He Was Able to Put Some Draw on Design
Mark O’Meara, a 16-time winner on the PGA Tour and winner of the 1998 Masters and British Open championships, has begun dabbling in golf course design. Two courses bearing his name already are open -- one in Canada and the other in Ireland. O’Meara’s first domestic offering, the TPC at Valencia, opened to the public on Thursday.
The TPC at Valencia is a semi-private course with green fees for the general public ranging from $100 to $130 and limited membership opportunities. The course features five sets of tees ranging from 7,260 to 5,380 yards. Most speculate that a professional event will eventually take place at the course, which is owned by the PGA Tour.
It is fitting that O’Meara’s first U.S. course is in Southern California. He is a graduate of Long Beach State and Mission Viejo High. The Times caught up with him Thursday after he christened the course with a 300-yard drive down the middle of the first fairway.
Question: You’re 46 now. As you approach 50, is course design and consulting something you’re going to be focusing on more and more?
Answer: Well, my main objective is still playing professional golf. But I think if I have the opportunity to have some good projects and work with good people and do some good properties, then I want to do it. If I just do it to try and pound out a bunch of courses or make money on it, I don’t necessarily need to do it or want to do it. I certainly like to make money -- everybody likes to make money -- but it’s more than that. If it’s got my name on it, it’s got to be done right.
Q: Fred Couples, speaking about one of the courses with his name attached, said: “I designed the parking lot, that’s about it.” How hands-on are you in courses with your name attached?
A: That sounds like Fred. I’m not super hands-on, but I certainly let my opinions [be] known. Here, [chief architect] Chris Gray really listened to me. When I originally saw the plans, a whole lot of holes moved left to right. I said ‘Hey, you know 10 or 11 of these holes move left to right. I draw the ball. How could this be a Mark O’Meara-consulted course? Most of the holes should be right to left.’ So he took that into consideration and we changed a few holes. It’s important to convey what you would like to see in a golf course.
Q: How’s your game? You’ve had some good rounds recently -- a top 10 at the Masters.
A: I’ve been playing a little bit better. Certainly at 46 it’s not as easy. My focus has been better. I’ve had more desire and commitment to wanting to play better. For a while there I was kind of floundering around deciding whether I was going to keep playing or am I going to do TV or what am I going to do? But I’ve enjoyed the competition this year. I’ve seen some signs -- I played OK at Augusta. I was playing pretty well at the U.S. Open -- although I didn’t play well the last day -- but I’m making more cuts and making progress in the right direction. I’d like to win another tournament, that’s what I’d like to do.
Q: Just another tournament or another major?
A: Well, I’d like to win that too, but I think you need to be realistic. I’d like to compete well on the tour. Whether it’s a regular tour event or the British Open or PGA. Could I win one? Well, I’ve won a British Open in the past, there’s no reason why I couldn’t win another one. But I’d just like to win any tournament. I’m not real picky.
Q: Has the game changed since you last won [the 1998 British Open]?
A: The equipment has changed, technology has gotten better, but the players have gotten a lot better. I admit the ball is going farther, but I don’t think enough credit has been given to the players. The depth of talent on the PGA Tour, the amount of time that’s been spent on fitness in the gym getting stronger and physically fit. That has a huge impact, more than people even understand. The ball does go longer, but they’re building longer courses, the pins are tucked closer to the edge of the greens, they’re harder, they’re faster. Certainly the manufacturers are trying to build better equipment so everybody can enjoy the game more. So far, they’ve been able to keep it to where they haven’t gone outside the limits and as long as they don’t go outside the limits, I’m fine.
Q: Was technology an influence in designing the TPC at Valencia?
A: Not really. You have to try to make the golf course somewhat long enough so that if you do have a tournament here eventually, then it’ll be tough enough and difficult enough for the tour players. But for the most part we tried to make the TPC Valencia a course that will be an enjoyable experience for the average golfer. You don’t want a course that will beat you up so bad you don’t want to come back. If you play from the correct tees -- and this can’t be stressed enough because not everyone plays like Tiger Woods -- you will have an enjoyable experience here.
Q: Is there any part of you that wishes the advances in the game had been made 15 years ago so you could enjoy them more in your prime?
A: I wouldn’t want to change anything about my career. When I started in 1981, growing up in Southern California, I was hoping I could just get out there for a few years and keep my card and maybe win a tournament some day. Now we sit here 23 years later and I’ve won 16 PGA Tour tournaments, a couple of major championships, player of the year and all these great things that have happened. And especially with as good as these young players are. You’ve got Michelle Wie, 13 years old and hitting it as far as I hit it. She could probably come out and beat me.