The Golfchick

That chick blabbing about anything golf related.

Month: February 2007

All riled up and groovy at Worldgolf.com

Golf chick gets her groove on?

The possibility of a rule change regarding the grooves on golf clubs has me all riled up. Check out my latest column at worldgolf.com and see why the USGA and golf club manufacturers might not think I’m a groovy chick.

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Donald Trump invades my happy place at Cap Cana

The public beach at Cap Cana.

Cap Cana – the home of my happy place – is a massive, beautiful, upscale resort in the Punta Cana area on the coast of the Dominican Republic overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

They just announced that a deal was made with Donald Trump to develop a new resort on a portion of the property to include a golf course, golf villas, golf lots, estate lots, a beach club, a condo hotel and residences with ocean views. And of course he has to put his name on it so it will collectively be called “Trump at Cap Cana.” No word yet on what they will call the golf course. Maybe Punta Trump?

Naturally, it will be a luxury resort. I toured the Cap Cana property including finished products and some of the developments under construction and even the lowest priced condos are luxury. The golf villas and beach club attached to Punta Espada are gorgeous and elegant and I felt like a princess just being there. The design and amenities are classy and understated but leave no doubt that you are in a special place where your every whim has been considered and attended to.

Here is the bungalow where I stayed. Just off the 12th hole of Punta Espada. That’s “my” bungalow on the right and my own little path down to the water. That path in the previous photo is just to the left of the screen. This is part of the wraparound patio of the bungalow. Here’s the view from the other side of the patio with the screens down. Here’s another view with the screens open.

Enter Donald Trump. I can only hope Cap Cana has design standards they will enforce or that Trump’s involvement will primarily be the usage of his name and the investors he brought in. It would be such a shame to see this place spoiled by the brash and gaudy style that Trump considers classy.


I have submitted some questions regarding more specifics on the golf course and I’ll post an update once I get them answered.

Update: Here is a portion of the Master Plan of Cap Cana. “Trump at Cap Cana” is circled in red. Looks like 36 holes up on the bluff.

Here it is pre-development. You can see the bluff where the new resort will be.


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World record hole-in-one at Ko’olau!


Ko’olau is considered by many the toughest golf course in the United States. I have a Ko’olau shirt that boasts the rating right on the sleeve. It’s also one of the most beautiful golf courses I have ever played.

The number 1 handicap hole at Ko’olau (for the handicap handicapped challenged that means the hardest hole) is number 18.

So, you’re on the most difficult hole of the most challenging course in the country. What do you do? If you’re Bret Melson, you ace it! Sure, he’s part of the San Diego Golf Academy: Hawaii campus, it’s his home course and he has probably played that hole hundreds of times, but none of that makes it any less of an amazing feat. And yes, a new world record for the longest ace. Congratulations, Bret! You can read (and hear) the whole story on the SDGA website. For most people, acing a par-3 is enough of an accomplishment. Acing any old par-4 would be absolutely incredible. I guess for Bret, that just wouldn’t have done it.

It really is challenging!

I have played this golf course twice. The first time was three months after my very first round of golf. I played the forward tees which only have course and slope ratings of 72.9/129. I actually managed to make par on 18. The second time I played there was 7 months later so I’d been playing for 10 whole months and thought I should really experience the difficulty so I played from the blue tees (the next set back from the forwards – equivalent to white tees on average courses) with course/slope ratings of 78.7/153 for women (when I played the ratings from the tips for men weren’t even that high but it looks like the course has been re-rated since then). And… I experienced the difficulty. I carded a 9 on 18. Yes, a 9. And I recorded the whole bittersweet experience on digital media.

My 18th hole experience at Ko’olau


From the tees at 18. The first of two forced carries (unless you’re like Bret and decide to cross the rain forest on the right with your teeshot).

My first shot actually ended up here, near the drop area. (Local rules indicate that balls lost in ravines are a one stroke penalty, then played from the drop area on the other side on holes 1,5,6,7,8,10,11,12,14,16,18. Gotta speed up play somehow on this monster.) No penalty for me. Only one stroke so far. What could go so wrong now? Well, there’s another forced carry up there but I’m no hero. I’ll lay up…


…to here. Perfect – so far so good. Two strokes so far, I still have my golf ball and at this point I’d be happy to get a bogey. Forced carries off a tee aren’t as daunting to me as danger on the deck. My hacking around commences with my 3 wood from here, which, when struck well would have been on the green. But alas, it finds the ravine.


I decided this was the drop area. Hitting 5 from here. Coincidentally, that patient man waiting on the green was also named Bret. Just some guy that joined on the back nine. There was no one behind us and I told him he could play ahead without me because I’d be taking lots of photos. But there he is… just waiting and waiting.

Two sand wedges later, I’m on the green in 6. Then I proceed to three putt. Yes, from here. I know, but I guess this course just rattled me. 5 over on one hole. Ouch.

Here’s the overhead view. If I played this course every day, I might try carrying it all in one at some point like Bret Melson did. I wonder: if you go that way and it goes in the forest, do you get to drop over there instead of on the fairway on the left? That would save a few strokes. :)

gc at koolauHere I am attempting to cross yet another ravine on #6. Failed here, too, but only took a triple bogey on this hole. Damn you, Ko’olau! I’ll be coming back for you!


Update: thought I should show the damaging evidence. Here’s what you can’t see in the previous photo.

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Happy Birthday to The Goose!

It’s a big day at the Williams house. We are honoring the 12th birthday of Her Royal Highness Kess (a.k.a. The Goose). For those of you who don’t know, that’s an impressive number for a Great Dane. I know I’ll never make it that far in human years. Not even close. So what do you get a Goose who has everything?

Well, the same question arose for Christmas and she answered it for me: A hospital stay, twice-weekly acupuncture sessions, a new car to more comfortably transport her to and from those visits, boxes and boxes of potty pads, a diaper bag (thanks, Greg!), a new sling, specially concocted medications by the truckload, Chinese herbs, a stethoscope, a new airbed and blankets, several more doctor’s visits and lab tests, home-cooked people food and never leaving her alone long enough for a round of golf (priceless).

Kess is thrilled about her birthday.

And of course she also got some new necklaces, toys and treats to make the gift opening session more fun.

Now what to get her for her birthday? Shhh… don’t tell her yet and spoil the surprise, but she’s getting another urinalysis! She’ll also be starting a new hydrotherapy regimen this week with underwater treadmill workouts. She’s having a chicken pecan Lean Cuisine lunch (she’s tired of my cooking) and tonight we’ll be celebrating with a big birthday steak.

I got a little something for her birthday, too. Check out the strategically placed Birdie Girl bag behind her in the picture. Now I just need a chance to use it! I’m sure Greg will come over and babysit and maybe I can scrape up enough change from the couch cushions to pay for a round.

I know, I know… poor me. But only literally! I’m lucky and elated to have her happy and home to celebrate this big day and with a lot more luck and love, she’ll be celebrating her 13th standing on all fours!

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