Californian Road Trip

[poidda]

OK, after yarning over a beer on Sunday, it seems a few people might have seen a little of California. Well myself, Binzaman and Billyman are over there in a few weeks on a bit of a lads trip.

The lose plan is to rent a car and drive from Las Vegas to LA via San Fran.
Route (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Las+Vegas,+NV,+USA&daddr=CA-136+to:CA-120%2FTioga+Pass+Rd+to:US-101+S+to:I-280+S+to:35.791083,-121.387939+to:CA-90%2FMarina+Expy%2FMarina+Fwy&hl=en&geocode=FVnfKAId0Ioh-Q%3BFawULgIdek_3-A%3BFWzIQQId2J3h-A%3BFWYWQAId0Ea0-A%3BFW6-PwIdVgK0-A%3B%3BFZ6QBgIdELbw-A&mra=dpe&mrcr=1&mrsp=5&sz=7&via=1,2,3,5&sll=36.102376,-118.850098&sspn=4.455514,9.7229&ie=UTF8&ll=36.155618,-118.861084&spn=4.452496,9.7229&z=7)

So who's got some tips of things to do, or courses to play along the way?

We arrive in Vegas on Sunday March 1st, and fly out of LA on Friday March 13th. So we've got 12 full days to cover the 20'ish hours of driving.

[dc68]

Oooooooooooh Friday the 13th!!!!!!!! Don't do it!!!

[Jarro]

The drive from L.A. up to San Fran is really nice Poid.

I never played golf when we were there but the collection of courses around Pebble Beach look fantastic (probably pretty pricey though)

[TheTrueReview]

The drive from L.A. up to San Fran is really nice Poid.

I never played golf when we were there but the collection of courses around Pebble Beach look fantastic (probably pretty pricey though)

Ditto Poida. I did the drive in late 05. PM sent.

[Eag's]

Bloody hell, do you ever do any work??
Your missus must be a top chick letting you head off on golf weekends and lads trips away often? :shock:
Oh, have fun you lucky bastard ;)

[BrisVegas]

It's nicer to drive south from SF to LA so that you're in the outside lane alongside the water. Stay off the interestate and follow the coast road. There are some nice spots. South from Carmel/Monterey, the drive along the Big Sur coast is amazing. Carmel is very relaxed. Lots of good cafes and pubs etc by the water.

If you write a nice letter to Olympic Club in San Francisco, you might get a game there on a US Open layout. It's private, but worth a crack. Otherwise, the $500 to play Pebble Beach is something everyone should do once in their lifetime. You can get a standby tee time 24 hours in advance, but I'd suggest calling the phone number from 7:00am as the place is extremely popular.

Have fun. Wish I could afford to go too!

[poidda]

Bloody hell, do you ever do any work??
Your missus must be a top chick letting you head off on golf weekends and lads trips away often? :shock:
Oh, have fun you lucky bastard ;)

The Mrs was in New Zealand for a couple of weeks before xmas doing a trek and seeing friends. Meanwhile I moved house! :smt093 I have plenty of brownie points banked up. ;)

And yeah, she's a top chick.

[marcel]

Pacific Grove near Monterey is an affordable public track
Pasatiempo is a MacKenzie, recently 'restored' to its former glory by Doak, also public but a lot pricier (still a lot cheaper than Pebble though)
Harding Park in SF, Rustic Canyon near LA.

[Bruce Dickinson]

park in the car park near the 15th tee (you cross the road from the 14th green) at Cypress and go and have a look at 15/16/17. Chances are their wont be anybody on the course after about 3pm when the groundstaff are gone and you can look at three of the best golf holes anywhere

[poidda]

Pacific Grove near Monterey is an affordable public track
Pasatiempo is a MacKenzie, recently 'restored' to its former glory by Doak, also public but a lot pricier (still a lot cheaper than Pebble though)
Harding Park in SF, Rustic Canyon near LA.


Excelent. Cheers for the tips.

Harding Park will be a definite by the looks of it. Hosting the presidents Cup later in the year and can get on for $45 twilight.

Also Rustic Canyon is on the right side of the shithole called LA for us.

Pacific Grove looks like a nice spot also.

[poidda]

park in the car park near the 15th tee (you cross the road from the 14th green) at Cypress and go and have a look at 15/16/17. Chances are their wont be anybody on the course after about 3pm when the groundstaff are gone and you can look at three of the best golf holes anywhere

Now this sounds right up our ally! :) ;) Will just have to find a driver at the local backpackers so we can have a few beers.

Any chance you can link me to a google map where you are talking about? Muchly appreciated.

[Bruce Dickinson]

Now this sounds right up our ally! :) ;) Will just have to find a driver at the local backpackers so we can have a few beers.

Any chance you can link me to a google map where you are talking about? Muchly appreciated.

send me a PM and I'll email you a couple of photos, the car park is about a 100 yard walk to the 15th tee. From the car park you wil be able to see 1, parts of 2,13,14 easily

In vegas the playboy club is definitely worth a visit, as are the other establishments at the Palms (four clubs in total from memory). Its just off the strip, probably a $10 cab ride, the views from any of the clubs over the strip are amazing

In San Fransisco get to Hooters right next to Fishermans Wharf for some cultural experiences :lol:

[TheTrueReview]

Bruce
Any other "sights" you can assist poidda with in vegas ?


... like women with male private parts?? :lol:

[Rusty]

sth of San Fran, you might want to stick to the coast as well, between Pacifica and Santa Cruz.

[poidda]

sth of San Fran, you might want to stick to the coast as well, between Pacifica and Santa Cruz.

Yeah that's the idea. We've got a week to to San Fran - LA, so in no hurry at all.

[dc68]

Poid do at least 2 nights in the Yosemite area if you can.... spectacular scenery.

[poidda]

Poid do at least 2 nights in the Yosemite area if you can.... spectacular scenery.

Yeah thinking might take a day to drive there from Vegas, spend a couple of nights, and then continue on to San Fran.

[BrisVegas]

Poid do at least 2 nights in the Yosemite area if you can.... spectacular scenery.

Sounds noice. Although, the thought of 3 lads from Rocky camping out under the stars in the yosemite half a world away from the girls... cant help but think of Brokeback Mountain... :smt108

[poidda]

Sounds noice. Although, the thought of 3 lads from Rocky camping out under the stars in the yosemite half a world away from the girls... cant help but think of Brokeback Mountain... :smt108

Always thinking on the gayside aren't you Vegas?!?! :-s

[dc68]

So you in the middle Poid? Play the role of double adaptor!!!! go on.

[dc68]

Dicky has always said you were a good link man on tour!

[AndyP]

Maybe some magic mushrooms, Entourage-style, could be the go?

[BrisVegas]

Always thinking on the gayside aren't you Vegas?!?! :-s

is this why i wasn't invited ? :cry:

[poidda]

So you in the middle Poid? Play the role of double adaptor!!!! go on.

Yep, and I know where this is leading. I answer yes, and then you ask "Hey, I've just been made redundant and have some spare time/cash. Can I cum make a four ball?"

FFS. :roll:

[poidda]

is this why i wasn't invited ? :cry:

Nah, it's because you're a ****!

[dc68]

Yep, and I know where this is leading. I answer yes, and then you ask "Hey, I've just been made redundant and have some spare time/cash. Can I cum make a four ball?"

FFS. :roll:



It'd be an 8ball wouldn't it?

[PeteyD]

Haha. Ghey Cowboys eating pudding.

[Jarro]

Poid do at least 2 nights in the Yosemite area if you can.... spectacular scenery.

Yep, have to second that, and then drive on down to Lake Tahoe ... very nice 8-)

[TheTrueReview]

Poidda,

Although you're going south & I went north, here's my itinerary that I did in late 2005. Hope this helps. I've included a couple of photos of the accommodation to hopefully give you an appreciation. I've included the names of the motels I stayed at & some photos where applicable.

Day 1 - Fly into LAX in morning, pick up Hertz hire car & try & find way out of LA without maps. Get onto freeway after two false starts & drive as quickly north as possible to get out of the shytehole which is LA. Stay at The Inn at East Beach Santa Barbara.

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp2/thetruereview01/TheInnatEastBeach.jpg
^^^ this place is 2 minutes drive from this -> http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp2/thetruereview01/SantaBarbaraBeach.jpg

Day 2 - Visited Stearns Wharf, Drove toward San Simeon, Drove past San Luis Obispo, stopped briefly at Morro Bay, drove into Cambria township (about 5 minutes from the coast), stayed overnight at Castle Inn by the Sea at Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria (this part of Cambria is right on the coast).

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp2/thetruereview01/MotelatCambria.jpg Looking back to motel with back to the ocean. http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp2/thetruereview01/MoonstoneBeachDrive-2.jpg (motel looks directly to ocean. This is a view 45 degrees to the left with motel behind me)

Day 3 - Visited Hearst Castle at San Simeon, drove through Big Sur area, drove to Monterey & stayed overnight at El Adobe Inn, Monterrey.

Day 4 - Visited Monterey waterfront area. Drove through 'Cannery Row', drove past Monterey aquarium, drove around Pacific Grove area, Drove into Pebble Beach area & did 17 Mile Drive, Stopped at Pebble Beach Golf Club. Drove into Carmel & had a walk around. Drove north to Santa Cruz, stayed overnight at Riviera Travelodge.

Day 5 - Had a look around Santa Cruz wharf area, & permanent amusement park on the beach front. Headed north for San Francisco.

Good luck with your trip Poidda!!

[Rusty]

oh, reading TTR that reminds me - get a decent Road Atlas. worth every penny.

+ make sure the fuel is on full before you go into Death Valley. if you drive around for a bit, then come out on the west, and for some unknown reason, the gas station is not open, you may have a problem :oops:

[poidda]

After a bit more of a rethink, Yosemite is getting skipped this time. There's a shyte load of snow up there and we don't fancy getting stuck.

So the idea is to fly straight to Vegas. Spend a week in the area. Fly to San Fran and spend the next week driving to LA.

For those that that care, check this out (http://shootspaces.myhostcp.net/ssDev1/Temp/zzzVegas.htm). :)

[gazgolf1]

Nth East of Vegas so not really on the way but this track gives me a chubby.

http://www.golfwolfcreek.com/sites/courses/layout9.asp?id=589&page=31516

[PeteyD]

Wolf Creek is in TW09 on the PS2.

[Grunt]

Wolf Creek is in TW09 on the PS2.


Is on TW09 on Wii too. Didn't think it was a real course though. I thought it was one that was made up to be one they did not have naming rights too.

[BrettM]

Vegas is great. Be sure where you are staying to pull up a poker machine near the bar. We sat at a 1c machine and pumped $1 into it for 100 credits. Then played 1c at a time. As soon as the waitress sees you playing a machine, they serve you free drinks. Beer for me, vodka for the wife. Cheapest night out I've ever had.

Just did the drive from LA to Monterey. Real nice, but takes around 8 - 9 hours. Be sure to grab a GPS with your rental if you can. Along the way there are several places where you can pull over at the moment and see the elephant seals which are breeding until March. Hundreds of the things sprawled all over the beach in points. At Monterey, 17 Mile Drive goes right through Cypress Point, there is a car park beside the 14th fairway before it dissects the walk to 15 tee. You can park if there is nobody around and walk to 15 tee and 16. It swings around across the 1st tee and fairway with the famous hedge. Just an amazing place.

[poidda]

Nth East of Vegas so not really on the way but this track gives me a chubby.

http://www.golfwolfcreek.com/sites/courses/layout9.asp?id=589&page=31516

Yeah this is on the list to play "if blackjack is kind" ;)

[adlo]

Poidda, have you done this trip?

My Mrs and I have just booked a holiday using our long accrued frequent flyer points, and we will be in San Fran area for a week in July. Considering our options, but will probably hire a car and at the very least check out Napa Valley and Yosemite NP.

I am also keen to get to Pasatiempo. We'll see :) The car park at Cypress sounds intriguing too =P~

[TheTrueReview]

,,,

Just did the drive from LA to Monterey. Real nice, but takes around 8 - 9 hours. Be sure to grab a GPS with your rental if you can. ..

It's a better idea to take one with you if you can. When I hired my car from Hertz in 2005, I was offered a GPS for US $100 per day!! No thanks.

[poidda]

Poidda, have you done this trip?

My Mrs and I have just booked a holiday using our long accrued frequent flyer points, and we will be in San Fran area for a week in July. Considering our options, but will probably hire a car and at the very least check out Napa Valley and Yosemite NP.

I am also keen to get to Pasatiempo. We'll see :) The car park at Cypress sounds intriguing too =P~

Yeah just got back yesterday. All was good. Will report in more soon.

[poidda]

Nth East of Vegas so not really on the way but this track gives me a chubby.

http://www.golfwolfcreek.com/sites/courses/layout9.asp?id=589&page=31516

ok Gaz, you could have mentioned it's the 3rd hardest golf course in the USA, and they usually play it on a still day. We were lucky enough to jag it when it was blowing 40 knots! :shock:

Here's a few picks. The desert area is compulsory hazard in order to protect the wildlife ect. You are not allowed to step off the grass. I have never seen so many golf balls in my life just out of reach.

A couple of other interesting things is it has the most elevation of all courses in the USA. Some fairways were a good 100 feet below the tee. And so that it's in pristine condition all year round, they replace the entire grass twice a year. In April, the kill off the winter grass and lay summer grass, and do the opposite again in September. WTF!

So keeping in mind, I don't really give that much of a toss about arkitechta, this was just a fun place to be, let alone play golf on. Between us would have lost 2 dozen pills and had 94, 95 and 96. It's a must if ever in the area.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_m90RkYSDF2U/Sb2QCiwew4I/AAAAAAAAAOI/t3pRl_xJtmg/s800/IMG_5085.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_m90RkYSDF2U/Sb2QCDmzPZI/AAAAAAAAAN4/AikFaArs8yc/s800/IMG_5082.JPG


225 yard carry. Straight into the wind!
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_m90RkYSDF2U/Sb2QCgwD23I/AAAAAAAAAOA/hhI00b8elv4/s800/IMG_5083.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_m90RkYSDF2U/Sb2QCt1Q8FI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/b4u5P9etPSo/s800/IMG_5087.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_m90RkYSDF2U/Sb2QC6-_I5I/AAAAAAAAAOY/ycaNGOOysxU/s800/IMG_5088.JPG


215 yard par 3. Spectacular hole.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_m90RkYSDF2U/Sb2QO7HPJ8I/AAAAAAAAAOg/YtTmDv_vdVs/s800/IMG_5090.JPG


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_m90RkYSDF2U/Sb2QPYkb2nI/AAAAAAAAAOo/UOSHblEc0Ic/s800/IMG_5091.JPG


http://lh4.ggpht.com/_m90RkYSDF2U/Sb2QP3R3_LI/AAAAAAAAAOw/4CYcGelFj0o/s800/IMG_5092.JPG


http://lh5.ggpht.com/_m90RkYSDF2U/Sb2QP_4MJOI/AAAAAAAAAO4/63K7l2QU-s0/s800/IMG_5094.JPG


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_m90RkYSDF2U/Sb2QQJn0kQI/AAAAAAAAAPA/a6shMqSOP34/s800/IMG_5098.JPG

[Jarro]

JESUS !!!!!!!!! :shock:

One tough looking course !!

[poidda]

JESUS !!!!!!!!! :shock:

One tough looking course !!

Yep. I hit the ball well for a 95! :roll:

I forgot to mention, that you're lucky to find your ball off the cut stuff the rough is that thick.

[adlo]

Yeah I saw that on the website, hardest courses in America...

Look forward to some updates Poidda.

[adlo]

It's a better idea to take one with you if you can. When I hired my car from Hertz in 2005, I was offered a GPS for US $100 per day!! No thanks.
Is it possible to find maps on the net for the USA and put them on my own GPS and take it over with me?


And so that it's in pristine condition all year round, they replace the entire grass twice a year. In April, the kill off the winter grass and lay summer grass, and do the opposite again in September. WTF!

ONLY IN AMERICA

http://www.funtoosh.com/f_images/happens_only_in_america_1.jpg

[gazgolf1]

Just found this thread again, Poid how was Vegas?,Where did you stay, eat etc. Pics?
I've been twice and I'm thinking about zipping across again soon with a mate whose never been on a plane.

[jaybam]

What is the name of that place. Looks like one of the courses off tiger 08/09

[gazgolf1]

Wolf Creek.

[jaybam]

thats it. ty gaz

[PeteyD]

Yea it was in TW at some stage.

[Grunt]

Yea it was in TW at some stage.

Is on TW 2009 on Wii. Is the Us Open venue.

[poidda]

Just found this thread again, Poid how was Vegas?,Where did you stay, eat etc. Pics?
I've been twice and I'm thinking about zipping across again soon with a mate whose never been on a plane.

gaz, I just caught up with you catching up with this thread. Vegas was great again, and I don't have any Pics except for the ones above. We stayed at TI, and Excalibur when in Vegas. But we went on a bit of a road trip to Mesquite out on the border of Arizona. It's just a little border town with a bunch of Casinos, and golf courses everywhere. It was good fun to get off the typical tourist strip and everyone kept asking "What the **** brought you to Mesquite?" :) It was a laugh and we ended up hanging out that way for a few days.

I say it all the time, but if I was to go again, I'd be staying downtown next time. The strip is to OTT for me, and seems to attract more wankers. You might like it though. ;)

[gazgolf1]

and seems to attract more wankers. You might like it though. ;)

nasty. :)

Yeah the mate I was going with piked out, Never did get down to Fremont, I've heard its good.