GolfGuy7745

On a recent trip to New Zealand, I had the opportunity to play Titirangi Golf Club. I had heard that the course was very similar to Pasatiempo (which I love), so I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Overall, I really liked the course. To me, the best holes on the course are the par 3's. The 11th hole is called Redan, but the green does not slope from front to back (still a good golf hole). The 14th hole was my favorite on the course; classic MacKenzie green that reminded me of numerous ones at Pasatiempo.

For any MacKenzie enthusiast, the highlight of the course are the green complexes. Great bunkering and undulations all around; very reminiscent of other MacKenzie works. In addition, there are some great driving holes (i.e., the 13th with the drive over the vegetation and the 15th with a ravine that runs diagonal).

My only complaint on the day were the greens were a tad on the slow side (appeared to be aerified a few weeks ago) and the fairways were a bit hairy (think there was some recent rains), but these didn't take away from a phenomenal experience. I highly recommend the course to locals and avid MacKenzie buffs alike.

After spending the previous three days playing Barnbougle, Cape Wickham and Ocean Dunes, I was really looking forward to a round without the strong ocean breezes. Well......that didn't happen. But I couldn't let that hold me back from enjoying this great golf course.

Best part of the course are the bunkers and the greens. Coming from the U.S., we're not used to having the greens bleed right into the bunkers without fringe that is typical to the Sandbelt courses. Firm, steep faces keeps balls from plugging into the face. Almost putted one off the green into the bunker. The firm couch grass fairways are also incredible; some of the best fairways I've ever played from.

The only drawback on the day were the high winds. I mean, crazy high winds, to the point I had to cover my faces with a towel walking down the fairway because the wind was blowing sand everywhere. But this was a fluke system that moved through the area.

Overall, great experience. Would love to play here again when the wind is calm so I can get a better appreciate for the contours of the course instead of worrying about keeping the ball from blowing off the tee or sand out of my eyes.

It's not everyday you can play an Alister Mackenzie public course, as most of his great work are reserved for the private side (Augusta, Cypress Point, Royal Melbourne, Crystal Downs.) On this occasion, I flew from Phoenix to San Francisco (with a work stopover in Florida) just to get a round in on this masterpiece.

I was a single but got paired up with a local which made the pace of play more manageable (wasn't going to be setting a land speed record on a Saturday afternoon.) I played Pasatiempo last July in the middle of the California drought. This time around the course, while still dry, was in much better shape.

What makes this course so special are the greens and bunkers. Tom Doak did a fabulous job in his restoration. I've been to Augusta and have played Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne, and I can see the similarities at Pasatiempo. I would hate to play these greens when they are firm and fast.

My favorite green has to be #16, a diabolical triple-tiered green that you need to hit your approach on the correct level (the pin was on the middle tier and I came up about a foot short and my ball rolled back down off the front of the green.)

Overall, it was a great round and I highly recommend this course to anyone with an appreciation for courses designed and built in the golden age of architecture. The course is also not overly difficult for the average golfer.

Having played the Black course two previous times, I was eager to play the Red course after hearing so many good things about it and being such a fan of A.W. Tillinghast courses. I had always heard that the 1st and 18th holes on the Red are better than their respective counterparts on the Black course.

To sum it up, I really enjoyed playing the Red course. As a single, I got paired up with two other gentleman than provided a good bit of local knowledge which helped. The course starts out with a brute of a 1st hole (449 yards from the whites, 466 yards from the blues). The remaining portion of the front nine gives you a bit of a breather before you hit the back nine, which is where the course's teeth bite into you. Five par 4's on the back nine over 400 yards from the white tees. The course finishes up on a terrific and intimidating 401 yard par 4 (463 yards from the blues). Such a better finishing hole than the Black course.

Overall, it was a great day and I recommend the course to both intermediate and more skilled golfers. My only complaint was the round took right at five hours (typical for Bethpage when teeing off late morning) and the greens on the Red were a little slow on the day I played.

Having played Fishers Island a couple times, I have become a big fan of Seth Raynor designed golf courses. Yale has always been on my to-do list, and a recent trip to Boston gave me the chance to play.

Overall, it was a great day and I really enjoyed the golf course. The 9th hole (Biarritz) is the most famous hole on the course. Unfortunately, the flag was on the front portion of the green and I hit my tee shot into the bottom of the swale and three putted. I love the old-school greens. Course knowledge is very helpful as there are numerous blind second shots (e.g., 10th, 12th, 18th). I wish I would have known about the split fairway when hitting my second shot on 18 (I wound up in the rough between the two fairways in a terrible lie.)

I highly recommend the course, especially those that like Golden Age designs and are a fan of Seth Raynor/C.B. Macdonald.