19th World Am 2023

Travel:

Used Southwest to fly from Houston to Myrtle Beach. Plane was full out of Houston, we landed in Nashville and our connecting flight in different terminal was already boarding. As the gate was coming into sight, we could hear them paging for us. This flight was also almost completely full The flight home went through Baltimore, but we did not have to change planes. These flights were about 80% full.

Pre-tournament practice rounds:

8/25/23 – Arrowhead – As always excellent staff, and range balls included. As mentioned in another post, conditions were excellent. Downhill putts would roll out much more than expected and I kept over reading how much break there was. We played Waterway to Cypress nines.

8/25/23 – World Tour – Again found the course in very good condition, not quite as good as Arrowhead but very similar, including the greens. Usually when we play second round this time of year it goes quick, but we waited on every shot and took around 5 hours. Did not see any Marshals out trying to move things along.

8/26/23 – Sea Trail Jones – Lots of construction going on around the course. Guy in pro shop said some company had bought all available land and is building houses, condo’s etc whatever will fit. Also said there were plans for a hotel and a top golf style driving range. The course looked like we were back in Texas, lots of brown. The difference being the grass is brown but there is still grass there. So, while not pleasing to the eyes the course played very well. Greens were fine but not as fast as previous courses.

8/26/23 – Sea Trail Byrd – After a quick bite to eat we got out early on Byrd course. Conditions not quite as good as Jones but still very playable. Course wide open in afternoon so very quick round.

8-27-23 – Glen Dornach – First time playing here since the new greens a few years ago. Practice green was already showing some invasive grass, but not sure I noticed any issues on the course. Course as in overall good condition. Wind came up on last few holes which made 16 and 17 play tougher than normal.

Tounament Rounds:

8/28/23 – Litchfield – Was in best condition I have seen it in several years. Greens were on the slow side, I started seeing more break than there actually was. Once I adjusted to that putted ok.

8/29/23 – World Tour – Same conditions as on Friday, good.

8/30/23 – Tiger’s Eye – As I had read the conditions are improving. Greens were good, fairways good (no weeds), rough ok. We got rained on off and on for whole round due to approaching storm Idalia.

8/31/23 – Decision was made on Tuesday to cancel this round due to not knowing how bad or time of Idalia.

Post Tournament Rounds:

8/31/23 – Storm blew through overnight; this morning was cool and windy but not raining. Drive past Whispering Pines and gates are closed. Drive over to Pine Lakes and see crews out getting course ready. Look on golf now and see that lots of courses have tee times starting around noon. Call and book MBN West for 1330. Course was in good condition. We were cart path only, but I only walked around any puddles on maybe 4 holes. Some bunkers were full of water while others played dry and fine.

9/1/23 Blackmoor – Again course was in good condition. The drainage program must have worked as we were 90 degrees today. The 18^th hole was closed as it’s the last hole they are working on. On a par 5 (13^th I think) they had a tee box set up around 120 yards from the green to play as a par 3 to replace 18 if you wanted to.

9/2/23 Prestwick – We were supposed to have a tee time for 3, but one guy was sick for most of trip and dropped out. When I checked in, they thought we were supposed to have 6 for some reason. Told them only 3 but only 2 playing, no problem. We went off of 10, only strange thing they put a single with 3some in front of us instead of putting him with us which would have been better. The single only played 9 but pace of play came to a crawl when made the turn, so we quit with 3 holes to go and heading to airport for flights home.

Meals:

On arrival day stopped at Broadway at beach and ate at Sweet Carolina’s BBQ. Ate once at hotel bar (Doubletree). Went to Harry the Hat for Taco Tuesday. Inflation has hit, now its 75 cent tacos, had been 50 cent in past. Ate at couple of course and couple fast food taco bell/arby’s. Also ate at 19^th hole at convention center as part of WA.