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How's this for a work environment ? Malakai (Jim and Gregg's caddy) cool chillin at the office.
Yep, even Irish sheep on the Irish course
I must admit, I wasn't sure what to expect out of the Straits course. Like everyone else, I'd
seen and heard all of the hype, and some of the criticism . . . . . I expected sort of an artificial
over the top faux links style layout. In reality it may be that, but it didn't feel that way, it has
an authentic Irish/links feel and atmosphere.
We were enjoying every bit of it . . . and there were 9 bits left, so onward we go.
After Johnny Mac and I went to the halfway house to load up on tasty morsels, we hit the trail
to the back nine.
The short tenth
Number ten is a short right to left par 4, which plays uphill but is only 360 yds from the blue
tees. If you take the same line 270 yds out (that is more in play for the better player), you'll
have a wedge approach to a green that will repel anything short, the ball will feed back down
a severe slope, running all the way back towards the fairway.Gregg and I were unfortunately
just short, but somehow stayed on the slope. I chose flatstick, and holed it from about 3 yds
short of the green. The rest of the group got out of the hole without incident.
The flatstick stayed hot . . . . but knowing fully that the course will somehow exact its revenge.
I took this photo from the fairway looking back up at the Eleventh tee box
The Eleventh is a 619 yard par 5 that plays downhill (in the photo above, the tee is at the top
of the picture) until you hit your approach to the elevated green. After a well struck short iron,
Scotty B nearly made bird. I botched the approach as well as the chip and putt. This is a memorable
hole . . . who am I kidding they're all amazing.
The 560 acres of land where Whistling Straits sits today, was a military airfield back in the day.
It was known as Camp Haven (Whistling Straits is actually in Haven, Wisconsin just outside of Kohler)
in the 1950's.The land was later bought by the Wisconsin Electric Power Company and when Herb
Kohler bought the land in 1995, it had been slated to be a nuclear power plant.Kohler hired Pete Dye
to design the course, and instructed him to create a course in the likeness of Ballybunion in Ireland.
The Straits course opened in 1998, and later the Irish course opened in 2000.
The par 3 twelfth (pictured below) is the shortest on the property, but is no less spectacular.
Johnny Mac called a wedge, and I acquiesced knocking it 20 ft right of the target. Scotty B hit the
front left knob and it trundled towards the flag, leaving a 12 footer for glory.As a group, none of us
converted the deuce.
The short par 3 twelfth
Scotty B launchin one on 13, while J Mac and I track the flight.
If right is death on this hole, then the left rough is purgatory . . . a machete would be better
then an iron from the left linguini.
This is probably the most underrated hole (and possibly my favorite, Johnny Mac's as well) on the course, the
403 yd 13th. The green sits down on the shelf against Lake Michigan. This photo doesn't to do it justice.
J Mac told me to pound it over the trap sticking up on the knoll, I didn't trust the line and
bailed slightly left. . . . the problem was, I nailed it and it went straight into the gnarly rough.
All I could do was hack an 8 iron out and hope for the best.Baker was in the fairway, as was Jim.
The 8 iron scampered down the hill just six feet right of the green on the fairway cut. Flatstick
away, and nothing but the bottom of the cup.At that point the tally was 15 putts/13 holes, and
all you could do was laugh. At even par for the round, things wouldn't get easier.
Fourteen is a short tight little right to left wrap around par 4 playing only 360 yds, a well played
tee shot leaves a wedge to an elevated and well sloped putting surface. A definite birdie hole,
but if you're on the wrong part of this green it will be a challenge to two putt.After wedges in,
Scotty B had a good look at feathers but couldn't get it to go down. I was lucky to two putt from
where I was on the green.
Jim and Johnny Mac at the tee
Fifteen looks like a links hole from Ireland, at 450 yds it's a bit of a sleeper.Water is to the left,
but it isn't in play . . . stripe it between the sand dunes and get on the green. Scott and I once
again did just that, and walked with par to the exciting par 5 sixteenth.
The tee box on the 535 yd par 5 sixteenth
This is the risk reward hole that is your last real chance at glory.This hole is reachable
for the longer hitter, and similiar to ffiteen off the tee.A smooth draw off the right side
will kick left into the middle of the fairway, and leave you with the decision of the day.
Baker and I were down main street, with a chance to get on in two. A ripped approach
with the 3 wood came up just short of the uphill green. A mediocre chip to the high side
of this front left pin left me 8 ft to go one under for the round, J mac gave me a nice split
the right edge read, but I didn't trust it and played it a hair higher . . . the ball didn't curl
and ran another 7 ft by.You pay the caddy to give you the read, then you go rogue, not
smart.Luckily, the comebacker dropped as we approached the most intimidating hole of
the day and the ledger stood at even par.
Since the sun was nearly set when we played the signature hole, aptly named "Pinched Nerve", this stock photo
illustrates the all or nothing shot that awaits you on this 220 yd beast.
The pin was in Sunday sucker position when we played it, back left nestled right up against
the nasty that awaits you if you take it on and miss left. Scotty B pulled his into the nasty,
Jim needed an abacus to tally his adventure (but actually had a nice recovery shot just past the
pin on the collar), Gregg hit a money shot to the left center of the green and I drilled a hybrid
right over the huge knoll on the right corner of the green with a slight draw. . . but perhaps a
hair on the safe side, it ran just barely through the green into the spinach. After a nice 2
putt Gregg had a highlight 3 to take home, my flop from the thick stuff ran 10 feet past and I
grinded knowing it was my last hope to stay at even par (eighteen is not in anyway a birdie hole).
The putt didn't drop and there went 72. "Pinched Nerve" is an amazing golf hole at the climax of
a round or championship.You have to hit your most solid and precise shot of the day to have a
chance there, even a well struck shot that is a hair off can and WILL cost you.
Night was upon us and we only had the home hole left. It's the only hole on the course that I
would consider a little goofy, almost looks like Pete tried a little too hard to make this finishing
hole spectacular and impossible at the same time.I checked out the Dustin Johnson bunker up
on the right side and instantly realized that the officials got the call right, he and his caddy were
caught up in the moment and lost sight of their surroundings.
This place has 1000 bunkers, most of which line and border each hole . . . even with people
standing in it, there is no doubt that it's a bunker.
We scrambled to finish, and we did. Johnny Mac reminded me of what he said on the first tee
nearly 5 hours earlier "I promise You we will finish today". . . . He was right, but just barely.
Johnny Mac is heading home to go to work with his Pops in North Carolina. After all, we
carded a 73 (25 putts), not a bad finish to your caddy days, hope to run into You again my
friend.
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The four leaf clover eighteenth green
Afterwards we had a few drinks with the Lynes Bros, and then dinner at the club. I can
honestly say, of all of the places I've been, there is no other place I'd rather spend a day
playing a round of golf than at Whistling Straits.
Is it quite possible that the surreal scenery, perfect weather, post PGA Championship
conditions, great caddy, amazing company and 25 putts might have had an influence on
that statement . . . . . . certainly, but my only reply
would be (as Johnny Mac relayed the acronym earlier in our round) I.I.W.I.I - it is what it is.
Another one off the bucket list . . . it will be tough to top this one
Gregg Lynes
Jim Lynes
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