Golf

The golf course is really taking shape, and we expect this to be one of the best dry seasons for course conditions in the past several years.  The new golf course Superintendent, Douglas Gonzalez, brings fresh, innovative ideas in course improvements.  Many clients have commented on the positive changes we have experienced since his arrival and we appreciate the feedback.  We will continue to find ways to fix our challenging bunkers and try new maintenance techniques to repair drainage and improve sand conditions.  We also ask that you please keep the golf carts 30 yards away from the greens and keep them on the path around the tee boxes.  Our goal is to improve all the playing areas, especially around the greens and tee boxes.
Our bunkers have been a real challenge due to the soil conditions and weather.  With the recent rainfall, it makes them even more challenging to maintain and most importantly to play out of.  This brings up a question I get a lot.  “How do you play out of these bunkers”?  It is a great question, and until the past year, the only answer I had was to stay out of them.  The first strategy is to use your feet to determine if the conditions are soft or firm.  It is against the rules to kick the sand around, but you can dig in, by rule, while taking a stance.  Some of the bunkers have been fixed, so I would not recommend this method in the softer bunkers.  Try squaring up your club face or even closing it a little, taking away the bounce of the club allowing it to dig into the sand.  This is normally not recommended, but it works great in wet or hard bunkers.  Then take a steep angle by picking the club up and dropping it in the sand behind the ball as you would in a normal bunker shot, allowing the sand to throw the ball out.  I put 70% of my weight on my left side (for right handed golfers), with my ball position forward in the stance.  Experiment with your ball position and even your follow through.  I have found checking the follow through seems to works well.  It may even feel as if you are decelerating into the ball.  I would normally never promote deceleration in any type of swing, but extreme conditions call for extreme actions.  With this method, it takes little effort to get the ball out of the sand.  Also, try to pay attention to the bunkers that are not as good as others when you play.  Maybe next time, you will remember and hopefully avoid these.  If you do find yourself in a tough situation, use this method I recommend to get you out of the bunker and onto the green.  I hope this helps you with your bunker play and we look forward to seeing you soon.  If you have any questions, please contact me at jbauer@haciendapinilla.com.
On a different subject, have you eaten at the 19th Hole lately?  We have happy hour Tuesday through Sunday, from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.  Come by for lunch and a drink after your round or anytime with your friends and guests.  I really enjoy the fish tacos and the ceviche.   Jason J. Bauer – Director of Golf