Brad,
I've never played Diablo Grande, but one of the guys I was paired up
with said it was VERY difficult, with many blind shots and VERY tall
rough. I'm not sure which of their two courses he was referring to. He
does enjoy playing it, now that he has become more familiar with it.
Also, I had to double check your citation about Don Panoz and
Kingsbarns. I knew that Mark Parsinen was no longer actively involved,
but did not know who had taken over. Panoz is involved with St. Andrews
Bay, not Kingsbarns.
There was some "interesting" news about Diablo Grande in this link from
the village of Kingsbarns
http://www.kingsbarnslinks.com/localnews/golf/developers/panoz.htm
/Ed
Brad Smith wrote:
Tom,
And fairly near Stevinson Ranch, what about Diablo Grande in
California's San Juaquin Valley?
For those who don't know where it is, but have driven from LA to San
Francisco Bay area on Interstate 5....... remember the god awful
nothingness for a couple hundred miles driving along the west side of
the San Juaquin Valley? Hardly see any farmhouses or anything.
About 30 miles south of where the route turns due west to head to the
Bay Area, you're right up against the foothills. Barren foothills.
There's a freeway offramp to a road that goes due west into the
hills. It snakes up a little valley, back and forth, and 8 miles
later it dead ends into an open valley, maybe 1 X 2 miles in size and
there sit two wonderful 18 hole courses. One jointly designed by
Nicklaus and Sarazen. It just sat there, for 7 or 8 years, begging
for players. I played both courses there one day in a cart in 5 hours
and never saw another player. Like having your own, personal golf
course. They finally got their water rights hassles worked out and
are now three years into building homes and a 200+ room luxury hotel.
They are about 30 miles to Modesto, which might be the closest gas
station and place to buy a quart of milk. Amazing!
The owner, Don Panoz made a ton of $ in pharmaceuticals, owns Chateau
Elan course and hotel in Atlanta, Sebring Racetrack (Panoz Racing) and
the new Kingsbarn Course at St. Andrews Scotland.
Brad
On Aug 18, 2007, at 10:22 PM, TOM FLANAGAN wrote:
Well, it isn't actually in the middle of nowhere . . .
it's in the San Joaquin Valley which can seem at times
like nowhere. I know, I live in the Valley.
The reason for the temp buildings . . . trailers, is
that the developer hasn't come up with sufficient $$$
to get going on the housing development. There are a
couple other courses in the Valley in the same
predicament. One success is Copper River, which has
exploded with homes and commercial businesses in
Northern Fresno.
Stevensin is indeed a great course though.
TFlan
--- Brad Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Ed,
That is a great course and you aren't kidding about
the middle of
nowhere. It is in the middle of farmland in the
center of
California's San Juaquin Valley between Interstate 5
and Rte 99.
About 30 miles from Modesto. It is so far from
population centers,
that they've built a small "trailer park" of modular
buildings that
have a small bedroom, sofabed, kitchenette, etc.
Probably about 15
of these. After the kitchen in the restaurant
grille closes, I think
the closest food might be Modesto, 30 miles from
there.
But a great golf course.
Brad
On Aug 15, 2007, at 6:48 PM, Ed Reeder wrote:
I just got through playing a course whose greens
routinely stimp at
13!
The course is in the middle of no where and a real
treat. Stevinson
Ranch Golf Club
http://www.stevinsonranch.com/index.html
