Let the dream round begin

BRYCE ALDERTON

In a fantasy world, one could transport themselves from golf course

to golf course, playing the best first hole all the way through the

18th.

This was the thinking behind the Newport-Mesa Dream Round, a

four-week series that encompasses all 10 courses in this newspaper’s

coverage area into an 18-hole adventure fit for a king, or in this

case, anyone who calls themselves a golfer.

The dream becomes reality today, with holes 1-4 jump-starting our

journey.

No. 1 at Mesa Linda, a 432-yard par-4 from the regular tees, is

quite a way to start a round. In the few times I’ve played there, I

can’t remember scoring anything better than a bogey.

I hate to admit this, but looking at the following holes, such as

the par-5 second at Big Canyon and the par-4 third at Santa Ana, a 6

and 5, respectively, on the scorecard would be acceptable in my book.

Measure the total distance of the first four holes and you get

close to 1,800 yards.

Quite a jaunt and workout. That is, if you’re walking.

Distances measured are from the regular tees, usually the whites

at most courses.

One has to hit three straight, long shots on the par-5, 505-yard

fourth at Mesa Verde to have a chance at birdie or par.

These holes welcome what will surely be a thrilling ride through

the nearby golfing community.

It was difficult, don’t get me wrong, to devise a layout that was

both diplomatic and representative of the truly best holes in the

area.

Sports Editor Richard Dunn, who was on this beat before handing

over the reins, and I used personal opinion and obtained feedback

from golf professionals and even some members to create the list.

Keep in mind that these aren’t necessarily the best 18 holes among

the 10 courses.

For the particular number, the chosen course had, what we felt,

was the best hole for that numeral.

All the while we tried to fairly include all 10 courses into this

mix. Some of the chosen holes might not be the ones pros or even

members think of when asked, “What are the top holes at your club or

course?”

We chose to fit two holes from each of the five private clubs --

Newport Beach Country Club, Santa Ana Country Club, Mesa Verde

Country Club, Big Canyon Country Club and Shady Canyon Golf Club --

along with both the North and Ocean South courses at Pelican Hill

Golf Club.

It was hard to resist a course that features several holes cradled

just steps from the Pacific Ocean.

While those holes offer prize-winning glimpses of the ocean and

the serenity that only seagulls and the lull of waves pounding the

shore provides, executing good shots is a tall order.

Which leads to the next point.

These holes aren’t necessarily the hardest, either.

They take into account a lot of things besides difficulty. They

might be playable for golfers of various skill levels. They might be

pleasing to the eye and offer unusual physical characteristics. They

might offer two or even three ways to approach the green, giving

golfers plenty of choices to make.

I define a good- to great hole by the latter. A hole should test

not only a player’s physical prowess with this game, but also tax the

brain waves a bit.

Should I hit a 5-iron or 4-iron? Is it better to lay up with a

7-iron, or take a 3-wood and try to clear a pond and land on the

green?

Of course, when I have to make these decisions on the course, the

relaxing round I envisioned becomes a fading memory.

At the end of the day, golf should be fun.

Developing the dream round was fun.

Imagine hauling the bag of clubs over your shoulder and traveling

through a time-warp continuum to the featured holes the next three

weeks.

A few of you out there might have even played all 18 holes that

will be featured.

If you have, I encourage you to look in the desk drawer or

wherever those scorecards lie and add up the scores.

Let me know how you did.

Where is Doc Brown’s time machine from the “Back to the Future”

series when you need it?

Shhh, everyone go to sleep now.