Golf: A finishing touch

Richard Dunn

For Newport Beach Country Club to totally remodel its finishing

hole is bold and daring, but taking risks are part of golf.

In this case, the brand new 18th hole, from 100 yards in, is nothing

short of spectacular.

The green is elevated and undulated, mounds have been added behind it

and bunkers have been built.

A flower planter behind the green on the side of a large mound proudly

displays the letters NBCC as players and visitors walk in from the

parking lot. The risk/reward factor of the project is clearly an ace.

Construction was started on the hole after the 2000 Toshiba Senior

Classic in March, and it will reopen to its members Tuesday. The opening

round of the club’s annual regatta will follow Wednesday to christen the

new green, which will change the par-5 hole dramatically for Senior PGA

Tour players in the Toshiba Classic.

What was once a birdie hole for the seniors is now a tough finishing

hole. For Newport Beach members, the clubhouse is no longer in the

backdrop of the 18th green. Instead, a premium on placement is required.

“From 10-to-12 yards off the green, (the fairway) is about seven feet

lower than the (putting) surface,” Newport Beach Country Club President

Jerry Anderson said Wednesday during a private tour.

The distance is the same, 510 yards from the blue tees, but the green

at 18, raised about four feet in the back, now features mounds behind it.

The highest point is about 14 feet, Anderson said.

There has been much history on the old 18th green, including the

unforgettable 1999 Toshiba Classic playoff between eventual winner Gary

McCord and John Jacobs, who used the hole as a television stage.

Golfers now have an uphill approach to 18 and a critical third shot to

the green. No longer will the hole be listed as an “easy birdie.”

Behind the green and left is a sloped rough, which, Anderson said,

“you’ve got to be careful you don’t throw it back of the green.”

The club has committed to improving the golf course every year as long

as it hosts the Toshiba Classic.

For the seniors pros, No. 18 ranked as the second-easiest hole on the

course in four of the five years the Senior Tour event has been played at

Newport Beach. In 1997, it ranked as the third-easiest hole.

This year, the tournament was shortened to two rounds because of

inclement weather on the final day. But, in ‘99, the hole set a

tournament record with 99 birdies allowed. No wonder club officials

wanted to make it harder.

Two years ago, the club reconstructed the far corner of the golf

course before the ’99 Toshiba, then accomplished three other projects

prior to this year’s event.

Costa Mesa’s Mark Les qualified for the Southern California

Mid-Amateur by shooting 3-over-par 75 last week at the SCGA Members’ Club

at Rancho California in Murrieta.

Les, an Estancia High product and former men’s club champion at Costa

Mesa Golf & Country Club, will play in the Southern California

Mid-Amateur Aug. 28-29 at Virginia Country Club in Long Beach.

In the qualifier, Les finished behind medalist Clark Rheney of La

Quinta, who shot 1-under 71, and two players at 1-over 73. There were 80

players gunning for 13 spots in the mid-am.

For Les, it is his second trip to the Southern California Mid-Am.

Newport Beach’s Ed Susolik qualified Wednesday for the Mid-Amateur,

shooting 71 (tied for fifth) at Warner Springs Ranch Golf Club in Warner

Springs, the last qualifier.

Out of 85 players, Susolik was one of 13 to make the cut from Warner

Springs, finishing behind medalist George Windsor of Laguna Niguel at 68

and three players at 70.

The entry deadline for the 28th annual Costa Mesa City Championship

(formerly known as the Will Jordan Classic) is July 21.

The popular event will be played Aug. 5-6 at Costa Mesa Golf & Country

Club.

Mark O’Meara, a winner of two majors on the PGA Tour, and Scott

Simpson, the 1987 U.S. Open champion, are past winners in the Costa Mesa

City Championship.

Santa Ana Country Club will host its ladies’ member/guest today and

Friday.

Last week, Santa Ana hosted its 28th Junior Golf Invitational, which

was won by Orange’s Edward McGlasson, who shot 69 -- the second-lowest

score in tournament history.

Daniel Kush (Newport Harbor High) finished third in the boys 16-17 age

group at 73. There were 105 juniors in the event.