Secession GC - May 25-26, 2005

Two buddies joined me at my favorite place on Thursday and Friday.


Mike Read, Robert Miller and I teed off at 2p on Thursday, played 36, then collapsed over a "Lowcountry supper" on Thursday night. Along the way we all hit some wayward shots, missed a few short putts ... and had a wonderful day. By the time we'd played 27 holes, we decided to go to "the point," or "the loop," what we call holes 16-18 at Secession. We'd play the 16, 17, and 18, dash into the clubhouse, ask Al to mix a transfusion, then go out and do it again. Three times in all, as a matter of fact, which rounded out our 36 for the day.

Here's Al along with Christine (our server), Robert and George, Secession's chief of security.


The real heroes on Thursday, however, were our caddies. (Here Mike and Robert flank Gary and Billy.)

They traipsed down the fairways and into the marshes with us all afternoon. I'm sure we wore them out, but they never complained ... even when we missed putts they read perfectly.

Secession is a walking-only course, and with rare exceptions, it's a caddies-only course as well. Our caddiemaster Greg Crum has assembled an outstanding group of professionals to do this tough, dirty job, and a great part of the experience we have is due to our committing to and maintaining a top-notch caddie program. Your caddie is your comrade, your confidant, and, if you're lucky, your friend, not only during the round but beyond that. These two caddies - who worked with us both days - were very, very good.

On Friday we played only 18 - in 3 hours - and all of us played better. I shot 77, Robert shot 78, and Mike shot a personal best at Secession, 83.

Great weather, the course was in perfect May condition, we played a lot, played fast, and we all played reasonably well.

Pinehurst, May 17-19, 2005

I returned to Pinehurst for the first time since the resort terminated its relationship with BURRIS. I was playing with Robert Miller of Media Networks, who hosted several of his best customers, a couple of his big shot associates...and me.

I tried to be objective about Pinehurst, tried to act like and actually be a guest instead of a former "insider" generating marketing or customer service ideas all the while I'm there. (It's not easy for me.) For instance - good news! The Resort has installed high-speed internet in its rooms, at least in the main hotel, The Carolina. But on the first night, after checking in and trying to connect, mine didn't work. "Tech" closes at 8p, I learned at the front desk; I'd have to wait for assistance the next morning. (Moan.) So I went to the Business Center first thing Wednesday morning (they open at 7a). I tell the attendant my problem:

"The high-speed connection in my room doesn't work. I'm hoping I can tap into one of yours and do a little work."

"Sure," the attendant in the Business Center says. "Our charge is $10 for 15 minutes." (I kept my comment about the cost to myself.) "How long do you need it?"

"I'll be here about two hours, I think," I replied. I can see she's doing the math in her head.

"Wait a minute," I say, interrupting her ciphering. "Is there someone we can call who will say it's okay for me to get this for free since it doesn't work in my room?"

"No, we're not with the hotel," she replies, suggesting her company is the subcontractor for business services at the hotel. "It'll be $80 for two hours."

I went back to my room and worked through dial-up.

On to the golf...

We played No. 2 first, and it was a wonderful experience. The resort had hosted a shotgun for Citigroup in the morning, and they all came off the course at 3p. Our 3:10p tee time, then, was the first after the shotgun, and we had the course to ourselves.

I shot a lackluster 81, never really getting things going. But it was great fun working my way around the golf course.

It's one month 'til the U.S. Open returns, so there's a lot of activity all around: bleachers going up, TV towers being installed, port-a-potties getting dropped off. But the course's condition was generally pretty good, extremely playable, though less than perfect.

The "less than perfect" part, however, probably requires a bit of explanation. The collars around every green had been sodded, so the traditionally necessary run-up shots from around the greens were practically impossible. Which means you're having to pitch over the sod, making short shots around the small and fast greens virtually impossible. I putted (or fairway-metalled) over the sod anyway, but it was unfair and unpredictable. It was cool to see the new tee boxes, to putt on greens already fast that you know will only get faster, and, frankly, I'm glad the rough wasn't grown up yet (my caddie told me they're through cutting it; now it's just water and 30 days to look forward to). And did I mention the greens? They were already too hard to hold anything but crisp wedges; I can't imagine what they'll be like around Father's Day.

Here's the issue for me, however. It's prime time at Pinehurst. They have looked forward to their Spring season since the USGA announced they would bring the Open back after the 1999 Championship. The resort is getting top dollar this year ("Play the site of the 2005 U.S. Open"), and golfers are willing to put up with some hammering and scaffloding to have a chance to play one of the few courses open to the public that host such a prestigious event. The challenge for Pinehurst is balancing the quality of the experience - amidst all the noise and activity - with the premium they want to charge.

Most of us will put up with a lot to play No. 2 right now. New sod? Not a problem. Lots of vehicles bustling about? Who cares? But Pinehurst takes great pride in the other golf courses they have, and they're counting on No. 4 and No. 8 - and, to a lessser extent, Nos. 6 and 7 - to take some of the pressure off No. 2 for rounds played. And those courses, though fine layouts and fun to play - those courses are not in top shape right now, during "prime time at Pinehurst."

Pinehurst No. 4 had slow putting surfaces and seemed generally ratty around the edges. Because the first hole on No. 4 is site of one really big hospitality tent for the Open, the routing is a little funky, and the finishing hole on No. 1 is now the finisher on this course.

Pinehurst No. 8, perhaps my favorite of all the "other" (than No. 2) courses, was in very good shape from tee to the putting surface, but the greens were rolling (I'm not exaggerating) about 4 on the stimp, and that just won't cut it (no pun intended).

The challenge for Pinehurst, I repeat, is extracting top dollar, harvesting the potential that an Open brings, and delivering the kind of experience that will make the guest's stay absolutely first rate. If you don't, then guests' disappointment will, undoubtedly, go forth and multiply as they relate and report to their friends.

For several years, some of my friends have said that they believe Pinehurst is taking advantage of its reputation and not delivering the product it needs to insure its future. I don't think I have a bias against the resort because they no longer work with me. But I do think I'm starting to agree with my friends.

Finally, one final photo. Here's what I saw as I walked by the 18th green toward the 10th tee on No. 8: the first twosome of the day.

Piedmont Driving Club - May 13, 2005

A one-day member/guest with my good friend Gordon Harper...


On Thursday night over a great pasta dinner at Figo's, I asked Gordon if he'd ever won this event. "Yes," he said, with a partner named Tom.

"Well," I said, "I hope we can do the same."

"Winning's not important," he replied. "You're my friend, and I wanted to do this."

"Well, because you asked me instead of Tom," I said, "let's win anyway."

And we did, with the lowest gross (71) and net (62) scores in our flight. (Our gross score was low for the field.)

The Piedmont Driving Club course in Atlanta is a Rees Jones design, only about 5-6 years old, and a perfect balance of difficulty with forgiveness. The fairways are narrow but they're almost all buffeted by mounds that kick balls back to the center...at least on one side. So the safe play, especially when there's no rough (it's early in the bermuda season), is to aim for the edges of the fairways and allow the mounds to work their way with your tee shots.


The greens were quick, rolling at probably 11 or 12, without a hint of grain, even when close to water. And there's plenty of water. Most of the back nine surrounds a large lake.

I'm not the best commentator when it comes to writing about architecture. I'm sure the Piedmont Driving Club ranks up there in terms of its shotmaking values and conditioning. I know best how to appreciate and describe what Brad Klein at Golfweek calls the "walk in the park test," and PDC scores high on that.

As many of you know, I much prefer walking to riding when playing golf. But some courses' layouts - especially from greens to tees - make that difficult. Not this one. The PDC has devised an intelligent transport system that places its EZGOs at strategic shuttle spots. It's a better system even than the one on several holes at Caves Valley in Owings Mills, MD. So walking is a pleasure - with no huffing and puffing between holes. You're outside on a perfect day, hawks (and MD-88's - PDC is on the approach path to Hartsfield) are flying overhead, tall pines are swaying with a Springtime breeze...it's great. PDC also has caddies, good caddies, having recently turned that program over to Caddie Masters in Pinehurst.

It's a fun golf course. I was with a good friend. And we were victorious. Makes for a very good Friday afternoon!

Secession Member Member (May 6-7, 2005)

I rounded out my two weeks of fun at our Member Member event at Secession Golf Club.


In the past my partners have been good friends Peter Joos (now in London) and Marion Moore (now in rehab from a recent surgery), so Bob Harcharik put his good friend Larry Bouman and me together this year. Here we are on the 10th tee, our first hole in the first round on Friday.


Larry and I made a good - if at times exciting - team. On Friday we struggled, but held a lackluster round together with pluck and determination. Our 68 (net) was looking more like an even par round 'til Larry finished the last three holes (7, 8 and 9) with a 3 for 2, 3 for 2, and 5 for 4. That put us in first by 3 shots going into the second and final day.

Larry again got us off on the right foot with a birdie putt from the fringe on the first hole. And from there we played well and struggled little (a bogey on 12 was our only hiccup) en route to a 62 (again, net). His iron play was outstanding the entire day, and we were both in almost all of the holes, the key to success in a better ball format.

We won our flight easily, then waited about 90 minutes for the "shoot-out."

Eight flight winners play off in an alternate shot staged from the middle of the fairway on 18. A coin toss determines which of the partners will play the first shot, and the winner's (loser's?) handicap determines the distance. Larry was designated for our first shot, and his 8 handicap meant he'd play from 100 yards. He stiffed it, I made about a 3-footer (good thing!), and we won the shoot-out outright.

Harcharik asked for a finder's fee on our winnings, but Larry and I pretended not to recognize him.

Note to Peter and Marion: Maybe you guys can play together next year.

LINKS Cup - May 2, 2005

The inaugural event (several of the LINKS folks balked at the idea that this might be "annual") was held at the Oconee Course at Reynolds Plantation. It was my first trip to the Ritz-Carlton Lodge on the lake, and I was impressed with what I lovingly called a "Ritz Lite." This Ritz was a bit light on the normal accoutrements we've grown to welcome and expect, but a worthy brand extension nevertheless. (For more on brand extensions, stay tuned to burris.blogspot.com.)



I played poorly, but not to worry; I'm tired of trying to play golf around other commitments. One more event in the coming days, and then I can take a break for a bit.

The LINKS Cup was the magazine's attempt to commune with its readers...and make an advertiser happy by hosting an event at their facility. There's more and more of this going on these days. The example I point to most often is The Golf Channel's Viewer's Cup, still a fledgling event, but one with potentially great impact on the Channel's golden triangle of relationships: the network, their viewers, and sponsors.

The Oconee Course (Rees Jones) was beautiful, immaculately groomed, and in fine condition. Scoring should have been lower, but it wasn't, and I can't explain why. The putting surfaces were tough to read, but smooth as any I've played, perhaps because ours was the first group out that morning. Many of the fairways are "enclosed" by mounds that help keep your (or my) errant tee shots in play. My one quibble: like so many courses, this one was built to sell real estate, so carts are necessary to traverse the distances from greens to tees. You couldn't walk this course in less than five hours, though the playing areas themselves are extremely walkable.

The entire Reynolds Plantation area continues to grow, and all seem to be solid luxury offerings. More than 90 holes, according to Bill Houghton, RP's VP of Marketing. Thousands (forgot how many 1000's, but it's a lot) of acres of shore-front property. Out in the middle of nowhere. It truly is a marvel.

Bulls Bay, April 29-30, 2005

The next event of this busy season was the Member Guest at Bulls Bay GC. My partner was Jeff Rubin, a vascular surgeon from Spartanburg and a neighbor on Seagrass Lane on the Isle of Palms. Jeff's an 11 handicap at The Cliffs at Glassy, and we figured we could make a competitive team.

Our practice round was with Rick Hall and Geoff Russell from The Golf Digest Companies. Rick is a partner in a publisher's rep firm - working with Golf Digest, Golf World, and Golf For Women. He and Ed Butler went off on their own last year and have done an outstanding job for the magazines. Geoff, the editor of Golf World, was Rick's partner for the event. I've enjoyed playing with both of them in the past, and I thought Jeff would as well. We did. In fact, as we looked back on the week's competition, our practice rounds were our most enjoyable.

Here's Rick in fine form on the 2nd fairway at Bulls Bay:


This Member Guest featured the match play format, 10 flights of six teams each, with the opportunity over two days to play each team in your flight. Each 9-hole match is worth nine points; each hole worth one. Jeff and I played well but fell behind the first day, scoring 3.5, 5, and 3.5 respectively. Our 12 points for the day were well behind the leading team in our flight at 18.5, but we figured that since we played the leaders on Day 2, we could either catch them ... or at least spoil their fun.

In our first match on Day 2, we played a father and son team, and although we didn't beat them as soundly as we could have, we were pleased with our five of nine point performance. But out new, after-four-rounds total of 17 was still way shy of the leaders, who were also soundly beaten 6-3 in their first Day 2 match. So the leaders are at 21.5 and we're at 17, a large deficit for us to overcome.

We won the first two holes of our final match, with Jeff making solid pars for net birdies. Then we made good halves on the next two holes. The match came down to the last hole, which if we win, we take the match 7-2, overcome the deficit enough to tie the leading team, pending what's happening in one of the other matches.

Anticlimactically, we halve the hole, come up 1/2 point short, but because one of the other teams also had a good day, we successfully spoiled the first day leaders' weekend.

Ah, the smell of competition.

I love golf, but I love competition even more. And our course, Bulls Bay in Awendaw, SC, held up well to the field in this event. Lots of wind, no rain, fast conditions - this was a fun.

Here's a shot of the Bulls Bay clubhouse from the 6th fairway:


Next up for me? A day on the Oconee Course at Reynolds Plantation in something called The LINKS Magazine Cup. Hoping to mix a bit of business with pleasure...