golf
CALIFORNIA DREAMING Bask in the San Diego sunshine at The Grand Golf Club. BY FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER
WATER WORLD: Hole 17 PHOTO: © FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER
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THE GRAND DEL MAR HOTEL (now a Fairmont property) opened in 2007 — not the best time to launch a luxury property — on the cusp of the recession, but it powered through and created a great resort with one of the top golf courses in Southern California. Grand Del Mar Golf Course, designed by Tom Fazio, originally opened in 1999 as part of the Meadows Del Mar. Lying in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve just north of San Diego City, the course eventually became part of the Grand Del Mar Hotel. The private course is open only to members and hotel guests but recently opened to groups. One of the course’s great benefits is its forecaddie program. Every group, unless solely made up of members, must have a forecaddie to guide them and offer advice and encouragement. David Brew, our forecaddie, aimed to please by eyeing putts, offering advice from the tee box and fairway and raking bunkers. He added a great deal to our enjoyment of the course; even when we missed a putt he’d say, “That would have been great, nice try!” I teed up with Vladimir Velasco and Bill Noonan, former executives with Malaysia Airlines, and Steve White, GT Globility Board member. The three drove down from Los Angeles for the day’s competitive game.
globaltravelerusa.com
SEPTEMBER 2018
HOLE 1 | 383 yards, par 4
I was sure to secure a picture of the statue of Bobby Jones by the back tees, one of the legends of golf and the only golfer to win the true golf grand slam. We decided to choose the white tees and work on our scoring at Grand Del Mar. I was playing with Vlad’s older set of Nike irons and an offset driver that gave me a little trouble. I skied the first tee shot, landing just past the lady’s tee, while the others hit tremendous drives. I felt the pressure and for the second shot hit a 3-wood down to 80 yards from the hole. “Great recovery,” shouted Bill. Bill’s second shot was too far right, hitting the cart path and lost, eliminating him from the hole. I chipped up and two-putted for bogey, joining Vlad. Steve carded a nice par, which became habit for him: 14 pars and one birdie for an impressive 75.
HOLE 5 | 378 yards, par 4
This narrow hole is intimidating from the tee. The narrow fairway slopes significantly right to left. Still getting used to the offset driver, I aimed right but took the ball over the left trap, safe for a clean second
