Ocean Trails’ 18th Hole Could Become Playable

The saga of the world’s most expensive golf hole has taken an unexpected twist, but it may finally lead to the completion of Ocean Trails Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The 18th hole at Ocean Trails was severely damaged by a June 1999 landslide, weeks before the course was to open. A project to rebuild the hole began in November 2000 but was halted four months ago because of a lack of funds.

Brothers Ken and Bob Zuckerman, the course owners, filed for bankruptcy protection after the landslide, but a bankruptcy judge stripped them of ownership in February and Credit Suisse First Boston took control of the course last week and will maintain ownership until the 18th hole is rebuilt.

What it all means is that reconstruction of the 18th hole is set to start again within days.

“I’ve been told that the hole can be completed by fall,” said Mike Lynn, Ocean Trails director of sales and marketing. “I think it’s safe to say that it will be complete by the end of the year.”

Rebuilding the hole caused major problems for the Zuckermans, who fought environmental agencies and insurance companies as well as the banks and courts over the last three years. Ken Zuckerman said the course was starting to turn a profit, but the lenders finally cashed in their marker.

“The bank yanked the rug out from under me,” he said. “We finally looked like we were meeting our projection numbers, but the bank moved quickly to get me out. It’s a huge loss. I spent 12 years with that project, and now I’m out on my ear.”

Lynn said the Pete Dye-designed course had an original construction price tag of about $100 million, but the 18th hole has cost an additional $60 million. Many upscale courses in California are built for about $20 million.

The course is still operating as a 15-hole layout with green fees ranging from $35-$110 depending on the day and the time. Play has been moderate, but Lynn said golfers want to see the finished product.

“A lot of people are getting anxious for a full 18,” he said.

Don’t Buy These

They might not be going to the lengths of the angry golf course architect played by John Cleese in Titleist television commercials, but real-life golf course architects are speaking out against modern golf technology.

Jay Morrish, president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, delivered a passionate address during a conference last week at the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa in which he implored equipment manufacturers to slow down or else players would soon be hitting 400-yard drives and many golf courses would become obsolete.

“We can’t have that,” Morrish said. “We have to stop this somewhere. We have to draw the line. We’re not trying to be unreasonable, but let’s make a game of it again.”

Morrish said that new technology has turned golf into a driver-pitching wedge game at the professional level and is forcing major renovations at older, traditional courses. He cited Cherry Hills Country Club in Colorado, which hosted the U.S. Open in 1938, ’60 and ’78 but, at 7,160 yards, is too short by today’s standards.

“I would seriously doubt that they will ever play another [men’s] major there because of the length,” Morrish said. “It’s sad. It’s a great course.”

Morrish vowed to become more vocal on the issue and encouraged course designers to refrain from building longer courses.

“We need to do something besides lengthen [the courses] to 7,500 yards,” he said. “I will always maintain that a great golf course demands all 14 clubs. We’re not using all the clubs in the bag anymore.”

Tiger Clubs

The swoosh Tiger Woods makes on his downswing is soon to become much more pronounced.

Woods will begin using Nike Golf irons before the end of this season and possibly before the U.S. Open next month, Nike Golf President Bob Wood confirmed.

Woods has been experimenting with Nike irons “for quite a while,” Wood said, and the No. 1 golfer in the world is very close to using them in competition.

“He won’t make the switch until he is 100% sure he’s ready,” Wood said. “It’s been a little trial-and-error period for the last few months, but at some point he is going to jump off the diving board.”

Woods, who currently uses Titleist irons, has an endorsement contract worth a reported $100 million with Nike, but the switch is not required in that deal, Wood said. Woods began using a Nike driver in February.

An equipment switch just before a major is not unprecedented for Woods, who switched to a Nike ball just before the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and won the tournament by 15 strokes.

David Duval, John Cook and Bryce Molder use Nike Golf irons on the PGA Tour.

Penick Enshrined

Legendary golf instructor Harvey Penick, author of “Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book,” has been selected to the World Golf Hall of Fame through the lifetime achievement category.

Penick, who died at 90 in 1995, will be inducted Nov. 15 at the World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Fla. His students include Hall of Famers Ben Crenshaw, Mickey Wright, Betsy Rawls, Kathy Whitworth, plus Tom Kite and Davis Love III.

“It’s a shame he couldn’t have gotten in when he was alive, but obviously this is still a great honor,” Kite said.

Crenshaw, who broke down in tears when he won the 1995 Masters days after Penick’s death, will be inducted on the same day.

Shootout Field Set

Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson, Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer will play in the fourth annual Par-3 Shootout at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Mich., on July 1-2. Trevino is defending champion of the $540,000 made-for-TV event that offers a $1-million bonus to anyone who makes a hole in one. Trevino scored an ace last year.

New Venue for Friends

The Michael Douglas and Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament is moving to the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. The tournament, which had attracted such celebrities as Kevin Costner, Jack Nicholson, Will Smith, Joe Pesci, Sidney Poitier and James Woods, had been played at Ocean Trails the last three years. It will be taped June 30 and shown July 21 immediately after the British Open on Channel 7. Tickets: (818) 876-1936.

Birdies, Bogeys and Pars

May is Play Golf America month, a promotion sponsored by the PGA of America that includes free 10-minute lessons from PGA professionals. Details: visit www.pga.com ... The 17th annual Brianna Cup, benefiting the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation of Orange County, is Friday at Coyote Hills Golf Club in Fullerton.