh. 

 

Is Pasa still under renovation? The pics from the holes already done look amazing.