BARBARA TAYLOR
Blog: April/May 2014
“West Coast Style Of Cruising and Golfing”
On April 19, 2014 three Tee Divas Golf Club members, including myself, boarded The Celebrity Century Cruise ship to cruise the Pacific Coastal, from San Pedro to San Francisco California. This seven day cruise was designed with Jazz in the mind, and golf on the heart. Let me stop right now and rephrase my opening.
There were 3 women, Leona Woods, Donna Castron and myself, who just happened to be members of the Tee Divas golf club, boarded the ship to eat, drink, golf and enjoy world class jazz featuring vocalist Barbara Morrison (LA’s Locals) and her trio.
These ladies pledged, way before the ship was set to sail that they wanted to golf in as many ports that had a golf course, without breaking the bank. Speaking of breaking the bank, if you know anything about west coast geography, you will know that somewhere along that coastal line lies a town called Monterey, home of The Pebble Beach Golf Course. Yes, Monterey was one of the ships scheduled stops. You ask Barbara Taylor, did anyone in your circle of cruise ship golfers, golf Pebble Beach? My answer is Heck NO, then I add “Fear not, ye of faint heart and modest means, perhaps next time, when we’re in the neighborhood.”
Above: Donna Castron and Leona Woods
Before committing to this cruise, Golfers Leona and Donna, wanted to made sure that golfing was added to the on shore excursion itinerary, even if added unofficially for our group only, to play at any of the 5 scheduled stop, stops long enough to at least enjoy a game of a 9 holes round of golf. Personally speaking, I truly believe if Lynn Rudin, the cruise director of our group of 80 folks, had said that adding golf excursions was not doable, I wouldn’t be writing this blog today…. Just saying.
Above: Jeff Rudin
Would you believe that it just so happened Lynn’s husband Jeff Rudin was/is an avid golfer and was delighted to organize, make all the reservations and arrange transportation to and from the ship, to play in three cities: San Francisco, Monterey and Ensenada Mexico.
Ok! So it wasn’t The Celebrity Annual Golf Classic Getaway, nor was it the African American Golfers Digest 2013 Friends & Family Alaska Golf Cruise Getaway, however collectively we exercised our creativity and did this Cruise with golf, “The West Coast Way”.
With this being said, I would like to, and will take this opportunity to applaud Lynn and Jeff Rudin for their tenacity in soliciting other ship golf enthusiast that were in our group, including themselves and my neighbor Calvin Evans, to participate in a well organized “On Golf Shore Excursion”. We also thank Jeff for making all the golf reservations, arranging transportation, and I thank both of the Rudins for listening to the voices of their traveling customers, golfers and non-golfers.
Above: Donna Castron and Jeff Rudin
TPC (The Players Course) Harding Park, a public 18 hole golf course located in San Francisco, California, situated less than one (1) mile from the Pacific Ocean, that prides its self on a tiered greens fee rate structure, and for being a high profile course.
TPC is also part of the PGA tours acclaimed TPC network, which also includes sister golf courses such as TPC Sawgrass, home of The Players, TPC River Highlands. Players felt it was a challenging course, however doable. The course is very impressive with its towering Monterey Cypress trees and a tranquil Lake Merced.
Above: Pacific Cove Golf Course
Pacific Grove Golf Links, an 18 hole course located in Monterey (the home of Pebble Beach golf Course) that is a historical, awesome, beautiful, and as golfers Leona Woods, and Donna Castron describes it “This course is a poor mans Pebble Beach,” as flocks of deer roamed the course while taking time out of their busy day to stop and pose for pictures….Ha !
Above: Donna Castron teeing off at Pacific Cove GC
The entire back nine of Pacific Grove offers breathtaking views of aqua blue ocean waves hitting against the rocks, and is adjacent to the famous 17 Mile Drive The views of this course is so mesmerizing, you often forget when it’s your time to hit that little ball. The course is challenging, however not difficult. I just want to say that unparalled golf was just the start of what makes the Pacific Grove experience so extraordinary. This course is absolutely beautiful, and is a “let’s do it again soon” course.
Baja Country Club Located in Ensenada Mexico nestled in an extraordinary canyon surrounded by mountains only 7 miles south of Ensenada towards LA BUFADORA, the famous natural wonder. The golf course is par 72 with 12 acres of lakes, designed by the reputed firm of golf course architects of Pete and Roy Dye. This course is know for being challenging, and I write from a quote, “Describing it is one thing, playing it is another.” however our description of the course is “It’s OK”.
Above: Barbara Morrison
Meanwhile “back at the ship” we enjoyed ‘The Celebrity Life Activities’. For most of the first time cruisers, it was coming back to the ship for an exciting series of activities. For them this experience redefined the phrase “Living The Life of Riley”.
In reality, the excitement came from having the ability of choosing one, or enjoying all, starting from the very best in palate-pleasing –which in our case was the formal/informal evening sit down dinners. Lucky me, I as assigned to dine at a table that was 95% of the days golfers who were consistently engaging in and exercising their bragging rights.
The shoreline of California is absolutely breathtaking, not only to the common mind, but also to the soul, to see the picturesque mountains peering thru the early morning clearing fog, while sipping coffee on our stateroom balconies. In contrast, we marveled in the beauty of the evening after the sunset, you could see the shoreline lights lighting up the darkness of the ocean. Cruising under the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge was truly over whelming, not to mention seeing “The Rock”, Alcatraz Island. In my head I could visualize and rerun the movie, Escape From Alcatraz filmed in 1979, staring Clint Eastwood. I could actually see him swimming, really I could. Ha!
Above: Barbara Morrison
The other enjoyment of the ships Life Activities was (for our groups only) the after dinner private/exclusive Jazz Jam sessions featuring Barbara Morrison and her trio, cocktails, and dancing in the Crystal room.
The rest of the best was the intellectually stimulating conversations with other ship passengers, life renewing experiences, and eating the best hot dogs, hamburgers and fries, this side of the Mason-Dixon Line, then you go to dinner that evening. It’s all about visually dazzling and high-spirited fun. I came home sick for about one week, my stomach was rebelling against putting my stomach in complete shock, by eating and drinking entirely to much.
As a blogger it is my duty to adhere to the Full Disclosure rule: Golfers not pictured were out tying to find their golf balls, therefore their images were not available. –You know who you are!
Until next time,
Barbara Taylor
Email me and let me know what your thoughts!
Send Barbara A Comment!
